"The Dangerous Book for Boys" by Conn & Hal Iggulden

Ostensibly marketed as a book of rainy-day activities for boys of all ages, the book is actually more of a casual repository for essential information that you never thought one would need to know. Simultaneously covering ancient and military history, arts & crafts, codes, hobbies, and science, the book is a condensed Boy Scouts tenure.

The book originated when elder brother Conn decided that children today had very little interest in the outside world, instead focusing upon video games and the Internet. He recruited his younger brother Hal and then proceeded to recall activities their father would do and some others they discovered since.

Now, I’m not planning to address the inequity of the title (girls, relax, there is a “Daring Book for Girls” coming in Nov.) but I can say that this book is absolutely amazing. I cannot count the times where my girlfriend has ran into the office when I exclaimed loudly upon discovering the progression of the Battle of Waterloo, how to whittle, or the correct way to make a battery. Regardless of age, or gender for that matter, “The Dangerous Book for Boys” is a valuable book to share with your son, daughter, or parent.