What the Heck Were You Expecting?: A Complete Guide for the Perplexed Father [Paperback]

Thomas Hill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 6, 2000

Everything you need to know about fatherhood -- but were afraid to ask!.

Why are all parenting books directed at mommies? Daddies need help, too. In fact, when you think about it, they may need more help than their naturally maternal mates do. They need guidance, comfort, and validation. They probably also need a good night's sleep, and they definitely need a good laugh.

        What the Heck Were You Expecting? provides month-by-month counsel for the spit-up covered, the sleep deprived, and the just plain peek-a-booed out, including such subjects as:What your wife might be complaining about (. . . anything she can think of)
What your above-average child may be doing (. . . paying attention to small objects)
What you might be concerned about (. . . the meaning of life)
A couple of things to say to let her know that you're caring, sensitive, and up on the required reading (. . . "Listen to this one: Statistics show that attendance at work is better among married men with children and spikes even higher among fathers of newborns. Quite a coincidence, huh?")

Thomas Hill, registered father and author of the best-selling What to Expect When Your Wife Is Expanding, answers every father's questions about:

ESPN as Edu-tainment
Horsy Knee Burn
Zen and the Art of Spoon-feeding
Basics of Crib Assembly
Nap Time . . . and How to Hide It from Your Boss
. . .among other topics.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Tired of earnest arias on the mysteries of fatherhood? What the Heck Were You Expecting? is a hilarious send-up of those comprehensive what-to-expect manuals. Even better, so much useful information is folded in with the wisecracks that even know-it-all dads are bound to learn something. In his bestselling What to Expect When Your Wife Is Expanding, author Thomas Hill acted as the third-base coach who signaled expectant fathers to home plate. In this follow-up, Hill tells them what happens afterwards, from a teething crisis (put down the Jack Daniels and reach for the Tamnavulin) to reassuring partners that their cracked, aching nipples are still sexy. Chapters are broken into chronological order, one for each month of your new baby's life (except for months eight, nine and ten, which are lumped into one). Regular features include "What Your Above-Average Baby May Be Doing," "What Your Wife May Be Complaining About" (the new father is always on the list), and "What to be Terrified About." Despite this glibness, readers will actually learn things from this book, though it's not the sort of manual that comes with a plump, user-friendly index. Rather, What the Heck? is designed to help new dads loosen up, while offering a truly "complete guide for the perplexed father."--Kathi Inman Berens

From Library Journal

Sticking to the irreverent style of his previous book, What To Expect When Your Wife Is Expanding (Andrews McMeel, 1993), Hill presents a roadmap of a baby's first year. His flippancy permeates every page, and his wit ranges from saucy (seven-month-olds may find reruns of The Jeffersons "somewhat predictable") to droll ("Answering the question 'Have I got everything?' is easy; 'Do you feel like a pack mule?' If not, you've forgotten something"). Sprinkled throughout is genuinely useful information on real issues like giving a bath. Readers will find these and many other helpful particulars in other child-rearing manuals, such as Arlene Eisenberg's ubiquitous What To Expect the First Year (Workman, 1996) or Jean Marzollo's Fathers & Babies (LJ 5/15/93). If Hill's first book was popular in your collection, by all means purchase it; however, public libraries that require something more on the serious side should consider this an optional or supplemental purchase.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 1 edition (June 6, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609805169
• ISBN-13: 978-0609805169
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,110,984 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A native of Ithaca, N.Y., Thomas Hill is a creative executive for Nick@Nite and TV Land. A veteran of Harvard, the United States Chess Federation, and fatherhood, Thomas has five children and lives with his family in Verplanck, N.Y.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The humorous illustration on the front cover says it all!, June 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: What the Heck Were You Expecting?: A Complete Guide for the Perplexed Father (Paperback)

I loved this book! Finally, guys are getting their fair share of advice on child rearing; none too late and happily, before the next baby shower I have to attend. Definitely worth considering as a gift to the expectant father in the next cubicle at work.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Inaccurate information, August 5, 2005

By 

H. Scott "Daibijin" (Daibjin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What the Heck Were You Expecting?: A Complete Guide for the Perplexed Father (Paperback)

I wouldn't recommend this book at all, since lots of the information contained is just to try to make you laugh. don't try to follow what the author says, because if you ask your doctor or read about those methods, they are actually not recommended at all

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not the best, July 30, 2005

By 

KG (Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What the Heck Were You Expecting?: A Complete Guide for the Perplexed Father (Paperback)

I bought this for my husband but it isn't that great. I guess it's better than nothing but not as humorous and not as useful as 'Be Prepared' for example. Some of the points were plain dumb or even offensive to me when browsing it as a new (hormonal?) mom, while I (and he) found the BP book much better all round. We gave this one away pretty early on.