cover image The Caveman's Pregnancy Companion: A Survival Guide for Expectant Fathers

The Caveman's Pregnancy Companion: A Survival Guide for Expectant Fathers

David Port, John Ralston, Brian M. Ralston, , illus. by Gideon Kendall. . Sterling, $12.95 (227pp) ISBN 978-1-4027-3526-4

This engagingly entertaining and instructive pregnancy guide is based on the conceit that most men are "twenty-first-century Cro-Magnons" at those times when an expectant father "stops, scratches his head, and mutters to his woman, 'I don't get it.' " What is immediately obvious about the book, however, is that it is actually a superb overview of the birthing experience and is a perfect companion to a classic like What to Expect When You're Expecting . But the Cro-Magnon conceit is what will make this a perennial gift book for expectant fathers, since even the most enlightened male might not initially be interested in learning about prenatal massages, amniocentesis and a wonderful range of easy meals to prepare for a tired spouse, all of which this book expertly details. Best of all, to serve as the reader's mentor and guide before and during childbirth, first-time authors Port and Ralston introduce a typical modern caveman named Gronk ("Role Models: John Belushi"), whose deer-in-the-headlights reactions to subjects such as sex during pregnancy are delightfully drawn by Kendall. (July)