Dummy: The Comedy and Chaos of Real-Life Parenting
£5.70£10.40 (-45%)
**THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER, APRIL 2017**
‘The night before Charlie was born I had this dream. I dreamt that I was a soldier, riding into battle … completely naked, and on the back of a large, inflatable duck.’
Matt Coyne has become a hero for thousands of parents everywhere who are devoted followers of his popular blog, Man vs Baby.
This is his book, and it is not your average parenting tome. It’s packed with completely impractical advice for the bewildered new mum or dad – stuff you won’t find anywhere else: from ‘Profanity Bingo’ for labour to a categorisation of various nappy disasters. But, more than that, it is the story of how becoming a parent is a kind of beautiful insanity – a thing that changes you.
Above all, Dummy will keep you laughing through the exhaustion, the mystery and the madness of bringing up your own children.
This is the parenting book for real people.
Raves for Matt Coyne and Dummy:
‘A hero for dads everywhere’ Daily Mirror
‘Very, Very funny’ Phillip Schofield, This Morning
‘Hilarious but accurate account of finding your feet as a parent. Matt Coyne’s post has struck a chord with parents from all over the world’ Daily Mail
‘Brutally honest rant on the reality of parenthood has taken the internet by storm’ Sunday Telegraph
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Additional information
| Publisher | Wildfire (22 Feb. 2018) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 368 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1472243730 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1472243737 |
| Dimensions | 12 x 2.7 x 20.1 cm |
by MPOR
I bought this for my husband as we are expecting our first baby. Turns out I started it first and couldn’t put it down! It is very funny, sarcastic, ironic account of parenthood. Yes, he swears, he is dramatic; this is all part of why this book is so funny!! This is not a book with advice on how to care for a baby. For me, it is just a book to entertain yourself, and to prepare yourself mentally for what’s coming. I appreciated how straight forward the author is. And in general, the conclusion -how taugh having a child is; yet somehow it’s all worthy.
by Laura H
A hilariously honest, and incredibly accurate account of parenthood, particularly the first year of your first baby.
Reading this book is like reading your own diary of those horrifyingly overwhelming first few months (if you had been able to see straight enough to write one).
The worry, the tired wars, the judgements, the 6 million pieces of conflicting advice, the old ladies, the colossal amount of nappies, the baby groups, the equipment required for such a small human, the milestones and of course the love.
What I found most appealing about this book though is that it is a different perspective. Without meaning to sound sexist or gender bias, when it comes to talking about parenthood, Men can sometimes take a backseat. It’s so refreshing to read such an honest account, from a Dad’s perspective, and it is absolutely one that each and every father will relate to.
Sod the parenting books, this is the only book you need to read, to help you feel a little less alone in the absolute shitstorm that is your first baby!
by Amazon Customer
I was really looking forward to this book (as an avid follower of the man v baby blog) and I was not disappointed. Well written and a good antidote to the plethora of “the right way to raise your baby” books out there. A couple of people have commented and reduced a star that he (Matt) is “down” on organised/structured parents but I don’t see that at all in this book – he just says don’t judge yourself by the way you see others, what’s on the surface you see isn’t necessarily what’s happening behind the curtain!
I do like the book and it made for an entertaining read but I have taking a star away because it lacked the spontaneity that Matts blog has (sorry Matt ????). Don’t get me wrong this made me giggle and grin – and I will be buying it for an expectant friend-the blog on the other hand has had me shaking, snorting (attractively of course) and in genuine tears of laughter causing my partner and 3 month old to give me looks that suggest psychiatric intervention may be required. I prefer the blog that’s just my opinion however if Matt was to write a sequel I can honestly say I would have it on pre- order.
by Mrs Lisa Mary Fulham
Like many people who probably bought this book, I’ve followed Man vs. Baby for a while. Firstly I’d say to anyone who reads the blog, but isn’t sure if they’d want to read the book . . . Trust me, you need to read this. Matt goes into so much more depth and with diagrams, charts and more pop culture references than one of those crappy top 100 moment tv shows, this book is a constant turn pager.
Whether you and your partner are expecting, are new parents or like me, have a child well into their teens, you can relate to this book and Matt’s experiences, failures, triumphs and fears. Laugh out loud moments, heart warming moments as well as oh dear Matt, what were you thinking moments are all mixed together side by side in this lifting tale of just how much one man grew from a man child into a man who loves his child more than anything in the world.
I met Matt recently at a book event in Manchester and he’s just as down to earth and funny in real life as he is online and in the book. He was asked what he thought Charlie (his son) would think when/if he reads the book when he’s older and I’d just like to say to Matt that if Charlie does read the book then tell him to read the last chapter first because there will be no doubt at all just how much he’s loved by his Dad. Oh and Matt, If you do take up my suggestion to write a follow up book about desperately trying to find Barbara I’ll be looking for a mention in the acknowledgments lol You also still owe me a badge ;p
by S.J. L.
Belonging in the immortal company of the great works of literature, Matt Coyne’s poetic masterpiece, Dummy, is a moving human drama, an unforgettable visionary journey through the infinite torment of Hell, up the arduous slopes of Purgatory, and on to the glorious realm of Paradise — the sphere of universal harmony and eternal salvation. Oh wait… That’s Dante’s Divine Comedy. Dummy wasn’t all that bad either.
Made me think though, “…real life parenting”, is to parent a verb? Am I parenting, do I always parent, or only when my 9 month old pink, wiggly, leaking bodily fluid container is around (No, I’m not talking about my mansicle).
So, ask Wikipedia:
“Parenting or child rearing is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood. Parenting refers to the aspects of raising a child aside from the biological relationship.”
To adulthood? Really? At least with a hamster you know you’re off the hook after a few years, or maybe a few more if you opt for a cat. Adulthood? I’m not even an adult by some measures. What have I got myself into? Based on Man vs Baby, I considered “raising a child” to be equal to lifting it up in the air whilst imitating Rafiki. None of that physical, emotional, social and intellectual bollocks. Dress them up like little ewoks, make them taste lemon just to check if their tastebuds work (because they seem to eat anything they get their grubby little mits on), these are the kind of things we need to teach people about parenting.
Screw it, I’m copy-pasting the entire book and replacing everything on that Wikipedia page.