Published by Emblem, 2008
Reviewed by Colleen McKie

As a woman in her thirties who has no intentions of ever having kids, I was very excited when I heard about this book. Actually, I was over-the-moon thrilled. Finally I no longer had to mumble with head down when asked that wonderfully awkward and personal question: “So, when are you guys going to have a baby?”

With bated breath I eagerly sat down with book in hand, waiting to read my own reasons and others for not having kids. About two pages in, I realized that this book wasn’t going to be the light-hearted funny read I had been anticipating and craving.

No Kids was not at all what I had been expecting. I was sure it was going to be a tongue-in-cheek look at all the reasons why not being a parent was a good thing. What I got instead was a jumble comment on how all the ills of French society—and by extension the rest of the world—can be blamed not only on those who choose to procreate, but the children that are a result.

At times the book read like a manifesto and I was uncomfortable with some of the language the author used. For example, referring to babies as “human larva” (p21). Maybe it was in part due to translation, since the book was originally written in French, and also my expectations of the book, but I found it awfully harsh and insulting by times, to those who choose to have kids.

While I am quite happy in my decision to remain “child –free,” it doesn’t meant that I think all people, especially women, who decide to have babies are mentally deficient or single handedly destroying the world.  In fact, some of my best friends have kids and I certainly don’t hold it against them.

While there were some laugh-out-loud moments in the book, overall I was shocked by what the author (a mother herself) was saying about parenthood and having children.  After all, if people who think having children is a bad idea lash out and degrade those who have children, are we not doing exactly what we want to stop from happening to ourselves? Fighting fire with fire isn’t always the best idea.

I know that the author was intending to shock people with her opinions and views on having children, but I’m just not sure it was such a good idea. And I’m just not sure how comfortable I would be in recommending this book

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