Parentonomics: An Economist Dad Looks at Parenting (MIT Press) by Joshua Gans

Parentonomics: An Economist Dad Looks at Parenting (MIT Press) Reviews

• 
  Corin

  I was so looking forward to reading this book, so maybe I damned it with too high expectations. While I appreciate the economic viewpoint of parenting, I disagreed with many of his interpretations/conclusions. The thing about econ is that you have to start with base assumptions about people, and I found some of his disturbing. There are many things that are fine to discuss in aggregate, but parenting specific, individual children based on generalizations is not one of them. I have done graduate work in econ as well as worked with children and their families, and while the concept of this book was cute I would not recommend it to anyone that I thought would take it too seriously.
• 
  Michael

  I think another reviewer already pointed out that the book is neither a good parenting book nor a good economics book. However, if you go into reading this thinking you'll learn about parenting or economics, you'll be just as disappointed. I enjoyed the book much more when I put those desires aside and just enjoyed it for what it was: anecdotal stories about a family.
• 
  Raji Anand

  Hilarious and at the same time prepares one for parenting challenges :-) Enjoyed reading it. There are times when you want to read certain passages aloud to your spouse.
• 
  Cyndie Courtney

  Was not what I was expecting. In the last chapter the author notes, that he "hasn't focused on the monetary costs [of parenting] at all" which was honestly, exactly what I was hoping for in this book. More of an assessment of what we choose to spend money on (or don't) and whether or not that makes sense. Something more along the lines of"Dr. what
  Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays does for gifts. However, I don't feel like it quite lived up to the hype of the book blurb either "Dr. Spock meets Freakonomics" rather the book was more a series of personal perspectives and anecdotes rather than presenting interesting or counterintutive data, or even providing useful advice. Many of the factors that seemed to truly puzzle the author seemed to be easily explained by human psychology.
  
  If you're looking for a bumbling dad's analytical opinions on trying to bribe his children into behaving as desired, then this might be slightly amusing. As for me, wasn't quite what I was looking for.
• 
  Aaron Wong

  Gans, J. (2009). Parentonomics: An economist dad looks at parenting. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
  
  I've never mind laughed so hard since reading #NeilHumphreys!
  
  "Within months, a big event is going to occur. You only have to look around the room to get a sense of foreboding that accompanies a ticking time bomb." - on birthing classes
  My wife: No leh.
  Me: That's 'cos you were the time bomb.
  
  "An anesthetist came by, and Mommy happily submitted to what seemed to be spinal surgery. She then fell asleep, leaving me to enjoy dinner in peace. I came away from that experience thinking that no time was too soon for drugs in labor. Perhaps at the onset of pregnancy." - on epidurals, p. 16
  
  "I started asking the obstetrician trivia questions. What's the most deliveries you've done in a day? What's your largest baby? And so on. He was into it, but the midwives weren't. They were horrified. They could not believe how unsupportive I was. Indeed, 3.5 years later, we arrived at the same maternity ward for Child No. 3. My wife would introduce me: This is my husband, Joshua. Yes, we know him, came the contemptuous reply. It must've been thousands of babies later, and I was still infamous, my picture adorning their coffee room wall or dartboard." - on husbands being the designated comforter, pp. 17-18
  
  "In the birth video, the baby was delivered. The narrator continued: And now Daddy can play a role. He is handed scissors and cuts the cord. My eyes rolled. This hardly looked like an important role. It was tokenism at best. To me, what also appeared pretty simple was the 'catching' job the obstetrician did. The baby came out; it was caught; everyone as relieved. Hardly rocket science. It was time for me to step up and propose something real tondo. Something necessary, involving potential risk, that I could actually savour as an important life moment. I wanted to catch." - on giving dads a more important role in childbirth, p. 19
  
  "In my mind, sleep is a negotiation. We want sleep, and the baby wants attention. There is an inherent conflict here. The screams of a baby are like an offer: I'll stop screaming of you give me attention. And it's not a vague offer. Give the baby attention, and they crying stops. After only a few tries, a little baby can train its parents nicely." - on the value of sleep, p. 26
  
  "When they're told it's time for the diaper to go, the expression on their face says it all. They appreciate the beauty and function of the design. Perhaps they also suspect teacher they'll be wearing one in 70 years' time. Why deny them in the interim?" - on weaning children off diapers, p. 56
  
  "It is where all the correspondence we get, and potentially have to deal with, goes. Birthday invites, catalogs, bills, court summonses, and other stuff goes there. Everyone knows that if something is out in the pile of death, it'll never be seen again. If the children see us putting an invitation in the pile, they scream: "Nooooo! Not there!" They know their social life is doomed." - on how mail is sorted, p. 81
  
  "For Child No. 1, there's no such thing as mere stuff she doesn't potentially need. She can construct a case to save every last thing from eviction.
  "What's this?"
  "It's the cover from a pen."
  "Why do you need it?"
  "In case I find the pen."
  "Didn't we throw out the pen last year 'cos it had no cover?"
  "No, that was another pen. I can also use it as a small cup." - on hoarding, p. 83
  
  "A number of common sayings refer to lice. Calling someone a nitwit is saying they've the intelligence of a louse egg (nit). Getting down to the nitty-gritty and nit-picking refers to the detailed work in removing nits. Describing someone as lousy implies they've lice." - on lice-inspired vocabulary, p. 84
  
  "Ow, you're pulling!"
  "I'm just trying to get through these knots to the scalp. And if you'd stop moving your head up and look down, that would help."
  "But I can't see the TV."
  "Well, I need to be able to see. Now just sit tight and behave yourself."
  "I want to do something else. How much longer will it be?"
  "It'll be over when it's over. Look, we have to do this. Don't you wanna go to work tomorrow?" - on getting rid of lice, p. 85
  
  "I heard about that. How are you coping?" In a tone that suggests the funeral was yesterday.
  "Do the kids understand what's happened?" Yes, their mummy has gone to a better place - a spa resort.
  "What're you doing for food?" I'm dangling the two year old as bait outside to see what we can catch.
  - on the mother being away, p. 114
  
  Car seats maximizes the chances of a "no child injury" crash by 1.6%; there're myriad more effective ways to reduce accidents. - p. 130
  
  "I'm standing here with my eyes closed, thinking of a suitable punishment. If by the time I open my eyes, you haven't done X, I'll tell you what it is." - p. 140
  
  "My attitude toward playing games with children is simple: I play to win. I see no need to coddle my children in game playing. If they want that, they can go elsewhere, say, to their mother." - p. 162
  
  "#ClubPenguin - like other games before it - has taken in my kids' mother. She too is obsessed with getting further in it. The entire family is now on ice." - p. 168
  
  Tupperware parties for kids' birthdays - p. 174-5
  
  Reward effort, not performance - p. 191
• 
  Karen

  I read this years ago when my children were little and I felt I ought to read parenting books but couldn’t get into them. This was a very interesting alternative. A nice balance of humour and information, and very readable.
• 
  Vera Coutinho

  Parentonomics é um livro escrito por Joshua Gans, economista de profissão, casado e pai de 3 filhos. Até aqui nada de invulgar, um em muitos milhões, se não fosse pelo facto de que este PAI e ECONOMISTA decidiu criar um blogue onde expôs como criar os seus filhos de acordo as filosofias da economia. E para quem pensa que a economia é enfadonha e complicada, quando mais aplicar ao universo da parentalidade, irá aprender maneiras perspicazes e engraçadas de resolver conflitos que sucedem desde a etapa inicial da preparação para o parto, percorrendo todas as etapas do crescimento das crianças, com um humor demarcado que leva o autor a prender o leitor na leitura, de um livro que começou como um blogue!
  Recomendado para todos, especialmente para pais, futuros pais…e de quem cuida de crianças!
  tinkerbell
  
• 
  Kelly John

  A fantastic example of the saying, "If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." While the book is entertaining at times, the overuse of economic theories and the somewhat aggressive tone he takes towards his oldest child really makes the read quite awkward, and the lessons learned very shallow (and oriented only towards his specific situation.)
  
  In the end, the parenting insights are more based on his feelings than on real economic theory, and the economic discussions are so shallow as to feel like the editor forced them into the writing.
• 
  Jana

  This book had sound economic concepts and sound parenting stories. Some were funny. It just didn't weave them together in a fully cohesive way. I wish he'd had a stronger editor or more content. I did enjoy the funny stories and footnotes and I love how his parenting stories resonate with humor.
• 
  Eva

  Love his blog, but a mediocre book. One amusement: the young daughter demanded a tupperware party for her birthday, wanting to do what she'd seen her mother do. They ended up making money on the party.
• 
  Laura

  This is a really fun read for a mutually-suffering parent with a refreshingly light look at the hardest business in town! Great humour and insight, into both parenting and economic thought! This book is a good “investment” of fun.
• 
  Matthew Vanderbilt

  This was totally awesome! It really made me think about parenting and just totally cracked me up. Definitely a great read!!
• 
  Bruceyang

  Quick, humorous read. Covers pretty much the same material as his blog,
  http://gametheorist.blogspot.com/
• 
  Nux

  Very funny & well written, gives a slightly different, but quite logical angle to parenting. :D
• 
  Nicole Gas

  Funny mix of parenting reflections and economic theory that makes good sense
• 
  Bram

  I enjoyed reading this book that contains many fun stories. However:
  - not to be considered as parenting advise;
  - no science, only anecdotes;
  - the comparison to Freakonomics is a bad one.