Interview With Adam Mansbach of You Have to F*cking Eat

In 2011, Adam Mansbach released a “parenting book” with a title that was equal parts honest and obscene. Inspired by his then 2-year-old daughter Vivien, Go the F*ck to Sleep ($11) captured the struggles every parent faces come bedtime — and with rhymes, no less. The book became an overnight success, putting Mansbach on par with writers like Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein. Parents and publishers immediately began hounding the author for a sequel. And three years later, they are finally getting one.

Today, Mansbach returns to bookshelves with You Have to F*cking Eat ($11), a poetic overview of the drama that tots tend to stir up at mealtime. Already garnering an outpouring of attention and praise, the book is bound to gain more popularity when fans get a hold of the the audio version starring Bryan Cranston (if it’s half as entertaining as LeVar Burton’s reading of Go the F*ck to Sleep, then we’ll be pleased). We had the chance to talk to Mansbach about his beloved books. See what the author had to say on his inspiration, his writing process, and the possibility of a third installment.

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