How Men Have Babies: The Pregnant Father's Survival Guide [Paperback]

Alan Thicke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1999

Television actor Alan Thicke explains to men what to really expect when she's expecting in this satirical look at impending fatherhood. Thicke recalls his nine-month trials and tribulations while his wife was expecting their son Carter. The cravings, the birth classes, the mother-to-be's multiple personalities -- Thicke addresses these issues with a wicked wit just this side of political correctness.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In the television show Growing Pains, Thicke portrayed Hollywood's notion of the ideal father. In his book, he ventures into real-world fatherhood, chronicling the pregnancy of his second wife, Gina. It's not his first turn at fatherhood, so he's able to examine how the process has changed in recent years: home ovulation kits, home pregnancy tests, child birthing classes, an empathy belly contraption tied around the father's waist to simulate the travails of carrying a baby in the womb. Thicke offers humorous tips on preparing for parenthood by, for example, smearing peanut butter on furniture. Then he begins a month-by-month guide through pregnancy from a decidedly male perspective. The prototypical woman he uses (presumably Gina) is a whiner with every conceivable stereotypical pain and discomfort of pregnancy and attitudes to match. Thicke entertains a scenario of a pregnant woman president negotiating with some global trouble spot--"Estro-Babe" with her finger on the hot button. But much of his material is funny, and some of it is serious. It actually is a guide through fertilization, gestation, and birth. Thicke offers a barrage of statistics: the cost of a lifetime of child rearing, the connection between birth weight and juvenile diabetes, the fact that 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Interspersed throughout the book are little celebrity quips on pregnancy and child rearing, including insights by Cuba Gooding Jr., Bill Maher, and Kathie Lee Gifford. Of little practical use to pregnant women but others might find it useful and amusing. Vanessa Bush

About the Author

Alan Thicke is a seven-time Emmy Award-nominated actor, writer, and a Golden Globe nominee for his role as psychiatrist and father, Jason Seaver, from TV's Growing Pains. He has written TV specials for Bill Cosby, Flip Wilson, and Richard Pryor, among others, as well as the revolutionary comedies Fernwood 2-Night and America 2-Night. Thicke made his Broadway debut in 1998 starring as lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago—The Musical. His experience as an entertainer includes acting, writing, and producing—spanning television, film, concerts, and theater. While he has been honored as "Father of the Year" by a number of family-themed charities, his proudest role remains father to his three sons, Brennan, Robin, and Carter --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 219 pages
• Publisher: Contemporary Books (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809228068
• ISBN-13: 978-0809228065
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,093,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I was disappointed, December 7, 1999

By 

sab001 "sab001" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How Men Have Babies: The Pregnant Father's Survival Guide (Paperback)

As a future daddy, I was looking for some words of advice and tips as to how I can support my wife during her pregnancy. I chose this book for two reasons. One, It was written by one I respect as a better than your average actor. Two, it was new on the market and there were no reviews for it. I was disappointed in the book. It seemed a little tacky and a few punch lines were added for humor. The book sits on my bookshelf ready for the next garage sale. If you are an expecting father, I found the next book that I bought to be the most useful: "The Expectant Father : Facts, Tips, and Advice for Dads-To-Be"

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most entertaining of the expectand dad books!, June 28, 2003

By 

B. Caruso "The Happy Aspie" (SW Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How Men Have Babies: The Pregnant Father's Survival Guide (Paperback)

Funny and informative. Bought this for hubby but of course read it first. Thicke is in great comedic form, lots of interesting facts, and although he has lots of physiological/medical info it's not overwhelming...Also a very quick read- laughed aloud alot and then passed it on to my better half.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but, not wonderful, October 11, 2005

By 

Amanda Lasko (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Men Have Babies: The Pregnant Father's Survival Guide (Audio Editions) (Audio Cassette)

I got this for my husband. Alan Thicke is kind of consistently and gently slamming or joking about women and thier behavior while pregnant. It is humorous most of the time... so I didn't have a problem with it. But, If you're looking for a book that is really educational or filled with knowledge about pregnancy-this isn't it. Like the title says, this book is more about teaching men to cope with thier wives while the are pregnant than it is about pregnancy.