An other enjoyable read though I didn’t find this as entertains as the first book in the series - Put a Wet Paper Towel on It. The format seemed based on the podcast format with many of the stories being from the experience of other teachers. Having said that it was still very relatable to both for parents and fellow teachers.

I enjoyed this insight into the funny (and frustrating) side of primary education, as I have children of that age. However I found the format quite distracting - it did feel like reading a script of a podcast (which, incidentally, I’ve never listened to). The kindle edition also didn’t differentiate between the fonts used for each writer which made it all the more confusing! I hope that was just an issue with the preview and not the final edition!

This book did proper make me laugh out loud, several times! I'm not a teacher however appreciate them even more on reading this!
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the copy of this book.

If you have enjoyed listening to “Two Mr P’s in a Podcast” you will love this compilation of funny stories. I work at a high school and can relate to a lot of the hilarity. There is never a dull moment in education.

As a Primary School teacher I was intrigued to read this book - I am only glad I received a review copy and didn't have to buy it as it would have been money I felt cheated of.

Reading like a transcript from a podcast, this books is packed with stories that have been sent to Lee and Adam for their podcasts. I have been in and around education for my entire life and been a primary teacher for the last 20 years and I can honestly say that I have never come across anything like the 'stories' in this book. I didn't appreciate the absolute swathes of the book that are dedicated to fart jokes, stories and mishaps - they seem to appear on every single page. The lazy stereotyping of all girls being clingy swots and all boys being cheeky, jokey sports mad kids is just a plain lie - I have taught hundreds of clever boys and sporty girls, laughed with the girls at their jokes and held the hands of clingy boys all day, so to portray it the way it is in this book seems unfair - I can only imagine that the two writers see themselves as the jokey, cheeky, sporty boys that the teachers could rely on.

I was so close to giving up on this book and was considering a one star review but it saved itself with the last two chapters where there is genuine insightful discussion of teaching during and post pandemic. This was interesting and engaging and had a different tone to the rest - how I wish it had all been like this! Yes, by all means, share stories from the classroom (I could tell a few of my own), but this reads like office gossip and I had trouble believing it.

For books with (genuinely) funny stories of school life you should consider reading Gervase Phinn which are much better and are actually very funny!!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the Parkinson brothers' second collection of amusing anecdotes based on their own experience as teachers as well as some stories shared by listeners to their podcast. It is the follow-up to "Put a wet paper towel on it" but each book stands alone. It is a light and easy read, good for dipping into if you need a laugh, and I'm sure if you work with children in any capacity you will relate to many of the stories that are shared. For those who are less familiar with the world of teaching it also gives valuable insights into what a teacher's life is really like. I didn't find this book quite as compelling as the first book but there are some gems to be found.

As a teacher I loved this read!! Full of humour!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.

After their successful debut, Put a Wet Paper Towel on it, the Parkinson brothers are back with an equally funny follow-up, This is Your Own Time You’re Wasting. Lifting the lid on the funny and often disgusting sides of working in a primary school, this will bring knowing nods from those who work in one and quite possibly looks of surprise from those who don’t when they realise just what their children get up to in school!

For those who are familiar with the Two Mr Ps podcast, the content will not come as a huge surprise. Made up of the brothers’ own experiences (one is a teacher, the other a HLTA) and stories sent in, often anonymously, via social media or email, This is Your Own Time You’re Wasting is full of hilarious anecdotes about the children, parents, staff and anyone with a connection to a primary school.

While those who work in a school will definitely relate to many of the stories, you do not need to be a member of staff to appreciate this book – anyone who has ever set foot in a primary school will recognise things from their childhood. If you’ve ever wanted to find out what goes on behind the scenes and what exactly your child gets up to during the day, then this book will be a real eye-opener.

I was pleased to read the section about teaching during the pandemic. When we saw public perception range from, ‘teachers are heroes: I couldn’t do their job’ to, ‘teachers are lazy: they need to get back to work,’ the Parkinson brothers provide a fantastic insight into what roles teachers actually took on during lockdowns – a timely reminder for some people.

Let me start by saying that I'm not a teacher and my kids are in their 20s now, but I found so much to like about this book. For a start, it's a reminder that the more things change, the more they remain the same; children still have the same hopes, fears, sense of humour, fascination with mucky stuff that their counterparts many years ago had.

While much of the book is aimed at entertaining the reader with funny anecdotes - and there are so many tales that had me chuckling out loud - the serious business of teaching the next generation isn't ignored.

I so wish the Parkinsons had taught my kids! Their common sense, humour, kindness and sense of responsibility to their charges and their profession jump off the page. Every parent of a school-age child should be made to read their books to gain a real understanding of the day to day challenges faced by teachers, especially in a world where governments change policy at the drop of a hat and expect them to successfully run with new regimes with very little notice.

If readers take anything from "This is Your Own Time..." I hope that it is an understanding that subjects/exams such as Media Studies are not "soft" options and have an increasingly important role to play in helping our children negotiate the pitfalls of media bias, fake news, the harmful side of social media and photo manipulation etc. I welcomed the book's later chapters on technology and media; our current education system is not paying enough attention or giving sufficient encouragement and funding to allow schools to give pupils the skills and knowledge they need.

Realistically, this is probably a 2.5 ⭐️ for me.

The humour just felt a bit unsophisticated (lots of fart jokes), some of the stereotypes seemed lazy (I‘m not a teacher, but surely not all the bookish nerds are girls and all the jokey jocks are boys) and the whole thing just seemed to lack finesse.

But, it was amusing in parts, it was an easy read and I got an idea of some of the frustrations from those brave enough to work in the education sector.

The book was okay.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

This Is Your Own Time Your Wasting by Lee Parkinson and Adam Parkinson was a really funny book. You don’t need to be a teacher to read this book. It is a fantastic read and a great insight into primary school life. I loved it.

Being a retired teacher I found this book verify entertaining, with a good few times being thankful I wasn’t reading it on the train because I couldn’t stop laughing. This is well written and I’d highly recommend.

This is a a lighthearted romp through teaching and the mad things that children say and do. It is very funny and made me laugh out loud and remember the crazy things that my children did when they were little.

The only downside I found was the references to the podcast in the previous book, neither of which I was familiar with. Having said that I will now go and seek both out.

What a read. I spent most of my time laughing out loud while reading this. It perfectly sums up the life of a teacher and I recognised a lot of things that I've said and experienced in the classroom.

I love listening to the two Mr P's podcasts so it was a no-brainer that I'd want to read this book.

It's not only good for educators but it would also give parents an insight into life in a primary school setting.

On a serious note the chapter on the pandemic was very touching as again it summed up everything that educators experienced during a very stressful time.

I'm hoping for a third instalment at a later stage. 100% would recommend.

As a teacher I have lost track of how many times I’ve said in class “This is your own time you’re wasting”. So looked forward to reading this.
It’s conversational and easy, entertaining reading.

However, at times there is just too much waffle and unrelated and not enough depth.

Overall , it’s a good insight into the daily life of teaching especially those who have no idea what goes on in the classroom.
Thank you for the advanced copy.

I'm writing this review a week after coming back from Robinwood - I'm still exhausted!
The two Mr Ps have done it again! This is a great follow up from Put A Wet Paper Towel On It and is relatable for anyone who works/has worked in a school.

There are plenty of laugh out loud moments through anecdotes all involving teachers. As well as hilarious stories, there is also a chapter on how difficult it was teaching and home schooling during the pandemic. And as with the first book, the two Mr Ps continue with their firm critique of the education system.

A highly recommended read for anyone who has ever taught in a school.

Well, if you’re going to give a reviewer a gift of a title like that… This reads very much like the verbiage from some podcasters you’ve never heard of but quickly – Oh. So. Quickly. – realise just love the sound of their own voices. But they’re not the only culprits, for the teachers when they eventually get quoted can waffle on – one twice-as-long-as-it-need-be anecdote about the playground whistle being mistaken for the ‘go!’ signal by a school trip’s steam train driver, before the kids were anywhere near on board, would get about a B for lack of editing.

So this says a heck of a lot more about the standards of British schoolin then it thinked it did. Potentially this is toilet browsing for those in the industry – as long as they’re the rare few that want to spend more time thinking about it than they already have to. For anyone else, an hour’s lesson with these guys would be 55 minutes too many.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a free copy in return for an open and honest review.

This is the second of the collections of the amusing anecdotes that happen to teachers in the classroom.
I have no doubt that many teachers (primary particularly) will recognise many of the scenarios appearing in the book.

However, you do not need to be a teacher to appreciate the humour in this (and the previous) books. You will likely recognise the humorous stories and one-off lines from your school. I know that I recall the days when the TV was wheeled into the classroom and the teacher then struggled for 10-15 minutes to get reception (there were only 3 channels at the time).

Definite laugh out loud moments and lots of smiles and definitely some sniggering!

The book is based on a podcast (‘Two Mr P’s in a Pod(cast)’)

I have mixed feelings here. The title alone made me smile, as someone who’s worked within education for a while I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve said this and I felt a need to read “This is your own time you’re wasting”.

It’s very well written and the style of the authors written work marries up with the fact they have a podcast. It’s super conversational and an easy, entertaining (at times) read.

So why is it not getting a higher rating I hear you ask? It’s not that it’s not well written or that it doesn’t have funny moments. It’s just, I lost interest at times and found myself wanting to skip chapters. There was a little too much waffle and not enough substance for me I’m afraid.

Overall though, it’s a good little insight into the daily madness that is teaching. You never quite know what you are going to get and this follow up book does well to illustrate this. It just wasn’t for me.

What a funny book. I challenge anyone who has ever worked in a school to not be amused by the stories contained within - you can instantly put names to descriptions and relate the stories to your own experience!

I haven't read the first book by the Parkinson brothers, but certainly will now - they have a skill for observation that definitely translates well to page.