The Dangerous Book for Boys

Nostalgia is a tricky thing. Unless you lived through the original slice of life, doe-eyed nostalgia can seem outdated and uninteresting. The Iggulden brothers are gambling that the innocence and appeal of days past will transcend generational differences with their guide to boyhood. What’s great about The Dangerous Book for Boys is that it can act as an activity guide for any age or gender with tasks that include growing crystals, creating ciphers and building tree houses. But nostalgia does wreak its havoc in chapters that cry out the joys of brown paper packages, stickball and marbling paper. Uneasy moments that insist every boy should know The Ten Commandments and play sports to impress girls are overshadowed by helpful astronomy and history lessons. Now everyone—not just boys—can be boys.