The Superman Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Saving the Day

Being Superman isn't just wearing your underwear on the outside, putting on a cape and attaching a giant S to your chest. You've got to know how to knock out a villain, break down a door, tackle a runaway goon, tie up henchmen, dodge and block bullets, leap in a single bound, perform various rescues such as runaway cars, cars teetering over an edge, quicksand, wild animals, someone drowning or caught in a rip, trapped under heavy objects and many other things. This manual also teaches the reader CPR, treat cuts, bites, burns, broken bones and other first aid although you really should do a first aid course to get the latest (how to save a chocking victim Heimlich Maneuver is not what you do these days). The manual also has instructions on how to change a tyre, put out a fire, stop a leak, fix an electrical outage, save a kitten from a tree and other handy skills to have. As long as the reader can differentiate between when the novel is speaking specifically about superman and when it is the real world, then this actually is quite a useful and helpful book if ever faced with these problems. It isn't as good as competitors such as The Action Hero's Handbook by David Borgenicht and Joe Borgenicht if learning these skills is the sole purpose of buying the book, so if you are not much of a fan of Superman then get that instead. However there is not much difference and the background info on Superman and comics will sway the decision to The Superman Handbook for fans. There is is also a Batman Handbook if you prefer the caped crusader.

While Superman may be the greatest superhero ever, this book shows how you can emulate his heroics. The intro states that while Supes has many superpowers, his greatest power is his ability and desire to help mankind. This isn't a book on the lines of others that are humorous in assuming the world of superpowers are real. This book is more of a good samaritan's survival guide on how you can help out yourself and others in certain types of emergencies such as saving a drowning victim, stopping a runaway car, and help someone choking to mundane events like jumpstarting a car, changing a tire, fixing a leaky pipe, and rescuing a kitten from a tree. While using pretty simplistic scenarios, this book tries to help instill in mankind how to emulate the kindness and heroism of the likes of Superman. Thrown in for the Superman fans are little comic facts about our last son of Krypton. It's a great how to help people guide but extra training is obviously needed for some of the situations presented.

The introduction dutifully notes that The Superman Handbook is a work of fiction. That it is, but still with honest to goodness, real, and accurate advice for aspiring heroes everywhere. Yes, you will learn how to block and dodge bullets, break down doors, rundown a bad guy, and rescue those in dire need from floods, fires, avalanches, and more...all without the aid of real super powers. The book is cleverly written by Scott Beatty with art by John Delany, Dave Cooper and Terry Beatty. The book combines a look at Superman lore with real life advice on survival and life-saving techniques and proves that you don't need to be faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive to be a superhero...you just need to know what to do in a given situation. For example, do you need to break down a door? The handbook tells you how. Don't waste time banging your shoulder into it...as the book explains a well placed kick exerts far greater force than your shoulder. You're also advised to find the door's "sweet spot" where the latch meets the door frame...all the better to bust it down don't you know. How about blocking bullets? Yes, you too can block bullets provided you have the proper equipment such as a riot shield made of unbreakable Lexan polycarbonate (bullet proof glass) or a Kevlar vest, or ceramic body armor. The book explains each of these items in laymen's terms. The section on Super Rescues tells how to save people from such predicaments as rip tides, quicksand, floods, and burning buildings. It even includes more exotic rescues like saving someone from a teetering car or hanging from a building. The Next section on Saving the Day includes practical first aid advice on how to perform CPR, treat cuts, animal bites, burns, broken limbs, help a victim who is choking, having a seizure, or been poisoned. Throughout the book bits of Superman lore are introduced on his various powers, greatest villains, most super saves, and more, just to keep things light. Whether you're a Superman fan or not, you'll find solid advice in the handbook, related in an informal style. Great job. Reviewed by Tim Janson

If you know nothing about Superman except that he wears red and blue tights and fights for truth, justice and the American way, you'll still enjoy this book. Like Beatty's equally brilliant Batman Handbook, the Superman Handbook explains all the techniques regular people can do to save lives. At the same time, it also gives you a primer on Superman's abilities, allies, villains and more, and it even teaches you how to speak Bizarro. So on that note, me hate this book and me not recommend it to no one. (If you don't get it, you will once you read the book!)