Real Men Eat Puffer Fish - Robert Twigger

03 July 2008

NO man's man will openly admit to seeking guidance through the pages self-help books - but thanks to the off-the-hook ramblings of Robert Twigger, your reviewer can now land a Boeing 747, crack a safe and deal with a shark attack.

Throw in Casanova's 33 rules of rapid seduction and the threat of a new generation of all-conquering action men becomes more realistic thanks to Real Men Eat Puffer Fish (£9.99 Weidenfeld and Nelson).

Some teachings are purely bizarre, such as how to tell the sex of an earwig.

And some reveal methods of survival including how to punch and the best way to escape a POW camp.

But your reviewer's favourite skills are taken straight from the training manuals of the famed Russian security services - the feared KGB.

The ability to perform powerful, commanding stares that make informants crumble in the presence of agents can be yours in just a few minutes.

After a trip to the zoo.

It seems the Russians perfected their soul-destroying glares in staring matches with gorillas which taught them the art of animal power and intensity.

A good skill when asking the boss for an overdue pay-rise.

Readers can obtain the techniques for building up powers of intimidation and fearlessness. Those hooded hoodlums will trouble you no more.

Twigger has put together an entertaining read from start to finish and surely has scope for a few more editions to offer tips on how to carry out the seemingly impossible.

But the title of the book gives away its biggest secret. How to eat the deadly puffer fish.

Hundreds of people have died attempting such a thing, but if you must join the Japanese in feasting on this so-called delicacy then read the guidelines very carefully.

Then re-read. Then give up and go to the chippie.

- DOMINIC WIGGAN