Book Description
Using the best medical research, experience from her own practice, and numerous interviews, Dr. Meeker shows why Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters is not a slogan-it's a necessity.
Customer Reviews:
Fathers & Daughters.......2007-09-30
This is an excellent book written by a medical doctor, who shows the supreme importance of a Dad in the life of a daughter. He is vital to her development as a girl and a woman. It took me back to my own relationship with my daughter, who now has her Ph.D. and is a psychologist. After I read the book, and I found myself hungry for each chapter, I am sending the book to my son, who has a young daughter himself.
Fathers need to read this book.......NOW!.......2007-09-28
Don't waste time , read this book as soon as you recieve it! Buy it now!
Very inisightful book.......2007-09-26
This book has been wonderful. I only wish i had read it years ago when all three of my daughters were young (2 r college age now). I now see how many of my defects/wrong assumptions in parenting set the stage for a lot of the heart ache that we went through with my older two daughters. It now makes sense to me and i know how to address the problem going forward. I can not recommmend this book highly enough for every father who wants his daughter to thrive and not struggle to survive. It opened my eyes to how different my daughter's world is from what i knew as a kid. And to how if i do not father her, there is a culture that is desperately trying to teach her that what is important is looking like Paris Hilton, partying, being promiscuous, etc .... The issue is whether i surrender her to that or protect and nurture her. Thanks to Dr. Meeker.
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters.......2007-09-17
This book came highly recommended, but had to be one of the worst I have ever read - great title, horribly written - read the first 44 pages, skipped a couple of chapters, and all that was said was the same thing over and over - watch out for STD's, be there for your daughter, here's some examples of girls without fathers who turned out horribly, etc.
Over and over facts are stated about a father staying in his daughter's life - common sense stuff mixed in with a few eye opening facts - don't waste your money on this book!!!!
Freightening.......2007-09-02
My mother gave me a copy of this book upon the birth of my daughter (she liked the title). Anxious as I was to be a new father of a baby girl, I was excited to have something to read that might help me overcome my fear and anxiety and help me learn how to be the best father I can be. Ok. So since I don't love Jesus, don't vote Republican and don't mistrust and hate everyone who isn't exactly like me or, more precisely, the author, this book was not going to be the book for me. Putting to the side your religious, political and social alliances, why would any new father want to read a book where every 3rd page it seems warns that your new daughter is going to be raped, contract a STD or become a crack addict? Is that helpful? I don't live in a closet. I own a television, computer, etc. I'm aware and, yes, worried, about what's going on out there. It is painfully unhelpful, then, to be bowled over with contrived anecdotal tales and other sensational facts and figures which have the effect, solely, of causing upset. I know enough about Brittany, Paris and Lindsay to know what I don't want my daughter to be. Like so much conservative garbage out there today, this book has the exact opposite effect of what it ought to have. Rather than come away with positive feelings about our little girls, the author seems intent on frightening parents, forcing them to build walls and fences to keep the wolves away from our helpless little lambs.
Amazon.com
An information-packed guide to all the emotional, financial and physical changes the father-to-be may experience during the course of his partner's pregnancy. Incorporating the wisdom of top experts in the field, from obstetricians and birth-class instructors to psychologists and sociologists, this book is filled with sound advice and practical tips for men, as well as New Yorker-style cartoons that will keep anxious fathers-to-be chuckling.
Customer Reviews:
Nice gift for first-time daddy.......2007-10-04
I purchased this as a gift for the father of an expectant friend. He was touched to have received something for himself and thrilled to have a resource on what he can expect and how he can help out through what is a first-time experience for the both of them. A unique gift idea and useful knowledge for the first-time daddy.
Overwrought.......2007-10-02
This book is too much. I think the best example of how far out this book is comes near the end when the author talks about strategies for salvaging the placenta so you can have some kind of ceremony with it later on.
The "Be Prepared" book is much better to read, entertaining, gets the information out there, and isn't overwrought like this one.
GOOD READING FOR THE NEW DAD!.......2007-08-26
As a pediatrician, I think this easy to read book is a "must have" for the new dad. I love the format of this book and helps future dads feel like they have some idea on what to expect and how to avoid some important parenting issues. Bravo! AVOIDING THE 15 BIGGEST MISTAKES PARENTS MAKE: A PEDIATRICIAN'S PERSPECTIVE
Good for the father (and the mother!).......2007-07-30
This is the first pregnancy book I've read, and while I'm not a man, I thought it was immensely helpful. The author follows the normal stages of pregnancy, from morning sickness to swollen ankles to delivery and beyond and discusses them in a sensitive and helpful manner. Some of the topics are ones that are best discussed BEFORE conception (for example, money), but overall, he hits them as they would come into play during an actual pregnancy. However, the book is best read at one time, not month-by-month as a pregnancy progresses.
The author has two children whom he loves very much, and he makes a lot of mention about how men are stereotyped as babysitters instead of parents. He's also from San Francisco and makes several mentions to environmental concerns, which may be irritating to readers, as they occasionally come off as excessive. Aside from that, this book is very helpful and will help the father feel more involved in the pregnancy. Recommended reading for both parents.
Great resource for dads from a dad.......2007-07-12
I bought this book for myself when my wife and I were starting to think about having children and it stayed with me thorough the entire pregnancy.
The month by month sections are great to read and they provide not only advice about what is going on with the baby, but also what is going with you and with your partner.
It has a great balance to it and with resources and an index in the back; it works wonders as a quick go-to guide.
My wife loved that I had it because I was informed and she appreciated how the format not only got me in the loop as to what was going on with her, but also looked at some issues that I might be thinking about.
A great book, and I've just bought the second one (1st year) so I can continue the series.
Good luck to all you future and fellow parents!
Amazon.com
When Larry Brown died suddenly in 2004 at 53, he left a nearly finished sixth novel, A Miracle of Catfish, that revisits several of his favorite themes: fatherhood, alienation, and loneliness. Shannon Ravenel, Brown's Algonquin editor, had the daunting task of trimming the enormous manuscript to manageable size, almost impossible for a responsible editor to do without the help of the author. Brown's prolix, rambling style is at times mesmerizing and at times--just rambling. Brown's notes at the end show us where the story might have gone, but it does not suffer for being unfinished. Larry Brown definitely knew where he was taking his reader, and Ravenel helped him along.
Consideration of the fatherhood theme centers around a man known only as "Jimmy's Daddy," an unregenerate, wretched human being and an ignorant, violent drunkard. His preoccupations, view of women, and treatment of Jimmy might be seen as caricatures if we didn't know that such people actually exist. Another father, with a much more interesting story, is Cortez Sharp, a farmer in the low hills near Oxford, Mississippi, for nearly fifty years. He has a daughter, Lucinda, living "with a retard" in Atlanta. The man is a layabout artist who suffers from Tourette's Syndrome, which makes Cortez think that he is simply retarded. Cortez has a deep, dark, guilty secret which is eventually revealed, but the two things that we know about him from the beginning are that he is terribly lonely and is stocking a pond he just had dug with catfish--thousands of catfish. Two minor players are Cleve, a muderous black man who is an occasional employee of Cortez's and Tommy, who delivers fish to stock Cortez's pond and owns Ursula, the Mother of all Catfish. Jimmy is the hapless nine-year-old who suffers at the hands of his daddy, and comes to the attention of Cortez who tells him--initially--to get off his property. All of these lives intersect in unexpected ways and are changed by the encounters. Brown writes hell-bent-for-leather in a style uniquely his own which carries the reader along, into landscapes interior and exterior. --Valerie Ryan
Book Description
Larry Brown has been a force in American literature since taking critics by storm with his debut collection,
Facing the Music, in 1988. His subsequent work—five novels, another story collection, and two books of nonfiction—continued to bring extraordinary praise and national attention to the writer
New York Newsday called a "master."
In November 2004, Brown sent the nearly completed manuscript of his sixth novel to his literary agent. A week later, he died of a massive heart attack. He was fifty-three years old.
A Miracle of Catfish is that novel. Brown's trademarks—his raw detail, pared-down prose, and characters under siege—are all here.
This beautiful, heartbreaking anthem to the writer's own North Mississippi land and the hard-working, hard-loving, hard-losing men it spawns is the story of one year in the lives of five characters—an old farmer with a new pond he wants stocked with baby catfish; a bankrupt fish pond stocker who secretly releases his forty-pound brood catfish into the farmer's pond; a little boy from the trailer home across the road who inadvertently hooks the behemoth catfish; the boy's inept father; and a former convict down the road who kills a second time to save his daughter.
That Larry Brown died so young, and before he could see
A Miracle of Catfish published, is a tragedy. That he had time to enrich the legacy of his work with this remarkable book is a blessing.
Customer Reviews:
Larry Brown's last miraculous novel.......2007-09-05
Another reason to mourn Larry Brown's untimely death is the fact that we will never know just how the lives of the people he created in his final masterpiece would have turned out. Would Cortez have become the father little Bobby deserves, replacing the hapless and clueless daddy who can think of no one but himself? Would we ever know any more about the fish man? Perhaps we already know enough about all the living, breathing, all-too-real characters Larry imagined for us by the time we come to the page where we are left wanting to know more about them and about the others living in his imagination, waiting for future books that won't be written. It's a rare talent who can keep us interested in and even hopeful about the fates of some pretty unlikeable and apparently unredeemable people. Bobby, Bobby's daddy, and Cortez are among Larry Brown's finest creations.
The last hurrah of talented writer Larry Brown.......2007-08-24
'A Miracle Of Catfish' was unfinished when author Larry Brown died unexpectedly. Because the book was almost finished, publication of Brown's last offering to his fans was possible. The book uses ellipsis to show where editing was done, and though unfinished, includes the notes that Brown left behind as to how he planned to wrap up the novel.
In Brown's languid southern prose, he explores the lives of several people living in the quiet, countrified outskirts of a small town. Cortez Sharp, a 72 year old man who's wife is disabled, decides to dig out a large pond on his property and stock it with catfish. He lives a solitary life, preferring to be left alone with his vegetable patches and herds of cows. His daughter Lucinda lives in Atlanta with her boyfriend Albert, who suffers from Tourettes Syndrome. Cortez calls Albert 'The Retard', driving a wedge between him and his only surviving child. Cortez carries a dark secret with him, one of horrible proportions.
There's Jimmy, a ten year old boy with bad teeth, who lives near Cortez's farm in an old trailer. Jimmy struggles with his father's temper, his two half-sisters Evelyn and Velma, and his desire to fix the go-kart his daddy built for him. Jimmy's Daddy (known only in the book as 'Jimmy's Daddy') is a typical redneck loser. He drives around in his old '55 drinking beer and smoking cigarettes, fights with himself over trying to treat Jimmy better, and has an affair with a woman at the stove factory where he works that turns out bad (in pregnancy) which threatens his life and marriage to Jonette.
And then there's Cleve, an old black man who used to work for Cortez, mean as a polecat, and murderous to boot. He's been in prison twice and though he swore he'd never go back, he's not quite done committing crimes.
Typical of Brown's unhurried and languorous prose, there's lots of smoking, beer drinking, and driving around. There's surprises like DUI's, tractor accidents, unwanted pregnancies, affairs, fishing, hunting, and a young boy worried about having puppies.
These aren't exactly people you would want for neighbors, but Brown brings them out fully fleshed and alive, and you know there are people out there just like Brown's characters. Everyday folk struggling with everyday problems, inner monologues that both repulse and enchant, and scenes that will suck you into the story despite their slowly building climaxes.
While I highly recommend Brown's work, I would recommend 'Joe', 'Fay', and 'Father And Son' as a warm up to 'A Miracle Of Catfish', simply because this is an unfinished work and may leave the novice Brown reader feeling flat at the abrupt end. It's sad that this is the last time we will hear Brown's voice in the literature world. Enjoy!
Unfinished but pleasing anyway.......2007-07-10
I have the same feeling reading Larry Brown as I do reading Faulkner: He's writing about us! And this latest is the same as the others of his; he has the weather, the land, the people, the animals and all down pat. It's like it is down here. He's just chosen a few characters to show a representation but he uses them to give insight into the universal truths as Faulkner says. It's a shame he wasn't able to finish the book but it's wonderful that his wife and publisher went ahead with what's there. And most of it is there.
I was in the Oxford Hospital getting a stent put in and finally going home after a week of tests and procedures when I read that he'd died suddenly of a heart attack. I always wanted to meet him as I thought we had so much in common. A couple of years before I thought I saw him leaving Square Books as we were going in- my brother from North Carolina who always wants to got to Square Books and my wife and our daughter who lives in Oxford. He had on a gray raincoat or light overcoat and he smiled at us when he saw us getting out of the car and heading into the bookstore. What a loss.
Beverly Lowry of George Mason University has written a fine review in the April 27, 2007, New York Times Book Review and I'm sure there are others. Read this book and you'll want to go back and read his others too.
Dewitt Spencer
You simply MUST READ this book! Such a masterpiece!!!.......2007-07-07
I was devastated when I heard that Larry Brown had passed away. What a loss to his friends and family, and what a loss to his fans. This man could spin a tale, write a story, take you away, pull you in. Such a loss - God bless him!
I have read EVERY book that Mr. Brown ever wrote -- FAY, JOE, FATHER AND SON, etc. When I saw A MIRACLE OF CATFISH on the new book shelf at my library, I almost fell over! Knowing Mr. Brown has passed, I was shocked and happy to see this book there -- all 454 pages of it.
Let me tell you, at first I didn't think I was going to be able to get into this book. Which I found very puzzling! So, I sat down and really READ and by page five I was HOOKED!! I will think of this book for years to come!!! It is just THAT GOOD.
The characters in this book are sooo life-like and believeable. There are not many people in this novel, but you don't need many. Each chapter revolves around one character and their life; however, they are all inter-twined and make the book was it is ~~ EXCELLENT.
The main characters are Cortez Sharp, who farms and raises cattle. His wife is ill and his grown child lives in Atlanta. He is older and very lonely. He decides to build a pond and stock it with catfish. When the author describes the tomato sandwiches Cortez makes, yum, hook me up with one!
Another main character is Jimmy, a young boy who lives with his white trash family down the road from Cortez. He is a lonely little guy whose step-sisters treat him like crap. His mom, Johnette {gotta love the names!}, works, eats, and sleeps (around!!) and doesn't pay her children too much attention. Hence, Jimmy is looking for attention, affection, interest, and love. He wanders down by the new pond only to get kicked off the property by Cortez Sharp, which is how these two main characters meet.
My favorite main character was Jimmy's dad who is only referred to as Jimmy's daddy. Such a loser! Such a womanizer! Such a sorry excuse for a father! Always thinking of himself, always looking out for himself. Loves his old '55 car more than his family. But all of these bad traits make him the great character he is. You have to give Jimmy's daddy credit -- he does try, he does love his family; however, if something bad is going to happen it happens to Jimmy's daddy. He never quite makes things work right for himself or his family.
Cortez Sharp decides to have a pond dug and filled with catfish. He doesn't know how having this pond will affect not only him, but Jimmy down the road. The book takes us on a journey that involves all of the above mentioned characters and simply their lives -- at work, school, their friends, family, their affairs, and the deep dark secret that Cortez Sharp lives with daily.
Sound boring? It is NOT. I found I could not turn the pages fast enough. The way the story is told and how life in the South is related just takes you right to the banks of that pond with a fishing pole in hand and trouble on the way. Life in this small southern town is one hell of a ride. Get this book and enjoy it.
You must get this book and read it. There are other not so main characters that add spice to the book. The writing is stupendous -- you can feel the heat, see Cortez taking care of cattle and riding his tractor, see the dirty, nasty living conditions at Jimmy's trailer, see the dirt and grease on Jimmy's daddy's hands, feel the hurt in Jimmy's nasty teeth, see the trashy way Jimmy's sisters and Mom dress. Mr. Brown had a talent and gift that will be sorely missed. I find I am having a problem finding my next "read" as nothing seems to compare to this wonderful book.
Take my advice and the advice of the other reviewers -- get this book, read it, and then get the rest of Mr. Brown's works and just enjoy. Every book he has written is simply a treasure! A MIRACLE OF CATFISH ~~ a miracle in itself!!!!!!!!
Thank you!!!
Pam
Dadgummit Larry, why'd you have to leave...........2007-06-12
Larry taught himself how to write and his stories improved exponentially to the end. If you are a fan, look for Larry Brown in the Blue Moon Cafe line; one of them has a strange, but awesome short-story in it.
As I neared the last few pages of the book I was anxious as to what point it might end, or if it would end before he passed away. I wasn't sure. Undeniable sadness filled me too, because Miracle was his best, and I knew it was his last.
While he didn't finish the book with in a cathartic end, his heart, I suppose, was driving it towards something good. Likely Jimmy's daddy would "get his" and Jimmy would end up happy. Who knows, but it is how it was flavored.
But it ended. The chapter just ended and his notes wrapped it up-- questions remained over things from Jimmy's daddy, to Queen and Ursula. But all in all, the end cut short is in a way a fitting epitaph for a great writer's life cut short like Willie Morris. No doubt the two are now side by side at the great catfish pond in the sky.
Lord knows how many times we might have brushed shoulders at The Beacon, or Smitty's, or Sneeds...God, I wish I'd actually known him during my years in Oxford.
Amazon.com
Take your average guide for new mothers, chuck most of the stuff about breast feeding and ditch the deep background research and stats, then generously pepper with illustrations and burley humor and what do you have? Your average guide for new fathers. Be Prepared follows that template pretty closely, and that's really quite an acceptable thing. Yes, there's a bit too much emphasis here on broadly drawn manly stuff like changing a diaper at a ballgame, but there's also heaps of useful advice that's cleverly and efficiently presented for pops who, despite their best intentions, really aren't prepared to dig into encyclopedia-sized tomes. The basics (childproofing, bathing, feeding, entertaining) intermix with nifty sidebars (homemade bath toys, foods to never give your baby, exercises for dads) in easy-to-peruse chapters organized according to the age of the offspring up to age 1. There are more thorough how-to guides for new dads, but for most men moving into fatherhood, Be Prepared will fill the bill. --Steven Stolder
Book Description
An indispensable survival manual for guys entering the trenches of fatherhood, Be Prepared is loaded with one-of-a-kind insights, MacGyver-esque tips and tricks, and no-nonsense advice for mastering the first year as a dad.
Finally, a book that teaches men all the things they really need to know about fatherhood...including how to:
• change a baby at a packed sports stadium
• create a decoy drawer full of old wallets, remote controls, and cell phones to throw baby off the scent of your real gear
• stay awake (or at least upright) at work
• babyproof a hotel room in four minutes flat
• construct an emergency diaper out of a towel, a sock, and duct tape
Packed with helpful diagrams and detailed instructions, and delivered with a wry sense of humor, Be Prepared is the ultimate guide for sleep-deprived, applesauce-covered fathers everywhere.
Customer Reviews:
Must have for new dads.......2007-08-24
Wryly hilarious and filled with excellent tips, this is an essential guide to the strange world of becoming your father. I love the 50's-esque illustrations, and the information is well-presented. A great book for those rare private moments in the smallest room in the house.
A must for new dads.......2007-08-23
This book is hysterical. Think Boy Scout handbook meets parenting advice. My husband would read this book and chuckle (see "Evolution of the Boppy"). It's the only parenting book that he has read from cover to cover. The book has great, practical suggestions, but presents it in a fun, unassuming way. We've purchased a copy for all of our friends that are expecting their first child.
Exactly what a man needs.......2007-08-09
My husband is about to become a father and has never even touched a baby, much less cared for one. He was freaking out about all of the responsibilities, and this book calmed him. It explains the simplest tasks, like holding a baby, changing a diaper, burping, etc, all in a no-nonsense way. It's simplistic enough, and amusing enough for men to understand and actually read. I read it myself and learned a thing or two. There are great suggestions for babies that won't stop crying, what to do when you run out of diapers, how to help out your torn-up, exhausted wife who just gave birth.... it's everything a man needs to know.
great advice.......2007-07-31
this book made me laugh about a subject I was very nervous about as I was about to become a first time father. Not sure if I used any of the advice, but it has some good and entertaining stuff.
A Must-Read for Expecting Fathers.......2007-07-21
I know you are not supposed to "judge a book by its cover", but spending a good part of my childhood in the Boy Scouts is probably what encouraged me to pick up this book. It looks like a Boy Scout manual and the illustrations inside are reminiscent of old school Scout manuals from my childhood. The information, however, is much more useful than anything that I ever learned from one of those old books. Also, this book is much more humorous. This book is a very comforting and funny way to learn some of the things that aren't necessarily mentioned in some of the other pregnancy books.
I would definitely recomend this book to any soon-to-be father (or mother for that matter). I've already talked several of my friends into buying it, and they all agree that this one is a keeper!
Book Description
In this follow-up to her marvelous book, Mother God, Sylvia gives us many insights into our often-misunderstood Father God and the viewpoints about Him. From His history as put forth by humankind in the early days of organized religion to how we view Him today, Sylvia reveals His true attributes in a logical and truthful manner to give us a better understanding of our Father in heaven. Using her uncanny psychic skills and her ability to communicate with the Other Side, Sylvia dispels many of the false and traditional beliefs about the Father God and helps us to embrace Him more deeply and fully.
Sylvia helps us see Father God in a different way . . . one in which everyone can gain a deeper understanding and love for this often-maligned Entity. If anyone wants to commune more closely with their Creator and to share His unmitigated and unconditional love, this fascinating book is the answer . . . for it not only shows us Sylvia’s tremendous insight and love for Him, but also tells us how we can enjoy that same intimacy in our everyday lives. In her own indomitable style, Sylvia again shows us that she goes against many conventional beliefs in presenting a God that is truly all-loving, merciful, and forgiving . . . one Whom she has dedicated her life and work to in what she would say is . . . “a labor of love.”
Customer Reviews:
Father God : Co-Creator to Mother God.......2007-05-13
Father God: Co-creator to Mother God
Again, Sylvia has it right. A must read along with Mother God.
Sylvia Browne - The Dependable.......2007-05-13
I loved this book. It is quick reading but full of valuable information about the world's religions; each having their own perceptions and originations of one God. Well worth reading; much information repeated as in most of Sylvia's books but I find that by repeating it enough, I do remember and finally digest it.
Just Like All Her Books.......2007-04-01
This is a terrific book to go along with her others. She just seems to keep on putting them out here for us to enjoy.
Another Must Read, Must Own.......2007-03-24
Sylvia Browne is a genius and reaches the intellect with her thought-provoking literary skills. Get yourself a copy soon.
Good Read.......2007-03-10
This book explains all about Father God. Much of the information in this book was staed in Sylvias other books. As Always a good read from Sylvia.
Book Description
Study after study shows that fathers set up their daughters for success. Involved fathers-whether or not they live in the same house as their daughters-boost their daughters' academic achievement, promote their emotional health, increase their compassion for others, and even bolster the status of women.
In What a Difference a Daddy Makes, renowned psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Kevin Leman seamlessly weaves the latest research on fathering with funny, moving stories about his own parenting experiences. He gives practical ideas and inspiration for fathers and provides specific direction for helping daughters grow into loving, confident, caring adults.
Customer Reviews:
We loved it!.......2007-07-17
I gave this book to my husband as a Father's Day gift, and ended up also reading it myself. Dr. Leman's advice, guidance, and personal stories in "What a Difference a Daddy Makes" really hit home with their accuracy. It forces parents to really think about how they interact with daughters and the long-term effects of a father's relationship with his daughter. Be warned, it is a tear jerker! While reading the book I felt grateful to have a husband who, as I read the book, made me think, "Hey, he does that! Oh, he does that too!" At the same time, there were a few passages that illustrated some things both of us could approach differently with our daughter.
I had two points of dissention with Dr. Leman however. I found his references to daycare as "kiddie kennels" to be offensive and disturbing. It is clear he feels very strongly that mothers should be home with their children. I can understand that, but to resort to slurs against child care, when such high quality care is available and has been shown to actually benefit children, struck me as narrow-minded. Also, Dr. Leman's strong Christian faith influences much of the book. In fact, an entire chapter is devoted to this subject. While it isn't something I disagree with, other readers may have different views. All in all, however, this book is wonderfully written and should be required reading for all daddies!
Life changing.......2007-07-16
After reading this book it made a huge difference in my understanding of my daughter. I am a youth worker and bought it for all the fathers of the girls in our youth group. I have heard nothing but praise for the gift and the book. Dr. Leman is funny, insightful, and impacting in this wonderful book!
Incredible, a must read for any dad.......2007-04-16
What a Difference a Daddy Makes is a great book that stresses how important the role of the father is in the life of his daughter. [...] any books by Kevin Leman before, but once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. Dr. Leman keeps the andecdotes coming fast and furious, and page after page is full of great advice.
After finishing the book yesterday, I know this is a book I'll need to revisit over the years as my three year old daughter gets older. Leman emphasizes that dads (and moms) need to be "good" parents. It's almost impossible to be great parents. We'll all fail at times, but it is important for dads to be their and to be involved. It is also important for dads to model what role a man should play in her life. If a girl has a father with bad traits, she will most likeley seek out the same traits as a husband. Leman also stresses to live out God in everything you do in your life. For example, don't set aside a time for devotions. Istead, constantly look to share the Bible, or talk about God, during day to day activities. Leman also points out that fathers are responsible for teaching their girls about the bad parts of life, about how not everyone is nice and about how there will be failure. This leads into one of Leman's strongest contentions: Men must take the lead in teaching their daughters about sex. That's a section I won't need for awhile, but he definitely knows what he's talking about and I believe has written books on the subject.
The father/daughter relationship is a special one. Leman's book is a must-read and a great resource for all dads out there given the privelege of having a little girl. I've also read "What a Daughter needs from a Dad" by Michael Farris, and it is a great book too, but I'd reccommend Dr. Leman's book over that one if you have to choose which one to buy.
All about perspective..........2007-03-26
You will like this book... and you will want to share it and the knowledge with others.
My wife and I are two true opposites. I enjoy cooking; my wife enjoys cleaning. I would rather cook; she would rather clean. She has six sisters and zero brothers. I have two brothers and zero sisters. What do these characteristics have to do with this book?
Everything.
From both perspectives (my wife's and mine), this is simply a superlative book! I consider myself quite savvy, emotionally attached, and a true believer of self and self-awareness. This book further elucidates the concept that the Daddy-Daughter relationship affects all of us.
Yes... mothers are affected by their respective fathers; but, more importantly, they are affected by their husband's relationship with their daughter(s). Before reading this book, my wife did not fully understand the scope of her father's relationship values (or lack thereof). Moreover, through our reading and sharing the knowledge within this book, my wife has learned to appreciate MY relationship with OUR daughter. She now understands the relative importance of me being "the "go-to" guy. She now understands that there are some things Daddies just know and do.
Much like the Mother's intuition, Daddies have a super sense of balancing teaching/learning; strength/subtlety; faith/hope; patience/expectations... and the significant-yet-natural-to-fathers concept of balancing parental expectations with our daughters' fears.
Dr. Leman covers the entire gambit in this quick read. Indeed, there are many other books available on related topics. However, Dr. Leman's approach is simple without being simplistic. You will like this book.
Overstating the Obvious.......2007-03-21
Extremely average book short on anything considered above and beyond common sense. Nevertheless ... a fairly good guide for the first time father. Definitely written with spiritual connotations that further detracted from its intellectual credibility.
Book Description
As a former boy, a father immediately understands why his son builds a tower of blocks, calls it a boom crane, and then knocks it down. But why does his daughter build the same tower, call it an ice-cream cone, and then offer a taste? As Harry Harrison, author of the chunky little bestseller Father to Son, would suggest, fathers of daughters should simply enjoy that imaginative treat, and every other she's likely to dream up.
Filled with short, sweet, inspirational words of wisdom, Father to Daughter is a book of guidance for Dads on loving, shaping-and learning to comprehend-their inscrutable little girls. Divided into stages from infancy on up, it offers a pithy lesson on every page. Helpful reassurance: Tickle her, play with her, give her piggyback rides. She's not breakable. Advice on passing down skills: Show her how to climb up a tree. Also, how to climb down. Your role: Be home for dinner on time. This is very important. Make sure she knows she can call you at any time and you will go get her. This is why the cell phone was invented. Guideposts, both material and spiritual: Give her a piggybank when she's little. She's never too young to learn the value of saving. And, Help her understand that there's more to life than wearing the right jeans. And finally: Prepare for the day when you're not the most important man in her life.
Customer Reviews:
A fun little book for fathers-to-be .......2007-01-02
I received this book in the mail recently and read it in about 20 minutes. It is about 300 or so short pieces of advice for fathers of girls in various stages of development. The quotes are variously witty, funny, instructive, and serious on the challenge men face in raising healthy girls to be self-assured young women. Two thumbs up.
basic instructions.......2006-11-15
I was disappointed with this book for several reasons. I bought this book because I have a one year old daughter and was searching for some insight on how to better bond with her as she ages. This book gave basic instructions that even a teenage parent would know, (if that makes any sense). The book is written on a middle school reading level and did not go into specifics about raising a daughter, it only gave very broad advice. I bought this book for only .46 cents and it was a waste of money. Since the book measures 6 inches by 6 inches I guess it will make a good paper weight ! Not recommended
Brilliant Wisdom.......2006-06-20
I bought this book for my husbands first fathers day this year. I wrote inside that it was the instruction booklet that came with his now four month old daughter.
The only problem I have with the book... I introduce her to the Beatles I named her after a Beatles song "Dear Prudence"
Great Pocket Book.......2006-06-16
At first, I thought this was a silly gift my husband received when I was pregnant with our daughter. I decided to take a look at it, and its such a beautiful book. It has very simple ideas and advice, but very important life lessons.
The whole book is full of common sense ideas, but they are things that get overlooked and forgotten. Every dad should be forced to read this as part of soon-to-be-daddy training.
I'm sorry, Mr. Harrison- this one was a swing and a miss.......2006-06-06
After stumbling upon, at a relative's house, this collection of corny attempts to be witty and creative, I was shocked at how blatantly stereotypical and sexist this book was once I read it cover-to-cover.
Although there were one or two cute trinkets, I particularly remember the following lines much more strongly:
* Mom will introduce her to classical music- you let her listen to the Beatles
* Remember, if you tell a boy not to play with the electrical outlet, he will stomp off or do it anyway. A girl will cry.
* Cheer for her team. Even though they may be called the Pansies.
* Teenage girls spend hours doing something in their rooms. No man has ever figured it out.
* She may look cute, but her diaper can be as challenging as any boy's.
There was also another about letting her mother have time alone with her, and one about protecting her from boys.
In conclusion,
Sure, this book is wonderful- if you live in the 50's......
Book Description
Join Donald Miller, the best-selling author of Blue Like Jazz, with mentor John MacMurray, as he presents a transparent, thought-provoking, and humorous chronicle of life lessons found in a life without a Dad.
Customer Reviews:
Entertaining, Insightful, Comforting.......2007-09-25
Don Miller has an amazing gift to come across as a not-so-special individual, but his way with words and ability to relate to his audience is anything but un-special.
As the son of a single mom, Miller finds solace in a friend's advice who encourages Don to discover who he is through the eyes of God, not those of society. Miller's vulnerability with his own fears will seem very familiar to most readers of this fantastic book - even those who grew up with both parents.
Readable for ages 12 and up. Primary audience 20-35.
Take the Dragon back.......2007-08-12
If you've done any kind of reading on the topic of fatherlessness or manhood, this book will be a snoozer. In my opinion it brings very little new to the table. The book is decently written including humor and a few interesting points. Many times I felt like the main thrust of the book was cut off by the authors need to tell another self deprecating story with very little depth. While I'm sure this was cathartic for the author, as a reader I felt myself skipping over paragraphs intensely looking for the "meat" of the book.
It appears from the reviews here that this book did have an intended audience who clearly found this it "ground breaking" and "thought provoking". I really found it neither. If you have done quite a bit of reading such as Brennan Manning or John Eldridge, I wouldn't even bother with this book. If you are newer to the topics of rediscovering manhood, this will be a light-hearted introduction.
Book Review: To Own A Dragon.......2007-07-13
In To Own a Dragon, Donald Miller writes to men, and reflects on his experience of growing up without a father. The book is co-authored by John McMurray, a Bible teacher slash photographer slash married father of three from Portland who took a 20-something Donald Miller into his home to show him the workings of a functional family.
His forth consecutive yearly release, Donald Miller continues a form of writing that has made him very popular with Millennial and Y Christians. In his books, Miller seemingly writes with ruthless honesty about himself, to almost a self-deprecating extent. It has sort of become his trademark. Don't expect to read anything by Donald Miller without him criticizing his own physique, intelligence, and/or spiritual shortcomings. He will write that he is immature, that he lies, lusts, drinks, transfers his roommate's laundry from the drier directly onto the basement floor, covets, and that he needs abundant and continual grace. This is a breath of fresh air. In having the courage to reveal himself, Miller manages something other Christian writers can't. He connects with his readers! And whether he is being completely honest, or is just really good at pretending to be honest, it's brilliant.
While authors today strive to adopt a more conversational writing style, Donald Miller takes it to the next level. He somehow convinces readers that he knows them. I, for one, am induced to believe Miller can recall my name, where I live, my favorite food. He probably has my cell phone number. If I ever see him in person, I'll pretty much expect him to recognize me (it's a bit of voodoo to be sure). Moreover, Miller's words are so casual, so unforced, you get the impression that he's writing down his thoughts as they come, or that he's free associating the whole book, or that he's making the whole thing up as he goes along! If you read enough of his writings you'll notice his ideas have a consistent ebb and flow that goes something like: "I'm Donald. I used to think things were like this: [insert ludicrous assertion here], but now I see that they are actually [insert spiritual reflection here]."
In addition, Miller is unique in that he forsakes the status quo of making clear and concise points. He repeats himself, and then he repeats himself again, something I have to give kudos to the editors at Navpress for not destroying. Let me give you an example; here Miller talks about the focus of To Own a Dragon: "...in writing some thoughts about a father, or not having a father, I feel as though I am writing a book about a dragon or troll under a bridge. For me a father is nothing more than a character in a fairy tale. And I know fathers are not like dragons in that fathers actually exist, but I don't remember feeling that a father existed for me." Miller writes the word father six times in two sentences. Six times in two sentences Miller writes the word father (see, it doesn't work when I do it)!
Donald Miller rejects formulaic approaches. There are no 10 steps to recovery from a fatherless childhood. In fact, Miller doesn't really prescribe a path to healing and growth as much as he describes a problematic situation and tells you how he himself handled it, or is still in its midst. Miller writes in the introduction "this book has been healing for me to get on paper. A writer learns more from what he writes than the reader, and often applies the perspectives after the book is written. We're a depraved group in that way. As for the healing, I hope something like my experience in writing this book happens to you in the reading." Hence, Miller doesn't seem to want to preach as much as he wants to share his experience. Other Christian writers should be taking notes.
So, if you're a man and interested in the topic of father absence, or interested in how father absence affects men, read the book (Note: I really don't think the book will be that helpful to women dealing with father absence issues; the experience seems too qualitatively different). If you're not so interested in the topic, Miller's book Blue Like Jazz: Non-religious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality is the bestseller that catalyzed his popularity and it still stands as his best work to date. It's really good. I've read it no less than three times. I've gifted no less than five copies.
One more thing: Miller is not just writing about how father absence affects men, he's doing something about it. Donald is Founder of The Belmont Foundation, a not-for-profit which partners with local churches to create mentoring programs for young men growing up without fathers. You can read more about it at www.belmontfoundation.org
Good Read, But Not Just for the Fatherless.......2007-07-11
Miller's story is sadly all too common today, and his experiences as he learned about the REAL fatherhood God provides are well-written. The book should be helpful to many stuck in sadness, bitterness, or alienation from their lost relationships. However, only 3 stars because he too easily idolizes the role of fathers in human families, and, as a result, there may well be some--fathers and children--who will unnecessarily feel like they have failed by not having achieved the kind of relationship Miller seems to think all fathers who stay in the home will provide. I'm sure there are many with loving, but fallible, fathers who feel some of the same gaps in the guidance and close relationship they wish they could have received.
There are lots of wonderful insights here; just don't get discouraged if your family doesn't quite measure up to what the MacMurrays seem to be.
Geared towards men growing up without fathers.......2007-07-02
Upon purchasing this book I did not realize that this book was written for the male perspective of growing up without a father. This being said, the book was wonderful and I found some points I could really relate to, but I just wanted for this to be made aware of. Great read and Miller does a wonderful job of linking this subject with Christian elements.
Book Description
What does it really mean to be a good father? What did your father tell you, that has stayed with you throughout your life? Was there a lesson from him, a story, or a moment that helped to make you who you are? Is there a special memory that makes you smile when you least expect it?
After the publication of Tim Russert’s number one New York Times bestseller about his father, Big Russ & Me, he received an avalanche of letters from daughters and sons who wanted to tell him about their own fathers, most of whom were not superdads or heroes but ordinary men who were remembered and cherished for some of their best moments–of advice, tenderness, strength, honor, discipline, and occasional eccentricity.
Most of these daughters and sons were eager to express the gratitude they had carried with them through the years. Others wanted to share lessons and memories and, most important, pass them down to their own children.
This book is for all fathers, young or old, who can learn from the men in these pages how to get it right, and to understand that sometimes it is the little gestures that can make the big difference for your child. For some in this book, the appreciation came later than they would have liked. But as Wisdom of Our Fathers reminds us, it is never too late to embrace it.
From the father who coached his daughter in sports (and life), attending every meet, game, performance, and tournament, to the daughter who, after a fifteen-year estrangement, learned to make peace with her difficult father just before he died, to the son who came, at last, to appreciate the silent way his father could show affection, Wisdom of Our Fathers shares rewarding lessons, immeasurable gifts, and lasting values.
Heartfelt, humorous, engaging, irresistibly readable, and bound to bring back memories of unforgettable moments with our own fathers, Tim Russert’s new book is not only a fitting companion to his own marvelous memoir, but also a celebration of the positive qualities passed down from generation to generation.
Customer Reviews:
Widsom for Older Sons who are baseball lovers.......2007-09-30
After my 77th birthday I remembered to pick-up my older daughter's birthday gift for my 76th birthday! It is a sure-fire winner! When I had gotten past the middle of Tim Russert's stories from a wide variety of sons and daughters, I chose five top favorite Chapters: "Daddy's Girl, "The Character, "Hands and Feet, "Being There, and "Baseball."
Tim's love for the Cleveland's Indians and the NY Yankees came shining through! His personal relationships with the stories of Truman & MacArthur, Rudy Giulani, Al Gore, and Russ Limbaugh provide profound wisdom from a huge variety of Fathers. As I noted foreign names like Bill DeSisto, John Smyntek, Vince Guerriori, Arnold Annunziata, I came across a lovely story of "Hermie's Hands" from Knoxville, Tenn. His name was Jon Hernmanson.
(Too bad that my Father who was employed as one Knoxville Water Worker never came to know Hermie with eight fingers on his hands!)
The Titles of "The Lawyer, "The Lock, "The Lesson, "The Tickets, "The Diagnosis & "From-a U-Fadder" bring tears or laughs from my repeated reading!
After finishing I shall buy copies for my Grandsons to keep for Christmas! Over-Joyed yet Under-whelmed from the older still wiser retired Chaplain, Fred W Hood.
Tim Russert--Wisdom of Our Fathers.......2007-09-26
My new book was received in Great shape and very fast! Thank You very much! ONH
Have to Buy.......2007-08-22
How this gets below 5 stars is beyond me. This book is what it is and is long overdue. There is no genius behind it because it's just a collection of peoples' stories. Russert didn't write it, but he wrote Big Russ and Me. I haven't read that, but it must be pretty good to garner this kind of response.
When I was last home, my dad gave me the copy because I'm working on a project pertaining to the same subject matter. He hadn't read it yet, so he just told me to read it and send it back. It is so good that I sent him a copy with this note, "Dad, this book is way too good. This copy isn't coming back to you, so here is one for you. Love, Christien."
Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons.......2007-08-03
Definitely as touching as Big Russ,Russert's first book. It's a page turner. You'll laugh and cry..
This book puts everything into perspective.......2007-08-02
One of the best books on parenting. Not a scientific approach but rather a by-the-seat-of-your-pants look at what it means to be a good parent. You get a peak into the minds of so many children, today's adults, something that is impossible to do with your own kids. A must read for any parent.
Thanks Tim for having the foresight to put this collection together.
Book Description
Is your child getting the right balance of nurturing care that all children need to grow into healthy adults, including the kind of care only a father can give? For years the most trusted child care experts have emphasized the mother/child bond, but this is only half the story. Kids and dads are also biologically hardwired for a different but equally important relationship. In Fatherneed, Dr. Kyle D. Pruett draws on more than two decades of highly acclaimed research at the Yale Child Study Center to offer the first complete understanding of the father's role in child and adult development.
Combining real-life examples from his own child and family psychiatry practice with state-of-the-art research data, Dr. Pruett shows how fathers parent differently and why that difference is so important to a child's physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development. Dr. Pruett challenges the time-honored tradition of giving mothers all the credit -- and all the blame -- for how their children turn out. Biological studies of infants show that they seek comfort from moms but crave interaction with their dads. Mothers quickly reassure toddlers when they become frustrated or fearful, whereas fathers encourage their toddlers to tolerate frustration a bit longer, helping them develop into adults with greater reserves of strength in dealing with everyday stress and frustration. And Dr. Pruett's long-term studies show that children who are actively involved with their fathers from birth through adolescence develop more emotional balance, stronger curiosity, and greater self-assurance.
Fatherneed is also a how-to guide for engaged fathering that will give your children the skills to develop into happy and healthy adults. Dr. Pruett specifically addresses what a father can do to prepare his marriage, his house, and his emotions for his child's needs, from infancy through the toddler years, childhood, adolescence, and young and mature adulthood. His advice to fathers is comprehensive and wide-ranging: how to speak to toddlers in language they can understand; how to avoid the common tendency to reinforce gender stereotypes in young children; how to maintain a connection with an increasingly autonomous teenager; how to strengthen one's marriage while facing the challenges of fathering. Divorced fathers, fathers of adopted children, stepfathers, and fathers of special-needs children all face unique challenges, and Dr. Pruett offers step-by-step guidance for coping with every one of these special situations. When fathers are absent, mothers must look elsewhere. Dr. Pruett shows single moms how to be sure that their children are getting the benefit of a male adult's attention.
Successful fathering does not come at the expense of the mother/child bond; in fact it depends on a mother's encouragement. Every mother loves to see the health and happiness in her child, and in the child's father, that result from successful fathering. Through true stories of actual families Fatherneed reveals the infinite varieties of fathering that result when a dedicated father and a supportive mother work together. With wit, authority, and compassion, Dr. Pruett shows how to be sure that your child gets what only a father can provide.
Customer Reviews:
Very, very good book!.......2007-02-12
I used this book as the primary text for a class on Fatherhood at the University of Utah. It is very easy to read and useful. I've recommended it to others and passed it on and they agree. It has language that is easy to understand and thus works well as a text for University study or as a self-improvement advice book. His lists of ideas and recommendations are important. I really hope that this book is not removed from print as I have heard it may be.
Father cheerleading.......2002-09-12
A very repetitive book which is amazing in its poor scholarship and very selective interpretation of research. The intent of the author is to show us all how very, very important fathers are, and he takes this chant to an extreme that is almost humorous in its degree of excess. The generalizations he makes about fathers and how they interact with their children only are true in a minority of the families I know; in most families, there is a mixture of styles depending on the personalities of parents and children. In my own case, I don't relate to his generalities at all, and don't see his pronouncements reflected in my own family.
wonderful.......2002-08-05
I have read many books on the topic and this seems to talk directly to me. No mushy stuff, directly to the point. I also like the fact that it really challenges fathers to take more active role as everyday parent with children.
Overlong, but good for trade.......2000-04-12
Pruett's attempt at expanding what could have been a chapter in an academic text into a self-help book for the masses is admirable. Yes, I think fathers and fathers-in-waiting should skim the book. Some sloppy work: doesn't the author know the difference between Penn and Penn State? But overall, makes a good case, if you can excuse the gratuitous fawning over "single mothers." The "as you'll read in the next chapter" stuff was annoying.
Finally an explination of many of our childrens problems!.......2000-02-27
In this book,so much can be learned about why our children end up doing the things they do, and having the self identity problems they have. I now see that fathers have a connection with their children, not only socially, but in a much deeper sence. This is a must read for all fathers!
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Books Index
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General
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| Nonfiction
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What a Daughter Needs From Her Dad: How a Man Prepares His Daughter for Life
What a Difference a Daddy Makes: The Lasting Imprint a Dad Leaves on His Daughter's Life
Dads and Daughters: How to Inspire, Understand, and Support Your Daughter When She's Growing Up So Fast
America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It
Jesus of Nazareth
