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MR.Jones' Rules for the Modern Man
A witty, stylish and indispensable guide to being a modern man. It is tough being a man in the twenty-first century. First there are the big dilemmas, like how to get a pay rise and how to suck up to your boss. Then there are the minor how do you beat jet-lag, and how do you stop your trousers sliding off their hangers? And finally there are all those things you ought to know, but don' how to jump-start a car, how to buy lingerie, how to stop smoking, how to tie a Windsor Knot, how to behave at a lap-dancing club ...the list is endless. Fear not. In Mr Jones Rules, the highly respected editor of GQ magazine, draws on his wealth of experience to give the final answer to these questions and more. It will be the must-have present for every husband, boyfriend and son this Christmas.
- GenresNonfictionSelf HelpHumor
448 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 2006
11 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Dylan Jones
23 books59 followersDylan Jones studied at Chelsea School Of Art and then St. Martin’s School of Art. He is the award-winning editor of GQ magazine, a position he has held since 1999, and has won the British Society of Magazine Editors “Editor of the Year” award a record ten times. In 2013 he was also the recipient of the prestigious Mark Boxer Award.
Under his editorship the magazine has won over 50 awards.
A former editor at i-D, The Face, Arena, the Observer and the Sunday Times, he is the author of the New York Times best seller Jim Morrison: Dark Star, the much-translated iPod, Therefore I Am and Mr. Jones’ Rules, as well as the editor of the classic collection of music writing, Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy. He edited a collection of journalism from Arena - Sex, Power & Travel - and collaborated with David Cameron on Cameron on Cameron: Conversations with Dylan Jones (shortlisted for the Channel 4 Political Book of the Year).
He was the Chairman of the Prince’s Trust’s Fashion Rocks Monaco, is a board member of the Norman Mailer Writers Colony and a Trustee of the Hay Festival. He is also the chairman of London Fashion Week: Men’s, London’s first men’s fashion week, launched in 2012 at the behest of the British Fashion Council.
In 2010 he spent a week in Afghanistan with the Armed Forces, collaborating on a book with the photographer David Bailey: British Heroes in Afghanistan.
In 2012 he had three books published: The Biographical Dictionary of Music; When Ziggy Played Guitar: David Bowie and Four Minutes that Shook the World, and the official book of U2’s 360 Tour, published in October. Since then he has published
The Eighties: One Day One Decade, a book about the 1980s told through the prism of Live Aid, Elvis Has Left The Building: The Day The King Died, Mr. Mojo, London Rules, a polemic about the greatest city in the world, Manxiety and London Sartorial.
In June 2013 he was awarded an OBE for services to publishing and the fashion industry. In 2014 he was made an Honorary Professor of Glasgow Caledonian University.
Under his editorship the magazine has won over 50 awards.
A former editor at i-D, The Face, Arena, the Observer and the Sunday Times, he is the author of the New York Times best seller Jim Morrison: Dark Star, the much-translated iPod, Therefore I Am and Mr. Jones’ Rules, as well as the editor of the classic collection of music writing, Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy. He edited a collection of journalism from Arena - Sex, Power & Travel - and collaborated with David Cameron on Cameron on Cameron: Conversations with Dylan Jones (shortlisted for the Channel 4 Political Book of the Year).
He was the Chairman of the Prince’s Trust’s Fashion Rocks Monaco, is a board member of the Norman Mailer Writers Colony and a Trustee of the Hay Festival. He is also the chairman of London Fashion Week: Men’s, London’s first men’s fashion week, launched in 2012 at the behest of the British Fashion Council.
In 2010 he spent a week in Afghanistan with the Armed Forces, collaborating on a book with the photographer David Bailey: British Heroes in Afghanistan.
In 2012 he had three books published: The Biographical Dictionary of Music; When Ziggy Played Guitar: David Bowie and Four Minutes that Shook the World, and the official book of U2’s 360 Tour, published in October. Since then he has published
The Eighties: One Day One Decade, a book about the 1980s told through the prism of Live Aid, Elvis Has Left The Building: The Day The King Died, Mr. Mojo, London Rules, a polemic about the greatest city in the world, Manxiety and London Sartorial.
In June 2013 he was awarded an OBE for services to publishing and the fashion industry. In 2014 he was made an Honorary Professor of Glasgow Caledonian University.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 29, 2013
Here are Mr Taylor’s Rules for the Modern Reader of the Above Book:
Think of someone in a job which is less glamorous/lower paid/less senior than your own and practice your sneer in advance. It will make it easier to do on demand while reading.
Have the following on standby: your (probably very) little black book, your cheque book (for gazing at), a mirror (ditto) and something with a designer name on it.
Book yourself some therapy lessons in advance and repeat the words ‘I am inadequate’ as often as you like.
Make provisions for the drooling in admiration at Mr Jones (from Mr Jones on the back flap, not from you).
And don’t.
They tell you never to judge a book by its cover. This book’s cover is brilliantly designed for its subject matter, has ringing endorsements from Simon Cowell (who I like) and Jeremy Clarkson (who I don’t) and makes Dylan Jones sound like he’s worth listening to. But, like the photo of a dish on the packaging of a cheap ready meal, it doesn’t quite turn out like that.
Let’s get the so-called rules out of the way first. There’s a wide range, from the serious to the silly, and some are actually quite useful. ‘How to jump-start a car’, for instance, is probably something every man should know how to do. I didn’t, and now I do, and it’s the sort of rule this book was right to include. ‘How to ask for a pay rise’ raised a good point – why would your boss pay you extra for doing your job well, when it’s what you’re paid to do anyway?
On the other hand, ‘How to stop a fight’ was ridiculous (Hug the guy? Really?), ‘How to buy a second-hand car’ failed to make any mention of how to haggle, and as for skiing advice from a man who can’t ski… Other tips, such as ensuring you have had meaningless sex with a minor celebrity by the age of 30 and ‘How to behave at a lap dancing club’ betray Jones’ view of ‘the modern man’ as being little more than an overgrown modern boy. I’m not sure I agree with his definition.
But my biggest problem by a long way with Mr Jones’ Rules isn’t the rules. It’s Mr Jones.
Dylan Jones is obviously very satisfied with his lot. He seems to have it ‘together’ to be able to give such presumptuous advice. Almost every rule has some mention of his designer clothes, his fancy car, expensive hotels, expensive restaurants, expensive cologne, bespoke suit, Rolex watch, pricey golf clubs… He is also a serial name dropper. No anecdote is complete without throwing in a few stars he’s rubbed shoulders with, like Jonathan Ross (twice), Jeremy Clarkson (him again) or even Tony Blair. He might think it makes him sound impressive, but if he needs to cling to a polite nod from A-listers who probably doesn’t know who he is to give him credibility, his opinions suddenly seem less inspiring.
Other annoying habits include persistent use of one-word sentences to emphasise a point. Constantly. (That was an example). Used sparingly, yes they add emphasis. Used on a per-page basis, it gets annoying. If the word is important, use it in the actual sentence, and if it isn’t, don’t. He’s also obsessed with reminding us at every opportunity that he is editor of GQ. In fact, I expect the magazine paid him commission to name it, refer to it, cite excerpts from it and allude to it at every conceivable opportunity, no matter how unnecessary or forced. It’s probably printed on the paper of recycled issues.
Basically, I started the book having never heard of Dylan Jones and finished it wishing I still hadn’t heard of him. His tone is the most pompous, arrogant, self-obsessed I have heard in a long time. Certainly, I’ve had to plough through books with boring plots or poor writing, but never – I mean never – have I ever had to resist the urge to abandon a book purely because the author himself is personally getting on my wick.
I like the drawings – they break up the page and make it look interesting – but they lost their charm after they used the same “Mr Jones” name card about five times and the two glasses about four. It just made it look like cheap clip art and lacked imagination. Surely the editor of the most successful upmarket magazine (we’re told) would have noticed the repetitive drawings?
What would have made the book better is to have each section written by an expert in the field. An etiquette expert, a health expert, a management expert and so on. I find it hard to believe Jones is an expert of all fields, and this falseness makes what he does know about it ring just as hollow.
I learned two things from this book. First – David Cameron duets in karaoke, and this indicated to Jones he may one day form a successful coalition government (if you take ‘success’ loosely, a fair insight for a book published in 2007). Second – if the modern man really is the one described in Jones’s book, I hope I never, ever meet one.
Think of someone in a job which is less glamorous/lower paid/less senior than your own and practice your sneer in advance. It will make it easier to do on demand while reading.
Have the following on standby: your (probably very) little black book, your cheque book (for gazing at), a mirror (ditto) and something with a designer name on it.
Book yourself some therapy lessons in advance and repeat the words ‘I am inadequate’ as often as you like.
Make provisions for the drooling in admiration at Mr Jones (from Mr Jones on the back flap, not from you).
And don’t.
They tell you never to judge a book by its cover. This book’s cover is brilliantly designed for its subject matter, has ringing endorsements from Simon Cowell (who I like) and Jeremy Clarkson (who I don’t) and makes Dylan Jones sound like he’s worth listening to. But, like the photo of a dish on the packaging of a cheap ready meal, it doesn’t quite turn out like that.
Let’s get the so-called rules out of the way first. There’s a wide range, from the serious to the silly, and some are actually quite useful. ‘How to jump-start a car’, for instance, is probably something every man should know how to do. I didn’t, and now I do, and it’s the sort of rule this book was right to include. ‘How to ask for a pay rise’ raised a good point – why would your boss pay you extra for doing your job well, when it’s what you’re paid to do anyway?
On the other hand, ‘How to stop a fight’ was ridiculous (Hug the guy? Really?), ‘How to buy a second-hand car’ failed to make any mention of how to haggle, and as for skiing advice from a man who can’t ski… Other tips, such as ensuring you have had meaningless sex with a minor celebrity by the age of 30 and ‘How to behave at a lap dancing club’ betray Jones’ view of ‘the modern man’ as being little more than an overgrown modern boy. I’m not sure I agree with his definition.
But my biggest problem by a long way with Mr Jones’ Rules isn’t the rules. It’s Mr Jones.
Dylan Jones is obviously very satisfied with his lot. He seems to have it ‘together’ to be able to give such presumptuous advice. Almost every rule has some mention of his designer clothes, his fancy car, expensive hotels, expensive restaurants, expensive cologne, bespoke suit, Rolex watch, pricey golf clubs… He is also a serial name dropper. No anecdote is complete without throwing in a few stars he’s rubbed shoulders with, like Jonathan Ross (twice), Jeremy Clarkson (him again) or even Tony Blair. He might think it makes him sound impressive, but if he needs to cling to a polite nod from A-listers who probably doesn’t know who he is to give him credibility, his opinions suddenly seem less inspiring.
Other annoying habits include persistent use of one-word sentences to emphasise a point. Constantly. (That was an example). Used sparingly, yes they add emphasis. Used on a per-page basis, it gets annoying. If the word is important, use it in the actual sentence, and if it isn’t, don’t. He’s also obsessed with reminding us at every opportunity that he is editor of GQ. In fact, I expect the magazine paid him commission to name it, refer to it, cite excerpts from it and allude to it at every conceivable opportunity, no matter how unnecessary or forced. It’s probably printed on the paper of recycled issues.
Basically, I started the book having never heard of Dylan Jones and finished it wishing I still hadn’t heard of him. His tone is the most pompous, arrogant, self-obsessed I have heard in a long time. Certainly, I’ve had to plough through books with boring plots or poor writing, but never – I mean never – have I ever had to resist the urge to abandon a book purely because the author himself is personally getting on my wick.
I like the drawings – they break up the page and make it look interesting – but they lost their charm after they used the same “Mr Jones” name card about five times and the two glasses about four. It just made it look like cheap clip art and lacked imagination. Surely the editor of the most successful upmarket magazine (we’re told) would have noticed the repetitive drawings?
What would have made the book better is to have each section written by an expert in the field. An etiquette expert, a health expert, a management expert and so on. I find it hard to believe Jones is an expert of all fields, and this falseness makes what he does know about it ring just as hollow.
I learned two things from this book. First – David Cameron duets in karaoke, and this indicated to Jones he may one day form a successful coalition government (if you take ‘success’ loosely, a fair insight for a book published in 2007). Second – if the modern man really is the one described in Jones’s book, I hope I never, ever meet one.
February 22, 2010
I hated this book. Absolutely hated it. Written by the editor of GQ magazine, it provides rules (not guidelines, rules) for how men should live. The author is the kind of self-satisfied git you want to "rag-doll up and down the road like an empty shell suit". I also realised very early on in the book that the kind of men that this book is aimed at is the kind of men that I despise and who just really aren't nice.
The reasons that I finished it are: 1) it was a present; 2) I'm not going to let a man like that defeat me; and 3) it's sort of a car-crash book, you can't stop reading because it's so awful.
Avoid. Really, it's not worth the precious hours of your life.
The reasons that I finished it are: 1) it was a present; 2) I'm not going to let a man like that defeat me; and 3) it's sort of a car-crash book, you can't stop reading because it's so awful.
Avoid. Really, it's not worth the precious hours of your life.
Read
April 21, 2020Funny book. A perspective of what a man should be according to once editor of GQ UK.
February 10, 2023
Indispensable.
For girls, to understand boys.
For boys, to impress girls.
Ingest.
Apply.
For girls, to understand boys.
For boys, to impress girls.
Ingest.
Apply.
October 4, 2012
A well intentioned and light humoured bloke self help book that whilst contained some 'useful' advice rather much focussed on blending people into a GQ fashion parade. Whilst im sure that tips on How to conquer karaoke have relevance to the masses, advising that wearing a chunky Rolex or Cartier at the beach will have limited interest.
It's tongue in cheek by a 'credible' source yet verging on toff so you may find a lot of it ridiculous.
It's tongue in cheek by a 'credible' source yet verging on toff so you may find a lot of it ridiculous.
July 12, 2023
I bought this book in around 2008. At the time I found it entertaining and useful.
I recently made the mistake of re-reading it. It has not aged well. A better title for this work today could be, Rules for the Antiquated and Out of Touch? Perhaps it had an audience at the time it was published. It does seem less likely today.
I recently made the mistake of re-reading it. It has not aged well. A better title for this work today could be, Rules for the Antiquated and Out of Touch? Perhaps it had an audience at the time it was published. It does seem less likely today.
October 30, 2008
Good read with some great anecdotes and good fashion advice. Though Jones is a bit of a name dropper, he does a good job of getting the point across and covers a broad spectrum of topics. Beware, this book is written in the Queen's English, so be prepared to look a few things up if you are American. (To get you started, a "brougue" is a wingtip)
March 29, 2009
Dylan Jones mixes his own anecdotes with well-meant advice that helps you keep current with suburban male trends. And you can't really go wrong with following what's written, it helps too that the dude's got street cred from GQ as editor.
January 7, 2023
Цялото ревю: http://kaka-cuuka.com/knigi/pravilata...
„Правилата на мистър Джоунс за модерния мъж“ може да ви научи на това-онова относно облеклото и какво да правите и какво не по време на делови обяд или в стрийптийз клуб...
„Правилата на мистър Джоунс за модерния мъж“ може да ви научи на това-онова относно облеклото и какво да правите и какво не по време на делови обяд или в стрийптийз клуб...
August 7, 2011
Although some aspects were rather British focussed, every male over 18 can get much out of this book. It is very easy read and although I do not agree with everything in it, the book offers much good advice without being formulaically prescriptive.
February 17, 2012
Very funny ...and useful!
May 8, 2016
Задължително четиво за всеки модерен джентълмен
May 2, 2013
informative... helped me to understand etiquette and its' importance :-)
October 11, 2016
It was a present so I tried to read it, but yeah, the author's a ****.
May 4, 2023
可看.// a survival guide
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews