CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (alkuperäinen julkaisuvuosi 1948; vuoden 1951 painos)

Cheaper by the Dozen is a tongue in cheek memoir by Frank Gilbreth Junior and his sister Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. These siblings were just two of the twelve children that their parents raised. Frank Gilbreth Senior and his wife, Lillian Moller Gilbreth were efficiency experts who raised their 12 children in a large house in Montclair, New Jersey. The book takes a humorous look at the unusual child raising methods of Frank Gilbreth. He believed in a hands on approach and in working closely with his wife in order to guide his children. They worked well together even though they were polar opposites.

Frank believed that his efficiency methods that were effective in the workplace could also work well with the children. He taught his children to type, speak different languages, learn math shortcuts and, to readily allow themselves to be guinea pigs for many of his ideas. Although his methods often fell short or ended in hilarity, one thing that came across clearly was the love both of these parents had for each other and their family.

Cheaper by the Dozen is an enjoyable and nostalgic look back at yesteryear. The children were raised during the 1920’s and the book was originally published in 1948. I have seen the charming film version starring Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy. Apparently many of the events described in the book actually did happen, but the authors used artistic license to enhance the episodes. It is interesting to note that Lillian, in addition to giving birth and raising these children, had a degree in psychology, and worked as one of the first female engineers. I found Cheaper By the Dozen to be a pleasurable read and I look forward to picking up the sequel, Belles on Their Toes in the future. ( )

Title page wanting. ( )

This was a really excellent story about an efficiency expert and his massive family. He came up with all manner of ways to teach his twelve children - everything from language records while they brushed their teeth to morse code written on the walls of the bathroom. Their father's escapades didn't end there, and the book is filled with stories about all the crazy things he did (very often in the name of efficiency). The stories are well written and funny. ( )

A yellowed paperback copy of this book made its way from my Mom's shelves to mine back when I was a teen and on a serious classics kick but I hadn't picked it up before now. Discussing the book with her this weekend, I learned that she'd bought it for school and didn't like it much. My opinion didn't vary from hers. Two of the elder of the Gilbreth siblings write this memoir of their years growing up in a family of twelve children in the early 1900s, but the primary focus of the memoir is their father. With strong opinions and a large personality, you can tell from the tone of the text that these children adore the memory of their father but as an outside observer, he comes across as a bit of jerk. A motion study engineer (essentially he consulted as an efficiency expert for mostly factories, reducing the number of motions workers needed to make for a job), I'll give him credit for making his wife an equal partner in his professional life. But his views on child-rearing were a bit bizarre and while they were effective, he'd give some modern helicopter parents a run for their money. With far fewer anecdotes of the hijinks the children got up to in such a large family, the narrative wasn't quite what I expected. The writing is also a product of its time with several moments of casual racism. My biggest takeaway was the boggling fact that the Gilbreths had twelve children in seventeen years (with no multiple births) and that Frank Gilbreth senior passed away when the youngest was two years old. I'd be far more fascinated to read a tale of Lillian Gilbreth single parenting all those children. Not recommended. ( )

When I was a kid, my parents took us to see the movie that had been made from this book. We all thought it was quite fun. I believe I read the book a number of years ago, perhaps when I was living in Pittsburgh. I liked it pretty well then. Now, not so much. I'm 10% through and already considering giving up. The father is a cruel asshole, who thinks he's quite the humorist.

So far, I got to 25% through, but then took up Edgar Wallace. I thought to come back to this, but I didn't see the point. It sucked for me.
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