Review of “The Expectant Father” by Armin Brott

My wife gave this book to me and I read it reluctantly. As it turned out, it was worth reading.

The book chronicles each month of pregnancy. It tells you what is happening with your wife, the baby and yourself.

It was interesting to read the book in light of all the Roissysphere stuff I’ve been reading lately. Let’s face it, having a child is a beta act. How is one to act? Athol often writes that relationships require alpha and beta attitudes. He suggests acting alpha when your wife is ovulating and a bit beta at other times. (I’ve always had better luck acting alpha in social situations – which isn’t an act for me, I come across as alpha because I don’t like social situations – and a bit more beta when I’m alone with my wife. I think girls like it when they feel like they make an alpha act a little like a beta). Anyway, I’ve found that while my wife is pregnant the more beta I act the more she eats it up, the book seems to back this up by suggesting that pregnant women naturally get worried about keeping their man around. Alphaness is not rewarded by pregnant chicks.

It’s also interesting to note that any father who is seriously writing about fatherhood, pretty much has to become an men’s rights advocate. Here is Mr Brott: "A woman can legally deprive a man of his right to become a parent or force him to become one against his will." The book has an entire section on society’s devaluation of fatherhood.

Anyway, I feel more prepared for fatherhood. And a bit more nervous about the prospect.