How To Be The Best At Everything (The Boys' Book) (Hardcover)

by Dominique Enright (Author), Guy MacDonald (Author), Nikalas Catlow (Author)
Key Phrases: Northern Hemisphere

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 4–7—Both of these titles are filled with fun tidbits and suggestions for "beating the rest" at myriad interesting things. They are certain to be popular with readers who have plenty of free time and an adventurous spirit. Examples of more than 150 combined skills ranging from benign (making bubble bath) to outrageous (ripping a phone book in half) to outrageously exaggerated (how to survive in outer space/how to cope if zombies attack). The titles open with disclaimers disavowing any responsibility for accidents or injuries incurred from acting on the information contained within—these texts must be used with heavy doses of common sense. The boys' text contains the more outlandish tips—"Fight off a crocodile." "Escape quicksand." In Girls, the suggestions are more sedentary: "Give yourself a perfect manicure." "Knit with your fingers." "Grow a crystal." But if taken in the spirit of fun, many readers will enjoy the experiences while those with an underdeveloped sense of irony might be better off skipping certain entries.—Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description
How to do almost anything in one handy book.

Found yourself in a sticky situation? Inside you'll learn how to escape quicksand (p. 40), build a raft (p.41), start a survival fire (p.99), or fly a helicopter (p. 11).

Want to impress your friends? Now you can rip a phonebook in half (p. 35), hypnotize a chicken (p. 56), or read their minds (p. 73).

Boring Saturday afternoon? Not anymore when you find out how to make a waterbomb (p. 79), a boomerang (p. 95), or a volcano (p. 88).

And loads of other keen things you need to know how to do!

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545016282
• ISBN-13: 978-0545016285
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #61,731 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #7 in	Books > Children's Books > Reference & Nonfiction > Almanacs
  #24 in	Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Boys & Men > Nonfiction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but not the "best" of its genre, September 18, 2007

By	Lakiesha "Lakiesha" (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it is a lot of fun, nicely illustrated, and it has a number of features that are appealing to boys (and girls).

On the other hand, this book is unabashedly derivative of the funnier and more comprehensive The Big Book of Boy Stuff and the better designed The Dangerous Book for Boys. This leaves How to Be the Best at Everything running in third place for prospective book buyers.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, October 11, 2007

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

Although not as comprehensive and complete as Bart King's amazing Big Book of Boy Stuff, The, this book is a good start for younger boys (and girls!) looking to impress their friends with how awesome they can be.

If you've ever wondered how to fly a helicopter, or needed to know how to avoid being eaten by a bear, or planned to show your superhuman strength by ripping a phone book in half, then THE BOYS' BOOK is for you.

This short guide (less than 120 pages) is filled with tips, tricks, hints, and helpful knowledge that anyone can use to make themselves look like a genius. Because, as you know, not everyone knows how to survive a volcanic eruption, freeze a finger, get an egg into a bottle, or send a message by semaphore.

Optimus sum. Which, by the way, means "I am the best" in Latin.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Boys Book is for you, October 20, 2007

By	Jane Russell - See all my reviews

It is a small book but well worth the price. If you're a parent, get the book as a Christmas gift. I think it is a perfect gift. Way better than so popular no computer games. Your sun will find over hundred tips for things that interest him and believe me, he will be grateful. I found myself reading many passages with great interest. Also a great recommendation is a series titled "Why some cats are rascals"