Good Morning, Merry Sunshine: A Father's Journal of His Child's First Year

by Bob Greene

A father records the day-by-day events occurring in his daughter's first year of life--from sleepless nights to her first words.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Biography

307 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Robert Bernard Greene, Jr., who writes as Bob Greene, is a journalist.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[RebeccaReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a first time mother, I couldn't identify with this author. He seems simultaneously to be having a hard time realizing he has a baby which will turn into an adult and also annoyed that his child isn't maturing more quickly. Also, he loves his job. I think I think I had a hard time with this book because of the antiquated gendered roles in their marriage. (his wife can't seem to eat a meal herself but he expects her to go and make him a sandwich when he gets home from work)

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like a 2 and a half stars only due to the parts involving the baby's development. . Such an outdated attitude the father had and I get this was back in the early 80s but he sounded like he was a throwback from the 50s. Expecting his wife to do everything and not helping out with the baby or the housework even a little. Some parts were outright cringey.

[Diane C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a year or so after it was initially released, and I was about to be a first-time mother (1986). I noticed that most of the negative reviews are from folks who read it in the 21st century. Parenting and mother/father roles are ever-evolving. It was on point for the era. Imagine a time when you weren't able to know whether you were having a boy or a girl until the child was born!

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was given to me when I was pregnant with my daughter by a co-worker. He past away recently and I just wanted to say thanks. I still have it.

[Ken Heard · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, Bob Greene is my writing hero, so I think anything he writes is excellent, even a book on raising a baby - something I've never done.

I had gotten this book a while ago, "borrowing" it from an Illinois nursing home. It's large print, which makes it somewhat odd to read, but it's worth the effort.

Bob Greene uses his usual observations and in-depth analysis of raising a baby, including his own thoughts and fears of being a decent dad. Some reviewers have criticized his way of expecting the wife to do everything while he works; keep in mind, this was in 1984 or. Times have changed. Also, Bob was a Chicago Tribune reporter, along with a correspondent for Esquire and "Nightline." He was always called off to do stories, and because his beat was the country (and world at times), his assignments often took him away for a few days at a time.

The book is a day-by-day chronicle of his daughter's birth and first year. It's pretty insightful in both the growth and development of his little girl and his own fears and gradual understanding and adaptation to being a parent.

There are the issues: baby being sick, crying a lot, teething, learning to walk. There are also the achievements: baby's first words, standing up, figuring out spacial dimensions, etc.

This book also offers more of an insight into Bob. Greene fans have read his scores of books on other people. Even when he is part of the tale, as in his look at Alice Cooper's tour in "Billion Dollar Baby," he focuses more on the others and he is just a bystander. In "Good Morning," Bob is front and center and the fan learns more about him. For example, he admits to being reserved and not really social. Having a baby suddenly puts him on the spotlight when he is with his daughter and meets people.

"Good Morning" is an interesting look at parenthood, the fears associated with it, the wonderment of watching a child grow and the evolution of a child's development.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the misogyny and a bit of pandering it was very relatable in the complete lack of confidence a new parent has when suddenly saddled with the biggest responsibility one will ever have. It made me sad really, for all the babies that have grown up and are no longer that, and for that I appreciate the book.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

#96 of 120 books pledged to read in 2017

[Jennifer]

Excellent book about becoming a parent!

A good friend gave us this book when we were expecting Gretchen.

A gem.

[Tara Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must re read —- I remember this as one of the books that made me a reader

[Treasure Island Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first year of a baby girl's life through the eyes of her father. If you've ever been a parent you will find it very nostalgic and sweet.

[Libbydale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Greene's succint journalistic writing style. Once I "Googled" this former Chicago Tribune journalist, I reconsidered finishing it, but the writing was too good. He made many "scientific"-like observations about his daughter's first year. While he said over and over that he was surprised by how much having a baby changed his life and changed what he thinks about, I still feel he is somewhat detached. Maybe that is because he is a dad and not the primary caretaker. Perhaps if a new dad has time to read this, he would feel better about any ambivalence he has or had about having his first child, and perhaps Mom will learn something about what her man feels about this new person in their family. That said, I would not hold this book up and say this man is the best example of how to be a father, as noted in at least one other review, and especially based on events that occured after this was published. Remembering this is a journal, it is solely his thoughts, feelings, and observations as a new dad, jotted down purely through his individual lens, and that's what makes it intriguing to read. I have enjoyed reading it, and it has made me nostalgic for the baby days, which have been gone 7 years hence.

[Caitlyn Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom recommended this book to me and it took me months and months to read it but I'm glad I did. It's really sweet to see a daughter's life from the beginning from her father's point of view. I never really got 100% into it and only read a few pages at a time but I'm really glad that I finished it.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a charming book written by a journalist about his first year as a father and how it changed his life. He wrote about ordinary things in such a beautiful way as to make them seem extraordinary. It was very enjoyable to read.

[Gregandkelly63 · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife and I got this hardback when she was pregnant with out oldest. Became one of my favorite books!

[Wendy Sievers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when my daughter was a year old. So touching, I've kept it on my bookshelf for 26 years. I recommend it to any new parents.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if I would have liked this as much if I wasn't in baby mode right now but I did enjoy this. It was interesting to get a Dad's perspective on having a baby, even if it was pretty dated.

[Mommooshka · Rating 5 out of 5]

A joyful account of a new father's first year with his first baby. Lovely.

[Janice Robinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book with a passion. It made parenthood sound like hell. The baby did nothing but scream and the parents could get no sleep, to the point that they passed out from physical exhaustion and were not physically able to attend to her screams. Do not---DO NOT---read this book if you don't have kids but want them, because it will scare you away from having them. And especially DO NOT read this book if you or your partner are pregnant, because it will depress the hell out of you.