Book review: "You Can Date Boys When You're Forty" by Dave Barry

Dave Barry has written books on home repair, Jews, the U.S. government, money, traveling in Japan, the quirky state of Florida, men, and "Marriage and/or Sex." And each one is hilarious.

But he's never before written a book taking a sober and intimate look at quantum mechanics.

And he still hasn't.


Until he does, we'll have to be content with Dave Barry books like "You Can Date Boys When You're Forty," which I just finished reading.

The subtitle on this book is "Dave Barry on Parenting and Other Topics He Knows Very Little About," but don't let that deceive you. As Barry acknowledges at the outset, his editors just wanted some catchy title. Yes, part of the book is about parenting, but it also covers a lot more.

With all his usual wit, sarcasm and self-deprecation, Barry describes attending a Justin Bieber concert, lists "Things a Man Should Know How to Do," analyzes the plot of "Fifty Shades of Grey," outlines the program for his own funeral, deconstructs the rules of grammar and much more.

Dave Barry fans will not be disappointed -- except by one part. Late in the book, Barry describes his family's trip to Israel, and  the first half of this chapter isn't very funny. 

Not only is this section lacking in the humor department, Barry get's a little preachy. At one point, noting the presence of armed soldiers everywhere in Israel, he says, "It's a reminder that Israel has to always be ready. Always."

 It's as if the Mossad feared that this American humorist would say something offensive about Israel and managed to replace him with a less-funny look-alike for this chapter.  If that's what  happened, though, Dave Barry must have wiggled out of his bonds and escaped his captors midway through the section, because by the end he's back to himself, making pointed fun of Middle East leaders, American tourists and Roman latrines.