neurospicybookworm
I really enjoyed Kyle Prue’s dry humour in this book. I ended up reading it out loud to the women in my house—and my husband got a kick out of it.
The introduction, where he breaks down how to make insults stick, was deeply funny. For example, instead of directly saying, “You look like you can’t swim,” which just makes people defensive, he suggests asking, “Can you swim?” It’s much more subtle and makes the other person internalise the insult. It’s clever, a bit cruel, and exactly the kind of sharp wit that made this book so fun to read.
I’ve been following Kyle Prue and his “How to Piss Off Men” series for ages, and this book was the same kind of sharp, witty humour I expected. I do wish there had been a bit more original content beyond what’s already in the internet series, but overall, I really enjoyed it.
While the book is mostly light-hearted and funny, it also makes you think. After all the laughs, Kyle dives into some unexpectedly tender insights on how society teaches men violence and the importance of kindness. The reflection that these clever insults while framed in jest may be the type of engagement that might highlight the dissonance and toxic beliefs the patriarchy instills.
All in all, it’s a great read—sharp, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt.