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Sir John Hargrave's Mischief Maker's Manual
This is the definitive guide to pranking and mayhem. Written in the style of a training manual, but with hilarious illustrations, this book is broken up into five sections. The “Basics” shows kids how to find a pranking partner and how to pull simple pranks like making crank calls. “Prank Moves” explains how to pull pranks at places like home, school, or camp. “Do-It-Yourself” demonstrates things like putting a real worm inside an ice cube. “Experts Only” covers such advanced pranks as how to fake an alien landing. And “Recipes” gives step-by-step instructions on how to bake tuna cookies.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published June 11, 2009
6 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
John Hargrave
2 books250 followersI am author, entrepreneur, and mind hacker.
I am also the CEO of Media Shower, the leading content marketing company.
I write about how improving people can help us improve our businesses and our lives.
My favorite snack is apples with peanut butter.
I am also the CEO of Media Shower, the leading content marketing company.
I write about how improving people can help us improve our businesses and our lives.
My favorite snack is apples with peanut butter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 22, 2009
The prank in its purest form is custom made for children's literature. Pranks are kids' ways of grifting and over the years pranksters have popped up in books for youth, though never as consistently as you might think. There was Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Boy/Girl Battle series. There are the Weaseley brothers in the Harry Potter books. And, most impressive, there is The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. But none of these dissect the very nature of prankstership. For that, you need a book of non-fiction. For that, you need something like a Mischief Maker's Manual. Systematic. Instructive. Utilizing the newest technology in its quest for silliness, this little number is bound to be a kid's best friend and, in spite of what it may say otherwise, many an authority figure's worst nightmare.
To prank, to really be a superb above average prankster, is not an on-again off-again proposition. It requires a level of dedication and commitment. A true love of a good joke and a practiced eye. Fortunately, no child has to go it alone anymore. Using the Mischief Maker's Manual kids will progress through various stages of prankatude. From mild antics like salt and pepper switcheroos to full-blown large-scale productions like faking an alien landing. Every possible component is listed from getting in trouble to utilizing a buddy system. An online component at also allows kids the chance to track their prank ranks and download the requisite badges.
I showed this to a colleague as I was reading it and he responded with, "Well. I mean, is there anything in there you couldn't find on the internet anyway?" I could have gotten stroppy, but it wasn't a bad point. Is there? Well, I'm sure that if you wanted to scout about and find every last little thing regarding pranking out there you could. But the whole lure of the book is that this information has been nicely compiled and there's even a kind of game or challenge element to it. It could have just been a list of various pranks. Instead, Hargrave has taken the time to challenge readers to participate. The interactive component sets it apart from the pack.
In the face of an inevitable parental outcry, however, Hargrave covers his tracks a bit. It's rather amusing to watch him try to reinforce good behavior through pranking. Some moments are more obvious than others. For example, at one point we are given a list of the "Greatest Schools for Pranking". Says he, "Make it your ambition to attend one of these exclusive, expensive colleges." So there you go, fellow librarians. Should you get a parent objecting to this title, merely point out to them that it presents a strong case for children to strive to go to Ivy League schools. Who could possibly object to that? Add in his calls for regular aerobic exercises ("If you stay in shape you can easily outrun them") and you've got yourself a title chock full of positive values.
And time and again, Hargrave drills home the essential rules of pranking that must be understood. The Prankster's Code is defined here as "Always be careful, don't be a bully, be creative, no lasting damage, excellence in pranking, and be funny." Things get a little sketchier when a kind of punishment comes into play. Advice that when doing prank phone calls you should only give out fake numbers "for places where you've received bad service," is strangely subjective. Ditto saying that you should leave fake vomit "anywhere it can be cleaned up quickly by people who are paid to do so." Sketchy morality at best. Alongside the Ivy League school bit, it's clear that this is a title for kids from a certain income bracket.
Okay. So, to be honest this book buoyed my spirits and then let me down hard. I forgive it mostly, but I'm still a little hurt. You see one of the things that attracted me to this title in the first place was the title. M3: Sir John Hargrave's Mischief Maker's Manual. Not The Boy's Guide to Mischief. Not Mischief Making for Young Men. It was a great, straightforward, no-nonsense genderless title. I thought this was amazing. I mean, I loved practical jokes as a kid. And it would have completely disappointed me to learn that mischief is just for boy-type folks. I was all ready to award this book gold stars, kisses, and unqualified love... and then I opened it up. Ladies and gents, what you will find inside is a book that is directed solely and entirely at boys. Costumes include "the power suit" and "the paperboy". The images of pranking kids are always boys, girls usually being relegated to the roles of victim (deserving and otherwise). The dedicated female prankster will find little to serve her here and that hurt. Seemed a silly way to go too, since you could sell this book to much larger share of the marketplace if you simple conceded that gals like a good saran wrapped toilet too.
The real life examples are the real fun here, though. Things like the story of Charlie Todd who filled a Best Buy store with eighty people dressed like Best Buy employees. And for more recent pranks (like the fart application for the iPhone) the book may not mention them but its website most certainly does. I also appreciated how up-to-date everything here was. Granted, that means that much of this book will age within 2-3 years, but for now we can enjoy when the book shows us how to "Clear Private Data" from a Firefox web browser. Or how to purchase a dead frog off of the internet for that matter.
Subversive? You bet. I dunno how the illustrator got away with the image of a church marquee being changed from "BAKE SALE MONDAY" to "NAKED MALE BOYS" but it got in there. I'm sure that it would be easy to pass this little book by as yet another The Dangerous Book for Boys spin-off, but I think it has more merit and practical applications than that. There is some really good advice here! And sure, the creators messed up big-time when they made it an all-boys affair, but get around that fact (and I hope a bunch of girls do) and you've got something fun and one-of-a-kind on your hands. I guarantee that it's like nothing else out on your shelves today. Not perfect, but a strange kind of necessary. I like.
Ages 9 and up.
To prank, to really be a superb above average prankster, is not an on-again off-again proposition. It requires a level of dedication and commitment. A true love of a good joke and a practiced eye. Fortunately, no child has to go it alone anymore. Using the Mischief Maker's Manual kids will progress through various stages of prankatude. From mild antics like salt and pepper switcheroos to full-blown large-scale productions like faking an alien landing. Every possible component is listed from getting in trouble to utilizing a buddy system. An online component at also allows kids the chance to track their prank ranks and download the requisite badges.
I showed this to a colleague as I was reading it and he responded with, "Well. I mean, is there anything in there you couldn't find on the internet anyway?" I could have gotten stroppy, but it wasn't a bad point. Is there? Well, I'm sure that if you wanted to scout about and find every last little thing regarding pranking out there you could. But the whole lure of the book is that this information has been nicely compiled and there's even a kind of game or challenge element to it. It could have just been a list of various pranks. Instead, Hargrave has taken the time to challenge readers to participate. The interactive component sets it apart from the pack.
In the face of an inevitable parental outcry, however, Hargrave covers his tracks a bit. It's rather amusing to watch him try to reinforce good behavior through pranking. Some moments are more obvious than others. For example, at one point we are given a list of the "Greatest Schools for Pranking". Says he, "Make it your ambition to attend one of these exclusive, expensive colleges." So there you go, fellow librarians. Should you get a parent objecting to this title, merely point out to them that it presents a strong case for children to strive to go to Ivy League schools. Who could possibly object to that? Add in his calls for regular aerobic exercises ("If you stay in shape you can easily outrun them") and you've got yourself a title chock full of positive values.
And time and again, Hargrave drills home the essential rules of pranking that must be understood. The Prankster's Code is defined here as "Always be careful, don't be a bully, be creative, no lasting damage, excellence in pranking, and be funny." Things get a little sketchier when a kind of punishment comes into play. Advice that when doing prank phone calls you should only give out fake numbers "for places where you've received bad service," is strangely subjective. Ditto saying that you should leave fake vomit "anywhere it can be cleaned up quickly by people who are paid to do so." Sketchy morality at best. Alongside the Ivy League school bit, it's clear that this is a title for kids from a certain income bracket.
Okay. So, to be honest this book buoyed my spirits and then let me down hard. I forgive it mostly, but I'm still a little hurt. You see one of the things that attracted me to this title in the first place was the title. M3: Sir John Hargrave's Mischief Maker's Manual. Not The Boy's Guide to Mischief. Not Mischief Making for Young Men. It was a great, straightforward, no-nonsense genderless title. I thought this was amazing. I mean, I loved practical jokes as a kid. And it would have completely disappointed me to learn that mischief is just for boy-type folks. I was all ready to award this book gold stars, kisses, and unqualified love... and then I opened it up. Ladies and gents, what you will find inside is a book that is directed solely and entirely at boys. Costumes include "the power suit" and "the paperboy". The images of pranking kids are always boys, girls usually being relegated to the roles of victim (deserving and otherwise). The dedicated female prankster will find little to serve her here and that hurt. Seemed a silly way to go too, since you could sell this book to much larger share of the marketplace if you simple conceded that gals like a good saran wrapped toilet too.
The real life examples are the real fun here, though. Things like the story of Charlie Todd who filled a Best Buy store with eighty people dressed like Best Buy employees. And for more recent pranks (like the fart application for the iPhone) the book may not mention them but its website most certainly does. I also appreciated how up-to-date everything here was. Granted, that means that much of this book will age within 2-3 years, but for now we can enjoy when the book shows us how to "Clear Private Data" from a Firefox web browser. Or how to purchase a dead frog off of the internet for that matter.
Subversive? You bet. I dunno how the illustrator got away with the image of a church marquee being changed from "BAKE SALE MONDAY" to "NAKED MALE BOYS" but it got in there. I'm sure that it would be easy to pass this little book by as yet another The Dangerous Book for Boys spin-off, but I think it has more merit and practical applications than that. There is some really good advice here! And sure, the creators messed up big-time when they made it an all-boys affair, but get around that fact (and I hope a bunch of girls do) and you've got something fun and one-of-a-kind on your hands. I guarantee that it's like nothing else out on your shelves today. Not perfect, but a strange kind of necessary. I like.
Ages 9 and up.
December 14, 2017
For the adolescent in each of us, when purchased for a young prankster it encourages reading comprehension, math and research skills, and due diligence. I recommend also purchasing a copy for yourself so as to keep ahead of the young prankster: forewarned is forearmed.
I was lent a copy and this voluntary review is my own opinion.
I was lent a copy and this voluntary review is my own opinion.
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May 7, 2020Get this book for your kids. Make your life a lot easier - I mean harder.
November 11, 2012
Reviewed by K. Osborn Sullivan for TeensReadToo.com
As the title suggests, MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL is a how-to guide for kids who like to cause a little mayhem. It includes set-up details (make a plan, find a partner, etc.) and step-by-step instructions for carrying out specific pranks. My favorite parts were the tales about actual pranks that people have pulled off. The book demonstrates how a successful prank can be a thing of beauty.
MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL contains clever tidbits for not only the budding prankster, but anyone who is attracted to a life of crime. For instance, it explains that people whose appearance attracts attention will be suspects when any mischief occurs. Therefore, if you're about to pull a prank (or do anything else that you don't want to get busted for), it's a good idea to blend in. If you dress like a clean-cut member of the Young Republicans Club, no one will suspect you of wrongdoing. Who knows? If you're clean-cut enough, you might even accidentally get elected to Congress. And wouldn't that be an excellent prank?
The book offers information and ideas about a wide variety of pranks, gags, and hoaxes. You can learn where to buy fireworks, how to photocopy a giant picture of a butt, disgusting recipes like hot sauce-flavored tarts, and the art of making a catapult. There's also a web site for readers where they can find resources to help pull off pranks and register their progress toward becoming Master Mischief Makers.
I got a kick out of this book and took away a number of funny ideas from it. The part of my personality that includes a sense of humor thinks this is a terrific resource for kids. At the same time, I can't shake the concern that the MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL provides plans for some questionable, if not downright illegal, activities. Yes, the book is careful to start with a code about what kinds of pranks one should avoid. There are similar warnings interspersed throughout the book, including the importance of not hurting animals or destroying property. At the end, it even lists possible consequences should a prankster get caught.
Still, I'm not wild about telling someone, "Don't do this. But here's how to do it, and it's hilarious!" For instance, ideas for prank phone calls are provided, including instructions for disabling caller I.D. so your victim doesn't know who you are. According to reports on the Internet (so the accuracy is questionable), some people claim they had been charged with harassment as a result of making annoying calls. Is it ridiculous for prank victims to get so worked up over a phone call? Maybe, but people get worked up over all sorts of odd things, and it's hard to predict what will set somebody off.
While I was reading this book, I went on a college visit to a school where I heard about a prank gone terribly wrong. Back in 2003, some students trampled crop circles into a plot of corn that was being grown by the university's agriculture department. The corn was growing in a little plot right in the middle of campus, and the prank made it look like aliens had left crop circles at a major university. The prank seemed to follow the rules set forth in the MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL: No one got hurt, there was no permanent damage since the corn would grow back next year, it was funny and creative. But instead of giving everyone a good chuckle, the act was called "vandalism," police were called, and the culprits hunted down. It turned out that the plot of corn was a National Historic Landmark because it was the longest-term continuous corn plot in the world. Decades of research was jeopardized. No one chuckled.
The MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL is an interesting, fun book that could be at the heart of many happy years of pranking mayhem. At the same time, the boring old lady part of me feels that readers must be careful about following its advice. Yes, the author warns against blatant acts of stupidity, but one person's harmless prank might be another person's felony. It seems there's a fine line between a hilarious, successful prank and an act of vandalism that could get you arrested or expelled or both. In other words, if you have any doubt whether a prank is safe or if it will go over well, then don't try it at home - or anywhere else, for that matter.
As the title suggests, MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL is a how-to guide for kids who like to cause a little mayhem. It includes set-up details (make a plan, find a partner, etc.) and step-by-step instructions for carrying out specific pranks. My favorite parts were the tales about actual pranks that people have pulled off. The book demonstrates how a successful prank can be a thing of beauty.
MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL contains clever tidbits for not only the budding prankster, but anyone who is attracted to a life of crime. For instance, it explains that people whose appearance attracts attention will be suspects when any mischief occurs. Therefore, if you're about to pull a prank (or do anything else that you don't want to get busted for), it's a good idea to blend in. If you dress like a clean-cut member of the Young Republicans Club, no one will suspect you of wrongdoing. Who knows? If you're clean-cut enough, you might even accidentally get elected to Congress. And wouldn't that be an excellent prank?
The book offers information and ideas about a wide variety of pranks, gags, and hoaxes. You can learn where to buy fireworks, how to photocopy a giant picture of a butt, disgusting recipes like hot sauce-flavored tarts, and the art of making a catapult. There's also a web site for readers where they can find resources to help pull off pranks and register their progress toward becoming Master Mischief Makers.
I got a kick out of this book and took away a number of funny ideas from it. The part of my personality that includes a sense of humor thinks this is a terrific resource for kids. At the same time, I can't shake the concern that the MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL provides plans for some questionable, if not downright illegal, activities. Yes, the book is careful to start with a code about what kinds of pranks one should avoid. There are similar warnings interspersed throughout the book, including the importance of not hurting animals or destroying property. At the end, it even lists possible consequences should a prankster get caught.
Still, I'm not wild about telling someone, "Don't do this. But here's how to do it, and it's hilarious!" For instance, ideas for prank phone calls are provided, including instructions for disabling caller I.D. so your victim doesn't know who you are. According to reports on the Internet (so the accuracy is questionable), some people claim they had been charged with harassment as a result of making annoying calls. Is it ridiculous for prank victims to get so worked up over a phone call? Maybe, but people get worked up over all sorts of odd things, and it's hard to predict what will set somebody off.
While I was reading this book, I went on a college visit to a school where I heard about a prank gone terribly wrong. Back in 2003, some students trampled crop circles into a plot of corn that was being grown by the university's agriculture department. The corn was growing in a little plot right in the middle of campus, and the prank made it look like aliens had left crop circles at a major university. The prank seemed to follow the rules set forth in the MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL: No one got hurt, there was no permanent damage since the corn would grow back next year, it was funny and creative. But instead of giving everyone a good chuckle, the act was called "vandalism," police were called, and the culprits hunted down. It turned out that the plot of corn was a National Historic Landmark because it was the longest-term continuous corn plot in the world. Decades of research was jeopardized. No one chuckled.
The MISCHIEF MAKER'S MANUAL is an interesting, fun book that could be at the heart of many happy years of pranking mayhem. At the same time, the boring old lady part of me feels that readers must be careful about following its advice. Yes, the author warns against blatant acts of stupidity, but one person's harmless prank might be another person's felony. It seems there's a fine line between a hilarious, successful prank and an act of vandalism that could get you arrested or expelled or both. In other words, if you have any doubt whether a prank is safe or if it will go over well, then don't try it at home - or anywhere else, for that matter.
May 30, 2009
This is one book that I'm keeping away from my kids but I can't wait to pass it on to my nephews!
This little book is exactly what it says it is, a mischief maker's manual. The first page welcomes young pranksters to their training and advises the reader to work through the book from beginning to end. There are illustrations, charts, instructions, advice and handy tips.
The book marks itself as the ultimate handbook for pranks, practical jokes, stunts, tricks, and large scale hoaxes. It appears to be a very accurate description.
The Table of Contents lists everything you need to perfect the art of making mischief. It's broken down into broad categories The Basics, Prank Moves, Do-It-Yourself Gags, Experts Only, Trouble and About M3 (Mischief Maker's Manual). Each category also has a corresponding symbol to mark the pages (fake dog poo, a slingshot, etc.) and descriptions and supplies to perform the pranks. Never again will you have to wonder how to place a Whoopie Cushion (body functions and noises are always funny) or put a bug into an ice cube. With experience you can achieve more impressive stunts like making your own crop circles and faking aliens landings. The most impressive stunts to aspire to are the ones achieved by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students over the years. This is considered the greatest engineering school in the world so the feats are all creative, amazing and each attempt tries to outdo the last. Crowned the Perfect Prank, students in the spring of 1994 placed a police car with flashing lights atop a famous domed building on campus. It was 15 stories tall and there was no way to drive it there and no helicopters had placed it there. Only a narrow trapdoor allowed access to the roof. You'll have to read the book to find our how they did it and they've remained anonymous to this day! (Or leave a message that you really, really want to know and I'll tell you how. I'm not that cruel!)
This really is a fun book and the design is very clever and makes the reader feel like they are part of an exclusive club. I think it's interesting reading it now and I would have loved it as a kid.
The Prankster's Code - these will greatly improve your odds of staying out of trouble.
A: Always be careful.
B: Don't be a Bully.
C: Be Creative.
D: No lasting Damage.
E: Excellence in pranking.
F: Be Funny.
** Special note to parents - Although most of these pranks appear harmless and are intended to be so, I would advise you read this before you pass it on. There are also more complicated pranks that are much more involved. Recipes for smoke bombs, using dry ice and firecrackers are mentioned but are not items for children to handle themselves.
Thank you to Shelf Awareness and Penguin for this ARC.
website: www.mischiefmakersmanual.com
This little book is exactly what it says it is, a mischief maker's manual. The first page welcomes young pranksters to their training and advises the reader to work through the book from beginning to end. There are illustrations, charts, instructions, advice and handy tips.
The book marks itself as the ultimate handbook for pranks, practical jokes, stunts, tricks, and large scale hoaxes. It appears to be a very accurate description.
The Table of Contents lists everything you need to perfect the art of making mischief. It's broken down into broad categories The Basics, Prank Moves, Do-It-Yourself Gags, Experts Only, Trouble and About M3 (Mischief Maker's Manual). Each category also has a corresponding symbol to mark the pages (fake dog poo, a slingshot, etc.) and descriptions and supplies to perform the pranks. Never again will you have to wonder how to place a Whoopie Cushion (body functions and noises are always funny) or put a bug into an ice cube. With experience you can achieve more impressive stunts like making your own crop circles and faking aliens landings. The most impressive stunts to aspire to are the ones achieved by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students over the years. This is considered the greatest engineering school in the world so the feats are all creative, amazing and each attempt tries to outdo the last. Crowned the Perfect Prank, students in the spring of 1994 placed a police car with flashing lights atop a famous domed building on campus. It was 15 stories tall and there was no way to drive it there and no helicopters had placed it there. Only a narrow trapdoor allowed access to the roof. You'll have to read the book to find our how they did it and they've remained anonymous to this day! (Or leave a message that you really, really want to know and I'll tell you how. I'm not that cruel!)
This really is a fun book and the design is very clever and makes the reader feel like they are part of an exclusive club. I think it's interesting reading it now and I would have loved it as a kid.
The Prankster's Code - these will greatly improve your odds of staying out of trouble.
A: Always be careful.
B: Don't be a Bully.
C: Be Creative.
D: No lasting Damage.
E: Excellence in pranking.
F: Be Funny.
** Special note to parents - Although most of these pranks appear harmless and are intended to be so, I would advise you read this before you pass it on. There are also more complicated pranks that are much more involved. Recipes for smoke bombs, using dry ice and firecrackers are mentioned but are not items for children to handle themselves.
Thank you to Shelf Awareness and Penguin for this ARC.
website: www.mischiefmakersmanual.com
February 26, 2010
Very good, clever ideas (they included ONE of my favorite pranks, changing autocorrect on word), while maintaining that all pranksters must follow some simple rules (including, be careful, don't be a bully, be creative, don't do anything that causes damage, and make the pranks funny). None of the pranks are mean spirited, the best pranks are the ones where the person being pranked laughs the loudest.
The writing is very clever, (and true!) the book suggests that child pranksters have the advantage when running away from adults because adults subsist on a diet of McDonald's and gravy; a suit is a good outfit because no one expects a bad kid to be wearing a suit, the way to get one is to approach a parent and ask for it. When they ask why, reply "I just think it is time that I owned a suit". Honestly, no parent ever would stand a chance against that argument.
This book recommends that the prankster study hard, get good grades, clean his/her room, and generally maintain a "good kid" appearance so that they can get away with the harmless but hilarious jokes in the book. I am willing to make the trade. My only problems with the book are that it gets sloppy towards the end, the writing is at its cleverest and funniest near the beginning, and that while the writing includes both genders in pranking, the illustrations show many many more boys in the active roles than girls.
The writing is very clever, (and true!) the book suggests that child pranksters have the advantage when running away from adults because adults subsist on a diet of McDonald's and gravy; a suit is a good outfit because no one expects a bad kid to be wearing a suit, the way to get one is to approach a parent and ask for it. When they ask why, reply "I just think it is time that I owned a suit". Honestly, no parent ever would stand a chance against that argument.
This book recommends that the prankster study hard, get good grades, clean his/her room, and generally maintain a "good kid" appearance so that they can get away with the harmless but hilarious jokes in the book. I am willing to make the trade. My only problems with the book are that it gets sloppy towards the end, the writing is at its cleverest and funniest near the beginning, and that while the writing includes both genders in pranking, the illustrations show many many more boys in the active roles than girls.
June 16, 2009
Coming from someone who has done the majority of these pranks, I must say I throughly enjoyed this book. It is a self-guided training manual to help the novice prankster become a 'Massive Mischief Maker'. I may not be the target audience, but as a former mischief maker in the day, I can certainly appreciate what the author is trying to do with the book. The entire book has an underlying theme that pranks should not be hurtful or damage. They should be good fun with a flare of originality. There's even a section of what to do if you get caught.
Each prank is outlined and comes complete with a supply list, cost and time estimate, as well as a mischief level and possible success rating. There's advice on how to select partners in crime and how to get your parents to pay for the more expensive pranks in the name of education.
I may have to postpone giving this book to my 12-year old daughter until I've had a chance to pull a few of the pranks on my children first. They need to loosen up a bit and learn how to laugh at themselves - the intended result of most practical jokes. Maybe I'll start out with a nice batch of tuna cookies or put a worm or two in their ice cubes, just to get the ball rolling...
Each prank is outlined and comes complete with a supply list, cost and time estimate, as well as a mischief level and possible success rating. There's advice on how to select partners in crime and how to get your parents to pay for the more expensive pranks in the name of education.
I may have to postpone giving this book to my 12-year old daughter until I've had a chance to pull a few of the pranks on my children first. They need to loosen up a bit and learn how to laugh at themselves - the intended result of most practical jokes. Maybe I'll start out with a nice batch of tuna cookies or put a worm or two in their ice cubes, just to get the ball rolling...
February 14, 2015
(nota bene: I did not read this book cover to cover. I jumped around a lot but enough to get a good feel for it.)
This is a fabulous book! The pranks are fun and should keep your young prankster busy. But the best part of the book turn out to be pranks on the prankster! Sir John is teaching some pretty nice lessons along with all of those pranks. Not just "be safe" and "don't be a bully". Oh no. In the section on how to get away he casually mentions that the best pranksters keep themselves in shape with at least four one-hour aerobic exercise session per week. In the section on The Perfect Prank he encourages the prankster to attend the best pranking colleges in the nation: MIT, Harvard, Stanford. This, he points out, requires getting good grades in school and doing your work. In a section on keeping out of trouble he recommends that pranksters are well behaved, respectful of adults, and that they do their chores without complaint. Adults will forgive many a prank gone bod if you're a good kid!
So, yeah, I recommend this book for your prankster. They'll have a lot of fun, learn worthwhile skills, and maybe, just maybe, absorb some of the good advice all at the same time.
This is a fabulous book! The pranks are fun and should keep your young prankster busy. But the best part of the book turn out to be pranks on the prankster! Sir John is teaching some pretty nice lessons along with all of those pranks. Not just "be safe" and "don't be a bully". Oh no. In the section on how to get away he casually mentions that the best pranksters keep themselves in shape with at least four one-hour aerobic exercise session per week. In the section on The Perfect Prank he encourages the prankster to attend the best pranking colleges in the nation: MIT, Harvard, Stanford. This, he points out, requires getting good grades in school and doing your work. In a section on keeping out of trouble he recommends that pranksters are well behaved, respectful of adults, and that they do their chores without complaint. Adults will forgive many a prank gone bod if you're a good kid!
So, yeah, I recommend this book for your prankster. They'll have a lot of fun, learn worthwhile skills, and maybe, just maybe, absorb some of the good advice all at the same time.
April 12, 2009
This book is seriously hilarious. I'm not really the "pranking" type, but this book might just change all that. It does the reader the favor of actually giving the steps to pranks that are funny, achievable, and mostly harmless (though some are slightly illegal). It's a funny book to flip through and laugh; a good coffee table book, and one that I actually hope to put to actual use one day. If you are looking for some pranks that are mostly just harmless but hilarious fun with little effort involved, this book is great. I've read other books where the pranks were so outlandish or impossible that it made it completely uninteresting. Fortunately, the authors did not fail on that account here.
April 28, 2009
Maybe I loved this one so much because it reminded me so much of the my best guy friends. They have been pranking eachother and creating moments of absolute humiliation (all in good fun) since we were in Jr. High (what I am now realizing was a very long time ago). I loved this book because the pranks were do-able. I can totally see "my boys" dishing these antics out on one another. Thats why I have hidden this book behind my parenting books on our shelves. :) Awesome and wickedly funny. An absolute must read.
July 8, 2009
My Goodreads Giveaway copy arrived today, and I'm enthralled! Although I'm too mature to take advantage of its how-to guide format, but it's still amusing to peruse. It's like a distillation of all just the mischeivous pieces of the Dangerous Book for Boys/Daring Book for Girls.
This looks like a great gift for the middle-schooler in your life--especially if said tween is not your child. Most of the pranks are very specific, and even include links to online resources. I'm looking forward to sharing this with my 13-year-old nephew and cementing my "cool aunt" status!
This looks like a great gift for the middle-schooler in your life--especially if said tween is not your child. Most of the pranks are very specific, and even include links to online resources. I'm looking forward to sharing this with my 13-year-old nephew and cementing my "cool aunt" status!
May 13, 2009
Known as M3, this is a training "manual for pranks, practical jokes, stunts, tricks and large-scale hoaxes." With a secret agent approach, history lessons about infamous pranks, and quite a few science lessons, the manual emphasizes responsibility when playing practical jokes. While adult supervision may be recommended, M3 is a fun read and a sly way to get young readers reading and thinking about science.
September 3, 2012
Not quite what I was expecting. When I picked up the book in the bookstore, I flipped through and landed on some of the more historical parts. (ie, the invention of sneezing powder, and the Police car on top of a building at MIT) These sections were interesting, but overall I could tell the book was geared at an audience much younger than me. Still, I learned a few things and thought it was an interesting read.
October 18, 2013
This is one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. New to pranks? Start here and end here. There's virtually a prank a day between these covers. The encyclopedia Brittanica of puerile, juvenile malarkey and mayhem. If you are feeling old stale and tired, and in danger of lapsing into a mid life crisis, then read this book immediately. You will feel like a child again and once you prank your first victim you'll have a spring in your step.
September 3, 2016
Maybe you have a tween at home who is pulling bigger and bigger pranks. Maybe one day you come home to find fishing line rigged to drop the household upright piano on the next person through the door. Maybe you need this book to establish ground rules so that you can stay on the good side of the little sociopath. Maybe you just want to sleep with both eyes closed for once. If you're nodding right now, maybe this book's for you.
January 17, 2011
I read through this book as soon as I received it from FedEx. It is wonderful, deviously delicious. Thank goodness my boys did not have this book when they were growing up. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good laugh, but I caution you to hide it from any mischievous ones around no matter their age.
May 25, 2015
What a fun book. I will definitely have to remember this book for April Fool’s Day, or perhaps just a Tuesday. I like how it teaches you to have fun without doing anything illegal or that will humiliate others. There is even a section on how to handle getting caught. Check out the website at http://www.mischiefmakersmanual.com/
July 8, 2009
A manual for tricksters and pranksters, this book outlines the dos and don'ts of pulling pranks, as well as plenty of set pranks with full instructions and difficulty levels. Good for middle schoolers.
July 8, 2009
A manual for tricksters and pranksters, this book outlines the dos and don'ts of pulling pranks, as well as plenty of set pranks with full instructions and difficulty levels. Good for middle schoolers.
May 17, 2013
This book made me laugh out loud. I just wished I was younger to get away with pranking my friends. I need to give this to a worthy prankster, anonymously so if they get caught, I'll be in the clear. Teehee.
Read
November 15, 2014This book was AWESOME! This book had old classic pranks to completely original ideas. I made up my mind now, I will attempt a prank from this book. If I do pull a prank, this is the only evidence that links the prank to me. I won't get caught because it even teaches you how not to get caught.
December 10, 2020
This is a good book if you like to read short funny books with pictures. If your trying to think of pranks to pull on people you would like this book, and if you want to learn how to disguise so don't get caught doing things you would like this book.
Want to read
July 13, 2009Saving to remember to give this to my nephew when he's old enough.
October 25, 2009
Review coming Saturday?
November 9, 2009
Funny and very informative instruction manual for pranking. It manages to maintain a respectful and safe approach while still banking some serious cred for the level of pranks it describes.
March 7, 2010
My 10 year old thinks this book is the best thing since Wimpy Kid Diaries. Reading now.
June 22, 2010
1st edition
July 16, 2010
This would have been even more useful when I was a teenager.
February 18, 2012
Great introduction but I was not impressed with the majority of the content of this manual.
January 30, 2012
Very funny and full of good prank ideas. Obviously, this book was intended for an age group younger than myself, but I plan on buying a copy of it for use after the Zombie Apocalypse.
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