Must Read: “How to be a Good Husband”

Around the time I got engaged/my 31st birthday, my good buddy and now brother-in-law Johnny Bravo gave me this book as a present. “How to be a Good Husband” was originally published in 1936 under the name “Dos and Don’ts for Husbands,” and was republished in 2008 by the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford. The book (all 3.5 x 5 inches of it) is an amazing, 88 page collection of insanely relevant advice to help a “boyfriend” on his transition into being a “husband.” The forward reads:

To Husbands:

The part which a husband must play in life is not exactly an easy one.  He has definite obligations and numerous restrictions.  Often he will be puzzled as to why things have gone wrong. This small volume of Do’s and Dont’s should help guid him away from errors and pitfalls, since it epitomises the correct conduct of husbands.

Not bad for a 73 year old book.  I’m not a huge reader, so a 80 some odd, tiny pages was perfect for me.  I have to say the book is a good read, and I was happy to find out that I was on the right track.  Obviously not all of the book is accurate after so many years and statements like, “Do try, as far as lies in your power, to give your wife a set sum for house-keeping and another for her own personal use.  It is very lowering to her dignity to have to ask you for money every time she wants to buy a pair of gloves or make a small present to anyone” prove to be totally ridiculous.  On the other hand, there are statements like the one featured on the back cover that prove to be helpful as we as men try and figure out how to not be Neanderthals.

“Don’t tell your wife terminological inexactitudes, which are, in plain English, lies.  A woman has wonderful intuition for spotting even minor departures from the truth.”

If you’re a total scumbag, maybe the book will change your life but I doubt it. For me, it was just a cool little something, filled with illustrations from Army and Navy catalogues from the early 30′s.  So cool that I tattooed the cover on my arm right before my wedding, as a reminder to always be….well… a good husband.  The book is available now on Amazon for less than $10 and you can buy it here

Tell ‘em Whutsiznaim sent you