The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn Iggulden, Hal Iggulden (2007, Abridged, Compact Disc)

A great book covering all sorts of topics to encourage boys to be boys, and to have fun and learn something in the process. It's not just a make-and-do book (batteries, secret codes, tree houses, water bombs, periscopes, tanning hides), but also a book to inspire (true stories of courage and adventure), a book to educate (quotes from Shakespere, battles of history, Latin phrases, astronomy), and a book of fun (the two pages on girls is worth the price of the book)! It's hard to believe so much could be packed in one volume. This is the stuff of boyhood that develops well-rounded, imaginative young men. If you despair of the video-game culture, if you want to inspire imagination and enourage character, or if you just want to see boys have fun being boys, you will love this book. More importantly, they will! In short, if you have a boy in your life - get him this book!

The Dangerous Books for Boys is a well-humored approach on how technology has changed our life and habits. As I am in my early 30s, fortunately I had the chance to live in my childhood the time when street play and hand crafted toys were the normal thing for a kid to do and enjoy. Computers and video games were available, but using them was one of the options that we had at that time, not the only option as today's kids have, or at least seem to prefer over any other more "archaic" thing.

These were times when things didn't go too fast, didn't need to be immediate and, most importantly, making real friends was easier. Things could be found (sometimes with some hard work) by browsing a book at the library or through any other method of extensive research, and the pleasure of discovering something new was more rewarding than it is today, when a simple click can resolve our problems in a minute. The technology evolution made our lives easier, no doubt about it, but as there's a price to pay for every thing that changes, easier in this case does not necessarily mean more pleasant.

At the same time this makes a nostalgia book for older people, it makes also a great reading for children, who will certainly be amazed to see how those "archaic" and "ridiculously ordinary stuff" used to make us tremendously happy.

In our home, we are weaning ourselves from television and electronic game consoles. Books, music and games have brought our family closer together. This audio book is a fabulous addition to our family. Not only does my 10 year old son love it, but mom and dad do as well! So much great information all boys, men, girls and women need to know. We purchased the hardcover for visual reference, but my son listens to this book the most while he's drawing.
LOVE IT!!!!!

My nine year old grandson is absolutely thrilled with this book! He started marking the pages and numbering the projects he wanted to build! The bow and arrow was his first. Thanks so much for writing something so intriguing to young boys!
Grandma Jan

I love this book and as soon as we got it in my seven year old wouldn't put it down. Now he is tieing knots and telling me all kind of things. I thought the chapter about girls was fun.

I loved it, and it was exactly what we were looking for. Our son is really enjoying the CD and I would recommend it to everyone with boys. Fun to listen to. Great for Daddy/Son time.

I purchased this book for my 12-year-old grandson for Christmas. I heard many good things about the book and felt that he would definately enjoy it. I was right. He truly is loving this book. He finds it interesting to find answers to offbeat questions that he perhaps had thought about but had never looked into it. He is also looking forward to trying the many fun projects throughout the book. Since it has only been a couple weeks since Christmas, he has not really started any of the projects but he says he is anxious to get started. As he is not really into books much and enjoys playing video games more, it is a joy to me and a wonderful surprise to him that he is already finding pleasure within the pages of this book. This was a wonderful gift and I know it will bring him many hours of information and pleasure. I would recommend this book for any young man.

If you are nostalgic this book is for you. It will bring back days gone by. Keep the boys or girls for that matter away from the tv or video games. This book has shone my boy about the good old days,and he loves it.

This is a fun book for boys to have. My son has already done several of the experiments. It is also a great way for the parents to interact with their child. Some of the projects need a little help from an adult. My son was even thinking further & expanding on the projects. This book would make a nice gift too.

This is a great book and is quickly becoming an essential for any Scout leaders. Its a great book for any fathers of young boys! It brings back memories and brings quality innocent fun back into that relationship...

I think it is an excellent book for boys, full of interesting facts for boys of all ages. My son hasn't had time to read it yet, but just from skimming through the pages, it is sure to be his new favorite.