If you’ve ever sat by a cot willing a child to just close their eyes already, this video is for you. Actor Jennifer Garner reads aloud from the cult bedtime book Go the Fk to Sleep by Adam Mansbach, illustrated by Ricardo Cortés — and she does it brilliantly.
A quick warning before you press play: the book is exactly what its title promises, so it’s not one for little ears in the room. It’s written for exhausted parents, not for children.
The book behind the video
Go the Fk to Sleep became famous for saying out loud what a lot of parents only think at 9pm on a bad night. It’s profane, it’s funny, and underneath the swearing it’s honestly one of the more relatable things ever written about bedtime.
Watch Jennifer Garner’s reading
Jennifer clearly knows her way around a bedtime story — her delivery is warm, deadpan, and note-perfect for the material.
Why parents love it
There’s something quietly comforting about a well-known actor reading the words every wrecked parent has thought but never said aloud. It’s a reminder that the bedtime battle is universal, no matter who you are.
You might also enjoy
- Why being a mom is hard
- 100 of the Best Ever Bedtime Stories, recommended by parents
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FAQs
Who wrote Go the Fk to Sleep?**
The book was written by Adam Mansbach and illustrated by Ricardo Cortés.
Is Go the Fk to Sleep suitable for children?**
No — despite its bedtime-book format, the language is adult-only. It’s written as comic relief for parents, not as a story to read to kids.
Who reads the book in this video?
Actor Jennifer Garner reads an excerpt from the book in a video originally produced by Vanity Fair.
