Customer Reviews

It's a Jungle Out There and a Zoo in Here: Run Your Home Business without Letting It Overrun You

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I must admit, Cheryl is certainly funny. There is plenty to learn and think about while reading her book. I am almost for sure it will be a huge hit once the word gets out and am frankly surprised by it not going huge sooner. Her wit is quick and slightly off at times but makes me feel good and hopeful for the future. There are so many work at home books on the market today that it is hard to find one moms - or even females - can connect to. This one is a winner. It does not have all of the answers but it sure has impacted my way of thinking. The one thing that is often overlooked in these types of books is exactly what is one supposed to do with children - really practical doable suggestions that work for more than an hour at a time. I find myself feeling gulity and drained when trying to juggle home duties and "home work" with kids underfoot. The Pros and Cons in the book are even light hearted but as she says, a con is "Your children may see the bad side of business too - the stress and the headaches. When you work at home, you can't use your commute time to decompress." This is so true and then I find the questions overwhelming as whether or not I am trying to do the best thing for my family - and my own sanity. Every summer I try to work at home and end up giving up. Maybe there is a better time than others to try? It's worth the money just for the humor. My other recommendation for a little more serious book and specific information for success - but certainly not dull - is: Why Aren't You Your Own Boss," by Paul and Sarah Edwards.

This book, "It's a Jungle Out There and a Zoo in Here" by Cheryl Demas is a must have for anyone making the decision to work at home. There are quite a few books out there that tell you how to work at home but I found most of them dry and quite dull. Cheryl finds a way to give tons of information, humor, and ispiration all rolled into one.
Cheryl takes the questions and worries we all have and gives advice and suggestions on how to conquer them in an intelligent manner. Her stories are great and really help to put things in perspective. I would highly reccommend this book to anyone who is working at home or thinking about doing so.

Cheryl Demas has written a great book for work at home parents. As a work at home mom myself and the webmaster of a site for work at home parents, I found the book an interesting and light-hearted take on the ups and downs of working at home. If you're a WAH parent or you're thinking of becoming one, this is a must-read. Veteran WAHPs will see the truth on nearly every page, and potential WAHPs will have realistic expectations of the WAH lifestyle.

I thoroughly enjoyed Cheryl's book and highly recommend it to any mom working from home or wishing to. She tells us of her personal experiences dealing with working from home and raising a family at the same time. A great weekend read!

Easy to read book with comical anticdotes. Not really as "helpful" as I thought it would be but definitely makes you think about your home business and helps you get other WAHM perspectives. I plan on recommending this to my friends and family.

Cheryl Demas, founder and owner of Work at Home Moms (...) wrote this book to encourage other moms who are considering whether they should make the move home. The subtitle of the book is "Run Your Home Business without Letting it Overrun You."

The book is packed with personal anecdotes, (cheesy) cartoons, drawn by Demas herself, and overstretched metaphors. The chapter titles take the "Jungle/Zoo" motif way too far (see the chapter titled "Don't Feed the Animals"). Also, Demas has a way of telling way to much about her own life and family, turning it into a confessional (what does her love for chocolate and weight gain have to do with me starting a home-based business?). However, there are some hidden gems that you can find in this volume.

For example, each chapter includes a section titled "Solutions from Sister Zoos," which offers readers snapshot solutions offered by WAHMs. Some problems addressed:
o I can't afford to quite my job to start a home business.
o How did you choose your business?
o How to you work around your kids' schedules and needs?

Overall, this book is a fun read, and it offers tidbits of useful advice for parents considering transitioning to working at home. However, it's probably not worth purchasing (borrow instead) or reading cover to cover. Just skim to find answers to your most pressing questions.

I have enjoyed both of Cheryl's books because they are written in a personal, easy to read fashion and they provide the reality of what its like to work-at-home! I have been working at home for over 14 years and providing work-at-home information and resources online for over 7, so I know a worthwhile book when I find it. Cheryl's book provides great information on how to work-at-home as well as tips on how to make it work. Far from being "pie-in-the-sky", working at home doesn't always solve the family/work balance challenge. But Cheryl provides a humorous approach on developing the best work-at-home scenario possible.

"It's a Jungle Out There and a Zoo in Here"
by Cheryl Demas

Found your Reno? Experienced your ice-cream man
relativity syndrome? What's your sausage?

Cheryl Demas makes even life working at home make
sense in her latest book, "It's a Jungle Out There and
a Zoo in Here" by Warner Books, available from
Amazon.com. Epitomized as "Dave Barry on estrogen",
Cheryl is the most likely heir to the great Erma
Bombeck as the work-at-home mom who has it all (or
enough for her tastes!) without missing it all.

"Jungle" (sorry...my fingers are getting sore typing
that title) is a perfectly practical how-to guide
hidden within several warm, casual and very revealing
conversations with a good friend. Ms. Demas has a
magical talent for enfolding an important point inside
an ordinary story of everyday life. Afterward, you
smile, chuckle and say "Oh yeah..."

Ready for a welcome laugh?

Enjoy your coffee (or other appropriate beverage of
choice) while sitting and laughing with Cheryl as she
tells of her metamorphosis from confident career
professional to whirlwind work-at-home mom. (Note:
This stuff works for work-at-home dads, too - Signed,
A Reliable Source) Well, maybe more strong breeze than
whirlwind. This is not Supermom Stays Home. Working at
home while raising a family can be a tough decision
requiring a lot of thought, and Cheryl presents the
battle it can really be with focused insight and an
extra helping of grace (with no added calories).

"Jungle" displays all the funny, chaotic, challenging,
stressful, touching and ultimately rewarding facets of
working at home and how she's made it work as more
than just business, but an integral part of her whole
life.

Because if you work at home (or just think about it
right now), you deserve a laugh.

Dan Reinhold knows that those who work at home deserve a laugh.