Picture Source: Den of Geek

For over half a century, Ian Fleming’s 007 agent of her majesty’s secret service, James Bond, has been gracing the screen with his high-octane escapades. Whether played by Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan or, most recently, Daniel Craig, Bond has been an icon of style, sex and suave manliness for practically every man born after the 60s. The archetypical man that “all the women want, and all the men want to be”, Bond has inspired men with his brave exploits and his lady killing ways.

To celebrate the recent news that the amazing Danny Boyle - the Oscar winning director of films like Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, and 127 Hours - will be taking the helm of Bond 25, we have put together a list of the most important lessons that James Bond has taught us since his silver screen debut in 1962’s Dr. No.

Dress to Kill

No matter where in the world he is or what dangerous mission he is involved in, James Bond makes it a point to always be dressed to the nines. Whether he is wearing a perfectly tailored suit, a killer tuxedo, or simply classic looking and fashionable leisurewear, Bond makes sure to always look his absolute best at any time.

With his clothing exuding confidence, good taste and poise, it’s no wonder Bond is never short of attention from the opposite sex.

How to charm the ladies

Charm may be a hard thing to define, and an even harder one to master, but there is no denying that James Bond oozes it like few other characters have in movie history. Full of clever repartee, bravado, dry wit, and sexually charged double entendres, Bond practically embodies the word “charisma” as he seduces Bond girl after another - whether for a mission or just for sport.

While we cannot all have sexy Scottish accents like Sean Connery’s, or the seasoned good looks of Moore and Craig, what Bond showed us is that plenty of confidence combined with class and a bit of naughtiness goes a long way in capturing a woman’s heart.

Work Hard, Play Hard

Whenever Bond finds some spare time in between stopping evil villain’s ploys to upset world order and pursuing the affections of beautiful women, he usually enjoys spending some time playing casino games at lavish old-world venues.

Whereas the modern day Bond, out of all the different variations, mostly enjoys playing Texas hold’em poker, Ian Fleming’s books originally had Bond’s game of choice be the banking game baccarat. With baccarat being a less known game than poker however, it is no wonder that they decided to update Bond’s favorite card game for modern audiences.

Regardless of the game Bond taught us many lessons to take to the table, including having a gorgeous woman in a sexy dress come and kiss you to distract your opponents, ordering the perfect drink and making taking no prisoners when the cards are in your favor.

Picture Source: 007 Store

How to make the perfect martini

Speaking of the perfect drink, there are few people in the world that cannot quote by heart James Bond’s favorite drink, along with the iconic instructions of how he wants it made.

While shaken, not stirred might make for a fantastic catch phrase, there is actually a reason why someone would prefer one method over the other. Bond prefers his martini made with vodka rather than the traditional gin. With such a cocktail, the shaking process introduces oxygen into the drink creating a stronger taste, even if it makes it a bit cloudier.

Bond has not only taught us about Martinis however, as he’s also told us that Sake should always be served at 98.4 degrees Fahrenheit, and that drinking red wine with fish is the easiest way to show lack of class.

Embracing technology is essential

One of the main reasons that Bond always ends up defeating the bad guys and completing his missions is his ability to embrace the latest technology and incorporate it into his repertoire. Thanks to his trusty quartermaster Q, Bond is never short on gadgets that can give him an advantage over his opponents in key moments.

Whether he is using a jetpack, sporting an exploding watch or even driving an invisible car, Bond is always adapting to whatever new technology comes his way. However, he is not dependent on it and prefers to rely on his own skills and wit whenever possible, using his gadgets as a mere compliment to his skillset.

Picture Source: Cultbox

Keeping your cool no matter what

As the top spy in MI6, Bond routinely finds himself in sticky situations. Whether he is in a sinking submarine, a melting ice castle, or about to be tortured by a villain who is carefully explaining his plans, Bond never cracks under the pressure.

The fate of England, and oftentimes the world itself, may depend on him being successful in his mission, and yet you will never see Bond panicking. He will instead double down and enter a state of complete focus and purpose that allows him to outsmart his enemies and gain the upper hand, just when everything seemed lost. 

Thinking on your toes

There are often only two things in the world that Bond seems to trust: His gun and his intuition. One of Bond’s most important traits, Bond’s quick thinking and ability to improvise in any situation he is in are the greatest reason that he has survived all of his missions to this day.

While many times it seems that Bond is simply lucky, a lot of that luck can easily be argued to be part of his ability to always choose the right decisions at the right time. To do this, Bond combines his training with his amazing powers of perception and outside the box thinking and cool head to come up with solutions that would not be readily available to most.