Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 11-15 of 25
 So so... September 14, 2009
Daniel A. Niles (Iowa)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you want to learn how to make Absinthe and fun things that go boom in the back yard this is not your book. It is more of a toilet time book. Somewhat entertaining and totally written by a man for men. The price is good, the reading OK. I recommend the book but don't expect to much out of it...
 good book August 25, 2009
Nathan L. Warshawsky (NM)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have read the book and was good. I havent tryed to do the projects yet as im out on bail and the wife wont let me.afraid ill blow stuff up. but very informative with good references. the other stuff other than black powder such as knifes and fighting are very vauge.fun to read though.
 Vicarious Thrills and Practical Stuff for the Hopeless Wuss August 11, 2009
O. Skurtyz
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
My toes curl when I look over a second-story balcony, and don't get me near a bullet casing lying in the gravel at the local quarry. So I will not admit to coming any closer to being daring after reading this book. However, the adrenalin rush I experienced while reading it was DARN NEAR EROTIC: Q.) Can I use match heads for rocket propellant? A.) No, God, NO!"
People are nuts to want to actually try most of these projects, however. Of course,after taking the risk-assessment test and scoring a feeble -2,I would have that opinion.
As a word-lover, I glommed onto 'saltpeter', 'bhut jolokia',and 'persiflage' --and there are many more. As an artist, I found Making Charcoal was the one thing in the book I could try without fear. Wusses like me might want to learn proper Knife-throwing and Bullwhip-cracking Techniques that the author lays out. Not too scary, unless you're practicing with sentient beings.
All in all, varied and entertaining!
Awesome book! August 3, 2009
R. Jack (Los Angeles, CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A great book than not only shows you how to do thrilling and dangerous things but motivates you to get off the couch and do them. I have never had so much fun endangering my health and well-being. I highly recomend this book for everyone who is gettng a little bored with the everyday grind.
Hobby projects for "edgeworkers" July 25, 2009
Tony Wolf (Chicago, U.S.A.)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
In "Absinthe and Flamethrowers", how-to author Bill Gurstelle provides a guide to reducing the risk of some unusual DIY projects to tolerable levels.
The first section, "Why Live Dangerously?", offers an analysis of risk-taking personalities and the potential personal and social benefits of "edgeworking", as in "working on the edge" of safety. The second and main section, "How To Live Dangerously", gets to the meat of the subject via a series of practical projects in "Playing with Fire" (explosive devices and experiments), "Thrill Eating" (including the infamous fugu) and similar hazardous actitivies.
My inner purist requires me to note that while Gurstelle's history of Bartitsu, an Edwardian-era martial art, is largely accurate, his project for that section requires the reader to construct a shoulder-length hiking pole. Bartitsu stick fighting was, in fact, optimized for a 36" long walking stick, and the difference in length and weight does affect the practicality of certain self defense techniques. Also, significantly, the text offered as Bartitsu instruction in this chapter does not match the accompanying illustrations.
Special interest quibbles aside, "Absinthe and Flamethrowers" is a quick, fun read and offers a refreshingly pragmatic take on the benefits of "living dangerously".
Showing reviews 11-15 of 25
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