Review of Man Mission
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Andre Francis
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Review of Man Mission
[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]
Man Mission by Eytan Uliel chronicles the lives of four close friends trying to maintain an annual tradition of rugged, globe-trotting adventures meant to stoke the flames of primal manliness and counter modern monotony. Be a man; a call to action to the males of our species to dig deep, and find a way to do what needs to be done for the sake of those who depend on you, even at the cost of yourselves. In today’s world, that seemingly simple phrase sends each and every boy who hears it on an often lifelong odyssey, wondering what it means, and how it should manifest for them. As the four friends live their lives in their own response to this call, they lean on each other and this newly formed tradition to sharpen and support one another through the heights of success and the depths of despair. These “Missions” were originally conceived for their physical benefits; to counter the effects of their increasingly sedentary lifestyles, and as a detox from the malaise of their complex personal lives. However, life is not so easily outsmarted. As their individual lives impact the four friends in various ways, will their tradition be left by the wayside, or will it play a more important role than they ever imagined? In this 378-page book, we see whether or not this mission was a success.
I cannot express enough how much I resonated with this book. It feels like I lived an entirely different life through the eyes of the author, while at the same time seeing so many parallels with his life in my own. I began to reflect on my own standing as a man; wondering what I have been doing right and what have been doing wrong so far. As well as if there even are linear answers to these questions. Nevertheless, I do believe I got some helpful do’s and don’ts to add to my list. A list I believe that every man has and tries to refine in some shape or form. I also caught an extreme case of wanderlust from his vivid descriptions of the various locations, and a strong urge to start a similar tradition with some of my closest male friends. The author handled the various tonal shifts very well. He has a knack for offsetting the lighthearted banter with more serious and emotional discussions. Or maybe that is just how he and his friends are by nature, either way, he brings it across masterfully. I have to admit, I laughed at every mention of the pink bracelet and felt for them in their moments of distress, to near tears, as if they were my very own group of friends. Though cannot say that ours is the hardest time to be a man, recently, I have started to think that it’s possibly the most complicated. Man Mission by Eytan Uliel may not have given me definitive answers to the questions it poses but it sent me on a journey of self-reflection that left me better equipped for my own mission, even if only slightly.
I had little to no issue with this book. I could complain about the small, eye-straining font size which I was unable to adjust for some reason but I am not sure if this was unique to the version I received or if it was just the norm. Though if I am being serious, my only real issue is the hefty amount of swearing. That is not even a fair complaint though, as it is more reflective of my personal preference, and anytime profanity was used it did not feel forced. It is a book centered around four men being men and roughing it, so I should expect as much. Minor gripes for what is essentially a great book.
So I have thought it over carefully and I believe that Man Mission deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 Stars. This book is a great example of quality writing and immersive storytelling; I was enthralled from beginning to end. I only found one grammatical error, a testament to the quality of the editing, and the flow, presentation, and pacing of the writing made it very enjoyable to read.
I would recommend this book to men in general, young and old. Ours is a generation filled with men who are so unsure and lost, especially with single motherhood on the rise and so many voices coming from social and mainstream media trying to provide direction. It does deal with some mature subject matters, so it is not suitable for children, and though it does have some strategically placed bible scriptures, they are short and coupled with philosophic quotes, so it is suitable for readers of all religious leanings.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Man Mission by Eytan Uliel chronicles the lives of four close friends trying to maintain an annual tradition of rugged, globe-trotting adventures meant to stoke the flames of primal manliness and counter modern monotony. Be a man; a call to action to the males of our species to dig deep, and find a way to do what needs to be done for the sake of those who depend on you, even at the cost of yourselves. In today’s world, that seemingly simple phrase sends each and every boy who hears it on an often lifelong odyssey, wondering what it means, and how it should manifest for them. As the four friends live their lives in their own response to this call, they lean on each other and this newly formed tradition to sharpen and support one another through the heights of success and the depths of despair. These “Missions” were originally conceived for their physical benefits; to counter the effects of their increasingly sedentary lifestyles, and as a detox from the malaise of their complex personal lives. However, life is not so easily outsmarted. As their individual lives impact the four friends in various ways, will their tradition be left by the wayside, or will it play a more important role than they ever imagined? In this 378-page book, we see whether or not this mission was a success.
I cannot express enough how much I resonated with this book. It feels like I lived an entirely different life through the eyes of the author, while at the same time seeing so many parallels with his life in my own. I began to reflect on my own standing as a man; wondering what I have been doing right and what have been doing wrong so far. As well as if there even are linear answers to these questions. Nevertheless, I do believe I got some helpful do’s and don’ts to add to my list. A list I believe that every man has and tries to refine in some shape or form. I also caught an extreme case of wanderlust from his vivid descriptions of the various locations, and a strong urge to start a similar tradition with some of my closest male friends. The author handled the various tonal shifts very well. He has a knack for offsetting the lighthearted banter with more serious and emotional discussions. Or maybe that is just how he and his friends are by nature, either way, he brings it across masterfully. I have to admit, I laughed at every mention of the pink bracelet and felt for them in their moments of distress, to near tears, as if they were my very own group of friends. Though cannot say that ours is the hardest time to be a man, recently, I have started to think that it’s possibly the most complicated. Man Mission by Eytan Uliel may not have given me definitive answers to the questions it poses but it sent me on a journey of self-reflection that left me better equipped for my own mission, even if only slightly.
I had little to no issue with this book. I could complain about the small, eye-straining font size which I was unable to adjust for some reason but I am not sure if this was unique to the version I received or if it was just the norm. Though if I am being serious, my only real issue is the hefty amount of swearing. That is not even a fair complaint though, as it is more reflective of my personal preference, and anytime profanity was used it did not feel forced. It is a book centered around four men being men and roughing it, so I should expect as much. Minor gripes for what is essentially a great book.
So I have thought it over carefully and I believe that Man Mission deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 Stars. This book is a great example of quality writing and immersive storytelling; I was enthralled from beginning to end. I only found one grammatical error, a testament to the quality of the editing, and the flow, presentation, and pacing of the writing made it very enjoyable to read.
I would recommend this book to men in general, young and old. Ours is a generation filled with men who are so unsure and lost, especially with single motherhood on the rise and so many voices coming from social and mainstream media trying to provide direction. It does deal with some mature subject matters, so it is not suitable for children, and though it does have some strategically placed bible scriptures, they are short and coupled with philosophic quotes, so it is suitable for readers of all religious leanings.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
