No Wonder My Parents Drank: Tales from a Stand-Up Dad [Hardcover]

Jay Mohr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 11, 2010

YOU’LL NEVER SLEEP IN THIS TOWN AGAINFrom Saturday Night Live to stand-up, from a blockbuster film career to the star of CBS’s hit television show Gary Unmarried, Jay Mohr is one of the funniest people in comedy today. Now, in this down and dirty tale of modern fatherhood, Mohr shares his stories as a first-time parent. No Wonder My Parents Drank reveals the details behind Mohr’s humiliating test-tube conception attempts and then recounts the trauma of not only having to keep this child alive, but having to spend time alone with him! He waxes poetic about dirty diapers; spins theories on spanking; and mulls over the more hidden advantages of parenthood, like carpool lane access, carte blanche to use the ladies restroom, and an alibi for missing family dinners. Mohr describes, in painfully funny detail, the bizarre situations that all parents inevitably face but can never prepare for (such as when his kid discovered his dog’s rear end) as well as moments of pure joy like taking his son to his first baseball game. Mohr reports on the hilarious wisdom that his son, Jackson, has taught him—like why it’s fun to play "Kissy Boy" with the other boys at recess, how important sunscreen is for avoiding a "sunborn," and how awesome it is to get a "rainbow belt" in karate.

Riotously acerbic and refreshingly honest, No Wonder My Parents Drank casts the very funny Jay Mohr with an even funnier mini-me sidekick as a supporting character in a little comedic love story that every person who either is a parent or has a parent will find delightful.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Longtime comedian Mohr, formerly of Saturday Night Live and currently executive producer/host of NBC's Last Comic Standing, knows how to be funny, but was as clueless as anyone else when it came to parenthood: "one of the shitty parts" of parenthood is that "there aren't any do-overs. You learn on the fly and do the best you can." Even so, Mohr makes it abundantly clear that, despite some mistakes, he has enjoyed every minute of being a parent to his son, Jackson, and he mines it here for comedy gold. Mohr's dead-on insights and sharp observations ring true regarding serious issues like spanking and step-parenting, as well as lighter subjects like his son's first haircut. Mohr also finds pointed humor in unhappy topics, like his attempt to have another child with his second wife; he's more than candid about his lousy swimmers. Mohr's stand-up sensibility is occasionally trumped by his love for his son, but even then he stays honest and engaging: "As he grows, my heart sinks. The less he needs me, the more I need him."
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Review

“[Mohr] has sincere and perceptive things to say about the rewards of fatherhood. . . . [and] is unabashed about his love for his son and the ways that being a parent has made him a better person.”

—Washington Post

“The wisdom [Mohr] learned on the job being a new father is served up with insight and wit in his wonderfully candid new book.”

—Tucson Citizen

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (May 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439173214
• ISBN-13: 978-1439173213
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #552,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Funny Thing About Parenthood, June 22, 2010

By 

B. K. (Glendora, Ca. USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: No Wonder My Parents Drank: Tales from a Stand-Up Dad (Hardcover)

I was really surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. Mohr makes parenting funnier than it really is. Or maybe just reading about other parents' misadventures is funnier. Whatever the case, it's a well-written, highly entertaining book. I am charmed by how completely taken and devoted he is to his son. He's probably too obsessive at times, but hey, we all screw up as parents at times and since that's his worst quality as a parent, it's really not a liability at all! His takes on kids is a riot and very candid at times. For anyone who has been a parent or is around kids alot, this is a great read. It's no classic, but for just entertaining reading, it's perfect.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Warm and funny, June 5, 2010

By 

E. Jacobs - See all my reviews
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This review is from: No Wonder My Parents Drank: Tales from a Stand-Up Dad (Hardcover)

I ordered this book because I was looking for some humor, and it delivered that and more.

The main focus of the book is Mohr's relationship with his son Jackson. His stories of interacting with his little guy are priceless. I know who Jay Mohr is mostly from Jerry Maguire and his calls to the Jim Rome show, and frankly I did not expect to find in this book such a loving and absolutely devoted husband and father in addition to being a heck of a funny guy. Even if you are not familiar with Jay Mohr, if you are a parent, I think you will enjoy this book. Some of the stories were a little less entertaining than others, which kept me from giving it five stars. But overall, it is warm and funny and silly and touching.

My personal favorite chapter was the one on accompanying his wife to the gynecologist. I had tears running down my face from laughing so hard. If you are not one for blunt humor and select four-letter-words, you might want to pass this one up. Otherwise, this is a definite recommend if you are looking for a feel-good story of love and laughs.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, June 4, 2010

By 

D. R. Duford "Bobby-D" (Longwood, FL, US) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: No Wonder My Parents Drank: Tales from a Stand-Up Dad (Hardcover)

Got this book after Jay mentioned it on Rome. I picked up the book and read it in a local bookstore. Within 10 minutes I had to put it down because I was literally laughing so hard I was causing a scene. Jay's outlook on parenting is refreshingly honest and truthfully hysterical. Thanks, Jay for sharing.