25 Skills Every Man Should Know: The List, Ready for Your Debate

As Glenn Reynolds writes in his new PM column, traditional knowledge of how to build and fix ordinary things—around the house and in a jam—might be on the decline. With our lives becoming more driven by technology, blue-collar labor has been replaced with more white-collar employment, and teenagers are becoming better at programming Web sites than swinging hammers.

Here at PM, where we at least try to do everything, we spent weeks fine-tuning our list of "25 Skills Every Man Should Know," debating over whether certain items were too basic, too challenging or just too obscure. You can find a full how-to rundown of each one in the October issue of Popular Mechanics, which just hit newsstands. But for now, check out our carefully selected list below, then offer your own arguments and suggestions in the comments section below, or tell us how to perform your must-know skill by writing to us here...

The List: How to...

1. Patch a radiator hose
2. Protect your computer
3. Rescue a boater who as capsized
4. Frame a wall
5. Retouch digital photos
6. Back up a trailer
7. Build a campfire
8. Fix a dead outlet
9. Navigate with a map and compass
10. Use a torque wrench
11. Sharpen a knife
12. Perform CPR
13. Fillet a fish
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid
15. Get a car unstuck
16. Back up data
17. Paint a room
18. Mix concrete
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle
20. Change oil and filter
21. Hook up an HDTV
22. Bleed brakes
23. Paddle a canoe
24. Fix a bike flat
25. Extend your wireless network

Horse Hockey!

Every REAL man knows that you only need to know how to use the two most important things in your toolbox.

Duct Tape and WD-40

So listen up and learn something.

If it moves, and it ain't supposed to - use the Duct Tape.
If it don't move, and its supposed to - use the WD-40.

Don't take no rocket scientist to learn that.

1. Stay home on a friday night
2. Go to work every day
3. Pay the bills not the local tavern
4. Obey the boss
5. Repair the car
6. Clean up after himself
7. Comb his hair
8. Pickup his socks & underware
9. Use Q-tips, not keys
10. Get a car unstuck
11. Change/check oil & filter
12. Doctor himself with bandaids not electrical tape
13. Change a flat tire
14. Empty the garbage
15. Clean the grease outta the sink/tub after bathing
16. Make good Coffee
17. Spend more time with the kids than the girlfriends
18. Wash the dishes
19. Not waste time
20. Stay out of trouble
21. Feed the pets
22. Hang up his hat & coat
23. Wash his feet
24. Flush the toilet
25. Listen to a woman

You’re right about that.

My mother in law has her PC password protected although she and her husband are the only ones using it.

I have no spyware, virus or any other sort of protection. Never had a problem. I think a lot of it is just a scam to get you to spend more money.

Besides the computer junk, the list is pretty decent, although I have not idea about hooking up HDTV and really don’t care cause I’ll probably never have one. I have a life and don’t need to wrap it around television.

“I have not idea about hooking up HDTV and really don’t care cause I’ll probably never have one.”

I got one a couple months ago. Trial by fire. Fortunately, it had a pretty good guide.

Not sure why every man should know that, though.

I was surprised “Build a fence” wasn’t there. I’ve had to do that a couple times. Seems like a good skill to have.

I prefer that spelling, too.

In engineering, a “FILLET” (2 L’s) is pronounced exactly as it looks like in English (not that French pronunciation), and means a rounded corner.

Unlike a chamfer, which is a simple cut-off type corner.

BTW, I change the oil. My husband doesn’t get into cars like I do - but he could do it. Just never cared to and doesn’t know how yet.

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