“Turning 50 years of age… guys like me were not supposed to get here,” says Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) in his second book, How To Be A Man (and other illusions). Inspired by hitting the half-century mark, this 304-page hardcover is part memoir, and part self-help book. Not quite as riveting as McKagan’s 2011 autobiography, It’s So Easy (and other lies), How To Be A Man is still full of unbelievable revelations including, “Things had gotten so bad, I would drink my throw-up for the alcohol in it.” Thankfully, Duff got sober and really turned his life around. For evidence of just how much he’s changed, check out the chapter titled Skip The Strip Club, Hit The Book Store. Now happily married and the father of two daughters, McKagan admits to being “a hopeless romantic,” and looking to the 1946 movie It’s A Wonderful Life, “as a benchmark for how to be a dad and husband.” Visiting a taco stand in Mexico with your family doesn’t seem all that exciting, but Duff manages to make it an interesting read. Along with sharing personal moments, McKagan vividly recounts time spent with his other bands: Kings Of Chaos, Walking Papers, Loaded, and Neurotic Outsiders. And don’t forget about Duff’s love of his hometown NFL team, the Seattle Seahawks.

Advice is plentiful throughout, from the obvious “never say someone else’s name in the throes of lovemaking,” to “do the dishes” and “turn problems into opportunity.” Furthermore, readers are enlightened to the three As: attention, affection, appreciation. Duff also admits to suffering from panic disorder, and being borderline obsessive when it comes to physical fitness. “If I miss a workout, I go through withdrawals. I hit the bag just as hard as I used to hit the drugs.” Also included is a list of 100 must-hear albums, and suggestions on travelling; where to go, what to see. Returning to where it all began; the spectacle that is Guns N’ Roses receives its fair share of print. “I look back at those times with something close to honor… GN’R left a lasting impact that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully comprehend.” Peeling back his own layers, Duff comments on Axl and Izzy’s decision not to attend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies in 2012, and goes on to say that playing with Axl (and the current incarnation of Guns) in South America “made me a better man.” Whether it’s massive arenas or tiny clubs, a new band or an all-star ensemble, Duff is “a punk rock road dog” who loves music and family equally. Here’s hoping the former “King of Beers” gets to enjoy another 50 years!