Autobiography of a One-Year-Old [Paperback]

Rohan Candappa (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2001

“I am a one-year-old and this is my autobiography....”

Have you ever looked at your baby and wondered what he or she is thinking? Are you ready to find out?

“I thought it was about time someone told it like it is. So I’m spilling the beans on the world of a one-year-old. A world where you’re left in the charge of totally inept parents. Where everything’s at completely the wrong height. Where you’re not allowed to splash in the bath but you are in the pool. Where nobody understands a single word you say. And where diapers and poop loom large at every turn.

“It’s a roller-coaster ride through one heck of a year. I’ve laughed a lot, I’ve cried a lot, I’ve learned a lot. And so will you. You might even discover the answer to that age-old question: Humpty Dumpty — did he fall or was he pushed?

“Anyway, must run. I see a bowl of tepid gloop is being spooned out for me. What joy.”

Welcome to the wonderful world of your one-year-old.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"I stink, therefore I am." So muses the plucky babe in Candappa's latest. Writer and humorist Candappa has previously dwelled on feng shui, and stress, among other topics, and here imagines life from the perspective of a pre-verbal one-year-old. Through a monologue in essay installments, the narrator holds forth on such topics as effective crying methods, vacuum cleaners as "long-nosed sucky beasts," food, the diabolical crib, the trauma of vacation, mirrors, walking, parental interference and many other mundane discoveries along the road to becoming a two-year-old. At the outset, our protagonist sees the world as a tricky place peopled by those who blindly manipulate him for their own ends, and he scrutinizes and experiments with an air of disdain occasionally laced with innocent wonder. Along the way, he trips into some sweet discoveries characterized by a growing awareness of interdependence, which make for the funniest sections of the book. These include a compassionate imagining that his parents are so poor they must eat his leftover food. In general, the author hits the mark on how life might look from the perspective of a baby-cum-toddler, but unfortunately the book is less successful in its overdone cultural references, turning our little terror into a dated armchair philosopher (e.g. "Wasn't it Stevie Winwood in `Higher Love' who sang `If you see a chance, take it.' An admirable philosophy, I think you'll agree"). Many readers will look past these annoyances and enjoy a glimpse of life from the other side, although they might prefer it a bit less conspiratorial and sarcastic.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

“[E]njoy a glimpse of life from the other side.”
— Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (August 28, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 055338130X
• ISBN-13: 978-0553381306
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #366,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After many years working in advertising, Rohan Candappa is now a full-time writer. He is the author of several successful AMP titles, including the international best-seller The Little Book of Stress (125,000 net copies) and The Little Book of Wrong Shui (100,750 net copies). Now he writes funny books full of very bad advice when he is not hiding from his two children. Obviously, he is a little overweight, but he finds that black is a very slimming color.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but you should probably be a parent, February 9, 2004

By 

K. Kojima (San Carlos, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Autobiography of a One-Year-Old (Paperback)

Fairly funny at times, it's not a bad book. But it does drag on a bit after a while, even though the 279 pages are a quick read due to very short chapters, few numbering over 3 pages at most (some are just one sentence). I'd say to get the most out of it, you should be a parent. We have a 1 1/2 year old, so some things hit the nail on the head. But other things don't quite get there. I don't regret spending the time to read it, but I wouldn't forcefully recommend it to anyone.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll enjoy this book !, January 20, 2010

By 

Aniruddha Malpani "Infertility Specialist" (www.drmalpani.com) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Autobiography of a One-Year-Old (Paperback)

Even if you are not a parent, you'll enjoy this book. After all, we've all been babies - and this book offers a very funny perspective into how babies look at life. It's also full of great metaphors - I especially like the one about the importance of doors in our life !

5.0 out of 5 stars Very cleverly-written book!, July 31, 2009

By 

Thankful Mommy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Autobiography of a One-Year-Old (Paperback)

This book was so funny! My husband was continually wondering what was so funny because there were times that I could not stop laughing. I would read it as my wind-down-for-the-evening book for just a few minutes every night, and I loved all the philosophy, wonderment, and compassion (especially for poor Smooth and Hairy) of the "author." It did really make me think of what my little one thinks of all the funny things encountered in this big world of ours! I do agree that this book will best strike a chord with people who have a toddler in their household; but it is so well-written that most people would find something in it that would make them laugh outright.