I Can Barely Take Care of Myself

It's hard to be an adult. You have to dress yourself and pay bills and remember to buy birthday gifts. You have to drive and get annual physicals and tip for good service. Some adults take on the additional burden of caring for a tiny human being with no language skills or bladder control. Parenthood can be a very rewarding and joyful experience, but let's face it, so are margaritas at the adults only pool. Jen Kirkman's stand-up routine includes lots of jokes about not having kids (and some about masturbation and Johnny Depp), and complete strangers constantly approach her and ask, Who will take care of you when you're old? (Servants!) Some insist, But you'd be such a great mom! (Really? You know me so well!) Whether living rent-free in her childhood bedroom while trying to break into comedy (the best free birth control around, she says), or taking the stage at major clubs and joining a hit TV show-and along the way getting married, divorced, and attending excruciating afternoon birthday parties for her parent friends-Jen is completely happy and fulfilled by her decision not to procreate. I Can Barely Take Care of Myselfis a beacon of hilarious hope for anyone whose major life decisions have been questioned by friends, family, and strangers in a comedy club bathroom. And for everyone who wants to know if Jen will ever know true love without looking into the eyes of her child. (A girl can dream.)

In this instant New York Times bestseller that’s “boldly funny without being anti-mom” (In Touch), comedian and Chelsea Lately regular Jen Kirkman champions every woman’s right to follow her own path—even if that means being “childfree by choice.” In her debut memoir, actress and comedian Jen Kirkman delves into her off-camera life with the same snarky sensitivity and oddball humor she brings to her sold-out standup shows and the Chelsea Lately roundtable, where she is a writer and regular performer. As a woman of a certain age who has no desire to start a family, Jen often finds herself confronted (by friends, family, and total strangers) about her decision to be “childfree by choice*.*” I Can Barely Take Care of Myself offers honest and hilarious responses to questions like “Who will take care of you when you get old?” (Servants!) and a peek into the psyche—and weird and wonderful life—of a woman who has always marched to the beat of a different drummer and is pretty sure she’s not gonna change her mind, but thanks for your concern.