This Is Not Your Father’s Fatherhood: A Comic Memoir

After the birth of his first son in 2005, Pinaire (The Constitution of Electoral Speech Law) decided to take 12 weeks of paid leave offered to him as a professor at Lehigh University—a decision that changed his life, as he details in this intimate and entertaining look at fatherhood. Admitting that he had no intention of “bonding with anything other than my laptop” and cranking out some articles, Pinaire soon realized that the idea of “an easy opportunity to be more productive while also being a ‘parent’ ” was “a completely stupid notion.” Fortunately he decided to keep notes on his growth as a parent and a father, and shares his experiences through humorous anecdotes and observations as he attempts to “make sense of modern fatherhood.” Pinaire is at his best when he observes the ways in which his expectations were shaken by reality, such as his chapter on the discrepancies between what different child-care centers promise, such as “not treating a baby like a package of office supplies.” But other sections, such as a sarcastic look at erectile-dysfunction ads geared to fathers, feel rehashed. However, new and younger fathers-to-be will learn some valuable tips from this account of becoming a parent. (BookLife)

Correction: An earlier version of this review misstated the year the author's son was born, as well as the book's timeline.