All Joy and No Fun

The Paradox of Modern Parenthood

De: Jennifer Senior

Narrado por: Jennifer Senior

“Salted with insights and epigrams, the book is argued with bracing honesty and flashes of authentic wisdom…[an] excellent book.” —Andrew Solomon, The New York Times Book Review

""[A] richly woven, entertaining, enlightening, wrenching and funny book.” —The Washington Post

Thousands of books have examined the effects of parents on their children. In All Joy and No Fun, award-winning journalist Jennifer Senior now asks: what are the effects of children on their parents?

In All Joy and No Fun, award-winning journalist Jennifer Senior tries to tackle this question, isolating and analyzing the many ways in which children reshape their parents' lives, whether it's their marriages, their jobs, their habits, their hobbies, their friendships, or their internal senses of self. She argues that changes in the last half century have radically altered the roles of today's mothers and fathers, making their mandates at once more complex and far less clear.

Recruiting from a wide variety of sources—in history, sociology, economics, psychology, philosophy, and anthropology—she dissects both the timeless strains of parenting and the ones that are brand new, and then brings her research to life in the homes of ordinary parents around the country. The result is an unforgettable series of family portraits, starting with parents of young children and progressing to parents of teens. Through lively and accessible storytelling, Senior follows these mothers and fathers as they wrestle with some of parenthood's deepest vexations—and luxuriate in some of its finest rewards.

Meticulously researched yet imbued with emotional intelligence, All Joy and No Fun makes us reconsider some of our culture's most basic beliefs about parenthood, all while illuminating the profound ways children deepen and add purpose to our lives. By focusing on parenthood, rather than parenting, the book is original and essential reading for mothers and fathers of today—and tomorrow.

Thought provoking

Would you consider the audio edition of All Joy and No Fun to be better than the print version?

Not necessarily

What does Jennifer Senior bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her inflection and emphasis is perfect because she knows this material so well.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, there's way too much information to be absorbed at once. This a book that can be better appreciated by listening intermittently.

Any additional comments?

Jennifer Senior has a husky voice which made me initially think she suffered from a cold. In the beginning I found her somewhat hard to understand, but I got used to her cadence and felt ultimately her knowledge of the material made her the best reader possible.

step parent relief

I was dating a divorced man with 4 kids and things were getting serious. I've never had children in my life before, and I was nervous to be around them. Although I know that step-parents have their own set of unique challenges, reading this book helped me calm my fears and think, "maybe I can do this."

A must-read for all parents.

So so good. Every parent or aspiring parent should read this. I felt seen and heard. And that is invaluable in what can often be an isolating and lonely pursuit.

Young and not young parents

Enjoyed very much, when asked by a young (new) parents if there is a book to help set expectations, this is it. Mine are 9 & 11 & I will be a better parent.

Insightful!

I loved this book. It helped me understand some of the challenges of parenting and put them in perspective. I loved hearing other parents thoughts and reactions to issues I deal with all the time. Great book!!!