Each week, the editors of Man of Many move through the world as curious consumers, pausing to notice what genuinely earns a place in their lives — not for the sake of coverage, but for the quieter reason that something simply works, delights, or lingers. This week's gathering of recommendations spans the domestic warmth of a well-made bathrobe, the solitary pleasure of a cartoonish video game, the uncomfortable honesty of a contemporary novel, the practical relief of a travel-ready grooming tool, and the communal joy of free pizza and live music. Taken together, they form a small portrait of w
Man of Many Staff Picks: Barobes, Games, and Pizza Party Highlights
I'm officially entering my bathrobe era
Mark
Why does a staff picks column matter? It's just five people saying what they liked.
Mimi
Because they're not critics writing for an audience they've never met. They're editors who try things constantly, and most of it doesn't warrant a full review. This is the stuff that actually stuck with them—that's a different signal than a formal recommendation.
Luke
But we should be clear about what we're reading. Some of these are gifts from companies. The bathrobe, the trimmer—those came to the office or were sent for review. That's not the same as someone buying it with their own money.
Mimi
Fair point. The trimmer has a disclosure. The bathrobe doesn't explicitly say it was gifted, but Stott does say Sheridan sent it to the office. That's transparent enough.
Mark
What's the actual utility here for a reader? Am I supposed to buy all five things?
Mimi
No. You're supposed to find one or two that speak to your life. Someone planning a trip sees the trimmer and thinks, "Oh, that solves my problem." Someone stuck on gift ideas finds the bathrobe. Someone looking for a game to play with friends finds Splatoon Raiders.
Luke
But the Pizza Hut thing is different. That's an event happening Saturday night in one city. It's not a product recommendation—it's an invitation to a specific place at a specific time.
Mimi
Right. It's Hannah saying, "I'm going to this, and if you're in Waterloo, come find me." That's more personal than a product pick.
Mark
So the column works because it's honest about what these people actually encountered and used?
Mimi
Exactly. They're not performing expertise. They're just saying, "This is what made my week better or more interesting."
Luke
As long as we remember that "made my week better" and "this is objectively good" are not the same thing. One person's perfect travel trimmer is another person's overpriced gadget.
Il Polso
- A bathrobe that arrived at the office has quietly colonised a household, turning spousal jealousy into a Father's Day gift solution with hours left on the clock.
- A video game built for squid-human ink warfare turns out to be the rare title that holds up whether you're alone after a hard day or suddenly surrounded by kids who want in.
- A novel about modern dating lands with the particular sting of recognition — sensitive enough to feel true, clear-eyed enough to make you wince.
- A travel trimmer small enough to actually fit in a toiletry bag has ended years of a co-founder arriving at his destination looking four days worse than he left.
- Pizza Hut is throwing a free Saturday night party across 75 Australian locations simultaneously, with live music, no entry cost, and no dress code to overthink.
Each week, the editors of Man of Many move through the world as curious consumers, pausing to notice what genuinely earns a place in their lives — not for the sake of coverage, but for the quieter reason that something simply works, delights, or lingers. This week's gathering of recommendations spans the domestic warmth of a well-made bathrobe, the solitary pleasure of a cartoonish video game, the uncomfortable honesty of a contemporary novel, the practical relief of a travel-ready grooming tool, and the communal joy of free pizza and live music. Taken together, they form a small portrait of what people actually reach for when the week winds down — comfort, play, truth, convenience, and a reason to leave the house.
Every week, the Man of Many editorial team encounters things that don't quite fit the formal review pipeline but are too good to ignore. This week's picks span comfort, entertainment, literature, grooming, and a night out worth clearing the calendar for.
Editor in chief Rob Stott has entered what he calls his bathrobe era, courtesy of the Sheridan Aven Bathrobe — a piece that arrived at the office and promptly migrated to his husband, who has worn it daily ever since. The jealousy was swift and decisive. Stott is buying one for himself, likely in olive green to complement the striped clove version already in the house. Both come embroidered with 'Dad' on the front, a detail that lands especially well in a household with two fathers. For anyone still searching for a Father's Day gift, this is the answer.
Jackson Langford came to Splatoon Raiders late, but the spin-off converted him. The original game's squid-human ink battles are chaotic and colourful, but they require rounding up people on short notice. Raiders removes that friction — it works beautifully solo, layering action with puzzles and strategy, and adapts naturally to group play when company eventually arrives. It's the kind of unserious game that earns its place in a rotation.
Ervin Chio finished Jem Calder's novel 'I Want You to Be Happy' and found it excruciating in the most worthwhile sense. The book follows an age-gap relationship with a sensitivity and violent clarity that refuses to soften the harder truths about desire, loneliness, and the particular difficulty of finding connection in the digital age. It's grounded, occasionally cringeworthy, and honest in ways that stick.
Co-founder Scott Purcell has long lost the battle between his toiletry bag and his full-sized beard trimmer — the latter stays home, and by day four of any trip, the evidence is plain. The Manscaped Lawn Mower Go changed the equation. It fits in the bag, feels more premium than its size suggests, is fully waterproof, charges via USB-C, and runs for up to an hour. Purcell now reaches for it at home too.
Finally, Hannah Maher is heading to Pizza Hut Waterloo on Saturday night for Pizza Hut Unboxed — a national relaunch event rolling out across 75 Australian locations at once. Doors open at 6pm, Hayden James plays a live set, food and drinks are free, and there's a chance at a meet-and-greet with the artist. Entry is first come, first served. There is no dress code. It is, by any measure, a very easy Saturday night to justify.
Every week, the staff at Man of Many encounters products, services, and experiences that don't always make it into full reviews but deserve attention nonetheless. This week's collection spans the practical, the entertaining, and the thought-provoking—the kind of things that catch an editor's eye and stick around.
Rob Stott, the publication's editor in chief, has discovered the Sheridan Aven Bathrobe and is now in what he calls his bathrobe era. The piece arrived at the office a few weeks back, and he passed it along to his husband, who has worn it daily since. The jealousy was immediate enough that Stott plans to buy one for himself. The striped clove version sits in the office; he's eyeing the olive green. Both come embroidered with "Dad" on the front—a detail that works particularly well in a household with two fathers—though Sheridan also makes matching his-and-hers options. For anyone still hunting for a Father's Day gift with hours to spare, this is the move.
Jackson Langford came to Splatoon Raiders as a latecomer to the Splatoon franchise itself. The premise alone—squid-human hybrids firing ink in a hypercolour turf war—has obvious appeal, but the spin-off is what sealed it. Where the original game demands you round up friends or family on short notice, Raiders works solo. It layers explosive, cartoonish action with puzzles and strategy, the kind of unserious game that lets you decompress after a difficult day. The real strength is flexibility: it plays beautifully alone, but when your kids or mates finally show up, it adapts to group play without losing anything.
Ervin Chio finished Jem Calder's novel "I Want You to Be Happy" this week and found it excruciating in the best sense. The book examines contemporary relationships through an age-gap pairing—Joey seeing love in minute detail, Chuck self-sabotaging across career, dreams, and romance alike. Calder writes with equal parts sensitivity and what Chio describes as violent clarity, refusing to soften the punches when discussing desire, loneliness, and the particular struggle of dating in the digital age. It's grounded, cringey, and illustrative of the search for connection in modern times, even when it misses the mark.
Scott Purcell, co-founder, has spent years losing the argument between his toiletry bag and his trimmer. The larger Manscaped Beard Trimmer works brilliantly at home but demands space and a charging dock, so it stays behind on trips. By day four of travel, the consequences become obvious. The new Lawn Mower Go changed that calculation. It fits easily into a toiletry bag—the first thing Purcell checked—and it's sturdier and more premium than an entry-level trimmer has any right to be. It's fully waterproof, lives in the shower without drama, and comes with two adjustable combs covering 3-5mm and 7-9mm ranges. An LED spotlight handles the hard-to-see spots. USB-C charging delivers up to an hour of runtime. Purcell now reaches for it even when he's not traveling.
Hannah Maher will spend Saturday night at Pizza Hut Waterloo, where the brand is hosting Pizza Hut Unboxed as part of a national relaunch. Starting at 6pm, the restaurant transforms into a party. Hayden James plays a live set. Pizza and drinks are free. There's a chance at an exclusive meet-and-greet with the artist. The whole thing costs nothing. Across Australia, 75 Pizza Hut locations are revealing their refreshed look simultaneously. Maher is inviting Man of Many readers to join her—entry is first come, first served, and the dress code is nonexistent. It's Pizza Hut, live music, and free food. The carb-heavy Saturday night practically justifies itself.
Citazioni salienti
He's worn it every day since, and it's made me so jealous I'm going to pick one up for myself.— Rob Stott, Editor in Chief, on the Sheridan Aven Bathrobe
It's a completely unserious game, which makes it a great way to unwind and check out of a rough day at work.— Jackson Langford, Digital Editor, on Splatoon Raiders
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