The books came right on time and in perfect condition - just like it was listed.

Lots of things in here our dads took for granted that need to be spelled out to young men in this day of the metrosexual, overdressed, sissified male.

There were some interesting things in the book, but I don't feel I need to learn about cigars to be more manly.
The most appalling fact about the book was the assortment of grammatical errors. "Your done", for example. It is hard to take advice from a guy who doesn't know the difference between you're and your.

I bought this for a gift for my adult adventurous son.
It looks like it will be right up his alley.
Thanks,

I recently read The Ultimate Man's Survival Guide, and while it does contain some useful information if you bought this book thinking that it would teach you how to survive in the wilderness then I fear you have wasted your money. The parts of the book relating to wilderness survival are so miniscule that you only get a tiny fraction of information that might help you survive.
I think the title of the book is misleading. I think a better title might be; Things Every Man Should Know but Most Have Forgotten.
The book talks about a lot of different subjects in limited detail and survival is just one topic discussed and as I mentioned it is not covered in any great detail in this book.

growing up as an outdoorsman and someone whom has travel to many places overseas I would have loved to read this book when I was a young man dreaming up the things I have done and will keep on doing. Do not get me wrong this book was a great read to see someone else's take on many things and how they learned their skills. I would give this book an 5 star for 14 - 20 year old readers and an 4 star for 21 years and older readers.

This book jumped off the shelf as I was walking by. Now I find myself eating lots of bran so I can have more bathroom time with it.

Having said that, I have one MAJOR issue with it. In the section which details how to perform CPR, the sole focus is on airway management, with no mention of chest compressions. The American heart Association does not emphasize mouth to mouth resuscitation by bystanders any more, rather they emphasize continuous chest compressions without interruption for rescue breathing until the arrival of Advanced Life Support. If one were to include a pocket rescue breathing mask in a survival kit, then rescue breathing could be provided in the form of two rescue breaths after every two minutes of chest compressions. But today it is all about compressions.

I bought my son "The Dangerous Book for Boys" and enjoyed it myself. I found this book to be the next step, how to be a man. Some great advice, tips, and stories in the book. Well worth reading.

Overall I love this book. I saw a review for it in a NRA mag that I receive and it both hit the nail on the head. Sure there are several topics that I think are common sense...or perhaps I just picked them up along the way. But this really is a great book. Well worth both the money and the time. I will be picking up a few of these for Christmas.

Most of the book was excellent. The how-to portions on common sports sports was somewhat lame.

This book was okay as a guide to wilderness survival, but I could do without the Christian-flavored moralism. If you prefer a man's book with an understanding of the value of hedonism, buyThe Modern Gentleman: A Guide to Essential Manners, Savvy and Vice or The Von Hoffmann Bros.' Big Damn Book of Sheer Manliness.

A good book, very interesting; not only for men but women can learn a lot too.

This book has something for everyone. Lots of interesting facts, bits of history all laced with philosophy! Great Read

THEY ARE VERY FEW REAL MEN LIKE MYSELF OUT THERE AND THIS IS A GUIDE TO HELP THOSE MEN WHO COULD NOT BECOME MARINES BECOME REAL MEN. MOST WOMEN DONT KNOW THEIR ROLE IN SOCIETY. THE BIBLE EVEN SAYS THAT MEN ARE SUPERIOR OVER WOMEN. IT AGGRAVATES ME WHEN WOMEN WANT TO BE POLICEMEN OR FIREMEN. REAL MEN KNOW HOW TO TELL A WOMAN TO STOP THE GRINNING AND DROP THE LINEN. MOST MEN TODAY ARE LIKE MICHAEL JACKSON AND WE NEED MORE MEN LIKE TOBY KEITH OR BRAD PAISLEY (WHEN HE FORGETS TO PUT A CHRISTIAN HYMN ON HIS CDs) STOP READING AND ORDER THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW.

Being a man/gentleman means knowing enough about a host of things to give a fellow confidence and thus enable him to navigate both the physical and cultural worlds. Please don't neglect the Introduction; this one really is an introduction. Each entry is a page or so long, concise, often pithy, and always on point and entertaining. Yes, I'm a woman and I read it. Wouldn't it be nice to know the husband/sons/brothers in your life could hunt and dress a deer, wasn't wearing a clip-on tie, and could dine with the Queen and not embarrass himself or the Queen? And, what if there's not a man around? What if the only guy around is like postman Claven on Cheers, i.e. clueless? As a woman, it helps to be able to spot even the slightly-Clavens in a crowd, especially when someone is being chased by a bear.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The contents of this book are the things that every man should teach his son or grandson. I'm giving this book to my son on his 18th birthday. I wish this book had been around when he was 12 or 13. I wish it had been around when I was growing up. The knowledge that The Ultimate Man's Survival Guide contains is well worth the few bucks it costs. Your son will probably thank you again and again for it, for years down the road.

The Ultimate Man's Survival Guide is a wonderful book that every man should read. It is a great gift idea for Men as they reach different milestones such as graduation's birthdays etc. The book is a great read for men of all ages. It has information that every man should know. It explores what it means to be a man in today's society. The book covers different philosophies from great thinkers like Socrates, as well as give practical knowledge for every day life. I really loved the book. It gave me some new information and insight about being a man. It also reinforced many of my values and beliefs about what it means to be a man. Perhaps my favorite part of the book is the section at the end where it lists the 100 top manly books and movies. I was pleased to see that I had already read many of the books and watched several of the movies on the lists. There were also books and movies that I had never heard of before. Since reading the book and using it as a reference I have been exposed to some great works that I otherwise would never have enjoyed.

The book was recommended in a column and it piqued my interest. I appreciated the underlying theme of integrity and some of the stories of "real men" were good, but I felt that Mr. Miniter's individual subject pieces did not live up to my expectations.

Let's hope we never reach the point where "survival of the fittest" becomes necessary but given the recent state of our economy, a few of the author's suggestions should be learned immediately.

Once again, Frank Miniter has outdone himself. Frank's blend of wit, knowledge, creativity and insight make this book about what it is to be a man and what every man needs to know about being a man a quick, fun and very interesting read. Frank gathers information about anything and everything one could think of that even slightly interests men, and then he presents the essentials that not only men but everyone needs to know about the subjects. He blends in a lot of personal accounts and insight and also includes short bios on some of the most influential, famous and key male figures in history. The personal experiences that Frank adds gives the reader a glimpse at the fun, exotic and interesting life he has led, and really explains why he has the knowledge to write a book about what every man needs to know about being a man. Frank has either lived it, or has gone to the source for the information he presents. Read it for the facts; read it for the how-to survival instructions; read it for the humor and fascinating stories; as a female read it to try and get a better understanding of the male mind. Whatever you do, you need to read this book! When my son gets of age, he'll have is very own copy.

Read "The Hazards of Being Male". Written back in the seventies, it's a great book about us men losing our manhood. There's a picture of superman's cape in a trashcan on the cover.The Hazards of Being Male: Surviving the Myth of Masculine Privilege

If you find yourself gagging and choking on political correctness, grab this book for you and all your men-friends, sons and grandsons. Sure, some of the things covered are common sense, but then good sense isn't too common anymore. It's a fun ride on manhood practicality, from how to be a gentlemen to other not-so-common-sense attributes every guy should have.

I bought three of these books, one each for me and my two sons. The book has a few interesting stories but never really develops any wealth of good advice. It's more of an outline for what could have a been a good book. There are better books on the subject.

OK, so this book is proudly a throwback to the qualities the world admired in a man decades back. Good! Maybe the world is ready for more John Wayne and less Johnny Depp. Although, I think Depp can be a fine actor, he isn't the kind of male icon Wayne was. Despite decades of reculturalization and de-manning, the fact is that men do want to be men. In older times, they learned how to be men from, drum roll please ... other men. Mothers teach their boys a lot of wonderful values and life lessons, but there are things men need to learn from men despite what some women say about men, fish, and bicycles.

This book is divided into six parts:

1) Survivor - you learn about what to do out in nature if you need start a fire, if you are threatened by animals, if you need water, if you are injured, and much more.
2) Provider - You learn about rifles, hand guns, hunting, dressing deer, and fishing.
3) Athlete - How to throw a baseball, shoot a basketball, boxing basics, throwing a forward pass, the golf swing, soccer, some track and field, and climbing.
4) Hero - Codes of honor and conduct from the Texas Rangers, the Marine Corps (a small typo on page 115 show's that perfect editorial skills isn't necessarily needed by a true man - they have the possessive of the Marine Corps and Marine Corp's). the Bushido Virtues, a guide to running with the bulls in Pamplona, how to put out a fire, standing up for justice, how to ford a stream, help someone being electrocuted, how to fight wild animals, and much more.
5) Gentleman - this section seems dated to me. I don't are a fig about cigars, pipes, wine, whisky, or mixed drinks, but maybe you do. That information is here. You also learn how to pick out candy, buy flowers, tie a Windsor knot and a bow tie, and some steps on playing winning poker (good luck with that!).
6) Philosopher - You see a true man is a thinker, too. The author talks about the four cardinal virtues: wisdom, justice, courage, moderation (you know, from Plato). You also get a tour of the Ten Commandments, Buddhism's Eight Precepts, Taosim's Ten Precepts, Ben Franklins 13 rules of Improvement, and more. There is also an article on the "10 Most Many Deaths of All Time.

The appendices tell you how to continue your manly education. For example, the author provides a list of 100 movies you should see.

Each section is nicely illustrated and has side articles about historic men who exemplified the principles being discussed in that chapter. I also want to comment on the nicely sturdy construction of the book. It will stand up to repeated use and that is appropriate for this book because you will want to refer to it again and again and give go through it with your boys.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

A guy who lives with a poodle probably needs a book about being man more than most. I've hunted and fished all my life. I can start a fire with flint and steel. Lettered in football and soccer. Have travelled to Nepal, Paris, and Siberia (in December). And...fathered three children. But, the poodle can put a significant dent in the manly armor. I wanted Miniter to point out the one thing that could undeniably establish my manly bona fides.

Having enjoyed Miniter's previous book, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Hunting, I looked forward to this latest. Just the title was enough to insure a read. I didn't know what to expect except for a laundry list of manly activities and events to accomplish with teeth-clenched knives, torque wrenches, and duct tape all shaken not stirred. How to escape an attacking alligator. Check. How to find North without a compass. Check. How to choose a cigar. Check. How to throw a curveball. Check. 100 Manly Movies. Check. If you're looking for checklists, Miniter's book provides significant ones. However, the most important thing that Miniter's book provides is the provocative thesis that real manhood is much deeper than hunting, boxing, tying a bow tie, or rescuing damsels in distress.

The key to The Ultimate Man, is found in the chapter about heroes. Miniter posits that heroic conduct is not a single life-saving moment spawned by desperate need but should be an entire life based on developing and sticking to a moral code of conduct. He's hit the nail on the head--and not just for defining heroism. This is the essence of true manhood. In today's fatherless, entertainer obsessed world, genuine examples of moral, self-disciplined manhood are rare, indeed. And, says Miniter, men have a duty to shake off the fetters of apathy and fecklessness and become MEN. We have a duty and responsibility to teach our sons to become MEN. Men who do not crumble in the face of challenge; men who do not chose the easy path; men who are willing to govern or give up their vices; men who are willing to sacrifice their own comfort for the good of their wives, families, communities, and countries. I cannot help but wonder that the source of the economic and social catastrophes that have turned our world upside down is the lack of Miniter's "Ultimate Men." By the same token, our salvation will be in teaching and preparing a new generation of responsible, daring, and disciplined men. Miniter's Ultimate Man's Survival Guide is a great place to start preparing that new generation and reforming the old.

Before reading this book , I was just another eyebrow waxing sissyboy.Once I laid my hands upon this sacred text though, I immediately stripped to my underwear and ran into the nearest forest where I delivered an uppercut to a bear of such epic proportions, he landed totally skinned and prepared for a feast. Thanks BOOK!

Also I don't let women touch this guide, because everyone knows that women belong in the kitchen and not out hunting or setting broken bones. This one time my girlfriend saw a spider and she peed nail polish for about an hour.

"The Ultimate Man's Survival Guide" doesn't just give useful information about how to do things that are traditionally...and these days mostly subconsciously...considered "manly". It tells you *why* they are considered "manly", by presenting and discussing the principles behind the practices.

Understanding these principles, and the practices which express them, is very useful to us personally as men as well as to the families, friends, and complete strangers with whom we interact every day.

These concepts will seem obvious to you as you read, and you will wonder why some of them...or perhaps many of them...didn't seem obvious to you before.

Thanks Frank!

- Jim V.

All these wasted months reading the penultimate man's guide to manly survival, when I could have been reading the ultimate guide!

This book will teach you how to stop, drop, and roll when you see a bear, in fact to roll to your feet and rip its throat out with your bare manly teeth.

This book will teach you je ne se qua, it will teach you savoir faire, only not in french, in Manly, which I believe is a language. The difference, I believe, is that in manly you do not smell as nice.

This book is a correction to the bedraggled feminized weakness which over 99.9 percent of American men evince, which you can tell because they use words like "evince" and also, they buy books about how to be manly, including penultimate and even ultimate books about being manly.

Sit down by your fire, with your roasted bear, and read about what it takes to be a man. Read a book! Be a man! That is what I learnt in high school.

This book also offers a philosophy of manliness, which is more intelligent than mere manliness, because it evinces a raison d'etre of masculinity, except once again not in french.

Seriously, buy this book, be more of a man. Or have a woman give it to you, which is even better, because by giving you a man book for Father's Day, she can simultaneously gift you, and subtly note that you NEED a book on manliness. The most emasculating moment any man can have, receipt of a book on manliness from his woman.

Be a man. Feel the man roar inside. Buy this fine book.

In the current age, this is a much needed antidote to the cultural feminization of men.

While there is certainly nothing wrong (and lots right) about femininity for women, the American society has been on a crusade to attack masculinity in many ways. That starts with quests to prescribe Ritalin for boys in school for acting like boys and it goes on from there.

Frank Miniter has put together a book that helps to counter this trend. It is divided chapters entitled as follows: Survivor, Provider, Athlete, Hero, Gentleman , and Philosopher. Each one of these has some great content. Here are some examples:

Survivor - emergency gear, navigation, how to make a fire without matches, first aid, and dealing with predatory creatures.

Provider - shooting (firearm and bows), setting a snare, and field dressing game.

Athlete - lots of sports basics and knots. I think the section on knots is one that could and should be expanded a lot for future editions.

Hero - Heroic codes, chivalry, stopping a dog fight, defending the weak, and self defense (another part that should be lengthened).

Gentleman - How to tie bowties and Windsor knots, Gentleman's 20 Rules of Conduct, How to Set a Table, as well as the author's thoughts on vices such as smokings cigars, alcohol, and gambling.

Philosopher - Great moral codes, self improvement, self reliance, and more.

Included throughout the book are portraits of various great men throughout history. There are also two well done appendices that cover '100 Movies Men Should See' and '100 Books Men Should Read'.

I have little quarrel with most of the contents although I personally think that some of Miniter's views on vices is a bit silly. Although many of the areas covered were standard fare in the life education of young boys growing up when I was younger (at least in the West where such things as hunting, fishing, etc. were not only popular then, but still are), many of these are not commonly taught in the age of nonstop TV, video games, etc.

This would be a great gift for the men and boys in one's life. Although it is very good, I would really like to see the author double or triple its content for future printings.

Gentlemen, this book will draw you in. Every time I had to put it down, I looked forward to opening it back up again to learn something new. Very interesting, very easy to read and tons of great information.

"The Ultimate Man's Survival Guide" is more than just a description of how to wrestle alligators, run with the bulls in Pamplona and prepare a cigar to be smoked--it's a comprehensive roadmap to gentlemanhood. So many men these days have decided that the opposite of sexism is sissyhood, and nothing could be further from the truth. Somehow the we've lost the gender ideal of a gentleman--a man who knows how to fight with his fists but only as a last resort; a man who treats women with respect but knows how to defend her if he must; a man who knows how to hunt and dress out a deer and understands as he does so how he is serving the ecosystem. Miniter's book is here to counter that. A terrific book for Father's Day, or to give to a young man as he prepares to navigate the course to adulthood.

Years of femislamunistofascist tyranny have made it hard for a man to be a man. Our masculinity is assaulted at every turn. We're told we have to have feelings, and that we can't spit or adjust ourselves in public. Women's magazines, with their tales of whopping three-plus-inch manparts, have created a standard of perfection no man can achieve. Our wives read these things and they laugh at us and call us names like "General Tiny-Parts" or "Vienna Sausage Boy." It's all part of what I call "the sad, sorry plight of the white Christian male." We've been beaten down so much many of us no longer know how to be a man.

That's why a book like "The Ultimate Man's Survival Guide" is so needed now. It provides us with the knowledge we need to reclaim our manhood.

I'll admit it. Even I, a man who spikes an 11 on the manly scale of absolute gender, learned a few tricks from this book. The tips on how to pick the perfect cigar and alligator wrestling are worth the price of the book alone.

That said, I did find a few flaws. The section on how to fight off a bear seemed to be missing something. I tried it down at The Castro, and well, I'm not admitting the bears got the best of me, but I'm telling you a step was left out somewhere.

And you really should warn people what happens when the bear achieves dominance. I mean, my God! It's horrible, and OK, yes, also disturbingly enjoyable. That's the worst part--that feeling of happy satisfaction. That, and the lack of after-action smokes. The author should list cigarettes as one of the things you need when you prepare to fight a bear.

The book also needs a chapter on how to deny your essence to women. You know they take it so they can weaken you. They want to make you feel lethargic and unable to defend yourself when they begin their post-sex taunting. It's just like with the bears.

Finally, you'd think the author, Frank Miniter, who edits the NRA's American Hunter magazine, would have written a chapter on defending your home against terrorists. Gitmo is going to get closed down, and despite the budget vote, it's likely some of the detainees will end up in domestic prisons.

What do we do when Khalid Sheikh Mohammed melts his way out of USP Florence using his mutant heat ray eyes and then crushes Denver with his giant reptile feet. How does a man defend his family from that? A little guidance from Mr. Minter would be helpful.

Still, even with these flaws, I don't feel like the book taunted me too much--even after I denied it my essence. So I'll give it five stars.