Synopses & Reviews
The instant
New York Times bestseller that the
Christian Science Monitor declared "an important book, much the way
The Feminine Mystique was, because it offers parents a common language, an understanding that they're not alone"
Thousands of books have examined the effects of parents on their children. But almost none have thought to ask: What are the effects of children on their parents?
In All Joy and No Fun, award-winning journalist Jennifer Senior analyzes the many ways children reshape their parents' lives, whether it's their marriages, their jobs, their habits, their hobbies, their friendships, or their internal senses of self. She argues that changes in the last half century have radically altered the roles of today's mothers and fathers, making their mandates at once more complex and far less clear. Recruiting from a wide variety of sources — in history, sociology, economics, psychology, philosophy, and anthropology — she dissects both the timeless strains of parenting and the ones that are brand new, and then brings her research to life in the homes of ordinary parents around the country. The result is an unforgettable series of family portraits, starting with parents of young children and progressing in later chapters to parents of teens. Through lively and accessible storytelling, Senior follows these mothers and fathers as they wrestle with some of parenthood's deepest vexations — and luxuriate in some of its finest rewards.
Meticulously researched yet imbued with emotional intelligence, All Joy and No Fun makes us reconsider some of our culture's most basic beliefs about parenthood, all while illuminating the profound ways children deepen and add purpose to our lives. By focusing on parenthood, rather than parenting, the book is original and essential reading for mothers and fathers of today — and tomorrow.
Review
“Salted with insights and epigrams, the book is argued with bracing honesty and flashes of authentic wisdom…[an] excellent book.” Andrew Solomon, The New York Times Book Review
Review
“Always generous in tone, Senior is a keen observer of the impact children have on their parents marriages, mental health, work, and social lives, and she makes deft use of social-science research...the book's most useful contribution may be the connection it makes between joy...and, surprisingly, grief.” The New Yorker
Review
“[An] astute book… clear and helpful… refreshing…an eye opening debut, and it will help a lot of parents feel less alone, if not less frazzled.” Janet Maslin, The New York Times
Review
“An important book, much the way The Feminine Mystique was, because it offers parents a common language, an understanding that they're not alone in their struggles, and an explanation of the cultural, political, and economic reasons for them.” Christian Science Monitor
Review
“Jennifer Senior's excellent new book…is not prescriptive. She doesn't tell parents to be more mindful or drink more wine or neglect their kids; she just wants them to understand why they are always so stressed out.” Hanna Rosin, Slate
Review
“A quick, lively read...[Senior's] carefully observed case studies of modern families read like scenes from novels.” San Francisco Chronicle
Review
“Senior's wise compassion provides guidance that's both necessary and inspiring.” Boston Globe
Review
“Attention childless persons: If you're thinking of having kids, and are looking for an accurate assessment of the experience, disregard the holiday cards you may have received that portray merry families in various stages of triumph. Instead, read Jennifer Senior's book. This eloquent read is a tonic” Huffington Post
Review
“[All Joy and No Fun is a] richly woven, entertaining, enlightening, wrenching and funny book.” Washington Post
Review
“[The] glimpses into the conundrums of other parents are thought-provoking and fun to read” Newsday
Review
“If you are tempted to read just one more book on the arguably over examined subject of parenthood, let it be Jennifer Senior's wise and surprising All Joy and No Fun.” Elle
Review
“Jennifer Senior successfully connects a barrage of scholarship with the real experiences of moms and dads, and the resulting book, All Joy and No Fun, is completely fascinating.” BookPage
Synopsis
"Salted with insights and epigrams, the book is argued with bracing honesty and flashes of authentic wisdom... an] excellent book." --Andrew Solomon, The New York Times Book Review
" A] richly woven, entertaining, enlightening, wrenching and funny book." --The Washington Post
The instant New York Times bestseller that the Christian Science Monitor declared "an important book, much the way The Feminine Mystique was, because it offers parents a common language, an understanding that they're not alone"
Thousands of books have examined the effects of parents on their children. But almost none have thought to ask: What are the effects of children on their parents?
In All Joy and No Fun, award-winning journalist Jennifer Senior analyzes the many ways children reshape their parents' lives, whether it's their marriages, their jobs, their habits, their hobbies, their friendships, or their internal senses of self. She argues that changes in the last half century have radically altered the roles of today's mothers and fathers, making their mandates at once more complex and far less clear. Recruiting from a wide variety of sources--in history, sociology, economics, psychology, philosophy, and anthropology--she dissects both the timeless strains of parenting and the ones that are brand new, and then brings her research to life in the homes of ordinary parents around the country. The result is an unforgettable series of family portraits, starting with parents of young children and progressing in later chapters to parents of teens. Through lively and accessible storytelling, Senior follows these mothers and fathers as they wrestle with some of parenthood's deepest vexations--and luxuriate in some of its finest rewards.
Meticulously researched yet imbued with emotional intelligence, All Joy and No Fun makes us reconsider some of our culture's most basic beliefs about parenthood, all while illuminating the profound ways children deepen and add purpose to our lives. By focusing on parenthood, rather than parenting, the book is original and essential reading for mothers and fathers of today--and tomorrow.
About the Author
Jennifer Senior is a contributing editor at New York magazine. She lives in New York with her family.