Bare Minimum Parenting

The Ultimate Guide to Not Quite Ruining Your Child

By: James Breakwell

Narrated by: James Breakwell

This isn't a book about overachieving at parenting.

This isn't even a book about achieving exactly the right amount.

This is a book about doing as little as possible without quite ruining your child.

Overachieving parents want you to believe the harder you work, the better your kid will turn out. That lie ends now.

The truth is most kids end up remarkably unremarkable no matter what you do, so you might as well achieve mediocrity by the easiest possible route. The goal of "bare minimum parenting" is to turn your child into a functional adult with only a fraction of the effort spent by super moms and dads.

If you do it right, your kid will be no better or worse off than their kids, but with more free time left for you. That's more valuable than all the participation trophies in the world.

In Bare Minimum Parenting, amateur parenting expert James Breakwell will teach you to stop worrying and embrace your child's destiny as devastatingly average. To get there, you'll have to overcome your kid, other parents, and yourself, all of whom will push you to do more than is absolutely necessary. Honestly, by reading this far, you're already trying too hard. But don't stop now. You're exactly the kind of person who needs this book.

©2018 James Breakwell (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Both hilarious and useful

Read this book if you have ever thought of being a parent... or if you think parents a crazy.

Funny even if a bit over the top... Bad narration though.

This audio book would be a lot more interesting with a professional narrator (sorry author, your writing is good but your narration lacks bare minimum interpretation) ;-)

Was ok but mainly a whole lot of nothing

Good for over achieving parents who will probably ruin their kids lives by smothering them, but kind of meh for the rest of us.

Hilarious

I loved how honest, cynical, sarcastic and humorous the way he presents what it really means to be a parent and the challenges that come with it. Lots of belly laughs listening to this one!

Hysterical and somewhat accurate

This book is the funniest, most grounding thing I’ve listened to, even non-parents should give it a listen. I’m not an over achieving parent, but I am a worn out single mom, and this book has given me the permission I need to take back some of my priceless alone-time and take care of me again. My kids? They’ll be fine. They’re going to blend into the oblivion of average anyways, why wear myself down in the process of getting them there?

Enjoyed listening

I chuckled out loud. Everything I’ve ever thought about parenting and the overachieving parent, he mentioned. I recommend to all.

Disappointing Audio for a Writer I Love

James Breakwell is a brilliant humorist whose pithy comments, observations, and descriptions regarding parenthood perk me up whenever I am down. During a dark time in my life, I kept coming back to a line in this book: “I can say decisively that your kid will be better off if you live than if you die.” I found this very encouraging.

Reading this book was a great experience and I downloaded it to listen to during a long car ride. Sadly, the author’s reading was a bit flat. The words are still funny, but the joie de vivre doesn’t come through in the way it is read.

This may be a director or publisher’s choice to keep the reading tone even, but I was disappointed. Hopefully his other audiobooks are different, but if not, I still purchase the book version to read.

good book!

such a good book! makes me feel better being a chill parent. it's funny and witty. definitely worth it, especially if you're exhausted from trying to be perfect

funny.

more of a comedy i think but does make some good points and shares stories i can totally relate too

If you’re a stressed parent, Read/listen!

Loved this book! It actually did help. I’m a new mom and this book helped me realize that if I don’t get that monthly picture of my baby, the world will not end. Lol.