Review of Man Mission
-
Asyraf Fauzi
- Posts: 10
- Joined: 03 Sep 2021, 08:48
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 19
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-asyraf-fauzi.html
- Latest Review: Killing Abel by Michael Tieman
Review of Man Mission
[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]
Eytan Uliel tells the story of his travels with his three best friends, Sam, Daniel, and Alec in his memoir, Man Mission. The travel memoir spanned 15 years, through 15 annual "Man Missions" that the foursome underwent in over 15 locations. The impetus for these annual adventures was an impromptu one-week hiking trip in New Zealand, proposed by Sam, where the idea for the "Man Mission" was drawn up. From trekking in the Andes to climbing glaciers in Iceland, the annual manly escapades were designed to push them to their limits and ultimately prove to themselves that they were men.
Eytan did a fantastic job of recounting his travels with his candid humor and vivid descriptions of the places they had been to. Among my favorite scenes in the travelogue were when he described their encounters with wild animals in South Africa and with a shark in Fiji. He likened a pride of lions to a "family enjoying time together in the living room" and the roar of a leopardess to a "seductive, feline yawn". A particularly poignant scene was also described when a rabbit was killed in South Korea.
Amidst the tales of adventure in the annual "Man Mission", Eytan also related events from their lives in between missions. We followed the four men as they grew from recent graduates, trying to find their way in life, to established professionals and family men. Along the way, they experienced the ups and downs of life, going through promotions, layoffs, and career changes, as well as marital conflicts and the death of a loved one. Being a husband and father myself, I can certainly relate to the struggles of being the breadwinner of the family and being a caring husband and father. The advice that they got from a Japanese guide; to tell their families every day how much they love them, resonates deeply with me.
Notwithstanding, there were some minor grammatical and typographical errors in the book. The F-word and D-word were also used quite liberally throughout the book. Some indecent scenes were depicted as well, making it unsuitable for children. The conversations between Eytan, Sam, and Alec regarding infidelity and their private parts can also be disturbing to some. Though, since it is a book about the lives of four macho men, plenty of cursing and adult content is expected.
Nevertheless, Eytan told a compelling story of the journey to manhood and brotherly love. The book was also replete with Eytan's philosophical reflections on life. I find his insights on life very refreshing, particularly his views on the fleeting nature of joy and despair while sailing in Thailand and the lesson of selflessness that he obtained while being injured in Hawaii. I also enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, which served as a preamble to the impending character development of the four friends through each Man Mission. The vital statistics provided at the end of each chapter also served as a comical wrap-up of the achievements and "casualties" of each "Man Mission". For these reasons, I give this book 4 out of 4 stars.
This book would appeal to people who enjoy travelling and extreme sports. The camaraderie and bond between men demonstrated by Eytan and his friends can also inspire other men to follow in their footsteps. Young couples can also relate to the everyday struggle of raising a family and attaining work-life balance captured in Eytan's recollections. People suffering from depression or facing a crisis in their lives can be motivated to get help through reading the anecdotes in this book. Overall, men and women, from all walks of life, can appreciate the story of life wonderfully captured in this book.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Eytan Uliel tells the story of his travels with his three best friends, Sam, Daniel, and Alec in his memoir, Man Mission. The travel memoir spanned 15 years, through 15 annual "Man Missions" that the foursome underwent in over 15 locations. The impetus for these annual adventures was an impromptu one-week hiking trip in New Zealand, proposed by Sam, where the idea for the "Man Mission" was drawn up. From trekking in the Andes to climbing glaciers in Iceland, the annual manly escapades were designed to push them to their limits and ultimately prove to themselves that they were men.
Eytan did a fantastic job of recounting his travels with his candid humor and vivid descriptions of the places they had been to. Among my favorite scenes in the travelogue were when he described their encounters with wild animals in South Africa and with a shark in Fiji. He likened a pride of lions to a "family enjoying time together in the living room" and the roar of a leopardess to a "seductive, feline yawn". A particularly poignant scene was also described when a rabbit was killed in South Korea.
Amidst the tales of adventure in the annual "Man Mission", Eytan also related events from their lives in between missions. We followed the four men as they grew from recent graduates, trying to find their way in life, to established professionals and family men. Along the way, they experienced the ups and downs of life, going through promotions, layoffs, and career changes, as well as marital conflicts and the death of a loved one. Being a husband and father myself, I can certainly relate to the struggles of being the breadwinner of the family and being a caring husband and father. The advice that they got from a Japanese guide; to tell their families every day how much they love them, resonates deeply with me.
Notwithstanding, there were some minor grammatical and typographical errors in the book. The F-word and D-word were also used quite liberally throughout the book. Some indecent scenes were depicted as well, making it unsuitable for children. The conversations between Eytan, Sam, and Alec regarding infidelity and their private parts can also be disturbing to some. Though, since it is a book about the lives of four macho men, plenty of cursing and adult content is expected.
Nevertheless, Eytan told a compelling story of the journey to manhood and brotherly love. The book was also replete with Eytan's philosophical reflections on life. I find his insights on life very refreshing, particularly his views on the fleeting nature of joy and despair while sailing in Thailand and the lesson of selflessness that he obtained while being injured in Hawaii. I also enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, which served as a preamble to the impending character development of the four friends through each Man Mission. The vital statistics provided at the end of each chapter also served as a comical wrap-up of the achievements and "casualties" of each "Man Mission". For these reasons, I give this book 4 out of 4 stars.
This book would appeal to people who enjoy travelling and extreme sports. The camaraderie and bond between men demonstrated by Eytan and his friends can also inspire other men to follow in their footsteps. Young couples can also relate to the everyday struggle of raising a family and attaining work-life balance captured in Eytan's recollections. People suffering from depression or facing a crisis in their lives can be motivated to get help through reading the anecdotes in this book. Overall, men and women, from all walks of life, can appreciate the story of life wonderfully captured in this book.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Killing Abel by Michael Tieman
