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Rating: 
Summary: Some Mildly Amusing Complaints about the Generation Gap
Review: Every generation complains about the next generation. In this book, syndicated humorist Dave Barry levels his pen at his son, Rob, during the time from when Rob was 11 through senior year in high school. "Parenthood is not unlike the Space Mountain ride at Disney World . . . ." It has its ups and downs and its unexpected moments. The book continues in that vein.The gags are highly concentrated into Rob's difficulties with getting out of bed in the morning, loud music (that's the title reference), driving, vacations, ski trips, projects, science fair preparations, help with school work, becoming interested in girls, toys, video games, television, sneakers, clothes, and expenses. Rather than being grouped in some logical order, they just sort of show up randomly. To me, much of the humor depends on being Dave Barry, being there, or seeing an image of the situation. Cartoons would have helped. As it was, I found the book light, but never really did start to laugh. Rob comes across as a normal, healthy young man making fine progress in growing up. Most would take delight in having such a son. I think the humor would have been improved if it had been aimed more powerfully at Mr. Barry. He does point out his own limitations (with school work, in skiing down slopes, and in keeping up with the newest trends), but the put-downs are mostly aimed at Rob. As such, I often found them to sound like whining rather than humor. For example, the reason that adults have sexual relations not very often is because children discover they need help with projects after 11:00 at night. Okay, that may have happened once in a while . . . but I think that the point would have been funnier if it focused on the way that some teachers now assign homework projects that can only be done by having the student and two parents work for hours. There are often funny things that happen in those projects that could have provided humor. The other direction Mr. Barry could have gone in would have required Rodney Dangerfield style one-liners. Mr. Barry's style lends itself to that approach, but his writing isn't quite terse enough to pull it off. If you are frustrated with your son, this book can do you some good by helping you realize that what's going on is normal. If you are looking for a good humor book, I'd look elsewhere. In the meantime, you can have a few laughs if you think about how your father would have described you when you were a teenager (using humorous concepts). That perspective may help you be more understanding with your teenager. Enjoy being a parent!
Rating:
Summary: Some Mildly Amusing Complaints about the Generation Gap
Review: Every generation complains about the next generation. In this book, syndicated humorist Dave Barry levels his pen at his son, Rob, during the time from when Rob was 11 through senior year in high school. "Parenthood is not unlike the Space Mountain ride at Disney World . . . ." It has its ups and downs and its unexpected moments. The book continues in that vein. The gags are highly concentrated into Rob's difficulties with getting out of bed in the morning, loud music (that's the title reference), driving, vacations, ski trips, projects, science fair preparations, help with school work, becoming interested in girls, toys, video games, television, sneakers, clothes, and expenses. Rather than being grouped in some logical order, they just sort of show up randomly. To me, much of the humor depends on being Dave Barry, being there, or seeing an image of the situation. Cartoons would have helped. As it was, I found the book light, but never really did start to laugh. Rob comes across as a normal, healthy young man making fine progress in growing up. Most would take delight in having such a son. I think the humor would have been improved if it had been aimed more powerfully at Mr. Barry. He does point out his own limitations (with school work, in skiing down slopes, and in keeping up with the newest trends), but the put-downs are mostly aimed at Rob. As such, I often found them to sound like whining rather than humor. For example, the reason that adults have sexual relations not very often is because children discover they need help with projects after 11:00 at night. Okay, that may have happened once in a while . . . but I think that the point would have been funnier if it focused on the way that some teachers now assign homework projects that can only be done by having the student and two parents work for hours. There are often funny things that happen in those projects that could have provided humor. The other direction Mr. Barry could have gone in would have required Rodney Dangerfield style one-liners. Mr. Barry's style lends itself to that approach, but his writing isn't quite terse enough to pull it off. If you are frustrated with your son, this book can do you some good by helping you realize that what's going on is normal. If you are looking for a good humor book, I'd look elsewhere. In the meantime, you can have a few laughs if you think about how your father would have described you when you were a teenager (using humorous concepts). That perspective may help you be more understanding with your teenager. Enjoy being a parent!
Rating: 
Summary: not what I expected
Review: I have several of Mr. Barry's books, and this one is a huge disappointment. Instead of consisting of columns he has published in newspapers, this book simply contains one to four sentences per page! What a rip off.
Rating:
Summary: not what I expected
Review: I have several of Mr. Barry's books, and this one is a huge disappointment. Instead of consisting of columns he has published in newspapers, this book simply contains one to four sentences per page! What a rip off.
Rating:
Summary: My Teenage Son's Goal In Life Is..." the review.
Review: In this book, author Steve Barry talks about raising his son and other parenting. There are some very funny segements in this book, however it is repetitive and they are Extremly short lines. The way the book is, it stands at about four inches and has a very short paragraph on each page. So, really, you are getting over a hundred Short onl-liners. The entire book could be read by everyone, he does not curse in this book. If a slow reader, you could read it in under 30 minutes, but it will not really seem time consuming being that it {the book itself} is quite humorus. Not the best I have read, but for a little pick-me-up in the morning, it sure did the job for me. Have a good one. Ryan
Rating:
Summary: Dave Barry is getting lazy
Review: Unlike his first dozen or so books, this offering is so meager as to be insulting to his fans. I loved the guy from the first newspaper column I stumbled across. Now I think he should quit being so lazy, or quit writing.
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