20 and Counting

The Duggars!: 20 and Counting is the first book by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar of TLC fame. Their TV show, 19 Kids and Counting, chronicles the lives of the Duggars and their 19 children in Akransas. It's been on for a number of years and the child total keeps rising. They live their lives frugally and without debt and follow strong religious beliefs and convictions that they instill in their children. As a fan of the show and because I know they have a second book out, I decided to check out their first one from the library.

The book delves much deeper into the Duggar backstory than we get from their show which was interesting to read about. They tell of their upbringing and how they met, plus the early days of their relationship when their family was just beginning. Even then, Jim Bob and Michelle were caring for 5 children under the age of 5 while running a used car lot and other businesses from their home. Their entrepreneurial spirit was interesting to read about and something that is not always showcased on TV. Michelle covers, in great detail, how they rule their roost, feeds all those mouths and keep everything running as smoothly as possible. Quite impressive!

If you are a Duggar fan, you'll like this book. I learned a lot even though I've been watching their shows and specials for years. If you have no clue who the Duggars are, you may still find this an enlightening read just learning about a family of this size. A fast read too, which I appreciated.

Rating: * * *