How to Be a Man: Scenes from a Protracted Boyhood

by Thomas Beller

From strip clubs to the Academy Awards to the basketball court―a ride through the landscape of guyhood. Acclaimed fiction writer Thomas Beller digs deep into his own history in this humorous and insightful collection about the state of masculinity. With sharp and engaging eloquence he discourses on T-shirts; being your mother's date at the Academy Awards; life at a bagel factory; the irrational pleasures of old American cars―and the mysterious disappearance of the author's own particular vehicle from a street in downtown Manhattan; love, sex, and breakups in an office environment; the social ecology of street basketball―including the sudden peril befalling a particular court in Manhattan and the heartwarming efforts of previously disparate community members to save it; coaches; the death of a parent; getting over J. D. Salinger; and an attempt to build a complicated piece of furniture for a beloved. Through stints as a bike messenger, a drummer, a boyfriend and―possibly, potentially, finally―a husband, Beller writes about the life-changing effects of love and marriage―past, present, and future.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Memoir

246 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2005

About the author

Thomas Beller is an American author and editor.

Reviews

[Oriyah N · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another one of those "I judged a book by its cover" books. Maybe I should stop doing that, but it's reads like this one that keep the shady habit going. I'm not going to say this was the best book I ever picked up, nor was it what I expected (more of a treatise on gender or something along those lines) but it was an enjoyable and intelligent series of essays that kept me entertained and made for a light, yet un-fluffy read. Some essays were more enjoyable than others, some were more relevant than others, and I kind of wondered if there was some sort of overall point, but generally, thumbs up.

If I didn't already own so many good books that have clear points, this would be a definite keeper. I'm debating it's right to earn a permanent spot on my already crammed bookshelf - it's enjoyable enough to read again and lend out, but would I gain something of substance by keeping it around? Unsure.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The interesting thing about this series of stories (which are funny and well-written) is that they seem to progress towards the apex of marriage. Ah, that poor kid. Not right until he's hitched. These stories are all written with the promise that a good woman is all our protagonist, in this case, the author himself, needs to lend meaning to his life. This seemed too easy to me.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often hillarious and particularly insightful short stories on growing up and learning about life the hard way. Beller has a knack for picking out the feelings that many of us have had before but never verbalized into a coherent thought.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got it from Andy (I think I still have his copy) Typical guy growing up kind of book. Funny stories, and cool insight into the mind of a guy

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

a mixed bag. Some were so charming and clever others sort of fell flat. I really hate when short stories have lame last sentences. Thankfully he went out on a highnote.

[Nathalie]

Read a short piece by this author in the NYT Magazine. He teaches at Tulane, and I love short stories/essays. I'll give this one a shot.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all these essays. Great writing & storytelling.

[Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

- twenty humorous biographical essays