Review Detail

The Teenage Guys Survival Guide by Jeremy Daldry is the male equivalent for Seventeen and CosmoGirl all rolled up into a book minus the fashion spreads. Jeremy Daldry answers all the questions that guys dont want to ask, but want the answers to. This book reassures the teenage boy population that teenagerdom can sometimes really stink (literally), but you will survive.

Daldrys tone is never condescending, and always funny in a somewhat dorky way as he dispels common teenage myths and offers advice on a wide array of teenage issues. The book is divided into chapters titled Surviving Love and Sex, Surviving All the Changes in Your Body, Surviving Teenage Ups and Downs, and Surviving Teenage Social Life. Through the course of the book, Daldry gives pointers on everything from how to ask a girl out to how to shave. He even discusses the issue of peer pressure in conjunction with drugs, alcohol, fighting and bullying. The book is broken up into smaller sections within chapters, and cartoons adorn the pages, so even a guy who is not big on reading will enjoy the book.

As a girl, I learned a lot about what its like to be a guy. I think this is an excellent book, especially for preteens and teens who are just starting to experience the changes of puberty. The Teenage Guys Survival Guide could even be the catalyst for some great discussions between parents and son, since it brings up some important topics in a non-threatening way. Daldry does not overwhelm readers with too much information on any one topic, but efficiently touches on the most important points of each. The back of the book even includes a list of references and resources for further information on any of the topics covered.

Teenage boys will learn more from The Teenage Guys Survival Guide than they will from any textbook!