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No Kids: 40 Good Reasons Not to Have Children
The shocking treatise that was a bestselling international media sensation upon its 2007 publication in France now makes its eagerly anticipated English-language debut.
A mother of two herself, Maier makes her deadly serious, if at times laugh-out-loud-funny, argument with all the unbridled force of her famously wicked intellect. In forty to-the-point, impressively erudite ...more
A mother of two herself, Maier makes her deadly serious, if at times laugh-out-loud-funny, argument with all the unbridled force of her famously wicked intellect. In forty to-the-point, impressively erudite ...more
Paperback, 150 pages
Published
August 4th 2009
by Emblem Editions
(first published May 31st 2007)
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Pourquoi fait-on des enfants? La culture impose-t-elle aux femmes l'idéal de l'accomplissement par l'enfantement? Corinne Maier a le mérite de poser des questions pertinentes, et d'y répondre de façon contruite, par l'expérience et les références universitaires. Drôle et nécéssaire!
Entertaining, short book. Most likely if you're reading this book, or interested in it - you probably already agree with the author's ideas, and NOT having kids. This is a fun, satirical book with a few facts tossed in. Also, this is originally a french book - so there are french phrases tossed in and many examples from french living/culture. It's more light-hearted but with sharp sarcasm. She never really takes on the ethical reasons for not having children besides saying they are bratty m...more
Thoughts on "No Kids..."
It was more of a pamphlet than a book.
Some of the points were badly articulated, which resulted in some head-scratching.
If you read this and you don't have kids (by choice), it was the equivalent of a right-winger listening to Rush Limbaugh every day, or a leftie who enjoys watching The Daily Show. Not exactly challenging or mind-expanding.
If you read this and you DO have kids, there are lots of possible reactions. I d...more
It was more of a pamphlet than a book.
Some of the points were badly articulated, which resulted in some head-scratching.
If you read this and you don't have kids (by choice), it was the equivalent of a right-winger listening to Rush Limbaugh every day, or a leftie who enjoys watching The Daily Show. Not exactly challenging or mind-expanding.
If you read this and you DO have kids, there are lots of possible reactions. I d...more
I was really looking forward to reading this woman's perspective on living a child-free life, but I have two gripes: (1) many of her reasons are repetitive and (2) the explanation for her reasons is often rambling, too sweeping, or unsupported by evidence.
That said, I did enjoy the book overall mainly for her hilariously bitter turns of phrases, which I think she can only get away with because she is French. Here are a few of my favorites:
"Breastfeeding is slavery....more
That said, I did enjoy the book overall mainly for her hilariously bitter turns of phrases, which I think she can only get away with because she is French. Here are a few of my favorites:
"Breastfeeding is slavery....more
Great book when you don't want to have children and find yourself in the stress of dealing with everyone else in the world that has a viewpoint on WHY you don't want them. It gives the reality point of view of what it takes and what it takes from with having kids, and the things that you've already thought about but "socially" aren't supposed to say in public to others.
If you don't want children - this book is a must read!
If you don't want children - this book is a must read!
You know, I have not heard of many books embracing this theme, so I was very excited to read it. But... the writing seemed scattered and unorganized, with alot of repetition and heartless-ness. I mean, the reason for not wanting to have children is not summed up with "because people who want children are stupid," which seems to be what she is saying. It was refreshing in subject matter, but disappointing in execution.
My innate drive to reproduce is going to continue to push my buttons, but reason and social freedom are the only things that keep me sane. A vasectomy is a great option and should be thoroughly considered. Instead of governments granting people compensated time off for reproducing, we should compensate people to discontinue reproducing.
Extremely bitter rant from a European psychoanalyst/mother. Interesting concept (finally a book by a mother who is is brave enough to admit her regret of having children), but this was just so pretentious to me. I've read much better arguments for not having children by childfree authors, whose ideas I feel were way more grounded.
I read this a while ago and found it very funny and tongue-in-cheek; this is not a serious book for people trying to decide whether or not to have kids. It's a pretty short book with very cynical, sarcastic overtones, which will be a breath of fresh air for our child-worshipping, baby-bump obsessed culture.
This is a great book! A much needed alternate viewpoint in a "baby/kid-crazed" society. She makes some great points, many of which you don't even think about. It is pretty funny at times and is refreshingly real. The only downfall of this book is that the author sometimes comes across as bitter, and some of the points run a bit long (going a bit off-topic).
j'adore Corinne Maier, son sens de l'humour m'éclate! Encore une belle réussite avec NO KID!
Thinking of buying it for my neighbours upstairs....
Thinking of buying it for my neighbours upstairs....
Perhaps if I was French I would have loved it. But I'm not. I agree with Corinne Maier on one thing, not having kids is a great idea. The way she wrote about it was cynical, ugly and sometimes ridiculous. Some of the things she referenced were confusing. But as I am not a French citizen I cut her some slack. It was her delivery and her tone that rubbed me the wrong way. Sure the idea was fantastic but she sounded like a pissed off teenager with a bad sense of humor who wanted to get back at her ...more
I was curious about this book to see if its author was being ironic or dead serious, and the answer seems to be dead serious -- there was no sign of the black humor that leavened "Bonjour Paresse."
This is a call to arms, plain and simple, and on one of the most controversial of subjects. Check out her YouTube videos (if you understand French) to understand just how deeply she is committed to this worldview, even to the detriment of her own kids (yes, she has two, and she h...more
This is a call to arms, plain and simple, and on one of the most controversial of subjects. Check out her YouTube videos (if you understand French) to understand just how deeply she is committed to this worldview, even to the detriment of her own kids (yes, she has two, and she h...more
Over-the-top and judgmental, but mildly comforting to hear the voice of someone who doesn't assume motherhood is a given.
Nothing I hadn't really thought of before, but a super quick read and entertaining nonetheless.
un peu court mais bien vu ! à ne pas prendre au 1er degré, évidemment...!
A wicked and blasphemous delight -- written as only the French can! Tres bien!
Saba
added it
She says all that I cannot out loud!
Funny and thought provoking
Funny but not very factual.
It was nice to read a parent manifesto I actually believe in, but sometimes Maier was WAY too militant about her anti-kids stance. Even for me.
This book is awesome so far! I am happy that a parent no less is admitting what I have thought about kids for so long!
Entertaining. Many of the jokes don't translate; the author resides in France.
Patrick
is currently reading it
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