No Kids: 40 Good Reasons Not to Have Children [Paperback]

Corinne Maier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 4, 2009

The shocking treatise that was a bestselling international media sensation upon its 2007 publication in France now makes its eagerly anticipated English-language debut.

A mother of two herself, Maier makes her deadly serious, if at times laugh-out-loud-funny, argument with all the unbridled force of her famously wicked intellect. In forty to-the-point, impressively erudite chapters drawing on the realms of history, child psychology, politics, and the environment, Maier effortlessly skewers the idealized notion of parenthood as a natural and beautiful endeavour. Enough with this “baby-mania” that is plaguing modern society, says Maier, it’s nothing but brainwashing. Are you prepared to give up your free time, dinners with friends, spontaneous romantic getaways, and even the luxury of uninterrupted thought for the “vicious little dwarves” that will treat you like their servant, cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, and end up resenting you?

Speaking to the still “child-free”, to fellow suffering parents, and to adamant procreationists alike, No Kids is a controversial, thought-provoking, and undeniably entertaining read.

Reasons to avoid having kids:

•You will lose touch with your friends
•Your sex life will be over
•Children cost a fortune
•Child-rearing is endless drudgery
•Vacations will be nightmares
•You’ll lose your identity and become just “mom” or “dad”
•Your children will become mindless drones of capitalism
•The planet’s already overcrowded
•Your children will inevitably disappoint you

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Author Maiers (Bonjour Laziness), a mother of two, delivers a corrosive take on children and parenting that's far more caustic than comedic. Originally published in France, these 40 reasons to avoid having children range from the familiar (the death of desire, the expense, the career sacrifice) to the outrageous (children are disappointing, there are already too many), pushing back against "baby mania" with unrelenting pessimism, sarcasm and downright viciousness ("every family is an inescapable nest of vipers"). For all her overwhelming, histrionic bitching, Maier's admitted regret over having children is never really examined, nor is her choice to have them in the first place; any subject meriting deeper reflection is quickly dismissed. Readers who already resent children will sympathize, but average breeders will likely be repulsed.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“A combination of tart sisterly advice with shock-tactic social analysis.”
— Globe and Mail

“Maier seems to have that uncanny ability to put her finger exactly on what people are thinking, at the right time and in the right place. Right now, it’s motherhood.”
— The Telegraph

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Emblem Editions (August 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0771054777
• ISBN-13: 978-0771054778
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.3 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #682,355 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughts from the Other Side, August 24, 2009

By 

L. Eanes (Charleston, SC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: No Kids: 40 Good Reasons Not to Have Children (Paperback)

For those struggling with the decision about whether or not to have children, a major piece of advice that is missing is that no one from the "other side" (someone who has kids) will ever tell you anything other than how great being a parent is. It's refreshing to hear from someone who has kids speaking frankly and realistically about the challenges of raising them from the unique perspective of an honest Mom.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and Accurate, August 27, 2009

By 

Y. O. Alleyne "Book Worm" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: No Kids: 40 Good Reasons Not to Have Children (Paperback)

Whether you have children or not, this is a good read. Despites its humor, it gives a couple enough to think about before plunging into parenthood. The fact that the author herself is a mother only gives the book more crediblity. The moral of this book is look before you leap because afterwards your in for a long twenty year+ sentence.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute, And To The Point, April 6, 2010

By 

Alicia M. Webster "perspicacious petunia" (Winchester, VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: No Kids: 40 Good Reasons Not to Have Children (Paperback)

At first I was put off by how small and slim this book is, but upon completion, I realized that the author had said just about everything that needs to be said on the topic. She gets to the point, and there is no filler, so if that type of thing bothers you, then search elsewhere. I was surprised by the reaction in the mommy blogs to this book. I have three kids, all of whom I love dearly, but I can't say that I disagreed with even one of the author's opinions. Parenting is hard work and often thankless, at least for some of us, and I don't find it offensive to have someone list some of the reasons why it might not be the mind-bending orgasm that many claim it to be. I took it all tongue-in-cheek, and I'd recommend this book to those who can do the same.