Stay-at-Home Dad Book Wins Kudos

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FRIDLEY, Minn., May 28, 1997 -- Just in time for Father's Day, Diary of a Mad Househusband, the book that gives a valiant, yet funny, voice to America's estimated half-million stay-at-home dads, is gathering honors. "When you're a caregiving dad," says the book's author, Joseph Oberle, "life is a constant juggling act between keeping the kids happy and keeping the testosterone flowing. It's nice to be known for something besides my clean floors."

First, Diary of a Mad Househusband received a 1997 Midwest Book Achievement Award in the parenting category. Most recently, the book became one of three finalists nationwide in the humor category for the 1997 Small Press Book Awards. To become a finalist, Diary of a Mad Househusband had to beat out "a ton of other books," according to contest director Irma Brownley.

Oberle decided to write the book when he was unable to find anything else about being a househusband. "It's easy to feel alone when you're a man home all day with kids," explained Oberle, who spent two years as a househusband. "Although everyone seemed to have a cousin whose brother's friend was doing it, too, I never actually met another stay-at-home dad."

Diary of a Mad Househusband is a humorous retelling of the author's experiment in parenting, detailing the changes the caregiving father, stay-at-work mother, and active toddler experienced. "A good writer and a funny one, a male Erma Bombeck," lauded Mary Ann Grossman, St Paul Pioneer Press. "A cross between Dave Barry and Erma Bombeck," said the Book Reader. Shirley Armbruster, Fresno Bee, called the book "humorous and honest."

Topics in Diary of a Mad Househusband include laundering female undergarments ("I probably have the record for the most busted bras and ripped underwear outside the bedroom"); pint-sized male bonding ("Talk shows with topics like 'Transvestites and the Clothiers Who Love Them' didn't seem like appropriate viewing for a couple of guys home together"); and maintaining male identity ("I purchased a cigar to smoke while I mowed; a cigar gets soggy if you smoke it while doing dishes.").

"I hope my book gives a voice to the lonely househusband," said Oberle, "but I already know mothers love it -- misery loves company, after all!"

Diary of a Mad Househusband, $11.95, by Joseph Oberle is available in bookstores nationwide.

CONTACT: Gloria Herby for Kimm Publishing, 612-572-9194