Review of Man Mission

[Clare Jose]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Man Mission written by Eytan Uliel is a book that can be called a memoir. The book describes in part, the story of the author’s own life, and in part, all the journeys the author and his friends embarked on, over the course of fifteen years.

‘Man Mission’ was the name given by the author and his friends to the yearly trips they took together. It was usually a week-long getaway where the men would leave their homes and families, travelling to exotic locations in pursuit of freedom and adventure. Man Mission had humble beginnings. The idea for the annual trips emerged from a simple conversation the author had with Sam, his friend from law school. With time the idea grew into something bigger, gradually developing its own rules and traditions. Daniel and Alex, two of the author’s other friends, were also part of Man Mission. Through the years, the group engaged in activities like hiking, trekking, kayaking, cycling and even ice climbing across countries like Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Iceland.

The 362 page-long book is divided into three sections and narrates a total of fifteen Man Mission journeys. The author has dedicated a chapter for every trip and begins in a way aimed at evoking curiosity within the reader. The narration of each trip is inter-dispersed with short flashbacks or explanations of what was happening in the author’s life that year. The author began each chapter with a quote and a verse from the Bible, and had also added rough maps of the country they were visiting.

The book was more than just a record of the journeys the four friends went on. The book was in reality, a depiction of the author’s journey through his own life. Over the course of several years, the author went from being a young man having dreams of conquering the world to a middle-aged man trying to find himself. The book’s tone varied with time. While it started off as a light-hearted and humorous account of their trips, it slowly shifted to become more serious and contemplative. The book portrayed the general confusion felt by an individual as they struggled to choose between following the path they were placed on, or creating their own.

When I started reading the book, I was expecting a humorous narration of adventure and fun-filled experiences. While the book did provide that, it also gave me food for thought. I found myself pondering about the purpose of life and what it meant to truly live life. I thought about the fast-paced lives we all lead and what it means to be present in the moment.

While it wasn’t exactly what I envisioned, the book was an enjoyable read. I liked how the book was structured. The maps at the beginning of each chapter had small images that were indicative of what had happened in each country. I often ended up examining those images in the hopes of predicting what went on in the next chapter. I also liked the addition of a heading titled ‘Vital Statistics’ at the end of every chapter. This methodically summed up each trip on the basis of a few pre-determined criteria.

I rate the book four out of four stars. There was nothing I disliked about it, and I found no major errors. The book has a noticeable amount of swearing and also deals with topics like cheating and divorce. There is also an instance of animal violence. The book is definitely meant for a mature audience. I recommend the book to readers who enjoy memoirs or travelogues.

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Man Mission
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[Abril Zacca]

I thought the maps were a nice detail. Thank you for your review!

[Clare Jose]

I thought the maps were a nice detail. Thank you for your review!

Me too. Glad you stopped by!

[NetMassimo]

I read this novel and I have fond memories of it, also because I picked it when it became the Book of the Month, so I also read and wrote many comments in the forum's BOTM section. Thank you, as your great review brought back those memories!

[Kavita Shah]

Thank you Clare for this insightful and detailed review. I do like some thought-provoking tales and memoirs are certainly a good place to find them, but I am not sure about this one. But it is great that you enjoyed the story and found something more than just a humor-filled story.

[Clare Jose]

I read this novel and I have fond memories of it, also because I picked it when it became the Book of the Month, so I also read and wrote many comments in the forum's BOTM section. Thank you, as your great review brought back those memories!

I'm happy to hear that. Thank you for reading and commenting!

[Clare Jose]

Thank you Clare for this insightful and detailed review. I do like some thought-provoking tales and memoirs are certainly a good place to find them, but I am not sure about this one. But it is great that you enjoyed the story and found something more than just a humor-filled story.

Glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by and commenting Kavita.

[Anna_1203]

Your review made me want to have similar adventures. I would love to read this book. Thank you for your detailed and intriguing review.

[Chimereucheya Okoroafo]

This book really seemed like more than a memoir to me. The journey these men went through and the stories they told were intriguing. I would envy their freedom and lifestyle, where they were able to leave everything behind and experience the world. You've collected all these in your review. Good job.

[Amy Luman]

I wish my friends and I had started something like this long ago. We never seem to be able to get away. I guess you just have to make it a priority.

[Kirsi Cultrera]

This book represents my other favorite genre; memoirs. I like that it describes the growing up of one man, and also tells about the journeys of these four men. Thank you for the well-crafted review!

[Clare Jose]

Your review made me want to have similar adventures. I would love to read this book. Thank you for your detailed and intriguing review.

I hope you get to go on your own set of adventures. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

[Clare Jose]

This book really seemed like more than a memoir to me. The journey these men went through and the stories they told were intriguing. I would envy their freedom and lifestyle, where they were able to leave everything behind and experience the world. You've collected all these in your review. Good job.

Thank you! I appreciate your comment.

[Clare Jose]

I wish my friends and I had started something like this long ago. We never seem to be able to get away. I guess you just have to make it a priority.

Absolutely. It's one of the first things I thought of. See if you can find the time, it would be an amazing experience.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

[Clare Jose]

This book represents my other favorite genre; memoirs. I like that it describes the growing up of one man, and also tells about the journeys of these four men. Thank you for the well-crafted review!

Glad you liked it! Thank you for your comment