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How to Remodel a Man: Tips and Techniques on Accomplishing Something You Know Is Impossible but Want to Try Anyway
Current research suggests there is a large group of people who have been trying to change men. For want of a better term, let's call these people "women."
Their urge is understandable. We've all had to take measures to accommodate men, because they are involved in nearly every aspect of modern life except maybe housework and they like to run things like corporate meetings and the planet. The only other alternative has been to try to avoid men altogether, which is pretty hard to do if you are interested in stuff like reproduction or having your oil changed.
That's why How to Remodel a Man is so indispensable-it is a clear, step-by-step guide for anyone who wants to alter the character and behavior of a man, written by an actual man. Author W. Bruce Cameron provides startling insight into male pattern thinking, explaining why men can open a refrigerator and not see the mayonnaise, or how it is that they can throw dirty clothes at the hamper or in front of the hamper or even on top of the hamper and yet not seem capable of getting any of it in the hamper.
Normally, changing a man has certain obstacles, including, but not limited to, the fact that it is impossible. But Cameron is able to overcome this hindrance because he, himself, has been remodeled. In a move so bold it may be shocking to people unaccustomed to such personal courage, Cameron turned himself over to the women in his life and asked them to change him. It started with a list of his flaws (Cameron came up with four; the women came up with one hundred seventy eight) and ended with him writing How to Remodel a Man , so that others could learn from his experience.
If you're a woman, you'll be amazed to learn that men can be trained to perform all sorts of tricks, like using the instruments on the sides of their heads (the ears) to listen to you, and the space between those instruments to think about you.
If you're a man, you've been given this book so that you'll see that it's possible to watch television without holding the remote or to ask for directions from strangers without suffering a catastrophic loss of testosterone. Cameron changed, and you can too.
How to Remodel a Man is the essential guide for anyone in the awkward position of having to interact with a person of the male gender.
Their urge is understandable. We've all had to take measures to accommodate men, because they are involved in nearly every aspect of modern life except maybe housework and they like to run things like corporate meetings and the planet. The only other alternative has been to try to avoid men altogether, which is pretty hard to do if you are interested in stuff like reproduction or having your oil changed.
That's why How to Remodel a Man is so indispensable-it is a clear, step-by-step guide for anyone who wants to alter the character and behavior of a man, written by an actual man. Author W. Bruce Cameron provides startling insight into male pattern thinking, explaining why men can open a refrigerator and not see the mayonnaise, or how it is that they can throw dirty clothes at the hamper or in front of the hamper or even on top of the hamper and yet not seem capable of getting any of it in the hamper.
Normally, changing a man has certain obstacles, including, but not limited to, the fact that it is impossible. But Cameron is able to overcome this hindrance because he, himself, has been remodeled. In a move so bold it may be shocking to people unaccustomed to such personal courage, Cameron turned himself over to the women in his life and asked them to change him. It started with a list of his flaws (Cameron came up with four; the women came up with one hundred seventy eight) and ended with him writing How to Remodel a Man , so that others could learn from his experience.
If you're a woman, you'll be amazed to learn that men can be trained to perform all sorts of tricks, like using the instruments on the sides of their heads (the ears) to listen to you, and the space between those instruments to think about you.
If you're a man, you've been given this book so that you'll see that it's possible to watch television without holding the remote or to ask for directions from strangers without suffering a catastrophic loss of testosterone. Cameron changed, and you can too.
How to Remodel a Man is the essential guide for anyone in the awkward position of having to interact with a person of the male gender.
- GenresHumorNonfictionComedy
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2004
2 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
W. Bruce Cameron
95 books4,481 followersI’ve always loved dogs, which puts me in a unique category along with what, maybe two or three billion people?
What’s not to love about an animal who will sit in your living room all day long, waiting for you to get home, and even if you need to work late and then stop for a stress-relieving beverage on your way home, when you unlock that front door, is absolutely overjoyed to see you? How could you not adore an animal who senses when your day is not going well and tries to cheer you up by dumping a sodden tennis ball in your lap?
I was probably 8 years old, playing in the back yard of our house in Prairie Village, KS, when my dad opened the gate and in rushed a 9-week-old Labrador puppy. I fell to my knees and spread my arms and that dog leaped into them as if we had loved each other our whole lives. It’s a scene that shows up in A Dog’s Purpose—a puppy and a boy meeting each other the very first time, both of them full of unrestrained joy.
We named the dog Cammie. She arrived in my life when I was just beginning to connect some of the dots in my memory to make a picture of who I was, forming my identity as a child. I remember every skinned knee and bicycle ride in the context of Cammie, who was always there for me. And I lost her just as I was starting to leave childhood behind, passing on after I’d spent a year in college. That’s Cammie, the dog of my childhood.
Years later I was riding my bicycle in the mountains outside of Pine, CO. A chance decision to bounce down a dirt road led me past a few scattered ranches and one small house near a creek, set back from the road at least 50 yards. A single “woof” from a dog caught my attention, and I braked and stood in the dry, clear air, regarding the dog who had called out to me.
She was on a chain by the house, and a fence stood between us, so I remained on the road even though I could see that the dog, a black lab mix with a crazily active tail, was clearly friendly. I gazed at her and the dog sat, attentive, staring into my eyes exactly the way my first dog, Cammie, used to look at me, really seeing into me.
And that’s when the thought hit me. What if this wonderful dog was Cammie? What if dogs live over and over again, and always remember us?
I dismissed the thought, waved at the dog, and rode away, but days later the idea came back to me. What if?
I’ve been a writer my whole life, but never have I ever written anything as important as A Dog’s Purpose.
I can’t promise you that A Dog’s Purpose will make you love your dog more—how could it do that? But I’ll tell you what a lot of people have told me: after reading A Dog’s Purpose, you’ll never look at your dog the same way again.
What’s not to love about an animal who will sit in your living room all day long, waiting for you to get home, and even if you need to work late and then stop for a stress-relieving beverage on your way home, when you unlock that front door, is absolutely overjoyed to see you? How could you not adore an animal who senses when your day is not going well and tries to cheer you up by dumping a sodden tennis ball in your lap?
I was probably 8 years old, playing in the back yard of our house in Prairie Village, KS, when my dad opened the gate and in rushed a 9-week-old Labrador puppy. I fell to my knees and spread my arms and that dog leaped into them as if we had loved each other our whole lives. It’s a scene that shows up in A Dog’s Purpose—a puppy and a boy meeting each other the very first time, both of them full of unrestrained joy.
We named the dog Cammie. She arrived in my life when I was just beginning to connect some of the dots in my memory to make a picture of who I was, forming my identity as a child. I remember every skinned knee and bicycle ride in the context of Cammie, who was always there for me. And I lost her just as I was starting to leave childhood behind, passing on after I’d spent a year in college. That’s Cammie, the dog of my childhood.
Years later I was riding my bicycle in the mountains outside of Pine, CO. A chance decision to bounce down a dirt road led me past a few scattered ranches and one small house near a creek, set back from the road at least 50 yards. A single “woof” from a dog caught my attention, and I braked and stood in the dry, clear air, regarding the dog who had called out to me.
She was on a chain by the house, and a fence stood between us, so I remained on the road even though I could see that the dog, a black lab mix with a crazily active tail, was clearly friendly. I gazed at her and the dog sat, attentive, staring into my eyes exactly the way my first dog, Cammie, used to look at me, really seeing into me.
And that’s when the thought hit me. What if this wonderful dog was Cammie? What if dogs live over and over again, and always remember us?
I dismissed the thought, waved at the dog, and rode away, but days later the idea came back to me. What if?
I’ve been a writer my whole life, but never have I ever written anything as important as A Dog’s Purpose.
I can’t promise you that A Dog’s Purpose will make you love your dog more—how could it do that? But I’ll tell you what a lot of people have told me: after reading A Dog’s Purpose, you’ll never look at your dog the same way again.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 10, 2016
I've never considered myself much of a 'manly' man. Somewhere between the minuscule biceps, my general loathing of sports and my interest of psychology, I tended to consider myself a sensitive new age guy.
So with a heavy dose of irony, and presumably not at all what this book it about, I came to the realization that I might not be that sensitive and new age, and in fact am just a guy. Take away the sports and power-tools, I continue to love ribs, cling to clothes older than youtube is, 'organzie' my house via piles of crap that sits where-ever it lays.
The point is, rather than use a review as a platform to talk about myself, Mr Cameron is surprisingly accurate in his portrayal of the modern man. To the point where even myself a (delusional) SNAG, realizes there might be some changes made. It's a little ironic because I picked up with book with an Oprah citation and assumed it would be some sensitive new age beating other males over the head to be better people book. But really its a hilarious examination of what really makes men tick or more importantly change (hint good looking women pretending to like us) the book made me laugh, and even though I don't even think the author ACTUALLY thought the book would promote positive change has given me some food for thought.
Many of the gags in this book are spot on, and actually made me laugh out loud, which is a big achievement for the written world, usually I merely produce a smirky 'HA!' if I like a joke. On the flip-side the humour does get a little repetitive through the whole book, which doesn't really develop much, each section really just being a scathing indictment of the state of mankind followed up with some humerous dialogue between Cameron and whoever is trying to change him (although any conversation with his daughters is comedy gold).
I also slightly annoyed SPOILER ALERT (I guess) that the story was pretty much about how Cameron snagged a date with his co-worker. While I realize there is an editor somewhere telling authors of non-fiction to add some person touch anecdotes I also feel that books like Cameron's (and a few other's I've read lately) feel a bit too desperate to relate their lives to a mass audience 'look at me look at me'
Despite all that I really enjoyed Cameron's expose of how to remodel men, its funny, its easy read and as I said pretty humbling.
So with a heavy dose of irony, and presumably not at all what this book it about, I came to the realization that I might not be that sensitive and new age, and in fact am just a guy. Take away the sports and power-tools, I continue to love ribs, cling to clothes older than youtube is, 'organzie' my house via piles of crap that sits where-ever it lays.
The point is, rather than use a review as a platform to talk about myself, Mr Cameron is surprisingly accurate in his portrayal of the modern man. To the point where even myself a (delusional) SNAG, realizes there might be some changes made. It's a little ironic because I picked up with book with an Oprah citation and assumed it would be some sensitive new age beating other males over the head to be better people book. But really its a hilarious examination of what really makes men tick or more importantly change (hint good looking women pretending to like us) the book made me laugh, and even though I don't even think the author ACTUALLY thought the book would promote positive change has given me some food for thought.
Many of the gags in this book are spot on, and actually made me laugh out loud, which is a big achievement for the written world, usually I merely produce a smirky 'HA!' if I like a joke. On the flip-side the humour does get a little repetitive through the whole book, which doesn't really develop much, each section really just being a scathing indictment of the state of mankind followed up with some humerous dialogue between Cameron and whoever is trying to change him (although any conversation with his daughters is comedy gold).
I also slightly annoyed SPOILER ALERT (I guess) that the story was pretty much about how Cameron snagged a date with his co-worker. While I realize there is an editor somewhere telling authors of non-fiction to add some person touch anecdotes I also feel that books like Cameron's (and a few other's I've read lately) feel a bit too desperate to relate their lives to a mass audience 'look at me look at me'
Despite all that I really enjoyed Cameron's expose of how to remodel men, its funny, its easy read and as I said pretty humbling.
December 4, 2011
A little uneven at times, but frequently laugh-out-loud and with an embedded story to boot. Recommended for a quick read (even though it took me a long time, that has nothing to do with the book).
July 25, 2012
I couldn't finish it. It was funny, but not grabbing.
April 28, 2018
Giggled all the way thru it!
July 9, 2014
I was hoping this was going to be a self-help guide to personal improvement. Fail. (kidding. I don't judge books by their covers, but I do read book covers before I decide to commit to reading a book I don't know anything about). Reading the cover, I realized it was supposed to be funny. FAIL. Cameron apparently also wrote the "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter." I hadn't read that, but had seen a couple episodes of the TV series, and thought "if they made a TV series out of it, it has to be funny, right?" Wrong. Most of the book just struck me as unimaginative regurgitation of the same old tired battle-of-the-sexes cliches: men don't listen, all men care about is football, men think women are only good for two things: making sandwiches and...well...you've all heard the cliches. It's a fine line between self-deprecation and pandering. I felt like this book didn't add anything to the argument that men are not completely incompetent. Believe it or not, we are not all idiots who only care about sports and beer. We are capable of communicating and helping with children and holding up our end of intelligent conversations. Just give us a chance! Thankfully it was short, but even that time I wish I had to invest in something more fulfilling, or at least entertaining.
May 28, 2009
Okay, so I fully admit that my first thought when I saw this book on the libaray shelf was, "Finally! A book written by a man, about how to change a man...this is great!!! I hope it can teach me how to teach my husband how to get his clothes INTO the laundry basket instead of BESIDE the basket!!!" In other words, I didn't realize the book was, essentially, humorous fiction. So although my initial hopes for the usefulness of this book were dashed upon reading it, I still really liked the book. It was laugh-out-loud funny and truly offers insight into the male psyche (psyche being an overly fancy term for the simple, basic functions going on inside a man's grey matter). I think most people--men, women, married, single--would find it funny. And as for fixing the laundry situation, it does offer some worthwhile suggestions.
July 30, 2013
This is the funniest book I've read in a long time! As in, laugh out loud funny. This is probably not the best book to read in a public place, where strangers stare at you every time you laugh, wondering what the heck is wrong with you. I enjoyed every remodeling tip, from how to get your man to help with housework without giving him a chance to sabotage it, to how to get a man to listen. Cameron managed to gather the many things women complain about in men and how to fix the situation (insert Mission Impossible music). If you're looking for a hilarious read, this is it.
October 31, 2023
I found this book because of a joke that went sideways with an alpha male and I'm so glad I did. I can't get through a page without stifling laughter. Bruce captures men so well (if he didn't he'd have bigger problems). This book reaffirms why I love men and how truly easy they are to understand.
I'm dragging the alpha male along on this literary journey (he refuses to read it) and it's providing a lot of conversational spark and laughter. There are just some things an alpha male just can't deny. 🤭
I'm dragging the alpha male along on this literary journey (he refuses to read it) and it's providing a lot of conversational spark and laughter. There are just some things an alpha male just can't deny. 🤭
May 10, 2010
This book is hilarious!!! I absolutely loved the author's sense of humor, his perspective, and his sarcasm. This is the type of book that needs to be read with a pen and a notebook, because there are so many simply priceless quotes that I would want to have handy.
Two highlights of the book: the conversation between intestine and brain about farting problems in church and the manual on how to change toilet paper. :)
Two highlights of the book: the conversation between intestine and brain about farting problems in church and the manual on how to change toilet paper. :)
November 6, 2016
Technically, one should read this book in between Rules for Dating My Daughter and Rules for Marrying My Daughter. It makes sense per publication date, but otherwise you would have not indication that the events within take place between those other two.
I definitely found myself laughing hysterically at some points, not so much at others. We (my husband and I) have enjoyed Cameron's "humor" books I will call them, but we enjoyed his novels more. We are moving onto the Repo Man.
I definitely found myself laughing hysterically at some points, not so much at others. We (my husband and I) have enjoyed Cameron's "humor" books I will call them, but we enjoyed his novels more. We are moving onto the Repo Man.
August 31, 2007
This book is absolutely hilarious. I read parts of it out loud to my husband, and he thought that the author's insights on the male species were right on. If you need a good laugh and some relational food for thought, this is the place to start.
September 22, 2011
This book I took to my girlfriend's house book to read to her while the husbands caught up.
No woman could get away with writing this. But since a man wrote it, it is just fine to make fun of the irritating male behaviors. Once again, laugh out loud funny.
No woman could get away with writing this. But since a man wrote it, it is just fine to make fun of the irritating male behaviors. Once again, laugh out loud funny.
April 30, 2018
Simply one of the funniest books ever written. I laughed so hard, I almost... well, you get the picture. No but seriously. This book is absolutely hilarious and until you read it, you’re missing out. Can’t go wrong with anything written by this author. Another gem!
October 17, 2008
FUNNY! You have to read this book as it was intended... tongue and cheek.. but oh gosh, SO FUNNY!
May 28, 2009
Very funny book :) I highly recommend this one. It's a little more of a straight comedy book than an actual guide that might help, but I think a lot of the stuff he says will be helpful :)
January 18, 2009
A male (!) friend gave me this book to read. And I loved it. Laughed and laughed as I read it. A light read but fun ; very tongue in cheek.
August 8, 2009
more of a skimmer..just couldn't get into it
September 13, 2013
No se si sirve para cambiarlos... pero sirve para entenderlos y cambiar de actitud nosotras!
Hasta ahora... divertido!
Hasta ahora... divertido!
September 10, 2010
Somehow coming from a man, this book doesn't work. Corny and predictable.
May 19, 2011
Hilarious!
July 30, 2013
Funny book that I'm sure many women can relate to.
July 5, 2012
It was a good comedic book - I laughed out loud in a few places.
June 22, 2012
Give it 2/5 cos my little bro bought it for me...aw
October 12, 2012
It is a fun book. Some of the exampled dialogues are a bit over the top.
Hubster called this man a traitor. I'm pretty sure it's because many of these "quirks" applied to him, too.
Hubster called this man a traitor. I'm pretty sure it's because many of these "quirks" applied to him, too.
July 17, 2013
It was very funny. I laughed so hard sometimes I cried. Would guys like it as much? I don't know.
December 6, 2013
Funny from start to finish. An entertaining read on how you really won't be able to change a man, but if you wanted to try, this would be the book.
September 27, 2018
Found this book at a thrift store and actually kind of enjoyed it. It had its moments but probably needed to be a bit shorter to have more jokes per word.
December 30, 2008
This made me laugh out loud almost as much as Bill Bryson does. A great book for married women.
December 7, 2015
laugh out loud funny
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews