If you've ever had someone try to arrange a marriage for you …

If you have so many cousins you can't remember all their names …

If your parents only show love through food and unsolicited advice …

If your 'roommate' has been around for five years and your family still think it's just a great friendship …

Then this book is for you.

And if you've never experienced any of this? Well, aren't you just a little curious?

Meet Daniel Nour: Egyptian and Australian; loud and painfully awkward; conservative and very confused (especially about other boys). He's never quite pulled off normal, but 'not-normal' is where the best stories are. Now he's made his peace with that and is ready to share his wisdom. Told as a series of snapshots from Daniel's life – from 'How to Be Born' to 'How to Die' and everything in between – this is a sharply funny tale of culture, family and trying, but not always managing, to come of age.

At turns wildly absurd, sharply insightful and disarmingly heartfelt, How to Dodge Flying Sandals and Other Advice for Life is a fresh take on growing up in Australia.