Oct 22, 2007 
Popular Mechanics released a list last month of 25 skills they believe every man should know. They are as follows (full list and article available here) :
1. Patch a radiator hose
2. Protect your computer
3. Rescue a boater who has capsized
4. Frame a wall
5. Retouch digital photos
6. Back up a trailer
7. Build a campfire
8. Fix a dead outlet
9. Navigate with a map and compass
10. Use a torque wrench
11. Sharpen a knife
12. Perform CPR
13. Fillet a fish
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid
15. Get a car unstuck
16. Back up data
17. Paint a room
18. Mix concrete
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle
20. Change oil and filter
21. Hook up an HDTV
22. Bleed brakes
23. Paddle a canoe
24. Fix a bike flat
25. Extend your wireless network
Looking through it I knew a lot of them, but not all. To spare my manliness I won’t specify each one, but I will tell you the following:
- 18 of the 25 I have performed before
- 23 of the 25 I’m pretty sure I know how to do without instruction
- 2 of the 25 I would not know how to do, but being a man would attempt without caution and probably end up either hurting myself or someone, or destroying something.
The article was later updated to describe how to carry out all of the skills listed. Some of their solutions were more quick fixes and low level skill knowledge, which I guess is all that you would need in most situations. I found it very interesting (and I guess was kind of the point of the article) that there are at least 5 items on that list that deal with technology. I guess I never realized all my computer tinkering and tech interest was increasing my manliness. Now if only blogging was on the list.
How many of these skills do you know how to do?
