Is your bed still unmade after reading the first set of reviews about Were You Raised by Wolves? : Clues to the Mysteries of Adulthood?

Please read on, as our second set of bloggers were also enthusiastic about Mellor’s baking soda miracles, financial tips, and witty diagrams.

Rather than a dry how-to, Were You Raised by Wolves? turned out to be great bedtime reading for one blogger: “Every night, I waited for my kids to…you know…to FINALLY go to bed, poured myself a glass of wine, curled up in my favorite chair (the one the dog hasn’t made stinky, yet) and found myself getting lost in chapters like, ‘Getting Acquainted with Your Kitchen,’ and ‘How to Throw a Real Grown-up Cocktail Party.’ … in all seriousness, I loved this book.”

One reviewer remarked that “I’m not really the target demographic for this book — it’s really intended for the college and early 20-something set. So, as I sit here teetering on the edge of the number whose name I will not speak, I didn’t really need a lot of the advice.” Although she admits she would have liked to have owned it earlier: “So many pitfalls of entering the adult working world could have been avoided in my life if I had had this guide! I had no idea I could get those nasty water rings off the wooden TV trays with mayonnaise! I also didn’t know that while you CAN freeze vodka for that tasty martini, freezing gin is a bad idea!”

Another reviewer knew that Were You Raised by Wolves? was the right book for her: “As a clueless 20-something who felt completely out of her element, I would have welcomed this book with open arms. Even 13 years later, (and with far more life experience) I STILL welcomed this book with open arms.”

Our reviewers enjoyed the feel of the book. One explained “Overall, I liked the chatty, friendly tone of the book. The writer’s style is breezy and humorous. She infuses energy and wit into what could be a very stuffy and staid subject. I just want to invite her to a dinner party at my house, make her ‘the perfect martini” (yes she covers both areas in Raised by Wolves) and tell her that I now make the bed each day because of Chapter One.”

And another admitted, “Advice that comes via parental lips isn’t as revered as that which comes from your best friend, so I may not have listened to all of the wisdom my mom tried to impart. Thankfully, Mellor can be simultaneously a best friend and a mentor.”

One reviewer says it straight-up: “This girl is funny. And a wonderfully delightful writer. She says what we’re all thinking when the hordes of interns enter our worlds around this time each year…oh people, get a clue! And stop acting like you own the joint. And it’s not good to smell like joints. And the way you’re bodyslamming yourself to be cool is hurting my joints. So just stop. And read this book.”

As for the usefulness of the actual advice, our bloggers have wisely kept most of the tips to themselves so that new readers will pick up the book for themselves. They simply list several of the topics: “Useful kitchen tips include how to make coffee that is drinkable, how to hard-boil eggs, make basic soup and salad dressing, even how to make homemade mayonnaise.” and “Mellor gives advice on basic living practices, such as the importance of keeping your apartment clean, how to clean your bathroom, why it is important to make your bed, and the myriad uses of baking soda.”

While the drawings were fabulous, I had a hard time following along at times. I wasn’t alone. One reviewer explains, “Her illustrations were quite cute and surprisingly informative, like how to build a ‘bad boy bar’ and how to set a table, though no amount of detail in a drawing could teach me to tie a bowtie. Then again humans have not been able to teach me this skill either. Perhaps this is why I was not born a man and have not succeeded as a professional clown.”

As the book covers a variety of subjects, is the expertise spread too thin? Some bloggers remarked that some of the advice seemed to be researched-only and not actually from Mellor’s trusted experience. “I was less taken with advice that appeared to be based on stuff like stain removal that she read on the internet but had not actually tested herself. If there’s one skill a college graduate has, it’s how to Google.” reports one reviewer. As with many things, if the person giving the advice has actually found success with his or her method, I’ll be more likely to listen.” remarks another.

So knowing that Mellor is not a chef, would you trust her recipes, for example? One blogger reports “Although I realize I could open a cookbook and find recipes about anything I desire, there is something ‘easier’ about happening-upon a recipe in the midst of a humorous book.” While another wonders, “with books like these, I always wonder what to do with it next. I mean, when it comes time to poach that chicken, will I really remember to come back to the appropriate chapter, or will I head to an online cooking site? I just feel like all these new-age encyclopedias are too random to be a constant reference. But what do I know? I didn’t even know how to make gravy until I read this book.”

Mellor may not be a financial planner by profession, but one reviewer gives her finance section an enthusiastic thumbs-up: “One of the most important chapters is the one about finance. Look, in today’s economy, things are tough for families… we already know that, but we shouldn’t assume that things are free and easy for young adults, especially as they often start amassing horrendous debt early in life. Mellor’s advice on money is sound. So, pay attention.”

Like the first set of reviewers, the second set mentioned how perfect is for a graduation gift: “I would have definitely appreciated this book as a graduation gift. It would have given me a heads up on things to come and would have saved me a lot of headaches!” admits one blogger. “I gave the book to a graduating cousin of mine” says another, and “I plan on giving my copy to a certain college graduate. (I won’t say who!) And I also plan to make Mellor’s previous book, The Three-Martini Playdate my next read.” One blogger says simply “Were You Raised by Wolves?: Clues to the Mysteries of Adulthood is a book that every young adult she have.”

One former residence hall director wishes this book had been around in her day: “If only Christie Mellor had written Were You Raised by Wolves?: Clues to the Mysteries of Adulthood a decade earlier, I might have bought hundreds of copies to bestow on my charges. We had fires in the oven from ill-attempted cooking, were always totally grossed out when we went through rooms during breaks at the funk growing there, and cringed at the pathetic mating rituals of drunk young people. Mellor pretty much hits the high points on cooking, cleaning and behaving in the presence of alcohol.”

Alas, several bloggers mentioned how aside from a graduation gift, it might be tough to get the book into the hands of the people who would most benefit from it. One sums it up as follows: “All the unkempt jerks who should be reading it won’t read it because they are convinced that they’re perfect. Or, even if they realize they aren’t perfect, they’re perfectly happy to remain ignorant of the life lessons that have been condensed into one extremely useful yet screamingly funny book.”

Still skeptical about the bed-thing? Well, one of our reviewers was too: “For YEARS I’ve been asking the obvious question, ‘Why make a bed when you’re just gonna sleep in it in a few hours?’ This book finally answered that question.”

And the answer?

Pick up Were You Raised by Wolves? : Clues to the Mysteries of Adulthood to find out!

(But here’s a clue: “If people are so put off by what they see on the surface - including your unmade bed - they are not going to bother to find out what a wonderful person you are on the inside.“)