Roundup

Books For Guys

By Allen Pierleoni , McClatchy-Tribune|April 26, 2009

The Man's Book

By Thomas Fink

Little, Brown / 240 pages / $23.99

This "essential guide for the modern man," on sale May 6, is a compendium of stuff we guys ought to know in order to be credible. Such as: how to get a serious workout at home; rules of popular drinking games; essential shirts for the closet; knife-sharpening and meat-carving skills; and how to quantify beauty in women.

What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20

By Tina Seeling

HarperOne / 208 pages / $22.99

True, it's written by a woman (a Stanford University professor, no less), but this "crash course in making your way in the world" is full of realistic tips that help put things into perspective. Like, "Quitting is actually incredibly empowering. It's a reminder that you control the situation."

The Broken American Male and How to Fix Him

By Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

St. Martin's / 304 pages / $15.95

OK, we're big enough to take criticism and face our problems, right? The author of Kosher Sex contends that our culture of "soulless capitalism" has led us to a sense of failure, which results in collateral damage to our loved ones. Then he advises on how to perceive things differently and become better men.

Roadside Baseball

By Chris Epting

Santa Monica / 312 pages / $16.95

Let's lighten up and go with this dude from Huntington Beach, Calif., our guide to "the locations of America's baseball landmarks." How about a road trip to Anaheim, Calif., to see the bronze statue of former Angels owner Gene Autry? If not, be content with the book's many photographs.

Fault Line

By Barry Eisler

Ballantine / 320 pages / $25

Here's a recommendation to take our minds off the slings and arrows: the thriller by a former covert CIA operative, whose unrelated John Rain series is a must. In Fault Line, two brothers - one in a high-tech law firm, the other an undercover agent - put aside their differences to recover a stolen "encryption application" that could mean world disaster if the bad guys figure out how to use it. An international playing field keeps the action moving.