What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

102 views
► UNSOLVED: One specific book > Written Humor A Man's Guide to Life (Not the 2000 Esquire One) Published 80s

Comments Showing 1-27 of 27 (27 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Bargle (last edited Nov 16, 2024 05:07AM) (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments I read this back in the 80s. It started out as a series of articles in either Esquire or GQ magazine. I lean towards it being Esquire, but I'm not certain. It was a monthly series for a year or so, then the articles were gathered together, edited down (grrr!), and published as a book. I think all the articles were written by the same author. It apparently isn't "Esquire The Rules: A Man's Guide to Life". The one specific bit I remember says something like 'Wash your hands before touching your penis, but not after.' That's all I can remember.

ETA: Might also have been from The Atlantic.


message 2: by Daisy (new)

Daisy (daisyporter) | 1201 comments Was it by Blake Nelson? He wrote something like that for a magazine, but it was in the nineties, I believe.


message 3: by Bargle (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments Daisy wrote: "Was it by Blake Nelson? He wrote something like that for a magazine, but it was in the nineties, I believe."

Doesn't look like it. Nothing in his books list matches. Thanks for trying.


message 4: by Pamela (new)

Pamela Love | 1515 comments Maybe too much of a stretch, but possibly Modern Manners: An Etiquette Book for Rude People?


message 5: by Alan (last edited Oct 05, 2024 03:25PM) (new)

Alan (alanjc) | 503 comments The Bachelor Home Companion: A Practical Guide to Keeping House Like a Pig by P.J. O'Rourke is another possibility. Dates from 1986, so the right era.


message 6: by Bargle (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments Neither one of those. Thanks for trying. I was subscriber to National Lampoon during O'Rourke's tenure as editor and always liked his writing.


message 8: by Bargle (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments Rainbowheart wrote: "Esquire Etiquette: The Modern Man's Guide to Good Form?"

Might be. I've requested it through interlibrary loan.


message 9: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart | 28810 comments Fingers crossed!


message 10: by Bargle (last edited Nov 16, 2024 05:00AM) (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments Rainbowheart wrote: "Esquire Etiquette: The Modern Man's Guide to Good Form?"

Drat! It isn't it. That was originally published in the 50s, then revised and republished in the 80s. Good read, though. Thanks. The search goes on.


message 11: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart | 28810 comments Dang! I'll keep looking.


message 13: by Cycad (new)

Cycad | 133 comments Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys?


message 14: by Bargle (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments I'll check them both out, but I doubt it's Dave Barry. I don't think the author was that well known.


message 15: by Bargle (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments Cycad wrote: "Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys?"

Nope, that isn't it, but a very fun read. Thanks.


message 16: by Bargle (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments I've had a thought that it might also have been The Atlantic magazine.


message 17: by Bargle (last edited Dec 06, 2024 05:33AM) (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments A suggestion from another site eliminated, Manstyle: The GQ Guide to Fashion, Fitness and Grooming by Peter Carlsen.


message 19: by Bargle (last edited Dec 06, 2024 08:54AM) (new)


message 20: by Bargle (last edited Dec 27, 2024 03:08PM) (new)


message 21: by Bargle (last edited Aug 28, 2025 03:59AM) (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments Old Guide to Life bump.


message 23: by Bargle (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments Rainbowheart wrote: "Real Men Don't Eat Quiche?"

I"ll check it out.


message 24: by Bargle (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments Rainbowheart wrote: "Real Men Don't Eat Quiche?"

Wasn't "Real Men Don't Eat Quiche". Still, I hadn't read since the 80s. Fun revisiting it.


message 25: by Bargle (last edited Sep 28, 2025 04:42AM) (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments Old Guide to Life bump.


message 26: by Bargle (last edited Oct 28, 2025 03:43AM) (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments Old Guide to Life bump.


message 27: by Bargle (new)

Bargle | 1767 comments Guide to Life bump.


back to top