Lileks vs. Dr. (not Mr.) Spock

Ever sit around and wonder how you ever survived to adulthood? My friends and I grew up doing daredevil stunts on our bikes (Helmets? We don’t need no stinkin’ helmets!), wandering around the neighborhood unsupervised for hours on end, and doing all manner of other things that would seemingly horrify a parenting “expert” today. But apparently that’s nothing compared to the threats our parents faced. James Lileks, the humor genius who brought us Interior Desecrations and The Gallery of Regrettable Food has now written Mommy Knows Worst, a collection of bad parenting advice and questionable child products from the 40’s and 50’s.
Lileks’ eye for the absurd in the pop culture of the past has not dulled, and his trademark humor style makes it even funnier. The best satire is done by those who have a foundation of affection for their target, and there is a clear undertone of fondness throughout this book by Lileks, who has described his childhood as steeped in “extreme Norman Rockwell circumstances.” Mommy Knows Worst is a delightful, irreverent romp through the parenting world of a half-century ago, and a must-have for any fan of classic American culture.