Testosterone Planet: True Stories from a Man's World (Travelers' Tales)

by Sean O'reilly, Larry Habegger, James O'reilly

Release Date: September, 1999

Edition: Paperback

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Great Guy stories

First of all, these are GUY stories, yes, lady's might like to know what goes on inside our heads, but these are stories told from a guy's perspective. Some are outrageous, some funny, a couple sad but in a "its a tough world, and people die doing stupid stuff" sort of way. But really any real man would have gone on this adventure anyway, he just would have been a bit more prepared. These stories focus on the outdoors adventerous types of guys, so if you are a weenie, but wonder what you are missing, this is a good place to start, there is still hope.

My favorite is the "turkey" story, and it alone was worth the price of this book.

BTW I got my copy as a present, so I recommend it as such.

Ladies, read herein of Real Men!

Touted as a book of men's away-from-home stories, presumably collected to illustrate the courage and /or foolishness of Manly Men under the influence of excessive testosterone in a dangerous world, it has merit. However, I'm acquainted with females of the species that would happily go off on similar adventures, so I'm not convinced that the experiences related are totally a Guy Thing. In any case, there are some very funny, as well as very horrific, yarns to be found in these selected twenty-five. Ray Isle's confrontation with a wild turkey while on a solo, very macho camping trip is hilarious. Jim Wickwire's memories of a friend's death and his own survival on a mountain glacier are heartrending, as are Michael Herr's recollections of the effect of combat on the American troops stationed in 'Nam. Positively chilling is the gritty story of survival under torture in Moscow's Lubyanka by Slavomir Rawicz. Finally, Larry Habegger makes a convincing case for middle-aged man's ability to return to the summertime of youth, however briefly.

Admittedly, some of the essays are not memorable. I may have dozed off while reading William Ashton's "A Room of Men" - some blather about a painting. George Wright's "Applause in Calcutta" must have been too deep for me because I totally failed to see the point. "No Like A-feesh?" by Paul Roberts verged on being just annoying.

A fine read for a Real Man. In the same spirit of sharing after I do the laundry and ironing this weekend, maybe I'll write and tell you all about it.