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Summary: Surprisingly Honest and Funny
Review: My husband received this book as a gift at my baby shower. Having given him several books on pregnancy before, I fully expected this one to be tossed aside or only briefly glanced at like the others. But to my surprise, he not only read it (and laughed out loud too many times to count!), but he has been recommending it all of our friends. I was so intrigued by his reaction that I read it myself, and I'd rank it with "Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy" as the funniest, most honest book on pregnancy that's out there. The politically correct crowd should stay away from this one, but for those who can laugh at themselves (and about the drama of pregnancy), this book's a winner!!
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Summary: The Chicago Tribune: Book Review
Review: WHAT DOES HE EXPECT? A NEW DAD ANSWERS QUESTIONS Women get morning sickness and swollen feet, strangers touching their bellies, unsolicited advice and hideous hand-me-downs from every mother they know. Men pretty much just don't get it when it comes to the nine-month drama their wives are starring in. They know approximately how it started and how it will end, but they're a little shaky on the role they'll play in between. That's the premise of "My Boy's Can Swim! The Officials Guy's Guide to Pregnancy."Ian Davis decided to write the 89-page changing table book when he needed straight from the (expanding) hip advice. Although named for George Costanza's reaction to getting someone pregnant, the book's similarity to "Seinfeld's" clueless character ends at the title. Davis know his (and her) stuff. He knows the lingo (amnio, layette), the major players (the "OB/GOD", the labor-delivery nurse, the insurance rep, and the hard truths (the price, the puffiness, the pain). And he knows he can't know everything, which is why he always lets his wife call the shots and advises readers to do the same. Davis gives a pregnancy play-by-play, pack with action -- running in terror from an overpriced maternity-wear boutique, running to the nearest bathroom--and colorful analysis. Davis, with the permission of his wife, Nada, recounts the experience, from the plus sign on the pregnancy test to the circumcision decision (which was a yes, minus an audience "stuffing their faces with bagels and lox"). Part Cliff Notes, part Dear Abby, the book answers the questions most guys are too embarrassed to ask (e.g., no, you won't lose custody if you pass on the front-row view and ask to stand "above your wife's elbow" in the delivery room. And mind your manners after the birth. When she asks if the baby is beautiful, say yes--even though the infant might look like a mini-conehead for a few weeks.
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Summary: Hate to be the voice of dissent, here, but....
Review: I thought this book was the biggest waste of money since I went to see, "Dude, Who stole my car?" Not only is this book only marginally funny, but it's not informative either. I couldn't bear to put it down, if only to see how **bad** it was going to get on the following page... To that end, I was not disappointed. Moms to be: Don't buy this for your husbands. It's an insult to their intelligence and wit.
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Summary: From American Baby Magazine: June 2000
Review: In his humorous, tell-it-like-it-is book, My Boys Can Swim, Ian Davis speaks out - man to man - to reveal everything future Dads need to know about their wife's pregnancy. "It's very important to recognize the two stages of morning sickness: green, and green and it's all your fault." Davis discovers, and then learns, "this is when you leave the house." This pregnancy primer certainly won't answer any medical questions that might arise. It's more like Cliff Notes for husbands - what to expect when your wife is expecting and her emotions are running wild. We recommend moms-to-be also take a peek at this guy's guide: You'll gawk and giggle at the sometimes unthinkable thoughts that go through Davis's head.
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Summary: If you knew Nada, you would laugh even harder...
Review: Ian Davis and his wife are friends of mine, so I have an "insider's" view of this book. When Ian gave it to me to read, I stayed up late that same night in order to finish it. I loved every page, and laughed out loud on many occassions. As funny as YOU might find it, it is even funnier if you actually know Nada, Ian's wife. I read many books on fatherhood before my two children were born, and this one comes closest to any of them in describing the man's view of the "blessed event." We men may have been there on opening night, but from that point forward we are definitely along for the ride...I loved this book and have bought it for every guy I know whose wife is pregnant. Thanks, Ian...and don't wait to long for the sequel (maybe you can get the second out at the same time Nada does...?)
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Summary: There is no better book for expecting mothers & fathers!
Review: "My Boys Can Swim" is a regular gift to friends and family who are expecting kids. It breaks the pregnancy experience down to the ridiculous. From what to say, when to say it and what not say, Ian Davis does a wonderful job of clearly telling you what to expect. And, he does this in a very humorous way.
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Summary: My wife laughed so hard she nearly gave birth
Review: My wife bought this book for me after seeing a great review on it in the Chicago Tribune. Before I had a chance to read it, my wife grabbed it, and before I knew it, I heard thundering guffaws from the bedroom. We ended up reading it together. All I can say is, this book is hilarious. I've bought two copies for friends, and they've had the same reaction.
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Summary: What to expect when THEY'RE expecting
Review: I wish I'd had this book when my wife was pregnant. For most fathers, I suspect, the joy of pregnancy is a somewhat intimidating prequel to fatherhood: you pretty much know what you're going to get when you have a kid. There will be skills you'll learn and problems to solve. All the stuff us guys like. But pregnancy provides few opportunities for these outlets and the never-ending earnestness of "What To Expect" and other books on the topic are, I'll admit, just not that compelling. So your attention wanders and eventually it just becomes some mysterious thing she is doing. What Davis does is poke through the somber piety surrounding the miracle of birth and broach every taboo he can find with irreverence and wit. And at the end of it the process is a little more knowable, approachable and available. And that makes for better chances that your darling bride won't be furiously spitting ice chips at you when the magic moment finally arrives. Buy this book. It can only help.
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Summary: A Funny Book, even for people whose boys can't swim!
Review: I read this book on the advice of a friend, despite being single with no kids. It is a very funny book, and even those of us who have never experienced the joys of birth and parenthood first-hand can recognize the humorous reality of the situations Davis describes. I especially liked the section on baby names. It's a very funny, very quick reading book--and it had the added value of making my boyfriend quite nervous for awhile!
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Summary: Great way to break the BIG news to your husband!
Review: I gave this book to my husband for Valentine's Day, two days after I discovered I was pregnant. It was a great way to break the BIG news to him! Then we both read the book (yes, it can be done in 2-3 trips to the bathroom - which as the author accurately notes is the maximum time that a man will ever spend reading about pregnancy!) The book really does contain a surprising amount of useful and very helpful information. You can find longer books with less to say, so why waste your time and money? This has everything a guy needs to know -- and as a woman, it'll give you insight into how your husband will deal with your pregnancy. I hope there will be a sequel on the first year of parenthood before our baby is born in October!
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