Posted on 05/19/2007 7:17:01 AM PDT by fgoodwin
First, there was the question of the title: "The Dangerous Book for Boys." HarperCollins Publishers' Chief Executive Jane Friedman just didn't understand what it meant. Sure, the book had been a hit in England and Australia, but that didn't mean it would work in the U.S.
But the sales staff urged her to stick with it, and in just two weeks, "Dangerous" has become the breakout hit of the season. The News Corp. unit initially ordered up 91,000 copies. There are now 405,000 copies in print. One senior HarperCollins executive, extrapolating from overseas sales and population data, projects that "Dangerous," which lists for $24.95, could sell as many as four million in the U.S.
The unapologetic message is that boys need a certain amount of danger and risk in their lives, and that there are certain lessons that need to be passed down from father to son, man to man. The implication is that in contemporary society basic rules of maleness aren't being handed off as they used to be.
The gender-exclusive nature of "Dangerous" bothers some women. In a posting on the livejournal.com Web site, one woman, addressing the book and boys in general, wrote: "Here's a tip, kiddies: maybe the girls want to have the same kind of fun you do, instead of sitting around the house and learning how to be a servant." (Matthew Benjamin, a senior editor at the Collins imprint, which published the book, says, "There hasn't been any organized protest.")
HarperCollins says it doesn't have any immediate plans to publish a girl's version. HarperCollins's Ms. Friedman, who has two sons and two stepsons, explains: "Boys are very different."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Yes, but we will shower together.
LOL
It's only a matter of time but they won't use a title like that. The original will be Bowdlerized, neutered and feminized. I consider it a miracle that such a politically incorrect book has actually been published in America today. Enjoy it while you can!
I want this book. I have three boys!
Mmmmm....nope. They pretty much prefer the servant role, when allowed to fulfill it without negative pressure from maladjusted feminist role models. ;)
Awwwwwww...
;)
see patton’s post #22 for the pic :)
yep, it is :D
They left out chapters on making carbide cannons, information on fishing with cherry bombs, shooting, building makeshift submarines and diver's helmets, making smoke bombs with black powder, 10 fun things to do with dynamite caps, beginning base-jumping with homemade parachutes, homemade ski and bicycle jumps, 100 interesting things to do with chemistry sets, etc.
Those, and many more, were routine diversions when I was growing up. Some of us survived and were the better for all the experiences. Modern boys are very underprivileged.
Sounds like my childhood.
Got the scars to prove it. Hah!
Still that's more than in England, where the book was originally published.
Gorsh, that’s sweet.
No problem — thanx
Sounds like volume II in the making — go for it!
In 2007 America this would be a "dangerous" book for either boys or girls to get too serious about.
Oh no.
Testosterone.
Can’t have that.
yeah, he’s a keeper :D
They state this is the American version. Their version is probably about soccer.
what, no hockey?
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