First published 2009
Michael Lewis becomes a father and discovers he feels nothing like what everyone expects. The guilt hits first. He watches other dads pretend they love every moment while secretly feeling lost and confused. Lewis decides to document the truth. He writes down what actually occurs in the days and weeks after each of his three children arrives. No sugar coating. No pretending diaper changes feel magical or that sleepless nights bring joy. The result captures ordinary household chaos from a father who admits he has no idea what he's doing. Lewis reveals that most men fake their way through early parenthood while their wives somehow keep everything together. His wife lets him publish these brutally honest observations about their family life. The book shows that feeling unprepared for fatherhood doesn't make you a bad parent. It makes you normal.
Genres: family, non-fiction, 21st-century, parenting
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, personal-journey
192 pages · Hardcover · W. W. Norton & Company