Review of Man Mission
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Review of Man Mission
[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]
Eytan Uliel tells us about his life at Man Mission through tales of misadventure and adventure with his three closest friends. The annual Man Mission for the Australian guys starts small and close to home. They go hiking in New Zealand, biking in Japan, and kayaking on Australia's Murray River. Males are building their careers, solidifying their marriages, and starting families in these early years. Travel destinations such as Spain, Korea, and even South Africa's safaris become more exotic over time as waistlines and budgets swell. But Uliel receives a call from his wife in Vietnam that completely alters the course of his life. We see the men adjust to the hand handed to them through trips to Hawaii, Peru, and Iceland. Following expectations may not always result in success. And, contrary to popular belief, there is very little.
The self-deprecating humor of Uliel prevents his art from being only appealing to men. Except for Alec, none of these are seasoned action heroes with six-packs. But instead, chubby-chested corporate desk jockeys. Their idea of a marathon is four kids' parties throughout the weekend. And the degree to which their emissions pose a risk to their lives is negatively correlated with the level of planning involved. You most certainly won't find any technical sports advice; in fact, quite the opposite may be true. However, I couldn't put the book down and finished it in two sittings. The characters are interesting, and I occasionally found myself laughing aloud at some of their shenanigans. There are still humorous moments, even in later chapters when more somber subjects are covered. such as when the fathers discover their Asian twins in a Thai hot spring. Uliel is brutally and openly questioned about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.
There was nothing about the book that I didn't like. Serious topics include infidelity, the stresses of financial insecurity, and the loss of loved ones. A few readers have had strong reactions to the aspect of infidelity. In my opinion, Uliel approaches the matter honestly, sensitively, and as humorously as is considered suitable. He brings up several crucial issues, in my opinion, such as antiquated notions of what males should be capable of in a changing environment. However, you could easily ignore this part and still enjoy the book. Nevertheless, it's feasible to ignore this part and still find the book to be a delightful and amusing travelogue. There is no erotica or vulgarity.
I particularly enjoyed the book's format. Uliel devotes a chapter to each of the fifteen Man Mission. He starts with a map for each and finishes with the "vital statistics" of each journey. I've already purchased a copy to give as a present and can see myself using it as a resource for Christmas inspiration in the future.
4 out of 4 stars for Man Mission because it read well and appeared to have been exceptionally well-edited. If you love the outdoors or you know a man who wants to love it, think about it.
Men who enjoy reading travel-related books and are worried about friendship will find the book interesting.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Eytan Uliel tells us about his life at Man Mission through tales of misadventure and adventure with his three closest friends. The annual Man Mission for the Australian guys starts small and close to home. They go hiking in New Zealand, biking in Japan, and kayaking on Australia's Murray River. Males are building their careers, solidifying their marriages, and starting families in these early years. Travel destinations such as Spain, Korea, and even South Africa's safaris become more exotic over time as waistlines and budgets swell. But Uliel receives a call from his wife in Vietnam that completely alters the course of his life. We see the men adjust to the hand handed to them through trips to Hawaii, Peru, and Iceland. Following expectations may not always result in success. And, contrary to popular belief, there is very little.
The self-deprecating humor of Uliel prevents his art from being only appealing to men. Except for Alec, none of these are seasoned action heroes with six-packs. But instead, chubby-chested corporate desk jockeys. Their idea of a marathon is four kids' parties throughout the weekend. And the degree to which their emissions pose a risk to their lives is negatively correlated with the level of planning involved. You most certainly won't find any technical sports advice; in fact, quite the opposite may be true. However, I couldn't put the book down and finished it in two sittings. The characters are interesting, and I occasionally found myself laughing aloud at some of their shenanigans. There are still humorous moments, even in later chapters when more somber subjects are covered. such as when the fathers discover their Asian twins in a Thai hot spring. Uliel is brutally and openly questioned about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.
There was nothing about the book that I didn't like. Serious topics include infidelity, the stresses of financial insecurity, and the loss of loved ones. A few readers have had strong reactions to the aspect of infidelity. In my opinion, Uliel approaches the matter honestly, sensitively, and as humorously as is considered suitable. He brings up several crucial issues, in my opinion, such as antiquated notions of what males should be capable of in a changing environment. However, you could easily ignore this part and still enjoy the book. Nevertheless, it's feasible to ignore this part and still find the book to be a delightful and amusing travelogue. There is no erotica or vulgarity.
I particularly enjoyed the book's format. Uliel devotes a chapter to each of the fifteen Man Mission. He starts with a map for each and finishes with the "vital statistics" of each journey. I've already purchased a copy to give as a present and can see myself using it as a resource for Christmas inspiration in the future.
4 out of 4 stars for Man Mission because it read well and appeared to have been exceptionally well-edited. If you love the outdoors or you know a man who wants to love it, think about it.
Men who enjoy reading travel-related books and are worried about friendship will find the book interesting.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Cynthia and Dan by Dorothy May Mercer
