No Kidding: Women Writers on Bypassing Parenthood
by Henriette Mantel
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Family & Relationships. Self-Improvement. Nonfiction. HTML:In No Kidding, comedy writer Henriette Mantel tackles the topic of actually not having kids. This fascinating collection features a star-studded group of contributors—including Margaret Cho, Wendy Liebman, Laurie Graff, and other accomplished, funny women—writing about why they opted out of motherhood. Whether their reasons have to do with courage, apathy, monetary considerations, health issues, or something else entirely, the show more essays featured in the pages of No Kidding honestly (and humorously) delve into the minds of women who have chosen what they would call a more sane path.Hilarious, compelling, and inspiring, No Kidding reveals a perspective that has too long been hidden, shamed, and silenced—and celebrates an entire population of women who have decided that kids are just not right for them.
Additional contributors include Janette Barber, Cheryl Bricker, Valri Bromfield, Cindy Caponera, Bonnie Datt, Jeanne Dorsey, Nora Dunn, Jane Gennaro, Julie Halston, Debbie Kasper, Sue Kolinsky, Maureen Langan, Beth Lapides, Bernadette Luckett, Merrill Markoe, Andrea Carla Michaels, Vanda Mikoloski, Judy Morgan, Judy Nielsen, Susan Norfleet, Suzanne O’Neil, Jennifer Prediger, Kathryn Rossetter, Betsy Salkind, Patricia Scanlon, Jeanette Schwaba Vigne, Nancy Shayne, Carol Siskind, Ann Slichter, Tracy Smith, Suzy Soro, Amy Stiller, and Nancy Van Iderstine. show less
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Member Reviews
A superb collection of essays by female comedy writers on their decision - or sometimes non-decision - to NOT have kids. In this anthology they tell their stories about why they have not chosen motherhood, how they struggled with the decision sometimes, but came to terms with it and feel content now.
There are funny stories in there, some not-so-funny stories, and some sad ones as well. But all of them are thoughful and though-provoking while still being easy and quick to read.
There are funny stories in there, some not-so-funny stories, and some sad ones as well. But all of them are thoughful and though-provoking while still being easy and quick to read.
As a child free by choice woman who runs a busy business and enjoys life, I am constantly fielding intrusive questions about my (very easy) choice that kids were not for me. This book was a great read, and I can easily say I'll be keeping a few copies around to hand to close friends or family when they can't help but stick their nose in - repeatedly.
This is a very quick read, and somewhat disappointing - some choppy writing and one-liners that don't really fit into an essay format. I didn't realize at first that these were all written by comedy writers; I was expecting an American version of Nobody's Mother, an anthology of Canadian writing (edited by Lynne Van Luven). I was expecting something more "literary" than quick, sometimes flippant and somewhat self-conscious essays.
Really interesting. Funny and thoughtful essays.
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Seal Press
48 works; 1 member
el
1,139 works; 1 member
Author Information
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Sexuality and Gender Studies
- DDC/MDS
- 306.87 — Society, government, & culture Social sciences, sociology & anthropology Social Behavior - Dating, Marriage, Divorce Marriage, partnerships, unions; family Intrafamily relationships
- LCC
- HQ755.8 .N596 — Social sciences The family. Marriage, Women and Sexuality The Family. Marriage. Women The family. Marriage. Home Parents. Parenthood
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 67
- Popularity
- 467,067
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (3.59)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 1

























































