Product Description

Scientists have concluded that 90 percent of men shave at least once a day. That works out at a colossal twenty thousand shaves, or five months in front of the mirror, in a lifetime. Yet how many men have ever been given any advice or shown how best to shave? Here to fill that gaping hole is an indispensable guide to the ultimate shave. Shaving shouldn't be a chore, but a pleasure, and "Sharp Practice" will tell you how. Rich in the (sometimes strange) history of shaving, full of anecdotes and packed with tips and advice, "Sharp Practice" will revolutionize your morning ritual. Here you will find advice on avoiding common mistakes, preventing rashes and cuts, what aftershave to use and how to handle a cut-throat razor, as well as everyday tips and the ultimate luxury shave. You will also learn about Che Guevara's beard, Ivan the Terrible's idea of fun, Alexander the Great and the severed head, and how cavemen invented the razor. Super-stylish, funny and practical, this is a must-have for all well-groomed men everywhere, and the perfect present for any young man beginning to shave for the first time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #93889 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

From the Inside Flap
Scientists have concluded that 90 percent of men shave at least once a day. That works out at a colossal twenty thousand shaves, or five months in front of the mirror, in a lifetime. Yet how many men have ever been given any advice or shown how best to shave? Here to fill that gaping hole is an indispensable guide to the ultimate shave. Shaving shouldn’t be a chore, but a pleasure, and Sharp Practice will tell you how.

Rich in the (sometimes strange) history of shaving, full of anecdotes and packed with tips and advice, Sharp Practice will revolutionize your morning ritual. Here you will find advice on avoiding common mistakes, preventing rashes and cuts, what aftershave to use and how to handle a cut-throat razor, as well as everyday tips and the ultimate luxury shave. You will also learn about Che Guevara’s beard, Ivan the Terrible’s idea of fun, Alexander the Great and the severed head, and how cavemen invented the razor.

Super-stylish, funny and practical, this is a must-have for all well-groomed men everywhere, and the perfect present for any young man beginning to shave for the first time.

From the Back Cover
Scientists have concluded that 90 percent of men shave at least once a day. That works out at a colossal twenty thousand shaves, or five months in front of the mirror, in a lifetime. Yet how many men have ever been given any advice or shown how best to shave? Here to fill that gaping hole is an indispensable guide to the ultimate shave. Shaving shouldn’t be a chore, but a pleasure, and Sharp Practice will tell you how.

Revolutionize your morning ritual by learning some essential how-tos:

·Prevent rashes and cuts
·The importance of a good aftershave
·How to handle a cut-throat razor
·What is the ultimate luxury shave?

Along the way, you will learn about Che Guevara’s beard, Ivan the Terrible’s idea of fun, Alexander the Great and the severed head, and how cavemen invented the razor.Super-stylish, funny and practical, this is a must-have for all well-groomed men everywhere, and the perfect present for any young man about to shave for the first time.

About the Author
Anders Larsen was born in Beirut, of Danish/Irish parentage. He spent his early years travelling, then got stuck in the habit and just carried on. He has taught English in Abu Dhabi and Mexico, played volleyball for Ireland, and has had jobs ranging from lavatory cleaner in New York to demolition worker in Munich. But he is not - nor has ever been - a barber. He currently lives in Ireland with his family, where he practises karate and wishes it didn't rain so much.

Customer Reviews

indispensable
The perfect gift for fathers, brothers, partners and all those who listen to tales of shaving woe! This well- presented book gives shaving the attention it deserves, with facts, advice and anecdotes.

Afraid to ask??
It's very true. Shaving is one of those things that every man takes for granted. Very little is explained to us before our first shave. My father shaves with a hot cup of water, soap and a shaving brush for spreading the suds. To top it all off he uses the BIC razor!

I tried this myself when starting out and realized that I had the skin of a fairy. Few gallons of blood and chucks of skin later I realized I wasn't quite up to the whole shaving technique. This book has explained a hell of a lot of questions that for some strange reason I never asked about!

Absolutely brilliant book packed with wonderful stories about the history of shaving and every question answered that you always wanted to ask but where probably too proud or manly to ask about!

Slightly entertaining but lacking good information
I'm sure the author would be an entertaining sort of guy to share a pint with as he has some interesting tales to tell. I'm also sure I wouldn't want to spend more time with him than that as he comes across a bit boastful and his tales have more than a bit of... exaggeration.

The problem with the book is after reading about his exploits with one-eyed Cossacks in the jungle, freediving off of oil rigs and wandering the cities of Europe you aren't given much in the way of actual shaving tips or information. There is a lot of history of shaving in the book, and if you're interested in that, you might enjoy it. However even that has flaws; in spite of his research the author doesn't seem aware that Sweeney Todd is a fictional character.

In short, buy this book to read some drinking stories and trivia regarding shaving. If you're looking for a guide or useful information, look elsewhere. I recommend "Leisureguy's Guide to Gourmet Shaving: Shaving Made Enjoyable" available here on Amazon for shaving tips and information.