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How To Be a Man: A Guide To Style and Behavior For The Modern Gentleman
The ultimate sartorial and etiquette guide, from the ultimate life and style guru. By turns witty, sardonic, and always insightful, Glenn O’Brien’s advice column has been a must-read for several generations of men (and their spouses and girlfriends). Having cut his teeth as a contributor at Andy Warhol’s Interview in its heyday, O’Brien sharpened them as the creative direc...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
April 26th 2011
by Rizzoli
(first published January 1st 2011)
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O'Brien is incredibly insightful about the rather unfortunate state of modern masculinity, is well-read (Wyndham Lewis appears to be a constant companion), and manages to give his subject enough gravitas to make it useful, but also enough humour to distinguish it from numerous similar books on the market.
Unfortunately the book desperately needed an decent editor before going to print. Perhaps this is a condition of the digital age which O'Brien certainly bemoans himself. Essays consistently rep...more
Unfortunately the book desperately needed an decent editor before going to print. Perhaps this is a condition of the digital age which O'Brien certainly bemoans himself. Essays consistently rep...more
I received this book as a gift, barely took a look at it, and ignored it until I was unknowingly linked to some very enjoyable articles by this very author. I have to say, I ended up enjoying this book quite a bit. It ends up being a humorous and well written mix of anecdote, social commentary, political commentary, and style (in the all encompassing sense of the word) advice. Sections such as "Notes on the Dandy", "The Correct Insult", "Immortality: What to Do Later", "How to Fight Like a Man",...more
Bound: How to Be a Man
SunPost Weekly May 5, 2011 | John Hood
http://bit.ly/kKfxF5
Glenn O’Brien Gives Us a Guide
Like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s infamous crack about obscenity, style is pretty much undefinable, but you know it when you see it. It’s an inner grace, an outward ease and a joie de vivre that sets a man a part from the pack (unless it’s a Rat Pack). It’s the sublime rather than the superficial, the natural verses the synthetic, the snap without the crackle. It’s a bop and a...more
SunPost Weekly May 5, 2011 | John Hood
http://bit.ly/kKfxF5
Glenn O’Brien Gives Us a Guide
Like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s infamous crack about obscenity, style is pretty much undefinable, but you know it when you see it. It’s an inner grace, an outward ease and a joie de vivre that sets a man a part from the pack (unless it’s a Rat Pack). It’s the sublime rather than the superficial, the natural verses the synthetic, the snap without the crackle. It’s a bop and a...more
You remember Glenn O’Brien. As music columnist for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine, G.O’B. was the periscope on the submarine that was underground, punk rock during its landmark decade in the 80’s. He later expanded his sphere of influence into fashion and art through his “Style Guy” column at GQ magazine and a stint with the publisher of magazines like “Antiques” and “Art in America.”. In fact, when it comes to fashion, style and the arts, the O’Brien arsenal is tough to beat.
It is then with b...more
It is then with b...more
I really enjoyed this one. I was familiar with Glenn O'Brien's writing for GQ, which I have always enjoyed, and figured I'd buy his book since he's a fellow Hoya alumnus. I've read several other books of this type of genre, my previous favorite being Gentleman by Bernhard Roetzel, but have to say that How To Be a Man has surpassed it.
My favorite parts of O'Brien's book dealt with style as a personality trait, rather than as a collection of clothes or an interest in fashion. He spends a chapter e...more
My favorite parts of O'Brien's book dealt with style as a personality trait, rather than as a collection of clothes or an interest in fashion. He spends a chapter e...more
Before I get to the normal pros and cons of a review, let me say this: I think that just about every man, and at least every American man, should read the Style section of this book, or at least read the "Notes On The Dandy" subsection. It isn't that every man should follow O'Brien's advice on how to dress, on formality, or on being a dandy at all, it's simply that he outlines so perfectly the fallacy that schlubbiness for its own sake is still a mark of distinction (in 99% of contexts, it isn't...more
I know what a number of friends of mine are getting for Christmas!!! What a blessing that someone has finally written a very funny but quite informative style guide for the modern man. The only style tips I ever got -- like don't button the bottom button of a jacket or vest, always were clean underwear in case you in an accident and don't wear socks with holes outside of the house b/c you might have to take your shows off in a guest's--came from my mom. And though I still remember them, they cer...more
Glenn O'Brien creates a lifestyle philosophy for the modern day gentleman- a rallying call for men to examine how they present themselves to the world, to bring back a sense of occasion to daily life. Written in a humorously authoritative/humble manner, O'Brien shares his wisdom while urging men to think for themselves, rebelliously pushing them to make their own rules, but to make rules nonetheless.
As a woman I read this book not for style advice, but more for the entertainment of reading a...more
As a woman I read this book not for style advice, but more for the entertainment of reading a...more
I would have enjoyed this book much more if the author could have refrained from incessantly expressing his very liberal political views and his hatred of George W. Bush, his desire to have drugs legalized and his atheism. I am always astonished that authors writing books that supposedly have no political or religious bent insist on trying to piss off half their audience. His thoughts on style and general behavior are very well done and if he had limited the book to those subjects I would have g...more
Another Christmas present, but this one was from 2011. I put off reading it for ages, as I assumed it was one of those tedious "be a man - here's to fight A BEAR" books (the cover features a man standing over a defeated bear). But I was wrong.
I'm not entirely sure who Glenn O'Brien is. He seems to have been friends with Andy Warhol (he only mentions that like fifty times though) and is generally regarded as a cool fashion guy in the US.
In this book he lays out sensible advice not only on how to...more
I'm not entirely sure who Glenn O'Brien is. He seems to have been friends with Andy Warhol (he only mentions that like fifty times though) and is generally regarded as a cool fashion guy in the US.
In this book he lays out sensible advice not only on how to...more
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Ithought this book as a clssy and fancy book. While reading this book it was interesting to know that there are alot of things a man has to know in order to be a man. like you have to be proper and you have to dress properly. This book is good if you would like to know life tips on how to be a man and this book is ONLY FOR MEN!!!!
More a screed than a how-to guide. While most books of this genre focus on how to dress, groom, or behave (at least in social situations), the author seems more focused on how you should think and what you should believe, two things a man should decide for himself.
Funny, witty and definitely "educational", the word play of this book is something I'll definitely want to emulate if I were to become a writer. It was a book that has a sort of witty-repartee as a dialogue, so it was never a dull read.
A trite book with lots of fashion-world-based machismo. Tedious details of what tie and socks and belt to wear--all geared toward the well-off. Wittily written with lots of laughs but the big joke is that this is at all "male" book.
Chatty, arch essays on behavior, dress and etiquette for men. I enjoyed the chapters on How to Be Old, How to Ail and How to Be Dead the most. Most style guides don't address that stuff.
Absolutely ridiculous, but very witty. Reads like an anthropological account of life on a different planet. Maybe the cleverest science fiction book you will read this year.
I enjoy O'Brien's Q and A's in GQ, but his writing skills--or lake thereof--don't translate well to book form. While the chapters on style are good, it was evident he is out of his realm when writing on other topics. The book could have used a good editor, because I got the impression he just trying to fill space much of the time. On a few occasions he even repeats himself verbatim a page or two later. Also, for someone who claims to be so progressive, it boggles the mind that he doesn't believe...more
Just a few things one really should know in life. Whether male or female. Oh, and there's humor, too!
Over all a good book. Gets a bit repetitive toward the end.
hilarious protip's for 'How To Be A Man'.
As a huge fan of Glenn O'Brien in general I dug the book. Parts made me laugh out loud, others made me think about things in a new way or about things I never equated with what it means to "Be a Man".
Oct 18, 2011
Diane
added it
terrible
Mar 03, 2013
Joe Visconti
added it
So far this is a great combination of style hints for men mixed with a very very witty satire. However, parts of the book relating to clothing (the right suit, the right tie, the right cufflinks) really didn't provide me any insights into being stylish as I just don't wear that stuff any more
Quite possibly the most embarrassing book title to ask for at a store, but hey... I love Glenn O'Brien. So there.
May 10, 2013
Aadel Chin-albert
marked it as to-read
May 09, 2013
Té
marked it as to-read
May 03, 2013
Anastase Gentlethug
marked it as to-read
May 02, 2013
User.09
marked it as to-read
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