First published 2020
Mike Birbiglia explores his complicated feelings about becoming a parent in this collection of personal stories. The book grew from a 2016 moment when his wife Jennifer suggested he talk about his jealousy of their fourteen-month-old daughter Oona at a Nantucket storytelling event. Birbiglia examines his resistance to having a child and the messy realities of new parenthood. He draws from his journals to reveal his darkest thoughts about fatherhood alongside Jennifer's poetry about her own experience navigating pregnancy and early motherhood. The stories evolved from stage performances into this book, where Birbiglia confronts his fears about change and responsibility. Jennifer's poems appear throughout, offering her perspective on the same challenges. Together they create a portrait of two people figuring out how to become parents while staying true to themselves.
Genres: memoir, relationships, parenting, personal-development
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, personal-journey
Setting: Nantucket
Audio CD · Grand Central Publishing