Mistake It Like a Man

Real Men Don't Get Embarrassed...We Merely Appear Sunburned Ever had your doctor give you valuable diet and exercise advice, then gone out for acheeseburger and fries to celebrate the fact that you're not dead yet? Do your teens flee the room in dismay when you try to use their jargon to prove that you're still "groovy"?Have you ever been smitten by romance, pulled your wife close to you, and asked her to give you one good reason you should not make passionate love to her at that very moment, only to have her remind you that you arestanding in the grocery aisle? Dave Meurer has been through it all. And he's got a tale or two (fifty, actually, in "Mistake It Like a Man" ) that will shed some light, albeit fluorescent, on allkinds of common manly experiences. Brilliant Men, Unite! Like many health conscious Americans, I get an annual physical examination wherein my doctor gives mevaluable advice about moderating my diet and exercising more, after which I go have a cheeseburger and fries to celebrate the fact I'm not dead yet. One of the big advantages of marriage isthe security of knowing that, come what may in this uncertain world, you always have a partner you can blame. As my boys entered middle school, I remember asking myself, "How can I impartmoral guidance to the same children who cackle hysterically and roll on the living room floor every time an advertisement comes on for Preparation H?" While men enjoy normal movies involvingsubmarines and explosions and daring rescues, women prefer movies that involve British actors and shrubbery and agonizingly slow plots. And they want you to watch these movies with them. The only benefit to these movies isthat your spouse will be all weepy and emotional and want to be hugged. This can lead to a romantic interlude, as long as you can avoid slipping into a shrubbery-induced coma before the movie's over. Not only does the vehicle code allow children to get a "learner's permit" while they're essentially toddlers, but the law specifically states that these youthfuldrivers must have a few dozen practice hours with a "responsible adult," which is nothing more than a thinly veiled euphemism for "dad or mom." Endorsements: "Dave Meurer vividly illustrates the humor that is American family life. But be warned: Amid the chuckles, he masterfully weaves someserious food for thought." Bill Shepson Editorial Director, "Advance" magazine "Dave Meurer has done it again.He's taken the commonplace and turned it into high comedy. He has the ability to make you giggle gleefully while meditating meaningfully on the spiritual issues that matter most." Ellie Kay Author, speaker, and " America's Family Financial Expert" Story Behind theBook "Humor is the secret weapon of the nonfiction writer. It is an attempt to say important things in a special way that regular writers aren't getting said in a regularway--or if they are, it's so regular that no one is reading it."--William Zinsser "I see my humor writing as guerrilla warfare for the kingdom of God .