Who this book is great for:
-New or soon to be new parents
-Those who fear change
-Those who don’t want to ever be parents
-Fans of Mike Birbiglia
-People who need to laugh

Birbiglia’s book deep dives into his feelings regarding parenthood, and how becoming a parent has and has not changed some of those feelings.  It’s relatable and drives home that at the end of the day, it still needs to be a personal choice and no matter what you choose you need to live with that choice.  I loved that the book is also sprinkled with his wife’s poetry, her own interpretation of the same events.

The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad is one of those weird books that started out as something else- while Birbiglia is a writer, he is probably best known as a stand-up comedian and an actor. He has had success in a variety of mediums, has authored multiple books, starred in films, and most recently, toured with the show this book is based upon, The New One. I was fortunate enough to see the show on its stop in Washington, DC, and it's great to see in person, Like all of Birbiglia's works, it is a deeply constructed, intensely intricate, uncomfortably intimate production. The book expands on those themes, featuring further stories and some poems by Birbiglia's wife and writing partner, poet J. Hope Stein.  
While I tend to distain further expansions of established works as money-grabs, The New One works on every level. Despite having watched the show once in person, and a second time when it became available on Netflix, the jokes still hit for me. Despite being familiar with the material, it still feels new, as it's been refreshed by additional detail. The book is fundamentally about becoming a father, but doesn't center fatherhood in the narrative of parenthood. Rather, Birbiglia centers his failure as a father, his failures to provide support, to connect with his wife and child, who have formed a unit. The book is about being a family, and how becoming a new kind of family is difficult. It is not just funny, like a lot of books by comedians, but Birbiglia's work always has that undercurrent of existential dread, so that's no surprise. The poems were occasionally quite profound, but the book would have benefited from truncating those sections a tad.

I love Mike Birbiglia but maybe I’m not the right audience for this book. DNF at 17%. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free review copy.

I first heard about Mike Birbiglia when I saw his movie, "Sleepwalk With Me." His brand of storytelling and humor is one that is endearing, quirky, with a touch of self-deprecation. In everything that he does, he is totally and completely himself, with no pretenses and a lot of vulnerable honesty. He tells the truth about his fears and insecurities, thereby allowing his audience to admit that we also have those same unspoken issues.

His foray into fatherhood is one of uncertainty and doubt, much like the experience of every new parent.

The book also features poems written by his wife, which added an unexpected but delightful bonus to the chapters.

Humorous, raw and shockingly dark. I appreciated this take on parenting, as it's a far cry from the common narrative so often written about.

I wasn't familiar with the author's show or stand-up prior to the book. I thought it would be a light-hearted and funny tale about falling into the parenting game, one that would resonate since I married late and originally didn't think I wanted children (it turns out I didn't want children with the wrong person and once I met my husband and added his two children from a previous marriage to my life, my opinions on the subject changed dramatically). But instead I found it a darker and more cynical tale. Maybe that's why this book was such a bad fit for me - it felt like even after having his kids he was willing to use them to tell snarky jokes for the purpose of career advancement, and that unsettled me. I also didn't find the book funny in a lighthearted way - it had an inexplicable undercurrent that I wasn't entirely comfortable with and didn't resonate for me. I'm just not his target audience...

No matter how many books there are on the topic, no one is really prepared for the changes that occur once they become a parent. And in his open and honest book The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad, comedian Mike Birbiglia discusses his journey through parenthood—with some help from his wife, poet J. Hope Stein.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery

Very much like his comedy, and relatable to many parents at some point in time.  I enjoyed this acerbic, honest, and often hilarious look at new parenthood.  

Recommended for purchase by the Scottsboro Public Library.

As Great As I Thought It Would Be

First off I need to warn you that I am a huge Birbiglia comedy fan, so when I saw that this was coming out and especially coming out in audio as well, I knew I was going to have to pounce on it. I’m glad that I did.

If you’re a fan of Birbig’s comedy like I am – about 80-90% of his parts of The New One aren’t new to you. They’re the same stories that he tells on stage, but that’s okay. There were a few details that don’t make the comedy productions that sneaked (I want to write snuck but I don’t think that’s right) into these – and some other stories that I’ve never heard in any of the specials I’ve seen of the few times I’ve seen him live.

Where this book really shines is the addition of his wife’s poetry. J. Hope Stein’s poetry (especially when Mike was talking about it) really make this book. Her warm hug-like voice delivering something hilarious lines with a straight face made me smile. Some of the poems were serious and some were funny. All of them added to my enjoyment of this book.

Obviously, I listened to the audiobook version of it and there were a few times that you could hear the two of them chuckle when reading their own words and that is something that might bother some people – but it just added to my enjoyment of this one. The New One works well as a digital book and as well as this audiobook. Birbiglia’s words jump off of the page and if you’re a reluctant dad (or reluctant dad-to-be) you’ll find this book even funnier.

The New One by Mike Birbiglia is an acerbic and, jaded look at parenthood from the POV of a comedian who never wanted children. It is funny and insightful and even quirky at various times, but ultimately reads like a script from one of his stand-up comedy shows. The author’s wife is a poet, and her poetry appears through the book, as well, paralleling her experience as a new parent.

I made it through this book, but just barely, finding it less humorous and more painful than I wanted it to be.  Maybe it's because I always wanted kids, maybe its because I fell in love with my kids from the very beginning. Who knows. But, I found the author's thoughts on parenthood - before and after he became one - sad.

If you've never wanted kids, if you think children are more pain than pleasure, and you're looking for confirmation of your beliefs, this is a book you'll probably enjoy. That just isn't me.

This review is based on an advance copy read.

I've known for a while that Mike Birbiglia is an expert storyteller, but I was thrilled to discover that his wife, J. Hope Stein, is an equally brilliant poet. Weaving together hilarious anecdotes and touching poetry, "The New One" is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

This was a very enjoyable read. It was something different for me in the mist of thrillers or romances. I enjoyed Mike's perspective on fatherhood. I laughed out loud quite a bit. I was also touched by his honesty. I loved how it was interspersed with poems from his wife. It was interesting to get the two different ways of thinking. I could relate.

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central for an advance copy of this book.

Are you a fan of stand up comedy?  I have to confess, it never occurs to me to watch or go out to comedy nights, but when my husband or kids get me to watch a comedian, I wonder why I don’t go there.
The New One:  Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad is written by comedian Mike Birbiglia with poems included by his wife, Jen Stein.
This books was so dang funny.  I laughed so much while reading it, especially thinking back to those moments with young kids and wondering what the heck I was doing.  
In 2016, when he was invited to perform at a film festival, he was told the theme for the storytelling night was jealousy.  His wife said, “You’re jealous of Oona (their daughter).  You should talk about that.” 
It was funny to relate to the stories of new parenthood, loving a new third party in the family, trying to deal with the fact that you’re now really an adult.  
If you’re looking for a laugh, a gift for a dad (or anyone really) or just want to feel okay about your own struggles with parenting, this book is perfect.

I enjoy Mike Birbiglia's comedy in that he is very relatable, self-effacing, and not overly blue in his content. I could just about recommend him to my mother. In his recent release The New One, he reflects on many aspects of his life, with much of the attention devoted to his relationship with his wife Jen and their new status as first-time parents. Jen also offers her own poetry, with passages interspersed between his chapters.

If you've seen Mike's Netflix special of the same name, much of the material in that program is directly used here. Seeing the special has the benefit of allowing us to hear his tone of voice, feel the rhythm of his delivery, and he is able to use props to illustrate his point. One example completely and suddenly covers the stage with parenting tools and child paraphernalia.

However, if you are not a Netflix subscriber, or if you'd like to have additional content not available in that recording (such as Jen's thoughtful and honest poetry), I do recommend The New One. It was a light, brisk read with short chapters that I would read before bed at night. Parents (or those considering parenthood) can certainly relate to much of the angst in Birbiglia's mind, and there are many laugh-out-loud moments that are a wonderful glance into the world of parenthood.

If you've followed Mike Birbiglia's standup career, you know he has issues. More than most people.

Cancer at 19. Diagnosed with rapid-eye sleep disorder, a condition so dangerous he once sleep-leaped out through a closed, second-story motel window and now has to sleep in, essentially, a locked sleeping bag. When he was a teen he didn't want to be in a relationship, then he did but he didn't ever want to get married, and then he got married.

And he's told us about all of that over the years , and he made it funny.

And now he's back to talk about the kid he didn't want, and why he didn't want it, and how he was VERY CLEAR that he didn't want it, and how he and his wife J. Hope Stein had one anyway and what happened next.

"Our daughter's birth is a reality-bending experience because two colossal events occurred simultaneously. One is that a human being enters the Earth for the first time.

"The second is that my wife, this person I love and cherish and know better than anyone, in front of my eyes, becomes a mother. 

"And I pretty much stayed the same."

And it's both very funny and very painful to read this deeply neurotic man talk openly about his dislike of children, his fears about having one, and his utter lack of connection with his daughter once she arrives, just as it was very funny and very painful to hear and watch on his award-winning one-man show of the same name.

Birbiglia is a story teller. He doesn't go for the quips and one-liners, he takes you on a journey, making you laugh and groan along the way, until leading you to the inevitable, hilarious conclusion. Little things he mentions early on pay off big later down the line, and there is never a point where he does not control the audience and the stage. It's the same in the book, just altered to be read instead of experienced.

If you have seen the play (and you should), think of this book as the director's cut. You don't get the voice and the timing and the surprise of the performance, but you get longer stories, extra bits and more of the stirring and funny J. Hope Stein poetry that he only briefly quoted live.

New parents should read this. Old parents should read this. And anyone who's ever had a parent should read it to see the kinds of really screed-up things we think about when we're having you.

Excellent book! An unfiltered look at one funny man's thoughts prior to becoming a parent and during the journey of parenthood. 
This book seems very relatable for parents but also still funny if you do not yet have children (as I do not). 
His emphasis on the challenges of a dad in regards to feeling essentially left out of his own family initially due to the intense bond of a mother and newborn was enlightening. 
I really appreciated his honesty, particularly in regards to his own reluctance to become a parent. He certainly does not glorify parenthood or pregnancy nor does he sugarcoat his own feelings towards it before becoming a parent.
I had no prior experience with this author/comedian, Mike Birbiglia's, work but will actively seek it out after reading this book. A must read for those thinking about parenthood, parents, and anyone that just loves a good laugh.

Note: I was given an advanced copy of this book from the publisher to review.

I thought this book may not resonate with me because I don't have children, and I was wrong. Mike's reluctance to have a child, and his self awareness through the process of becoming a parent is relatable sheerly on a human level. Doing something you don't really want to do because the love of your life DOES want that thing badly is universal. As always, his story telling is top notch. Here, even more than ever, he is totally honest, even when it might make him look like a jerk. Mike's essays alternate with his wife's poetry and show their drastically conflicting perspectives through this process of becoming parents. As a writer myself, I appreciate the effort it must have taken for this couple to create this book together. For them to each show the other the privates writings they did is kind of unreal to me. It makes the book so utterly genuine. I recommend this book for Birbiglia fans and well as those looking for an honest, funny take on parenthood.

Let me start by saying that before reading this book I was already a huge fan of Mike Birbiglia’s stand up comedy. So I was fully expecting to love this book.

This book is an adaptation of Birbiglia’s Broadway special of the same title- albeit with a few more stories and details thrown in. If you’ve seen the special (which is award winning and outstanding!) there isn’t a whole lot of additional content in this book. And I will say that much of the humor seems better suited to stand up or the spoken word. A lot of Birbiglia’s humor, like a lot of stand up comics, comes from his tone and timing- which is lost in book format.  

However, The New One is still a hilarious, honest, and even dark at times reflection from a reluctant dad. Birbiglia shares the seven reasons he never wanted to have a child, from his myriad medical conditions, to his demanding career, to climate change. Despite all this, however, Birbiglia‘a poet wife, Jen, convinces him to have a baby with the agreement that the baby “will not change our lives”. As if.

Of course their lives dramatically change with the arrival of their daughter, Oona, and Birbiglia struggles with feelings of jealousy, regret, and shame. These very real and relatable feelings are made a little lighter through humorous stories and self-deprecating jokes. But the message is an honest, important, and ultimately uplifting one: having a baby isn’t always the magical and idyllic experience it is made out to be, it can take time to adjust to the demanding new life of being a parent, but at the end of it all “it is the most joy you will ever feel”.

This is an usual book, like reading a stand up comedy routine. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Birbiglia describes the trauma of becoming a father, in very humorous and understandable vignettes. 

I can certainly see reading groups enjoying this, especially those who have recently welcomed a new baby. 

Birbiglia is a wonderful observer and honest reporter of the events and emotions that come when A NEW ONE joins the family! 

Yes, read this if you want a funny view of new parenthood. 

Thank you Netgalley for giving me this opportunity to read, laugh at, and review this book.

"Charmingly neurotic" has often been a phrase used to describe Mike Birbiglia, a stand-up comic turned writer turned actor/filmmaker who's won our hearts and made us laugh with such efforts as "Sleepwalk With Me" and "Don't Think Twice" along with a number of other cinematic appearances where he often plays the neurotic boyfriend, best friend, co-worker, etc.

Let's face it. Mike Birbiglia is neurotic, though it's a hard-earned neuroses. Birbiglia survived cancer at the age of 19 and was diagnosed with rapid eye movement sleep disorder, a disorder so severe that he once sleepwalked out of a second-story Walla Walla, Washington La Quinta Inn window.

Based on Birbiglia's award-winning stage show "The New One," for which he won both Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Solo Performance, "The New One: Painfully True Stories From a Reluctant Dad" is the kind of neurotic long-form storytelling for which Birbiglia is known best. It's simultaneously laugh-out-loud funny and awkwardly painful, filled with vulnerable truths that many of us feel yet most of us wouldn't ever dare speak.

Birbiglia speaks it and somehow makes us laugh through it all.

"The New One" kicks off with Birbiglia and his wife Jen, whom he regularly refers to as Clo for reasons either never revealed or that I'm simply too blind to catch on to, as they live into the marital vows they promised one another including such simple things as the fact that he can talk about her onstage and she can disappear. They're both natural introverts, though Birbiglia kinda sorta becomes an extrovert so that they have the ability to escape from awkward social situations.

This is Birbiglia. Almost every social situation is awkward.

They've agreed they don't want kids, but after several years of being happily married Jen changes her mind.

Birbiglia, whom I just don't want to call Mike, doesn't.

"The New One" is largely about that reluctance.

Birbiglia wants to maintain the status quo. It works. They're happy. He's happy. He's built a successful career. They've built a routine that satisfies.

For Jen, 'er Clo, suddenly something is missing. For him, not so much.

"The New One" is filled to the brim with Birbiglia's trademark neuroses, expressed here as painfully transparent and frequently funny revelations about what it's like to face parenthood reluctantly, become a reluctant dad, try but mostly fail to maintain the status quo, then somehow come out the other end with a stronger marriage, an amazing wife, a child you love, and a life that's pretty awesome.

There will be times in "The New One" when you'll love Birbiglia. There will be times in "The New One" when you'll read something and you'll gasp and go "Who is this stand-up comic I thought I knew?"

Then, you'll go back to loving him again.

Much like life and love and marriage and parenting, "The New One" is a journey with lots of ups and downs, laughs and poignancy. The stories that unfold in "The New One" are told from Birbiglia's perspective, though Jen, who's an increasingly popular poet who writes under J. Hope Stein, has her poetry woven into the fabric of the book in such a beautiful way that it balances the stories and offers her insightful, intelligent, and often quite revealing perspectives.

If you're familiar with the stage production or Birbiglia's 2019 Netflix production that served as the foundation for this book's material, some of "The New One" certainly won't feel as fresh or new and that's certainly something to be considered.

However, "The New One" possesses something special with Birbiglia's uncommon vulnerability, Jen's lyrical tapestry, and a literary experiment that digs deep and discovers both comedic and familial gold.