KIRKUS REVIEW
If men truly are from Mars and women are from Venus, this field guide provides a simple way to demystify the cosmic differences between the sexes.
Written and illustrated by friends of over 30 years, this funny guide portrays the many types of men, affectionately referred to as Nimroddes, whom young women may encounter. The authors claim that Nimrodde is the “all-encompassing category for what is currently referred to as the human male,” and they provide a tongue-in-cheek evolutionary perspective on the development of man. DeBraak takes a scientific approach to classifying and categorizing the men, lending this book an air of authority. The author provides a witty chapter entitled “How to Use This Guide” that identifies the qualities of each Nimrodde that she discusses: ecology and behavior, similar types, habitat, range, breeding peculiarities and learning opportunities. DeBraak offers intriguing profiles, but there are a few highlights. One, for instance, is the Pinhead. While Pearson’s drawing depicts a typical businessman on a cellphone, smiling cockily, DeBraak explains that this type is called a Pinhead because of its “pin-striped suits or ties” and because it considers itself a “head honcho.” DeBraak says of its breeding peculiarities that “because this type thinks so much of itself, females are considered conquests.” She says that Pinheads are “obsessed with causing others to sweat.” The authors’ comical depiction and classification of the Pinhead reveals the type of self-absorbed businessman commonly found in television and other media. Another type is the Jock. Pearson’s drawing for the Jock is dead-on: a large-jawed man wearing a baseball cap. DeBraak describes the Jock as “carrying around various types of balls” to “display physical superiority and convince females of its desirability.” She notes that one can learn from the Jock that “getting hit in the head or dropped on the head causes brain damage.” Guys reading this book may be slightly surprised by the harsh characterizations and sometimes clichéd descriptions of their gender. When examining Pearson’s appealing illustrations, however, readers will recognize that although the book contains some truth, it also satirizes society’s expectations for men.
A quick and funny companion to He’s Just Not That into You.