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  "path": "/f/just_post/14563",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-15T02:38:06.000Z",
  "site": "https://jstpst.net",
  "textContent": "This striking red book with black inset text and the words \"Dangerous\" and \"Boys\" foiled in gold came out in 2007 and, unbeknownst to me, was the second most popular book after _Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows_. The inner cover is a beautiful washed marbling, and the reader will be delighted to know that instructions for marbling paper can be found inside.\n\nIf you couldn't guess by the title, the section \"Girls\" shows this is written by an author who's absolutely convinced that Boys and Girls are different species, and it's something of an amazing thing that they can communicate at all. Despite that, you will be relieved to know that the section on Girls emphasizes tips such as \"Treat them with respect\", \"make sure you are well-scrubbed\", and \"It is important to listen.\n\nEven as a young pre-teenager, I was pretty turned away by pointlessly and strongly gendered things like this. I rejected all the prescriptions of boyhood and prophecies of manhood. Today, I am even more distasteful of such a thing. Despite that, this is an enthralling book that's worth a read through from cover to cover.\n\nThe contents of the book contains an assorted sampling of short DIY projects (how to make a battery, how to marble paper, simple electromagnets), history and literature samplings, fun facts and stories, and quick skills (like skipping stones or juggling).\n\nPage two is a great opener - _The Greatest Paper Airplane in the World_. The instructions are straightforward. The _Greatest_ paper airplane? In the world? It was irresistible in 2006 and still is in 2026.\n\nExcuse me for a moment.\n\n_Oh yeah_.\n\nI was surprised to learn that the author was a mere 35 when this was published- I imagined he must have been an old man nearing triple digits of age who would surely have been dead by the time I wrote this review.\n\nThere have been a few follow ups, none of which I have read.\n\n  * _The Daring Book for Girls_ , by different authors. Unclear if this is licensed or an imitation copy, but it seems to be highly regarded.\n\n  * _The Double Dangerous Book for Boys_ : a sequel to the original, and...\n\n  * _The Double-Daring Book for Girls_ : A sequel to the follow up for girls.\n\n\n\n\nI also found a recent release \"The Handbook of Forgotten Skills\" which, intentionally or not, reminds me of TDBFB.\n\n* * *\n\nThere is no point to this post. Judging the book by its cover and title and some of its contents, it seems like it would suck ass, but it actually was kind of awesome.\n\n**tldr - on the first page the book suggests you carry supplies for sewing up unconscious dogs in case you run in to that problem**",
  "title": "The Dangerous Book for Boys",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-15T02:38:06.000Z"
}