Customer Reviews

Rookie Dad: Thoughts on First-Time Fatherhood

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My friend gave me this book since my wife and I are expecting and I found it to be a very good read. Jacobsen gets down the the nitty gritty and truly explores his innermost feelings of being a first time Dad while sprinkling his writing with great humor and wit. He uses appropriate anecdotes, that anyone could relate to, to illustrate the fears, frustrations and feelings he's having throughout the entire pregnancy process. His fresh outlook on the male's side of pregnancy is great for males and females alike who either expect to have a child or have gone through the process many times.

I have had a lot of experience working with children and first time parents. This book examines the true emotions a first time parent experiences as well as the adventures a couple goes through in the process. Honestly, I couldn't put it down once I started reading it, and I plan to buy copies for every first time parent, that I know. I am sure they will enjoy it as much as I did! It is amazing!

I really enjoyed this book. Great writing, great insights, and very educational. :) Sometimes it's laugh-out-loud, sometimes thought-provoking... I'd definitely read it again.

As the mother of two children I feel I am a fairly good judge of parenting books. I loved how this author talked about his relationship with his father and his son. This was an entertaining and informative read. I can't wait for his next book!!

Rookie Dad reveals the thoughts and feelings of a first time father in a way that amuses, comforts, and instructs all at the same time. David Jacobson takes the reader through the whole process of getting used to the idea of a new life that can't yet be seen to delighting over a fire-truck that makes your child squeal with joy. I loved hearing his insightful reflections, and I am giving this book as a gift to a few new fathers for this Christmas! While this book is most helpful and relevant to new fathers, anyone who takes care of children or appreciates thoughtful ruminations on life will find it an enjoyable read.

I absolutely loved this book. At the end of each chapter I felt pulled between diving into the next chapter and stopping to savor the poignant wisdom. Reading the book caused me to reflect on my own experiences as a father, and to find the humor and beauty in the mundane moments of parenthood. I now feel new energy to continue the sacred journey of parenting.

Becoming a parent is like jumping off a cliff --- a mixture of excitement, elation and fear of the unknown all blended into one life-altering experience. Fortunately, there is a library of helpful books and resources for women that explains the ins and outs of pregnancy and becoming a mom.

But what about dad? While fathers-to-be may feel some level of comfort in knowing what placenta means or understanding that some pregnant woman's feet really do change size (and she's not really using the pregnancy as an excuse to buy all-new shoes) from the most popular pregnancy books, there aren't as many resources designed specifically for men. That's where ROOKIE DAD: Thoughts on First-Time Fatherhood by David Jacobsen comes in.

As the title suggests, this book is a personal memoir on the ups and downs of becoming a dad. Through the proddings of his wife, Christine, David agreed that it was time for the young couple to begin a family. With David still in graduate school and bills bigger than paychecks, a well-meaning family member gently asked if they should wait. David was convinced that even if it wasn't the best time, it would make his wife shine. They skipped the birth control, and before they knew it, Nicholas was on his way into the world.

Chapter by chapter, Jacobsen walks readers through their journey from ultrasound to birth to lost nights of sleep. At one point, the couple faces an unexpected obstacle: there is a chance that their child has Down's Syndrome. A few months later, they celebrate Nicholas's entry into the world; he is a perfectly healthy baby. Throughout the book, Jacobsen explores both the lighter and darker moments of becoming a dad and touches on some of the more universal challenges of parenting, including loneliness and isolation, as well as the struggle that accompanies taking an infant on an airplane.

One of the book's strengths is Jacobsen's honesty regarding parenting. He admits that he and his wife subscribed to the let-the-child-cry method when putting Nicholas to sleep. A chapter called "Sex on Thursdays" highlights the natural changes that any young couple undergoes in their intimate life whenever there is a new addition to the family.

"Christine and I found that it was easy --- frighteningly easy --- to let the busyness of our new life as parents interfere with our relationship. It's a truism these days that everyone's busy, but new parents are especially busy and so, so tired."

Jacobsen's writing is tight and compelling. Though a great storyteller, his references to spiritual matters are thin at best. The book lacks the depth and dimension it could have had if the spiritual side of becoming a father had been tackled with more verve. Still, ROOKIE DAD is a good gift for first-time fathers. It will definitely make jumping off the cliff into parenthood a little easier.

--- Reviewed by Margaret Oines

This book offers an honest look into the joys and struggles of being a first -time parent. Each chapter was a delightful insight into the fears and anticipations of parenthood with the perfect blend of humor and sincerity.

The author may be a first time father, but this is advice worth taking. I am many years (>30) from being a "first time father" but looking back, I wish I had possessed the wisdom discussed on these pages. "Rookie Dad" is a delightful read written by a skilled writer-- a book for all "newbie dads."

I am a soon to be father and this book provided a wonderful insight into the process of a (somewhat clueless) man stepping into the role of fatherhood. The insight was very relate able and down to earth. Not exactly a how to book but it will help you (as it helped me) mentally align myself with the joys and perils of stepping into fatherhood.