Dan Zevin is a funny guy. Dan Gets a Minivan is his second book, and the stories of his family life in Brooklyn are brilliant examples of the humor often associated with Dave Barry--or even David Sedaris. Whether he's talking about having to institute date night with his wife (read: shopping for a new bed at Crate & Barrel) or he's giving Some Friendly Advice to the Aloof Hipster Dad at the Playground, Zevin somehow manages to sound both wise and foolish at the same time.
He's not concerned with looking good, letting readers glimpse what a doofus he truly is as his inner voice continually provides a neurotic patter to counterpoint his actual behavior in the moment. Though he's never as full-blown neurotic as Woody Allen's film persona, Zevin does share some common ground with the famous filmmaker.
One of the best things about Dan Gets a Minivan is the journey Zevin takes readers on. He begins talking about his life pre-children, a carefree existence that included travel, interesting restaurants and the joys of Brooklyn nightlife. Along the way, his family grows to four, the city becomes less and less attractive for parents of young children, and Dan finds that he defines himself more and more as Dad, not Dan. One smart takeaway? "The older I get, the less of a sh*t I give." --Rob LeFebvre, freelance writer and editor