Review by rscorman -- Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
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rscorman
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Review by rscorman -- Man Mission by Eytan Uliel
[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]
We all like to believe that every vacation will be perfect and that traveling with our best buds is everything we’ve always imagined. We also like to believe that getting away from real life is the solution to our problems. In Man Mission by Eytan Uliel, the trips he describes are amazing experiences as one would hope, but also complete disasters. It was the honesty behind the mess, of both the man missions (also best described as trips with his bros) around the world and his life, which made this book a worthy read.
Man Mission was an account of the author’s decision to start an annual trip with his best male friends to destinations around the world. Goal: Tackle physical and mental challenges and be as manly as possible. Uliel weaves together descriptions of the group’s manly feats with a 15-year-long story of his life – the triumphs, struggles, ascents and falls.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Uliel’s writing was so relatable, easy to follow and to digest, that it was hard to stop reading. While we might not all be able to traverse around the world on bikes and on foot and in kayaks, we can all understand the massive changes a person goes through as they grow older and experience different pieces of life. The author shares intimate details about his struggles with work, relationships, family, and aging. He was vulnerable and upfront, sometimes even crude. It was this openness that kept me reading his story.
I was also enthralled by his descriptions of the different countries, cultures and people he came across during his 15 man missions. As someone who loves to travel, picturing the landscapes, food, and locals fascinated me. Additionally, as someone who has grown up around cyclists and runners, Uliel and his friends’ desire to push themselves was something I could understand.
I chose not to give this book 4 out of 4 for one reason – while I appreciate Uliel’s honesty, I felt as though some of his references to what is deemed “manly” were a bit stereotypical and a bit out of touch. We are no longer in a time where traveling alone or pushing oneself athletically is solely a man’s prerogative. I can completely appreciate the need for a group of men to spend time together without their wives and kids (just like it would be perfectly reasonable for women to do the same), but traveling, hiking, biking, etc., do not only qualify as a man’s activity.
Despite some of my disagreements with his philosophies of a man mission, Uliel really captured the ups and downs of life as he took us on a tour of the world’s hiking trails, bike paths, mountain ranges and oceans. There was a piece of this book that every person can relate to, whether the good or the bad. It was real and vulnerable, and I appreciated every page.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
We all like to believe that every vacation will be perfect and that traveling with our best buds is everything we’ve always imagined. We also like to believe that getting away from real life is the solution to our problems. In Man Mission by Eytan Uliel, the trips he describes are amazing experiences as one would hope, but also complete disasters. It was the honesty behind the mess, of both the man missions (also best described as trips with his bros) around the world and his life, which made this book a worthy read.
Man Mission was an account of the author’s decision to start an annual trip with his best male friends to destinations around the world. Goal: Tackle physical and mental challenges and be as manly as possible. Uliel weaves together descriptions of the group’s manly feats with a 15-year-long story of his life – the triumphs, struggles, ascents and falls.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Uliel’s writing was so relatable, easy to follow and to digest, that it was hard to stop reading. While we might not all be able to traverse around the world on bikes and on foot and in kayaks, we can all understand the massive changes a person goes through as they grow older and experience different pieces of life. The author shares intimate details about his struggles with work, relationships, family, and aging. He was vulnerable and upfront, sometimes even crude. It was this openness that kept me reading his story.
I was also enthralled by his descriptions of the different countries, cultures and people he came across during his 15 man missions. As someone who loves to travel, picturing the landscapes, food, and locals fascinated me. Additionally, as someone who has grown up around cyclists and runners, Uliel and his friends’ desire to push themselves was something I could understand.
I chose not to give this book 4 out of 4 for one reason – while I appreciate Uliel’s honesty, I felt as though some of his references to what is deemed “manly” were a bit stereotypical and a bit out of touch. We are no longer in a time where traveling alone or pushing oneself athletically is solely a man’s prerogative. I can completely appreciate the need for a group of men to spend time together without their wives and kids (just like it would be perfectly reasonable for women to do the same), but traveling, hiking, biking, etc., do not only qualify as a man’s activity.
Despite some of my disagreements with his philosophies of a man mission, Uliel really captured the ups and downs of life as he took us on a tour of the world’s hiking trails, bike paths, mountain ranges and oceans. There was a piece of this book that every person can relate to, whether the good or the bad. It was real and vulnerable, and I appreciated every page.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
