Contribute to Bill Adler's next book

Boys and Their Toys:
Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationships With Their Gadgets

I'm writing a new book -- and I'm looking for people to interview. The book is called, Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationships with Their Gadgets.  I figure that many of us online are in touch with our inner geek, so posting my query online might reach the right people:  you. 

Boys and Their Toys explains how men behave in terms of the toys they like. For instance, that expensive car represents a need for independence; same for a GPS -- with a global positioning system in his car or pocket a man does not have to depend on anyone else for directions. Fancy cars, as well as expensive stereos, are ego-boosters -- something else that's an integral component to men's psyche. Men believe that certain gadgets such as multi-function watches and high-tech car interiors, lure women in. (That may or may not be true, right?) Men often have short attention spans and need to fidget, and gadgets such as PDAs and cell phones help with this.

Here are some questions. For the men you know, are married to, live with, or who have known (and for men -- feel free to answer any questions in terms of how you relate to your toys):

What are his favorite gadgets and toys?

Does he use these toys as a substitute for any part of your relationship? In other words, do you feel that he pays more attention to the toy than to you -- and why?

How would your guy be if you took away certain gadgets, such as his iPod? Would he be okay or hell on earth?

How does he behave when he's away from his computer, email and Internet?

Does he need a new toy every so often?

Do you feel that his interest in gadgets --well, there's no delicate way to put this-- helps your relationship by enabling him to expend energy and interest in toys, rather than in other women?

Do his toys help him retain his boyhood? That is, do you think that his love of gadgets has something to do with his need to stay a boy at heart?

Do you see his interest in certain toys --alarms, personal protectors, security devices, knifes, for example-- as an extension of his nurturing, protective side? Or are these "security" devices saying, "My castle is fortified. I dare you to attack!"

Do his toys help with his mid-life crisis (or whatever)?

Don't feel like you have to answer all of these questions, or even any of them. I'm interested in knowing how you see men and their relationship with gadgets in general, as well. I'm also interested in knowing how women relate to their gadgets -- does technology help form a bond between the sexes?

Email me at toybook@pobox.netmails.net. Or if you have more to say than can be accomplished in an email, call me at 202-986-9275.

Sincerely,

Bill Adler