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l_reed's review
funny
reflective
slow-paced
2.75
Pretty sure I’d heard most of this in his standup but I liked his wife’s poetry
joangittel's review against another edition
3.0
This was indeed painful. But it was also honest, vulnerable, and very beautiful. I love Mike Birbiglia, and listened to this audiobook of this, which he reads. It takes a lot of guts to be this honest about the difficult early days of parenting from a dad's perspective.
If you are thinking of having a baby, maybe don't let your husband near this. :-)
If you are thinking of having a baby, maybe don't let your husband near this. :-)
morgy_mac's review against another edition
4.0
This book is an absolutely charming and perfectly vulnerable look at parenthood. Although it focuses on Mike’s perspective, I still really related to the fears and insecurities he shared. Jen’s poetry is so beautiful and touching, and the two together make for a wonderful book.
greensalbet's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
In The New One, partners Jenny, (Poet - J. Hope Stein) and Mike (Comedian - M. Birbiglia) decide to make a baby. They don't do it because it's expected of them but because Jenny really, really wants to have a child and to be a mother. Mike isn't sure this is what he wants, but he decides to go ahead and do it for Jenny. Once they agree to take the plunge, Mikes spends most of the book sharing the health challenges they faced creating their baby, dealing with the anxiety once they did get pregnant, then tempering all the fears of the unknown about new parenthood, especially Mike's concern that their lives were about to change forever.
This is the one, and only, book I've read that chronicles a man's experience about "What to Expect When You're Expecting." It's full of delightful candor, nerve wracking tension, and both snarky and sweet humor that will delight any reader who's been child or had a child. Plus, it includes some creative poetry by Jenny. She shows how pregnancy, labor & delivery, and parenting a toddler add delight to her life.
These two Brooklynites have an adorable marriage. They are very REAL about the highs and lows of what it takes to succeed as long-term companions -- and they've both lovingly and hilariously creative about how they do it.
justjoel's review against another edition
4.0
I have to give the author credit: he was brutally honest. Sometimes funny, but always brutally honest.
I think there are probably a lot of men who feel the same way, but probably aren't as open about it.
It's easy to feel a certain degree of judgment toward someone who seems to be acting against their best interest and generally behaving in a manner that could be characterized as selfish, but fortunately, the author seems to have worked through his issues, giving this something of a happy ending.
4 out of 5 stars.
I think there are probably a lot of men who feel the same way, but probably aren't as open about it.
It's easy to feel a certain degree of judgment toward someone who seems to be acting against their best interest and generally behaving in a manner that could be characterized as selfish, but fortunately, the author seems to have worked through his issues, giving this something of a happy ending.
4 out of 5 stars.
katiez624's review against another edition
4.0
I first heard about Mike Birbiglia when I saw his movie, "Sleepwalk With Me." His brand of storytelling and humor is one that is endearing, quirky, with a touch of self-deprecation. In everything that he does, he is totally and completely himself, with no pretenses and a lot of vulnerable honesty. He tells the truth about his fears and insecurities, thereby allowing his audience to admit that we also have those same unspoken issues.
His foray into fatherhood is one of uncertainty and doubt, much like the experience of every new parent.
The book also features poems written by his wife, which added an unexpected but delightful bonus to the chapters.
His foray into fatherhood is one of uncertainty and doubt, much like the experience of every new parent.
The book also features poems written by his wife, which added an unexpected but delightful bonus to the chapters.
jcpdiesel21's review against another edition
4.0
Contains many humorous observations about parenting, many of which I found deeply relatable and had me laughing out loud. This material would make for a very enjoyable audiobook, and I felt like I got the full experience of the story and Birbiglia's experiences when I watched his Netflix comedy special that shares the same name after finishing the book. Although I wasn't particularly impressed by Stein's accompanying poetry as a whole, I liked getting the journey of adjusting to life with a child from both members of the couple and there is occasionally a poem with a bit more bite or resonance.