Review of Man Mission

[Khasheem]

[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 by Eytan Uliel is an account of his life; marriages, jobs, relationships, kids, and of course, travels, all coming together to form an epic adventure. It is a book about commitments, adventure, personal growth, travel and friendship.

Four college friends decide to go on an annual retreat in an attempt to feel ‘manly’ again and take a respite from daily life. They go on adventures to exotic places, each year trying to outdo the last. The man-mission has its own committee and rule book. There are traditions to be followed and ranks to be gained, and awards to be earned.

The book is in the first person. The style is simple and fun, energetic and descriptive. It was a very fast-paced read, but that is a good thing. Each of the man-missions was a new chapter, which gave me a break. I was grateful for it because each chapter is jam-packed with action. There is a very wry sense of humour throughout the book. I ended up laughing out loud several times from their stupid antics.

In the beginning, I was confused because instances of daily life were sprinkled in between the adventure of the man-mission. It felt very abrupt. However, towards the end, I was way more invested in home life than I was in the travels. The decision to juxtapose everyday life with the man-mission made sure that the impact of both was felt.

The characters (real-life people, considering the author is writing about his life) are written well. Their personalities shine through their actions, but the author also talks about how he feels about his friends, allowing us to compare our impressions against his. His male buddies are the ones who are explored the most. The women are important, but they are not the main focus of the book.

I recommend it to travel enthusiasts, as his expeditions might sow the seeds for future trips. I also recommend it for people who are looking for a fast-paced read based on real life. The men can be a bit misogynistic at times, and there are instances of depression. There is a lot of profanity. If these things bother you, I recommend not reading the book.

Reading the book was an enjoyable experience, and there is nothing I dislike about the book. I couldn’t find any significant errors, meaning that it is well-edited. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars.

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Man Mission
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