Nice Average Guy (Paperback)

~ Ned Mansour (Author)
Key Phrases: nice average guy, Ned Mansour, Miss Light, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

At the ripe age of 43, Fitz is seemingly well-settled in his comfortable life. He is poised to become a lifer in his uninspiring job, his marriage is dispassionately stable and he has a close relationship with his widowed, yet independent mother. If he is propelled through life by anything, it is the nagging fear that, at any moment, he could lose any of these three aspects of his life.

What Fitz is unable to articulate, both to himself and to others, is that deep in his core, he simply wants loving bonds with people who appreciate him and a small measure of peace amid an otherwise chaotic world.

Following an argument with his overbearing wife and an ugly scene with his insensitive boss, Fitz reluctantly accepts a recommendation from his malcontent colleague to seek help from an unorthodox, yet surprisingly effective self-trained therapist. Armed with the therapist's customized ''game plan,'' Fitz is challenged to deal with a series of unexpected life-changing events. He learns to face adversity, himself and his demons.

During his introspective journey, Fitz manages to bump up against basic adult fears - he will not find love; his life has no meaning; his employer will discover that he is easily dispensable; he will never fulfill his dreams; and risk-taking usually leads to unrecoverable harm. Along his path, Fitz encounters a memorable cast of quirky friends, each serving a meaningful purpose as he bravely attempts to grow through his experiences.

Nice Average Guy is a humorous and thought-provoking blend of joy and sorrow. It has been aptly described as a richly entertaining, fictional self-help book. As a commentator noted, ''Nice Average Guy works because Mansour has a rarified ability to balance his insight of a deeply humane take on life with a fair amount of goofy fun, tenderness, empathy, and humor.''

About the Author

Ned Mansour received his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California and his law degree from the University of San Diego. After a 21-year career with Mattel, Inc., he retired in 2000 as President. In addition to assisting charitable organizations, he has served on corporate boards. He authored Divided Roads, White Canvas and A Cedar Valley Christmas and co-wrote Florian's Special Gift.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Bascom Hill Publishing Group; 1 edition (December 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1935098179
• ISBN-13: 978-1935098171
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,930,279 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this book!, January 28, 2009

By	M. Potter (Bend, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

You'll enjoy this book. Ned Mansour beautifully weaves just enough introspective life learning into a very fun and flowing story. This is a book that will make you glad you read it, and give you the perfect amount of contemplation as you're moving through it. A good story with interesting characters and circumstances. Ned did it again and in my view, has given himself some competition for his best book: Divided Roads (a must read!). Thanks Ned!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ultimately this book goes beyond the surface to look closely at the world of relationships., January 19, 2009

By	BookReview.com (Madison, WI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

We read most novels to see how the main character reacts to the events of his or her life, but this book puts us squarely in the middle, making us wonder what we would do. Fitz Gerald, at 43, 1) has lost his job, 2) suffers the death of his mother, and 3) is being divorced by his overbearing wife, Penny. As the title indicates, there is nothing that special about him (or the average reader, for that matter), but he does have a rather unorthodox personal councilor, Coach, who not only assists him but directly gives us the subtext of what is really at stake.

There are some humorous touches--"I was supposed to visualize the room being enveloped in the color I had selected that day... Quite honestly, I never visualized the room in any color, but I claimed I did just to get the sessions started." The corporate politics rings true (though his after the fact negotiation with his former boss reminded me a little too much of Kevin Spacey in "American Beauty). Ultimately this book goes beyond the surface to look closely at the world of relationships. I was hooked when Coach asks Fitz if he might have misinterpreted some things his parents said to him when he was young that consequently formed his later, passive personality. This immediately got me thinking about my own parents and what they may have said that I took the wrong way.

Fitz's mother knows more about his marriage than he does and the terms of her subsequent will bring about its long-overdue demise. So what takes the place of all this? Meeting with three other laid-off employees and going to movie matinees. Lining up a date for the father of an old girl friend with the father's former lover (except she won't have anything to do with the old man so her sister agrees to be a substitute), giving advice to his wife's young boyfriend who has locked himself in their bathroom and refuses to come out. Nothing seems off limits. The sculpture on the front proves strangely interactive for readers as well as characters and the ending is very satisfying (and thanks, Ned, for your appreciative treatment of military vets). The back cover talks about "profound lessons of worthiness." Who would have thought that learning them could be so much fun?

All royalties from the sale of "Nice Average Guy" are being donated by the author to the TrinityKids Care hospice program.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great, Uplifting Read!, February 26, 2009

By	Melian - See all my reviews

"Nice Average Guy" is a wonderful, uplifting read. This is the perfect book to take on a plane. The plot holds your interest without overwhelming you with characters, names, or events. It's a completely reasonable tale which is very soothing. This is a story that could have happened to one of your friends-- and probably has! As you read, you are subtly led along with the main character toward greater self awareness. This makes for a very satisfying reading experience. After reading it, you are left with a pleasant feeling and a sense that you are better off for having read it.

One of the characters in this book is so memorable; you will wish you knew him. Highly recommended!