Pacify Me: A Handbook for the Freaked-Out New Dad

By Chris Mancini

Book Overview

A humorous yet practical collection of essays that look at the one thing that terrifies men the most: Fatherhood.

Anyone who's seen Judd Apatow's smash hit Knocked Up knows that many modern men are still clinging to their inner child. So what happens when this man-child finds out that he's an expectant father? The obvious: he freaks out.

Written for the new fathers who know more about Mr. Spock than Dr. Spock, My Life Is Over empathetically shatters the myths and fears new fathers really feel. Using the power and wisdom of hindsight, Chris Mancini humorously and candidly shares his own personal journey of becoming a new father and covers the entire process-- from pregnancy to delivery, the adjustment period, and the infant years.

Anticipating a broad range of questions from the practical (how do I stop a kid from crying? how many diapers will I really be changing?) to the personal (how soon can I have sex with my wife again?), Mancini mixes entertaining anecdotes with helpful in-the-trenches information, offering an invaluable guide for every scared, nervous--but ultimately very capable--new dad.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1439128871
• ISBN13: 9781439128879
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Great for the dad-to-be

Ever watch the mother-to-be showered with gifts and not know what to get the slightly-lost guy? Pacify Me is a great choice. Somewhat an answer to Belly Laughs and some of the other newer women's comedy/mother titles, Pacify Me is approachable, funny, and helpful. Like Crouching Toddler Hidden Father before it, this book is done in quick, few-paragraphs-per-point style that makes it easy to slip into any lifestyle, no matter how busy.

Hilarious and It's All True

This book is absolutely hilarious and every word of it is absolutely true. That's probably what makes it so funny. It's the man's answer to "What to Expect When Expecting" in a form we can all appreciate: short and full of sci-fi movie references. The writing style reads very much like a comedy routine. That's probably to be expected from a comedian/author. The book goes from what it's like trying to get pregnant, through the nine months and beyond into what it's like to take care of a baby and the new momma. It might be comedy but it's also very true what's pointed out here which I can say through experience having two children now. I just wish I had this book before we had our first! It would have saved me some time (but not aggravation -- nothing could save that!). I'd even recommend this for the ladies to help understand what's going on inside a man's mind. If you're going to be or are trying to be a dad or even a mom, give this book a quick read and get a few laughs and insights that won't surprise the guys at all.

Great, funny, informative book!

How can you go wrong with a 6 pack and a pacifier on the cover! Chris tells us new dad's, "Don't worry, you'll be fine." Which is what we want to hear. Plus it's a funny, fast read that actually gives us some good info about keeping ourselves, our baby and most importantly, our wife, from going insane. Moms-to-be, buy this for Dad-to-be. It'll make your life easier!

Funny, informative and most importantly-relatable

I've read a couple of expectant father books (i.e The Expectant Father) and I found them to be cold, dry and boring. They just didn't feel personal enough to what I was going through. In the beginning of this book, Mancini writes "I'm having a baby. My life is over" I said the exact same thing to my boss when I found out I was going to be a father. This book is a really down to earth, personal account of what all new fathers go through. The stories are hilarious, the references are charming (this author's a real lovable geek), and I know that I've relayed many of the same fears about parenthood to my friends over a beer (or my therapist for that matter). The only bad thing I can say about this book is that I wish it had come out 4 years ago when my 1st son was born. It would have got me through some tough times. I highly recomend it to any new father and any new mothers for that matter. Maybe they can see what we're going through and give us a bit more slack.

A great, fun read. Highly recommended.

My mom bought me this book and I absolutely loved it. Its a quick read, insightful, and very funny. I dont normally laugh out loud when reading, but this book did it for me. Just a lighthearted approach to the feeling of "Oh f**k what now?" feeling you get after your first-born. Highly recommended to anyone still shocked at the thought of fatherhood.