How to Be a Husband - Hardcover

"Dowling's a very fresh and smart writer...there's a proper laugh every couple of pages, and as often as not it arises from the texture of the situation, the tone of voice, the characters...But as well as being funny, which he has to be, Dowling is sometimes plangent - as in a chapter about his mother's death - and he is more often than not wise."--Sam Leith, "The Guardian "(UK)
"Although not a self-help book, nuggets of unexpected, useful advice on how to be a good husband can be found in the author's witticisms... Dowling's entertaining commentary on marriage will resonate with men and women alike. Tongue-in-cheek observations on married life coupled with poignant moments of true love and grief." - "Kirkus Reviews"

"Reading Dowling is a lot like reading Erma Bombeck - if Erma Bombeck had a penis and an English wife and resembled, at times, 'a frightened potato.' With a sense of humor that's dagger-sharp and endearingly self-deprecating, Dowling describes himself as less alpha male than lambda male - and he deserves to be better known in America. Though the title seems skewed towards a male audience, the book will find female fans as well. Whether Dowling is writing about marriage, parenting, love or death, I'd follow him anywhere." --Margo Rabb, "The New York Times Book Review"
"Though he laments this age of "The End of Men," Dowling has not written a mansplaining manual or a How to Have It All book for dudes. It's more How to Hold On to the Best Thing You've Got. While some guys may read portions aloud to their spouses -- "See, it's not just me!" -- I suspect most of us will discreetly take a few notes and maybe even try some things out. Note to shoppers: This book is a great Valentine's Day gift for today's chronically disappointing husband.
Dowling recoils from the "self-help book" label. "Do not be like me," he stresses. But in one way, we do want to be like him. Dowling's wife -- identified in the text only as "the English girl" or "my wife," but revealed as "Sophie" in the dedication -- comes off as one of those irresistible British television characters, never as cool in the American version of the show.... No, Dowling and Sophie don't have one of those "I love you . . . I love you, too" marriages; they're more of a "You'll be sorry when I'm dead" couple. But for those moments when life together gets overwhelming, Dowling offers one perfect piece of advice: 'Never underestimate the tremendous healing power of sitting down together from time to time to speak frankly and openly about the marital difficulties facing other couples you know.'" --"Washington Post"
"Dowling's a very fresh and smart writer...there's a proper laugh every couple of pages, and as often as not it arises from the texture of the situation, the tone of voice, the characters...But as well as being funny, which he has to be, Dowling is sometimes plangent - as in a chapter about his mother's death - and he is more often than not wise."--Sam Leith, "The Guardian "(UK)
"Although not a self-help book, nuggets of unexpected, useful advice on how to be a good husband can be found in the author's witticisms... Dowling's entertaining commentary on marriage will resonate with men and women alike. Tongue-in-cheek observations on married life coupled with poignant moments of true love and grief." - "Kirkus Reviews"

Reading Dowling is a lot like reading Erma Bombeck if Erma Bombeck had a penis and an English wife and resembled, at times, a frightened potato. With a sense of humor that s dagger-sharp and endearingly self-deprecating, Dowling describes himself as less alpha male than lambda male and he deserves to be better known in America. Though the title seems skewed towards a male audience, the book will find female fans as well. Whether Dowling is writing about marriage, parenting, love or death, I d follow him anywhere. Margo Rabb, "The New York Times Book Review"
"Though he laments this age of The End of Men, Dowling has not written a mansplaining manual or a How to Have It All book for dudes. It s more How to Hold On to the Best Thing You ve Got. While some guys may read portions aloud to their spouses See, it s not just me! I suspect most of us will discreetly take a few notes and maybe even try some things out. Note to shoppers: This book is a great Valentine s Day gift for today s chronically disappointing husband.
Dowling recoils from the self-help book label. Do not be like me, he stresses. But in one way, we do want to be like him. Dowling s wife identified in the text only as the English girl or my wife, but revealed as Sophie in the dedication comes off as one of those irresistible British television characters, never as cool in the American version of the show.... No, Dowling and Sophie don t have one of those I love you . . . I love you, too marriages; they re more of a You ll be sorry when I m dead couple. But for those moments when life together gets overwhelming, Dowling offers one perfect piece of advice: 'Never underestimate the tremendous healing power of sitting down together from time to time to speak frankly and openly about the marital difficulties facing other couples you know.'" "Washington Post"
Dowling's a very fresh and smart writer there's a proper laugh every couple of pages, and as often as not it arises from the texture of the situation, the tone of voice, the characters But as well as being funny, which hehas to be, Dowling is sometimes plangent as in a chapter about his mother's death and he is more often than not wise. Sam Leith, "The Guardian "(UK)
Although not a self-help book, nuggets of unexpected, useful advice on how to be a good husband can be found in the author s witticisms Dowling s entertaining commentary on marriage will resonate with men and women alike. Tongue-in-cheek observations on married life coupled with poignant moments of true love and grief. "Kirkus Reviews""

A riotously funny book about how to be a good husband (not like he would know) by Tim Dowling, star columnist forThe Guardian. Think Nick Hornby meets Dave Barrywith a hint of Modern Family.

This is not a self-help book. Tim Dowling doesn’t have any solid advice for you on how to be a manhe tried hard to become one for a while, but in the end he just got older. This is simply the story of how, in the course of ten bewilderingly short years, Dowling went from a bachelor’s life in New York City to becoming an ex-pat in London, solidly married and the father of three young boys. It’s also an examination of what it means to be a husband in the twenty-first centuryand what is and isn’t required to hold that office these days.

Tim Dowling has been exploiting his family in his writing for years, ever since it became clear that readers of his weekly column atThe Guardian couldn’t get enough stories about his acerbically witty spouse and their rambunctious offspring. Dowling writes brilliantly about his wife and marriage, from the first days of their whirlwind courtship to the matter-of-fact way in which they decided to tie the knot, and keeping the magic” alive after ten years together. Being a husband and father in the era of The End of Men” isn’t easy, and Dowling continues to struggle to find ways to remain relevant to his family (hint: proficiency at DIY never hurts).

How to Be a Husband is a joyous and poignant reada personal memoir about falling in love, moving to another country, having children, and staying together through money troubles and times of griefthat also just so happens to be devastatingly funny.