The Guy's Guide to Surviving Pregnancy, Childbirth and the First Year of Fatherhood

by Michael R. Crider

In high school, Michael Crider was the jokester, the drummer in a band, the Howie Mandel impersonator. Fast-forward ten years and the funny man has married and become the family man. The Guy’s Guide to Surviving Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the First Year of Fatherhood—Crider’s candid, down-to-earth account of his transformation—proves that even without much sleep, he has kept his sense of humor completely intact.From the moment he hears the unexpected news that the pregnancy test is positive to the end of his son’s first year of life, Michael Crider is awed, anxious, and all-too-human. In between these milestones, he endures the aches and pains of his wife’s pregnancy (which had a clear impact on his own bodily comfort), swallows his pride when bunny wallpaper replaces his beloved Budweiser mirror, has a short and only partially-appreciated stint as her labor coach on the Big Day, and experiences every one of his son’s “firsts” as though they were his own. Honest, informative, hilarious, and heartwarming, The Guy’s Guide to Surviving Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the First Year of Fatherhood is a must-read for all new parents.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Humor

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2005

Reviews

[Dan]

My brother, father of twins and a singleton, pushed this on me after I finished reading The Expectant Father. Long story short, it's more of a humor book than a book about fatherhood and most of the good jokes are lifted from Simpsons episodes. The advise was minimal and mostly of the common sense variety.

[Gary McDowell]

So awful. This guy gives no advice; he makes beer jokes and stupid observations geared toward cavemen, men with no clue, men with teeny brains. I'm insulted.

Anyone know of a book on this topic that doesn't insult my intelligence? I guess I'm interested more in reading about the first year of fatherhood than I am the pregnancy... I feel like I've got a good grasp on that these days.

[Ben]

This is a light-hearted but authentic quick read appropriate as a "first foray" into the fatherhood concept, written by a comic. It provides one man's perspective in a very humorous way and, I suggest, does an excellent job "demystifying" much -- but nowhere close to all -- of the experiences that for many fathers to-be will be completely foreign. This isn't the "one book of fatherhood to rule them all" and it is not meant to be; so if you pick this tiny book up and expect to know everything there is to know about fatherhood after you spend the few hours it takes to read it, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

[Jared Bercea]

I can't recommend this book. there are a few chapters here and there o found entertaining but over all this book is written by a narcissistic person who is trying to prove how funny he is the whole time. He has a couple one liners and moments, but this book is more about his thought process through his wife's pregnancy which starts with checking out the hot nurses at the doctors office and ends with him calling his wife a bitch for their son saying "mama" before "Dada." maybe you'll enjoy this book but it definitely was not for me.

[Carl Bluesy]

One of the worst book’s I’ve read. About 90% of the book is filler that doesn’t have anything to with, well anything. It’s a poor attempt at humor that falls flat every time. The other 10% of the book that is supposed to be useful are no duh moments. Such as describing the start of child care as Yuck! No one thought it would be clean or easy and definitely didn’t need a it to be followed up with the authors description of what yuck means that goes on for a page and a half.

The worst thing about this book is that some people who need to prepare themself for an on the way baby could pick this book up thinking that it will help. It won’t and if someone believes what they read here they will be In a worse spot then they were in before. Their time would have been wasted and they could even think that there better off then they think and not get another book. One that could actually help them or give them practical advice on what is to come.

If this book is meant to be a joke book then fine. But sell it as that. Not as a book that offers advice and instead makes bad dad jokes. It could do a lot of harm that way.

[Kevin]

My wife suggested I buy this book shortly after we found out we were having kids and man: nothing has ever made me question my gender more than reading parenting books written by men for men. This book was punishing to read. It was less about parenting than it was a framing device for three jokes repeated over the course of the entire book:

1. You have not lived until (circumstance)
2. (Unrelated story/unfunny joke) but I digress
3. Women, right fellas?

I have heard it said that toxic masculinity is all men thinking they are funny and that is what this book is really about. Truly cannot recommend this under any circumstances.

[Yaros Loginov]

Not really a guide. It was a funny book where the author describes what pregnancy and birth was like for him. But it's all given as one big comedy joke. A good book if what you are looking for is to have a laugh. But not so much if you are looking for a guide and real advice.

[Cory]

Hilarious and down to earth view of the days before and after the birth of one’s first child. Funny anecdotes throughout. Book would have befitted from including a few statistics to back up the authors’ opinions. Regardless, a fun and smooth read.

[Charlie]

The author writes this book assuming that his readers are two steps away from Neanderthal. It's best read as comedy, and even so it wasn't great.

[Cristián G C]

Chistes algo anticuados, empieza mejor de lo que termina.

[Mike Ettore]

A genuinely funny account of all bumps in the road throughout pregnancy that apparently are more common than you might think for fathers to be. I highly recommend reading. If you are a first time father, I suggest putting off reading until after delivery, or any moment you need some levity. The book's humor really comes out in the moments you can relate to, and the only actual advice the author dares to give is that you shouldn't be taking anyone's advice on parenting other than doctors' and your own instincts, which is still some of the best I have received so far.

[Brian]

I bought this book the day after I found out that I am going to be a father. This book is hilarious! Crider describes how his life changed when his wife became pregnant with their son and incorporates a lot of advice to expecting fathers. His humor really makes this book enjoyable and comforting.

Did I get a lot of helpful information that I didn't know already? Perhaps not, but I think this is an excellent book for men who are freaking out about becoming a father, (no, I am not one of those fathers-to-be).

[Lee]

Look, it's not a "How to" book, it's not a "Raising babies for Dummies" book. There's advice in this book, sure. Is it overwhelming like most other books? No.

Was it practical, realistic, and pragmatic? Yes. Was it entertaining, and did it hold my attention ? Yes.

I practically read half of this book out loud to my pregnant wife and she laughed alongside me.

It was the first of these type of books that I could pick up and read and feel some sense of solace that I'm not doing it wrong.

Worth the read.

[Matt]

Michael Crider uses humor and a healthy dose of self deprecation that had me entertained and even had me learning a little about becoming a father. He doesn't take himself too seriously, and his honesty and openness was truly reassuring that I could go through all of this.

While this book won't ever be mistaken for a reference item, it served its purpose well of keeping me interested throughout. It's a quick read, and I'm glad I read it.

[Carrie]

I gave this to Jay- some comic relief for to-be-dads. I read in an afternoon and laughed out loud (so did Jay.) It is the guys answer to "Belly Laughs" by Jenny McCarthy and a muct have companion to the medical textbook on pregnancy that sits by the bedside for 40 weeks.



Author: Michael Crider
Publisher: Da Capo
Copyright: 2005
Genre: Parenting
Pages: 188
Date Read- 1/27/08

[Jason]

A refreshing read. In a time when most of the things I read about my coming child are filled with what to look out for and 'how to's', this really gives conversational advice about the experience of being the father of an expected child. Most likely more enjoyed while in the process, than not. Breathe Dads...this will help.

[Allison Severson]

I'm marking "read" but really, it was just Anthony who read it, not me.

I picked this book up from the library for Anthony, and he loved it. He laughed (out loud) a lot while reading. He said it was more of a memoir than educational, but he still enjoyed it. Funny and enjoyable writing... I'd get something else by Crider for him if he writes more.

[russell barnes]

Hmmm, the advice on offer would seem to boil down to 'agree with everything your wife/partner says', as if that's not a default setting anyway. Not sure I quite agree with renowned literary critic Jenny McCarthy's review ('Absolutely Hysterical'), but it mildy diverting.

[Barbara]

This is a great book for the father to be who has no idea nor has experienced what his partner is going through. It is a funny and real story about the author and how at the end he realizes the joy of being a father to a beautiful baby.

[Steve]

Hilarious view of pregnancy and early fatherhood. I appreciated his humor and honesty in describing the events from a male perspective. The scales tip more towards entertaining than informative overall, but that's okay. My only disappointment was the language strewn throughout the pages.

[Nick Greenaway Cirignano]

Very funny. Crider gives short and humorous descriptions of a husbands tasks during pregnancy. A husband has little to do but sit, watch, and wait. Although he advocates peptic in and an epidural he makes other good points. As involved as the husband wants to be there is only so much he can do.

[Leonardo Andreucci]

Very funny for anyone living this moment, made me laugh out loud sometimes. Don't expect a lot of practical advice though, except for this amazing one: smile, nod and say OK to whatever she says. It works!

[Tim Goyette]

Not a huge fan of this book, made it seem like no father wanted to bother with any baby stuff till he realized how awesome it was to have a kid. But it did have some funny parts and overall it want bad.

[Brian]

This is a hilarious look at fatherhood, from the terrifying moment when your wife cries "I'M PREGNANT" until the child is crawling. Very entertaining, and a little insightful.

[Lawrence]

Can a brother help me out...?

Anyone own this?

[Neal]

Hilarious. Really funny and down to earth and a totally quick read. It opened my eyes to some of the fun and frightening things on the horizon.

[TJ]

Funny and quick read. recommended for those nervous about pregnancy. Quite fun

[Elena]

By far one of the funniest damn books I have ever read! Thank you Brian :)
Mostly because the author is exactly like my husband, wait my husband may be worse...

[Katie]

Hilarious

[Matt Garden]

This was cute.