This is a book for the suave James Bond types or rather those who want to be like James Bond.

Frank Coles is a bit of an adventurer, writing several articles for National Geographic magazine about being a Bedouin, swimming with sharks and travelling around the Arctic – so he knows about taking risks and living on the edge.

For many of the chapters he goes out and gets instruction on how to do things such as drive a tank. He goes to a Tank School on the Welsh border to try out a Russian T55-AM2, which the owner has acquired from the Polish governmentt.

Having had his tank drive he advises the reader on the basic techniques for driving the monster.

By the way, he doesn’t tell you, but a quick look on the internet reveals that in the UK you can buy a T55-AM2 for around $NZ75,000.

Building on the driving element he then discusses the various hand brake turns and power slides that can turn you into a fully professional boy racer. He also describes the best way of parking using a hand brake routine:

Approach from about 50m out and keep the parking spot on your right. In first gear bring the car up to about 3500 revs. When you reach the empty spot between the two cars put your left hand on the steering wheel at nine o’clock and spin it round to six o’clock. As soon as you begin to turn the wheel pull on the hand brake. Then correct any oversteer with the steering wheel.

It’s all so easy. He takes a similar approach in the chapters on sex.

The series of chapters are designed to turn you into a real macho guy but with a sensitive edge. So there are chapters on “How to be a Great Dad,” “Depression and How to Deal with it” and “The Meaning of Life.”

His chapter about getting used to firing guns is full of first hand information. He tells us about his experience of going to a training camp in Switzerland where you can get to try out various weapons and throw grenades. He tells us that Edelweiss Tactical is the best place in the world to legally have these experiences.

As with many of his chapters, he unfortunately doesn’t tell you how to go about this. But again if you check the internet site www.edelweisstactical.com you will find a variety of courses, including a five-day one for about $NZ4000.

There are chapters on how to make simple explosive devices, how to fight and how to learn to play the guitar in a day.

Some of the chapters are a bit disappointing. The one on gambling really only tells you the basic rules of each of the games but no special insight.

His one helpful piece about card counting merely refers you to other books. The one about how to find a gun in any city of the world is great if you are in Cambodia or the US but a bit short on detail for this part of the world.

His basic advice for getting a gun is, “head for the roughest pub you can find … just be cool and ask around. The barman is a good place to start.”

While the book may not really turn you into a James Bond, there is enough information to prove that most of us are already half way there.

How To Drive A Tank…and Other Everyday Tips for the Modern Gentleman
Frank Coles
Little Brown / Hachette RRP $39.95 (Some shops such as Whitcoulls are charging up to $43.95)