Category: Self-Help & Relationships

Written by Steve “Red Green” Smith

SUMMARY:

For fans of the long-running Canadian TV sitcom/handyman spoof, “The Red Green Show,” this hardcover is a witty 2013 literary follow-up.  Casually offering 248 pages of dating, marriage, and parenting advice for clueless guys, crotchety “Red” shares his everyman wit and timeless insights on fundamental (and often irreconcilable) differences between the genders.  Starting with teenagers, “Red” goes on to explain how guys invariably find their soulmates.  This component is vital, particularly when determining how one should cope with enduring male/female relationships, especially as months can turn into years and then decades of marriage.  It’s also made evident that perpetually befuddled husbands must smartly play catch-up, if they want to stay married.   

Note: Only unseen Possum Lodge members from the TV series (i.e. “Stinky” Peterson; “Buster” Hatfield, “Moose” Thompson, etc.) are referenced.  One can only assume that the omission of his regularly-seen TV cronies is for legal purposes.

REVIEW:

Well-played!  Articulately written, author Steve Smith’s blue-collar alter ego does a classy job of mining a huge source of everyday humor readily identifiable to young guys and grumpy old dudes anywhere.  Without cheaply resorting to profanities or excessively naughty humor, this book consistently delivers the goods.  Better yet, “Red” even takes a surprisingly insightful and mature approach to various topics, i.e. how men and women differ in how they perceive eating out; or prioritizing the most important traits in one’s spouse.   

This book shouldn’t be dismissed as merely regurgitating scripted material from the TV series.  Instead, “Red” often refers to his hapless Possum Lodge buddies, but he does so without turning these supposed pals into total buffoons.  Characters like “Stinky” or “Moose” (and their long-suffering wives) possess enough honest smidgens of reality to make readers think that he (or she) might actually know somebody like them.  In that sense, this book is the equivalent of Red’s vintage “North of 40” TV segments where he mused on random tidbits of middle-aged guy wisdom.  Hence, this mildly raunchy gem is a terrific gag gift for graduations, birthdays, and bachelor parties. 

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

There are some ‘helpful’ black & white photos and diagrams, as well as other occasional visual aids.  As a fun sight gag, the book’s front and back inside bindings are ‘reinforced’ by fake duct tape.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     8 Stars