Just a great book
I don't get to read many books at all with 3 kids, but this really kept my attention. For anyone who has ever been even remotely involved in the punk scene, and now find themselves with a family, house, etc. the book is great. There is so much to relate to.
I guess my only problem is his constant reference to being so anti republican. Maybe I don't truly understand it, but it seems to me if you don't want to be part of the system you would want as little gov. as possible, as little gov programs as possible. But anyways thats another story, back to the book, I loved it. Some nice laughs and even a few tears for you dads out there.
Great Read for Parents Who are Still Kids at Heart
We picked this book up at Borders when we were looking for other baby books one night. My husband and I both really enjoyed this book. It was a lot of fun to read, we laughed out loud several times while reading this book. Jim Lindberg really helped us to see ourselves as future parents. Maybe being a huge Pennywise fan didn't hurt either, but you don't have to be a punk rocker to enjoy and learn from this book.
One of the hardest things for me to figure out during my pregnancy is that I don't have to magically become this perfect Mom person. All I have to do is be myself, that's who my husband wants to be with and who my child should get to know. Becoming a parent doesn't have to change who I am at my core, I just will have a new role as a parent as well. This book prepared me for that role.
Unconventional Fathers Rejoice
Some people have complained that Jim is not punk, that he name drops a million bands, enough and one person even called him a "neocon". Ridiculous. I think they missed a huge point of the book - Jim acknowledges he was a suburbanite kid who felt like he didn't belong there. Feeling like an outsider is a basic tenant of "punk". He mentions many times that he wishes he could be the guy in the suit with the great job and could feel connected to his neighbors. He also mentions that when talking to the other parents he finds that they are all more alike than he thought, regardless of social strata or politics - they all just want to do right by their kids. That they don't do the same things are irrelevant, they want the same things. But he is nowhere near a neocon, or even a right-winger.
Jim doesn't name drop a million bands or act like a huge star. He mentions the people and bands he works with because it's his job. The people he knows just happen to be part of a celebrity community. If you wrote a book about parents you know, if you were a "celebrity" they probably would be, too. He is really modest about his celebrity.
He talks about how great his kids are, but he also talks about what perfect monsters they can be - and blames himself for most of it. He talks about setting boundaries, but about how hard that is given his history. He expresses no regrets, and talks about finding that balance between the Pennywise song "F@$& Authority" and making his kids go to bed on time.
Essentially, Jim gives simple and useful parenting advice that basically boils down to Be Consistent, Be Respectful, and Be a Good Role Model. Great book.
Punk Rock Dad: No Rules, Just Life
I am not a fan of the band - probably couldn't tell you a single song? (but my husband could!) I am, however, a great fan of this man and his book. Super reality, written in a way that will have you on the floor laughing and crying simutaneously, and you'll want to read over & over again. I consider myself to be a responsible, streamline, almost boring person - but this is the parent that I strive to be. Kudos Jim!
Hilarious!
An extremely funny read. It's amazing to me that not too long ago seeing Pennywise with No Use For A Name play at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas and not knowing that Jim had three kids already! It didn't show when he was on stage and if anyone told me that he had kids I would have called them a liar. But being a huge fan of Pennywise and not a huge fan of kids I figured I would read his book to maybe prepare myself for what was in my near future, my own little monsters running around and screaming at me! If you're a punk like me and plan on having kids then I recommend reading this book.
(17 reviews)
