Barney Stinson is not actually a real author but rather a character in a popular TV comedy series How I Met Your Mother. Played by Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser, MD, Beastly), Stinson is a ladies man known for his neverending quotes about “Bros,” what they should or should not do for each other and what being a bro truly means. He sees himself as the authority on all things “Bro,” so who better to be the face of this tome than he? The quotes are so hilarious and outrageous that the producers probably saw it fit to come out with The Bro Code, a guy’s guide to women and dudes.

For the longest time, it has been a great puzzle to women the length that guys go to cover up for each other, support each other and prioritize friends over their romantic relationships. It seemed as if the guys were operating from the same manual, some unwritten code of conduct that they follow without question — it seemed automatic and inherent in their nature as guys to follow.

When Barney Stinson started to spout out these outrageous beliefs on the TV series, it was such a hit that the producers devised a name under which these Barney-isms would fall — The Bro Code, and while before it was merely a fictional guide to guys and their nature, producers quickly capitalized on the momentum and quickly came out with the actual “Bro Code.”

The Bro Code is a 211-page guide for single and married men on how to act among their fellow Bro, to what extent they should help out their Bro (especially in chick dumping), how to behave with other Bros, rules in getting drunk and getting laid, and what being a Bro truly means. The words are very “Barney,” read– very funny, and at times rabidly chauvinistic and sometimes offensive, but its still funny because most of it is true. The book is the compilation of things guys do because they’re dudes.

The Bro Code claims that the lack of the Bro Code in ancient times was the cause of war and violence among men — Cain and Abel killing each other, the Trojan War (Trojans and Greek fought a war over Helen, but Barney claims that is the Bros followed the code: Bros before hos, then nobody would have gotten killed or cities destroyed). The Bro Code relates most of the rules to pop culture making it more relateable to the readers. My favorite is Article 133 where it states that A Bro only claims a fart after accusing another Bro 😉 . Its gross, I know but it truly struck my funny bone because I know a lot of people like that. There are 150 articles included in the code and several pages of amendments but readers will easily breeze through this laugh a minute compilation that even hos can sink their teeth into.

How I Met Your Mother is one of the TV shows that I really follow because of its strong dynamics and witty exchanges. I love the series and I loved this book. I believe that that readers will be thoroughly amused by its contents — even the gross parts. I finished it in one sitting but I read it time and again to lift up my mood whenever I need a laugh.