Whose Kids Are These Anyway? [Paperback]

Ken Swarner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 2003

Circumcision is not a lunch topic.

Check under your nails for doo-doo.

When you go away on business and you're really sorry your wife is stuck at home with all the midnight feedings, try not to smile or get caught high-fiving the dog.

Author of the syndicated humor column Family Man, Ken Swarner lets readers into the world of parents and kids, explains the enormous differences between sons and daughters, and provides assorted tips on operating a homework jail, understanding the rules of T-ball, and coping with uncooperative breast pumps (Ken's wife helped with that one).

Just in time for Father's Day, it's a lighthearted look at the funny side of fatherhood that will have parents nodding in agreement-and laughing out loud.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Raising children can be both extremely exhilarating and mind-numbingly frustrating, and Swarner neatly sums up both emotions in this compendium of entertaining anecdotes and plentiful one-liners. The book showcases Swarner's easy style and comic timing, as he deals with everything from listening patiently to his kids' knock-knock jokes to participating in the family hike from hell. Indeed, Swarner writes, his experiences might serve as an "effective birth control program" for today's teens. Without an occasional serious moment or poignant reflection to vary the pacing, the jokes do sometimes come at readers like gunfire. But the author's unreserved honesty in the face of adversity ("I haven't had a good night's sleep since 1990") should ultimately win them over. Swarner honed his observational skills while writing his syndicated column, The Family Man, and it shows: he has a knack for finding humor in any parental situation.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Ken Swarner paints a picture of a loving, though chaotic American household where Dad is often frazzled, yet hilariously philosophic." -- The Columbian

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade; 1 edition (May 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399528814
• ISBN-13: 978-0399528811
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,077,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whose Kids Are These Anyway?, May 10, 2003

By 

Judith Funkhouser (Circle Pines,, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whose Kids Are These Anyway? (Paperback)

I just received this book the other day. I opened it and started to read, and I swear, I couldn't put it down. The only reason I did was because we had some company coming. The book is so funny. Ken has a way of writing about his kids that remind me of so many "adventures" shall we call it, that I had with my 7 kids when they were young and growing up. This book is a must read for anyone with children. I especially enjoyed his first chapter entitled, "My Rookie Year". My oh my, the memories it brought back. The "Poop-Free-Zone" is hysterically funny. This book is wonderful, and Ken Swarner is a master at telling stories about family, I guess that's why he's called "The Family Man."
Again, this is a MUST READ for all who have children. I loved it.
Also, if anyone is interested, subscribe to his newsletter. You'll find many more adventures by "The Family Man."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And I know the author, too!, May 29, 2003

By 

William H Curry (Lakewood, Washington United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whose Kids Are These Anyway? (Paperback)

Got our copy about two weeks ago and have been smiling ever since (people generally refer to me as the "Grouch" so the book has helped).

Truly though, Ken has a unique style of reality and humor. He mixes them well in each episode of the book. It is definitely a "keeper" and I am recommending to all my e-mail friends.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You get grey hair from your kids, May 11, 2003

By 

Mr. Peter Rowe (worthing, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Whose Kids Are These Anyway? (Paperback)

Ken Swarner is a very funny man, whose approach to family life is realistic. We see the funny side in our kids now, let alone his!