George Salmon Is No Monkey.

George Salmon is no monkey as every lunchtime he fails to open his banana in the correct manner.
You should peel from the blossom (non-stem) end like a monkey. Breaking the dry blossom end scar requires less force and mashes the banana less than bending apart the tough stem end. It also usually leads to less "banana strings" and you can use the stalk as a handle as you eat all the way to that end. Pinch just behind the blossom end scar to break it apart, then peel bits of it downward. A tiny part of the firm, unappetizing blossom end scar may remain on the fruit. You might want to discard it.