Customer Reviews

No Kids: 40 Good Reasons Not to Have Children

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

 

 

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.

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.

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.

XXXXX

"This little book is intended to further discourage those potential parents everywhere who are beginning to wonder if having children is really worth the trouble. Of course, they can't share their doubts with anyone: raising the question is simply not done, because HAVING CHILDREN IS GOOD. However, there are a multitude of excellent reasons not to have children, at least forty of them--reasons that are far more rational than the ones we usually come up with for having kids."

The above is found in the introduction of this intriguing book by Corinne Maier (and translated from the French by Patrick Watson). Maier is a psychoanalyst that has two children, one a pre-teen, the other a teenager.

Within the pages of this book lie truths, truths a mother is never supposed to utter, let alone write down and publish in a book.

The way this book is structured is that Maier gives a reason for not having kids and then briefly elaborates on her reason. She follows this format for all forty of her reasons.

Personally, I admired and was impressed by Maier's honesty throughout the book. Her brief explanations for each reason she gives for not having children are not just her opinions but include, for example, insights from history, child psychology, and even politics.

Other than English, this book has been translated into Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, Brazilian, German, Swedish, Czech, Polish, and Korean.

Finally, in many cases, much of the information given in this book is properly footnoted. However, in some cases I wondered where the author had acquired her non-opinionated information. I think in a book of this type that the author should have paid more attention to proper footnoting.

In conclusion, I think this book will impress whether you are a parent or childfree. I leave you with this interesting comment by comedian Rita Rudner:

"My husband and I are either going to buy a dog or have a child. We can't decide whether to ruin our rugs or ruin our lives."

(first English translation published 2009; prologue; introduction; 40 good reasons not to have children; conclusion; main narrative 125 pages)

XXXXX

This book is only for people who do not have kids or people who have an open mind and are capable of hearing the truth after they already do have a kid. That cuts out a vast majority of parents who are tortured by the fact that they have already made the plunge and cannot truly consider what they have done as the years go by without extreme bias and fear. My daughter died, so I have lived both sides of this coin. With that said...this author is correct. There is no true rebuttal of it without extreme insanity. Any reviews I have seen from naysayers of this book from parents are nonsensical and viscious. As a former parent...SHE IS RIGHT...SHE IS ALSO A PARENT. This is an excellent book with tons of sarcastic humor laced around the cold hard facts.

If you're the type of person who would be offended about a mother of two writing a book about how horrible children are, then this is not the book for you.

If you're the type of person who loves dry, sarcastic, bitter (?) humor, you will LOVE this book. Especially if you don't have or want children.

If you're like me, in the middle, it's still good reading :)

I am hardcore childfree, I am never having kids, and reading about this lifestyle choice is fun sometimes. Someone in the childfree community I visit recommended this book. I figured, why not.

Let me tell you, this book has got to be the most depressing piece I've ever read. It's not a book, and it's not just about the 40 reasons not to have kids, it's about a middle-aged woman whining how she ruined her life by having kids, and pointing out all the things she hates doing in her life. This should have been written down in a journal or something, because there's nothing revolutionary about saying "Forced to watch the most idiotic movies such as Nemo, Harry Potter ... etc". I quite like those movies, and I am an adult, thank you very much.

Corinne Maier can sometimes bring up good points as to why you should be childfree, and I agree with them - but many I raise my eyebrows and wonder if this woman likes her life at all? She seems to be hell-bent to dislike anything associated with 'kids'. This means movies that are meant for kids. If adults still watch them, they're childish. Even McDonald's and Disneyworld are mentioned. Then she mentions she hates that the school gives their kids homework, because she ends up doing their homework for them (nice parenting, right?).

If you are childfree and would like to read a book that actually lists reasons that you definitely agree with, then I say; skip this one. It's a journal in the disguise of a book. And unless you want to know what will happen to you if you did have kids (become a whiny mom who hates her life), really, skip it. There's better ones out there.

When I received this book, among others on the same issue, I felt disappointed because it is thin, but I came in for a wonderful surprise when I finished reading it and discovered that it is the best childfree book ever! It goes harshly direct to the point where society expects us all to be raising children as a symbol of social status and achievement/success. To tell you the truth, if I was to write a book on the subject, I would write everything that this woman wrote, being sincere like she was. People have to know that not everybody thinks that their little monsters are the cuttest thing on earth and no, please, we don't wanna see pictures of them or hear about them! We are interested in more meaningful things. Parents above all? No, Thanks!! Go for this book there and then. It's really raw and make its point.

Just finished this book and it was a fairly easy read. The book itself IS broken down into the 40 reasons the author mentioned on the title, and a small blurb/point was made on each reason.

I found the book entertaining and informative. Like with any book, opinions expressed are those of the author alone and should be taken with a grain of salt. It was refreshing to read one parent's perspective on an opinion geared towards the child-free (or even the undecided).

Ultimately, the choice to procreate will be up to you, but the author does provide sound arguments (albeit, occasionally whiny) on why people (especially women) should not be parents. I especially like points 25 (It takes real courage to keep saying, "Me first" and 34 (Motherhood or success: Pick one).

This book is a must. People should read this. It may save them from parenthood and therefore save the planet