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just_one_more_chapter_ok's review against another edition
5.0
Forget the movie versions, read the book.
jayoder16's review against another edition
3.0
The movies based on this book and Bells On Their Toes are some of my favorite old movies. Having watched the movies, the book was more predictable but was still a pleasant read. Nothing too intense to make me emotionally invested or mentally piqued, but I still smiled after the last page. A sweet memoir to a chaotic and lovable family.
kelseywaters's review against another edition
5.0
This book was magic to me the first time I read it as a kid and I felt the magic again this time. It made me want to become an efficiency manager when I was younger. I still have some of the time-saving task lists from that time, inspired by Frank Gilbrith. I loved reading about how this family operated. Such a happy and nostalgic book.
saram84's review against another edition
3.0
The authors Frank and Ernestine are two of the older siblings in the dozen of kids in the Gilbreth family. This memoir tells many stories about what it was like to live a chaotic life with a huge family. The stories range from leaving a child at a restaurant, looks and comments they received from strangers, and how the household managed with so many kids. The book overall is mostly lighthearted and tells the adventures of the family as the kids go through school and grow up.
I was probably not the ideal reader for this book. I feel most readers who had a huge family will find similarities and identify with the characters. Another friendly note, the book is nothing like the films that were created. I somewhat prefer the movies. This will probably go into the free little library near my house for someone else to enjoy.
I was probably not the ideal reader for this book. I feel most readers who had a huge family will find similarities and identify with the characters. Another friendly note, the book is nothing like the films that were created. I somewhat prefer the movies. This will probably go into the free little library near my house for someone else to enjoy.
sarahglabb's review against another edition
3.0
This book should have been funny. I think that I wasn't in the right mood to read the book. I don't know. However, the book wasn't horrible or great but okay. And according to Goodreads that is a three star rating and that is what it is getting.
I think part of the problem is that I just didn't find some of the stuff funny because it was a different time period.
I think part of the problem is that I just didn't find some of the stuff funny because it was a different time period.
briarsreviews's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
I grew up loving the Cheaper by the Dozen movie. Steve Martin and Hilary Duff? It was a dream team for me in my youth. I found this book while out thrifting for books and figured that I needed to read the source content. Well, let me tell ya, this book is not based on some fun 1990s/2000s family - it was published in 1948 and based on the authors' childhood!
The story is amazing - twelve kids and how they all got along in the world - but boy... it wasn't the easiest read. It's an old biography and it was well written but it just... didn't work for me. I'm not sure what I was expecting, honestly. It just didn't work for me. The movie was definitely better in my eyes, but that's because it's a loose adaptation. The 1920s was a different time from now so it's very cringey.
Regardless, a very interesting read.
Two out of five stars.
The story is amazing - twelve kids and how they all got along in the world - but boy... it wasn't the easiest read. It's an old biography and it was well written but it just... didn't work for me. I'm not sure what I was expecting, honestly. It just didn't work for me. The movie was definitely better in my eyes, but that's because it's a loose adaptation. The 1920s was a different time from now so it's very cringey.
Regardless, a very interesting read.
Two out of five stars.
kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
Tiny Kricket was very into this book, and it was fun to re-read a few decades later. I would add a trigger warning for a horrifying minstrel "comedy" routine at the end of the book which went right over my head as a kid.