A Boy Should Know How to Tie a Tie: And Other Lessons for Succeeding in Life

This is a great book for any boy who is a teenager or even older. But I'd say this book would be great for a single mother who has a son and there is little to no contact with a father/male figure. This book makes a great gift to give to him teo explain why he should keep his nails cut, hair cut on a regular basis, shave, etc. And as the title says, how to tie a tie :-) And lets face it, all boys will tie a tie sometimes and unless they prepare beforehand (do a search on how to tie a tie) they're probably not going to know how to tie it. And there are many other chapters that will come in handy in helping prepare for life. Great, great book!!

"A Boy Should Know How to Tie a Tie" reads like separate conversations between a father and son as the father prepares the son to face society on his own. From the title I had surmised that the target age on this book would be a little younger & that it would contain more instructional information and less personal experience. In short, I thought it was going to be an instructional book with outlines and diagrams. It is not, and I found Fisher's approach to be surprisingly refreshing. Antoine Fisher does a superb job explaining not only how to preform tasks and how to conduct one's self in various situations, but more importantly why a young man should consider these details in the first place. It provides very thorough lessons in how and why a young man can show that he takes pride in every aspect of his life. These are lessons that a man should be imparting to his son, but if your son has no man in his life, get this book so that Mr. Fisher can lend you a hand. If you are a dad, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have the book on hand to refer to when you need a refresher or when you want your son to hear it from a different voice. Sometimes kids "get" these lessons more quickly when they hear them from someone who famous. This will make an awesome Father's Day gift for any dad who likes to fine-tune his fathering knowledge. It should also be in the suitcase (backpack?) of every young man as he leaves home for good (or maybe even college). This book is a keeper and I will continue to refer to it often. Note: I do wish that the Table of Contents had included the sub-headings contained within each chapter. It would make for easier reference when you need to quickly refer to great way Mr. Fisher presented the importance of hand-washing or the art of correctly matching sock color to shoe color.

It may seem VERY basic to most women to look to the latest trends in fashion for work, to know how to cook, how to budget, etc. - not so for most girls (although the gals could benefit from this book as well!) A very practical book about basic life-skills in American society (and many other countries as well!), the basics of how to get your "uniform" together, what to wear and why (because you look not only more professional in it, but also don't put out the wrong message!), how to calibrate your finances ( & check on them too), why to stay away from overuse of alcohol & use of illicit drugs, how to find your own spirit while respecting that of others and understanding them as well. This book doesn't have long drawn-out, wordy chapters about life, but does get to the major points of life directly & to the point in a page or two, then if you need further explanation of why, this book explains it simply and moves on. Light, but important reading, directed at the guys, but also important for the gals as well on what you need to do to be a successful adult - just the basics, yet so very important. The author leads much of the chapters where it leads to a concrete "this is what you need to do" area, for instance cleaning starts with levels of cleanliness, how to develop a routine, and then a list of supplies you might need for your home. Great guide for teens & those ready to leave home, or that already have! A short too on what it means to have "Your own uniform" & why you need one! Great for young men ( & women too) from every walk of life! Especially fills in the holes for those without a dad around, BUT also fills in the holes where those uncomfortable conversations never come up.

I am going to take a little different reviewing turn here, and concentrate on the hints and tips sections of this book, instead of the "life lessons" portions. Ok, we start out by learning to tie a tie. This is not easy to find, kind of hidden up front in the Introduction, rather than in the `Clothes make the man" chapter. However, it teaches "how to" simply and well, showing the Half-Windsor. He has a simple set of illustrations and detailed step by step instructions. What's nice is that he doesn't go on to show a full Windsor or a bow tie, or any of the other stuff that usually clutters up and confuses other guides. He's right- you need to learn to tie a tie, so learn one knot and learn it by rote. Next we have a simple and easy to follow guideline for trimming men's nails, including the very important advice to keep your nails fairly short. He follows this with an excellent stroke by stroke guide to shaving. I mean, this is so good, every male needs to read this. Antwone importantly adds the advice to not use a alcohol based aftershave, and to stay away from strong scents. The author goes on to shoe selection & care and a very well written guide to doing a good shoe shine. I have a couple quibbles here- he brings in styles like the derby and blucher, which I think add trivia and are a little confusing. He also prefers a cloth to buff while I prefer a soft finishing brush, but that's just personal style. Again- a useful and well done section. Important tips on buying and wearing a suit, and business wear are next. Also chock full of useful advice- including the wide differences found in "business casual", which can be a pitfall for a new employee. Solid practical advice. I don't know how many young men will ever iron their own shirt, but there are times when it's useful to know this. A good part of another chapter is devoted on setting a budget and other good solid practical basic financial advice. This section would be good for any reader, including advice on buying a car, budgets and credit cards. I have to admit I have not yet tried any of the few simple recipes in the back, but I agree young men should know at least the basics of cooking. All in all, the "hints and tips" portions of this book are very practical, presented in a clear and helpful and no-nonsense style. I am impressed. I admit I missed having an index, however. Perhaps the next edition will add that.

Author Antwone Fisher penned a timely self-help book that clearly explains how important the basic things in life that pertain to life and living it successfully. The things that most people would not think are important really are, as they build character, self-esteem, self-worth and provide lessons on one's way to succeeding in life. Simply, it begins with the basics. Drawing from his own life experiences, Author Fisher shares how important it is to know how to tie a tie and what it means to a young boy. From hygiene to clothing to developing life plans to inventing yourself, the basics of doing these things are an integral part of who you will become. Discipline, starting with taking care of your body, keeping yourself clean and presentable, from your haircut to the shoes you wear, even the food you eat and how you care for the spiritual side of yourself. Personal experiences and suggestions are not what make this book; it is the illustrations and instructions on how to tie a tie, how to shave, the type of clothing every young man should have in his closet, how to ensure that your clothing is clean and what to do when traveling, and a host of other very basic ways of living that would help a young man to not only put his best foot forward, but to present who he is the first time someone makes his acquaintance. This very detailed, very frank and open-hearted book reveals that the basics may seem simple at first glance, but they are indeed the foundation and blueprint that will help our young boys become the men they endeavor to be. I recommend this book to boys everywhere, boys youth groups and men who never had the opportunity to learn these important life lessons from their own fathers. This book was provided to me courtesy of the publisher for review purposes. Review by Sharel E. Gordon-Love APOOO BookClub