wednesday books cheaper by the dozen

[landofnowhere]

Cytonic, Brandon Sanderson. That was fun, and worldbuilding reveals were interesting.

Cheaper by the Dozen, Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. Picked this up after a Discord friend mentioned an article on Lillian Gilbreth, the mother of the family (more on her later). Hadn't read this since I was a kid, and it was still fun, though, yeah, side-eyeing some of the family dynamics. (Also, some unpleasant racist bits; mainly the stereotyped Chinese cook.) Not a big fan of the father (Frank Sr.) in these books, and was happier when he got out of the way and I could see the kids. Clear that, though Frank Sr. was a natural showman, Lillian was in many ways the smarter/wiser parent, and interesting to see the hints that she was starting a career (and writing two Ph.D. dissertations!) in the background.

Belles on their Toes, Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. Sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen. Not a reread -- I tried to find this book in the library as a kid, and was unsuccessful, possibly because I thought the first word in the title was "Bellies". I expected to enjoy this more than the first book, since my least favorite parts of that were with the father, and I did.

Making Time: Lillian Moller Gilbreth, a Life Beyond "Cheaper by the Dozen", by Jane Lancaster. After reading those two, I wanted to learn more about Lillian Gilbreth, the mother in those books, a Ph.D. psychologist who applied her expertise to her husband's industrial engineering/management consulting work, and carried on his business after his death. (She was responsible for such innovations as the foot pedal trash can and shelves in refrigeraton door.)

It's really fascinating, and also interesting to read after her kids' books, which both sand off some of the rougher details of the family life, and also downplay the extent to which Lillian was active in her career, constantly traveling for consulting work even early in her career. I'm reminded of rachel_manija's recent post" on realism in children's books: Cheaper by the Dozen feels like it's in the same genre as All-of-a-Kind Family and the Little House books, though its family is much better of socioeconomically.

Much of the way through the book right now: it's slowed down a bit as Lillian is now reaping her well-deserved fame, fortune, and career success. Reinforced my impression that Frank Sr. was very much a Henry Higgins type.

Comments

[osprey_archer]

I loved Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on their Toes when I was a kid, but yes, upon rereading them as an adult the dad seems much less charming.

[troisoiseaux]

I enjoyed Cheaper by the Dozen as a kid*, although I don't think I ever read the sequel. I haven't re-read it as an adult-- based on what you're saying, I think I might prefer to leave it to the hazy veil of childhood nostalgia.

* I feel like I read a lot of the 'mid(ish)-20th century children's books based on the author's early-20th century/late 19th century childhood' genre-- All-of-a-Kind Family and the Little House books, obviously, but also Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy books and Eleanor Estes' The Moffats and sequels.

[landofnowhere]

Oh, yes, I was thinking that The Moffats are definitely in this same genre! For me Betsy-Tacy is the one that I somehow skipped.

[rachelmanija]

I had no idea Lillian Gilbreth invented pedal trash cans and refirgerator shelves! Now I want to read that bio of her.

[landofnowhere]

It's good! Although it hasn't talked about the refrigerator door shelves/trash can -- which was also the factoid that got me interested in her, but is sort of a footnote to her work on the scientific/engineering approach to home economics.