The FatMan's Guide to Cooking, Cleaning, and All Things Domestic

By Mike Scharff

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 158736932X
• ISBN13: 9781587369322
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: Wheatmark
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Funny and more than a little true

I remember when I first moved into my own apartment many years ago now. I was for all intents and purposes a kid. I could boil pasta or heat up some frozen mac n cheese in the microwave (or call for pizza). Other than that I didn't have a clue about how to set up and organize my life, much less impress a woman (or in the Fatman's terms, give her the illusion that I was impressive whether or not I actually was). I caught on eventually but it probably took longer than it would have if this book had been around back then. Fortunately for the world, it's here now. This book works well on multiple levels. As pure comedy, it's a riot. To say I've been there is putting it mildly. I always like humor that involves "telling it like it is," or talking about the stuff we all think but are often afraid to say in polite company. The Fatman dishes this kind of humor in spades. He provides a clever, refreshing and original perspective on an old topic, which is always enjoyable. However, this book also functions as good practical advice for anyone between the ages of 18 and 25 who is striking out on their own and feeling overwhelmed. It's an exciting and somewhat scary experience to set up your own life, and having resources is always a good thing. I'd make this book required reading for all college students. It might make dorm rooms smell better at the very least. This Fatman should be a household name. Hopefully he'll have some more speaking engagements soon (Mike is a really funny guy in person too, go see him if he's speaking in your area) which will undoubtedly increase his burgeoning readership. We're all waiting for his next book!

Snarky. Easy read. Good reference material.

I guess I got lucky. My mom made me take Home Economics classes as a kid. I can cook, do laundry, clean the house, even groom myself... and still maintain masculinity. But I also know lots of friends (including a surprising number of female friends) who cannot. To the rescue: Mike Scharff with The FatMan's Guide To Cooking, Cleaning, and All Things Domestic. I learned about the book when seeing Mike speak at a bookstore recently. (I hear he might also be doing a radio show before too long.) True to the title, Mike could step right into the silhouette used by Alfred Hitchcock in the opening credits of his old Hitchcock Presents TV series. Mike also exudes happy, compassion, wry humor... and comes across with the sense of cleanliness you'd expect from a title like this. Without giving too much away (at 157 pages and crisply written, it's a quick cover-to-cover), I found The FatMan's Guide to be a highly-useful compendium of good domestic habits, along with some snarky witticisms (he calls them Scharffisms). I.E. "Perception is 9/10 of the law of attracting the opposite sex." The book includes a great mac and cheese recipe (along with a dollop of mac and cheese philosophy), tips on everything from pantry "necessities", how to survive a long-distance road trip (some of them gross), and a guide to finding someone to settle down with (and the hazards thereof). Easy read. Funny. Good reference material (if you can admit that you need help in knowing how to keep you and your place appealing). Glad I got it.