Charlie

Wendy, Matrescence, group texts, modern parenting, game theory, etc.

Revisado: 08-15-24

Really loved it. Hilarious throughout, but also powerful at times about motherhood/parenthood.

I'd read her previous book Baby Unplugged right before having our first child, and it was both very entertaining and informative/thought provoking about how and when not to use technology. Now we have an infant and a toddler and the school years ahead (in NYC), and reading Plays Well With Others was a little scary, but is also a refreshing roast of NYC parents and schools.

A couple of things I thought really enriched the story and made it more than just a good comedy: (1) Wendy: A recurring metaphor/part of the story is the character of Wendy from Peter Pan, who is a child herself but is called on herself to suddenly become a mother figure. (2) Matrescence: The main character who is a blogger/ parent influencer had gained influence after writing an article based on recent research about how motherhood is not comprised of instinctual behaviors that suddenly kick in at child birth, but motherhood is a period of learning how to be a mother from scratch, which the researchers call matrescence (like a maternal adolescence). These two themes give context to the main character's struggles while seeking what's best for her children and what to do/how far to go to obtain it.

The use of group text chains, emojis, emails from a gen Z editor and her husband's jargon on business conference calls all add more funny voices and flavor to the satire. The world of the book seems so wild that you almost miss that it's the main character who is starting to lose it. The Undoing, Big Little Lies, and Fleishman is in Trouble came to mind at times.

For those who follow parenting ig pages (Dr. Becky, Big Little Feelings, etc.), there are great cameos of the big modern parenting schools of thought. Also, the book includes really nice use of game theory and the prisoner's dilemma with a twist.

I'd recommend for parents, and not just in New York or for those going through a school application process. I think any parent would enjoy (or anyone wanting to laugh at wealthy NYC private school parents).

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Excellent. Also hilarious.

Revisado: 07-07-23

I thought this book was very interesting. It was also the funniest book I have read in a long time.

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Great info and perspective, very funny and sweet as well

Revisado: 09-24-21

Really loved the book. Covered a huge range of technology that is available or that likely impacts our/our children’s lives whether we like it or not, when and how some of it can be helpful, and maybe more importantly, all the things that we either shouldn’t waste time and energy worrying about or that we should probably try to avoid/limit. But more so than other books related to raising children, it is hilarious, making it a highly enjoyable read on top of being very informative. It is also very sweet and heartwarming at times. Highly recommend.

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