In A Family Way is a collection of short stories that center around the idea of family, both in its traditional form, as in "No Running" and "An Impulse Buy" and its more contemporary, non-traditional form, as in the case of a stepfather teaching his stepdaughter to drive in "All the Different Dangers of Cars" or the more absurd, hyperrealistic presentation of a family who cases houses while looking at Christmas lights in "Displays". In either mode, In A Family Way captures the tension, humor and love found in families.