Book Review - The Pocket Guide to Mischief by Bart King
Category Book Review Bart King The Pocket Guide to Mischief
I think that Bart King is my favorite "author you never heard of". His latest book, The Pocket Guide to Mischief, is one of those entertaining tongue-in-cheek reads that you'll love as an adult, and then you'll hope your kid never finds it. If they do, you'll become their "nemesis" for sure...
Contents:
Introduction; Choosing Your Target or Nemesis; Mischief Quiz!; Harmless Trickery 101 - How to Defend Home and Self; Oldies but Goodies; Practical Jokes Inspired by Ancient Rome; Amusing Slights and Friendly Jibes; Spy Games; Mischief of the Rich and Famous; Inspired by the Oxford Dictionary; International Mischief; Mischievous Foods; Sporting Mischief; Duels; Bodily Mischief; Lessons from Stravinsky; Be True to Your School; Careers in Mischief; Acknowledgments; Bibliography
The book starts out with an explanation of "mischief" so that everyone's on the same page when it comes to crossing lines. Then there's the "warning pledge"... "I will be safe. I will not damage or destroy property. I will be sly. I will never hurt anyone with a prank. I will never prank anyone for money. Hail, Cheese Whiz!" I don't know whether I'm pleased or dismayed that this would play well in the crowds I run with. :) Anyway, each chapter is a mix of humor, history, and suggestions on tricks and pranks you can have fun with once you have picked your nemesis. Like perhaps taking a handful of paper from the copy machine or printer, write a humorous note on the bottom of the page (such as "<name> is a genius!"), and then replace them back in the device. Make sure your nemesis is the next person to use the machine... Or see if you can plant one end of a two-way radio somewhere (or even on a pet if you can pull it off), and then "talk" to the people as they walk by. I also learned how to insult in the Scottish tradition, using such great words as bluntie, dandiprat, muppet, and "muffin top". I'm sure my Scottish friends will help expand that vocabulary, too.
Bart's writing reminds me in some ways of Dave Barry... off-beat, a little insane, but a lot of fun if you're willing to go with the flow. I read his Architectural Guide to Portland (where we both live), expecting something less than riveting. What I got was the funniest and most informative architecture book I've ever read (it was the first architecture book I ever read, too... but I digress). My offer to read and review this one came in an email titled "Bad News". He even dropped the copy off at my house with an inscription on the inside cover... "My apologies in advance". With that kind of interaction, how could I refuse?
Much fun to be had here, and depending on the types of friends you keep, plenty of material for "enhancing" that friendship.
I think that Bart King is my favorite "author you never heard of". His latest book, The Pocket Guide to Mischief, is one of those entertaining tongue-in-cheek reads that you'll love as an adult, and then you'll hope your kid never finds it. If they do, you'll become their "nemesis" for sure...
Contents:
Introduction; Choosing Your Target or Nemesis; Mischief Quiz!; Harmless Trickery 101 - How to Defend Home and Self; Oldies but Goodies; Practical Jokes Inspired by Ancient Rome; Amusing Slights and Friendly Jibes; Spy Games; Mischief of the Rich and Famous; Inspired by the Oxford Dictionary; International Mischief; Mischievous Foods; Sporting Mischief; Duels; Bodily Mischief; Lessons from Stravinsky; Be True to Your School; Careers in Mischief; Acknowledgments; Bibliography
The book starts out with an explanation of "mischief" so that everyone's on the same page when it comes to crossing lines. Then there's the "warning pledge"... "I will be safe. I will not damage or destroy property. I will be sly. I will never hurt anyone with a prank. I will never prank anyone for money. Hail, Cheese Whiz!" I don't know whether I'm pleased or dismayed that this would play well in the crowds I run with. :) Anyway, each chapter is a mix of humor, history, and suggestions on tricks and pranks you can have fun with once you have picked your nemesis. Like perhaps taking a handful of paper from the copy machine or printer, write a humorous note on the bottom of the page (such as "<name> is a genius!"), and then replace them back in the device. Make sure your nemesis is the next person to use the machine... Or see if you can plant one end of a two-way radio somewhere (or even on a pet if you can pull it off), and then "talk" to the people as they walk by. I also learned how to insult in the Scottish tradition, using such great words as bluntie, dandiprat, muppet, and "muffin top". I'm sure my Scottish friends will help expand that vocabulary, too.
Bart's writing reminds me in some ways of Dave Barry... off-beat, a little insane, but a lot of fun if you're willing to go with the flow. I read his Architectural Guide to Portland (where we both live), expecting something less than riveting. What I got was the funniest and most informative architecture book I've ever read (it was the first architecture book I ever read, too... but I digress). My offer to read and review this one came in an email titled "Bad News". He even dropped the copy off at my house with an inscription on the inside cover... "My apologies in advance". With that kind of interaction, how could I refuse?
Much fun to be had here, and depending on the types of friends you keep, plenty of material for "enhancing" that friendship.