Mother's Guide to the Meaning of Life: What I've Learned in My Never-Ending Quest to Become a Dalai Mama [Hardcover]

Amy Krause Rosenthal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 7, 2001

THE MOTHER'S GUIDE TO THE MEANING OF LIFE is the third in a series of books designed to find the extraordinary in the everyday. Here author Amy Krouse Rosenthal explores the joys and pitfalls of parenting in a way that mothers everywhere will recognise and appreciate. Rosenthal offers a series of essays, anecdotes, vignettes and asides, and she explores the universal themes of motherhood, from guilt and inadequacy to joy and magic to the astonishing sense of self-discovery that comes with being a mother. With wit, understanding and hilarity, Rosenthal covers everything from "What I've Learned About Patience" to a mother's occasional, secret fantasy to run away from it all. Her fresh humour taps into the minutiae of everyday life with "that-is-so-true" insight and sets itself apart with its smart, witty and delightfully quirky nature.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Daybreak Books (April 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579543421
• ISBN-13: 978-1579543426
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,064,486 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a person who likes to make things.

Some things she likes to make:
Children's books.
Grown-up books.
Short films.
Salads.
Connections with the universe.
Something out of nothing.
Wishes.

According to The New York Times, Amy's award-winning children's books "radiate fun the way tulips radiate spring: they are elegant and spirit-lifting." Her 16 books for children include LITTLE PEA, SPOON, THE WONDER BOOK, COOKIES: BITE-SIZE LIFE LESSONS, AND DUCK!RABBIT!.

As for her adult work, Amazon named ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AN ORDINARY LIFE one of the top 10 memoirs of the decade.

A long-time contributor to NPR, she is currently the host and creator of Mission Amy K R.com produced by Chicago Public Radio.

Her short films include 17 Things I Made, ATM Always Trust Magic, The Kindness Thought Bubble, The Money Tree, Chip the Monk and the interactive, ongoing film project The Beckoning of Lovely (a feature-length film is scheduled for hopeful release on 11/11/11).

Amy lives IRL with her family in Chicago and online at whoisamy.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for every parent, August 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Mother's Guide to the Meaning of Life: What I've Learned in My Never-Ending Quest to Become a Dalai Mama (Hardcover)

This book was laugh out loud funny. Amy is incredibly witty. She finds humor in ordinary family life. After I read this book I realized that my family is actually "normal". I read this book in one night. Once you start reading you will not be able to put it down. After reading this book I felt a sense of relief from the frustrations of the toddler years. Buy it!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars helpful and amusing, May 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Mother's Guide to the Meaning of Life: What I've Learned in My Never-Ending Quest to Become a Dalai Mama (Hardcover)

I have read all 3 of Amy's books. They are full of earthy wisdom about child-rearing and motherhood...AND, they're fun and funny to read. I gave this book to a first time mother (over40) who feared that her so-called negative feelings were off the chart. After she read Amy's book, she felt so reassured.

Keep up the good work Amy. Write a book about anything and I'll read it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for mothers, April 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Mother's Guide to the Meaning of Life: What I've Learned in My Never-Ending Quest to Become a Dalai Mama (Hardcover)

This book is a gem, not just for mothers, but for keen observers of the wonders of everyday life. I'm not yet a mother, one month and counting, but I found this book filled with wisdom and wit. If my experiences can be any where close to those of Amy Krouse Rosenthal I can only guess that I'm going to love this trip down motherhood lane. I also have a feeling I'll be reading Ms. Rosenthal's words again and again searching through these pages for those pearls of advice that I can use in my own life. I hope to see more from this talented and thought provoking author!