book review Archive

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Chicken Soup for the Soul ( @ChickenSoup4TheSoul ): Parenthood #giveaway

By
dadofdivas
– April 19, 2013Posted in: book review, giveaway

parenthoodAbout the Book

101 Heartwarming and Humorous Stories about the Joy of Raising Children

Parenting — it’s a tough job, but also the best. Filled with anecdotes and advice from parents raising children of all ages, this book will uplift, inspire, and encourage you. Other parents, just like you, share their personal stories about all the joys, and the trials, of raising children. This book will touch your heart, make you laugh, and remind you why there is no better job than being a parent!

 

Purpose of the Books

After 15 years of bringing real people and their stories together to touch the lives of others, Chicken Soup for the Soul® has gone beyond the bookstore to become a world leader in life improvement. Chicken Soup for the Soul is home to the largest catalog of user-generated, life-changing stories. Through books, movies, DVDs, online resources and other partnerships it brings hope, courage, inspiration and love to hundreds of millions of people around the world. Chicken Soup for the Soul authors and readers belong to a one-of-a-kind global community that shares advice, support, guidance, comfort, and knowledge.

 

About the Company
Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, publishes all the latest titles in the famous Chicken Soup for the Soul book series which are distributed through Simon and Schuster, Inc. Since 1993, books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series have sold more than 112 million copies, with titles translated into more than 40 languages. Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing also licenses the right to use its famous trademark to high quality licensees through IMG, the world’s premier licensing agent. The company is currently implementing a plan to expand into all media, is working with TV networks on several TV shows and is developing a major Internet presence dedicated to life improvement, emotional support and inspiration. In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup for the Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century. For more information visit: http://www.chickensoup.com/.


Facts About The Reach of The Books

  • Total retail sales of Chicken Soup for the Soul branded merchandise have topped $1.3 billion.
  • The Chicken Soup for the Soul book series of over 200 titles has sold over 112 million copies, with titles translated into more than 40 languages.
  • In 2008, Chicken Soup for the Soul became the best-selling trade paperback series in the history of publishing.
  • Chicken Soup for the Soul is one of the world’s most well-known brands– 88.7% of the US public not only recognizes the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand, but knows what it is (source—Harris Polls).
  • Chicken Soup for the Soul holds the world record for having the most titles on the New York Times bestseller list at one time.
  • Chicken Soup for the Soul receives millions of monthly media impressions, with cross-promotion relationships in place with top media brands like King Features, Woman’s World, BeliefNet and others.
  • Many of the world’s leading consumer brands have looked to Chicken Soup for the Soul for co-branding opportunities, including American Idol®, Coke®, NASCAR®, Marriott®, Campbell’s®, Arby’s®, Golf Digest® and others.
  • Time Magazine called the Chicken Soup for the Soul series the “Publishing phenomenon of the decade.”
  • In 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup for the Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century.
  • In 2008, Chicken Soup for the Soul and dick clark productions entered into an agreement to develop a television series based on the brand.


My Take On The Book
As a parent I am always looking for ideas and this definitely gave some. I loved reading the short stories of parents doing amazing things with their kids and being recognized for it. This is definitely a book that will lift you up if you are a parent and remind you of why you love being a parent. At the same time, as a parent you will relate to so many of the things that are shared in this book too. As in many of the Chicken Soup books through many touching stories you are provided both inspirational and motivational tales that will tell you their stories and through these stories you learn more about yourself.

 

Giveaway

How would you like to win this for yourself or for your family? All you need to do is fill out the below form to be entered and I will be giving away 3 books.  The contest will run for one week and will end on April 27, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner must be a resident of the U.S or Canada.

Winners are chosen at random, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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1

DADuary Book Review – Papa PhD #DADuary2013 #dadchat

By
dadofdivas
– January 31, 2013Posted in: book review, fatherhood
About the Book
It is not easy raising a family and balancing work and personal commitments in academia, regardless of gender. Parents endure the stress of making tenure with the demands of life with children. While women’s careers are derailed more often than men’s as a result of such competing pressures, fathers, too, experience conflicting feelings about work and home, making parenting ever more challenging. In Papa, PhD: Essays on Fatherhood by Men in the Academy (Paper $21.95, 978-0-8135-4879-1, December 2010), Mary Ruth Marotte, Paige Martin Reynolds, and Ralph James Savarese bring together a group of contributors from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines to discuss fatherhood in academia.
Papa, PhDs are white, black, South Asian, Asian, and Arab. They are gay and straight, married and divorced. They are tenured and untenured, at research-one universities and at community colleges. Some write at the beginning of their careers, others at the end.  But, perhaps most important they do not look back—they look forward to new parental and professional synergies as they reflect on what it means to be a father in the academy.
The fathers writing in Papa, PhD seek to expand their children’s horizons, giving them the gifts of better topic sentences and a cosmopolitan sensibility. They seriously consider the implications of gender theory and queer theory—even Marxist theory—and make relevant theoretical connections between their work and the less abstract, more pragmatic, world of fathering. What resonates is the astonishing range of forms that fatherhood can take as these dads challenge traditional norms by actively questioning the status quo.
About the editors
MARY RUTH MAROTTE is an assistant professor of English and the director of graduate studies in English at the University of Central Arkansas. She is the author of Captive Bodies: American Women Writers Redefine Pregnancy and Childbirth.
PAIGE MARTIN REYNOLDS is an assistant professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas, where she specializes in teaching and writing about early modern drama.
RALPH JAMES SAVARESE teaches American literature, disability studies, and creative writing at Grinnell College. He is the author of Reasonable People: A Memoir of Autism and Adoption, which Newsweek called a “real-life love story and a passionate manifesto for the rights of people with neurological disabilities,” and the winner of the Herman Melville Society’s Hennig Cohen Prize for an “Outstanding Contribution to Melville Scholarship.” 
Also available
Mama, PhD: Women Write about Motherhood and Academic Life
Edited by Elrena Evans and Caroline Grant

My Take on the Book

As a person that works in Academia, this book was an interesting take on thoughts of fatherhood. I have read many different books written by fathers in the past, but many took humorous looks at fatherhood. This book, was completely raw and drew me in from page one. I liked that the book was broken down into different essays and allowed me to examine different father’s thoughts. 

This book though is quite deep and it will make you think. I think that for this alone, this book stands out as something different and something that will stand the test of time. 

If you are looking for a refreshing look at fatherhood, this book delivers and you will not be disappointed.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions. 
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2

DADuary Book Review – The Dad Connection by @scotthanley #DADuary2013 #dadchat

By
dadofdivas
– January 30, 2013Posted in: book review, fatherhood

About the Book

Portland resident Scott Hanley published his debut book about fatherhood November 21,2011. The Dad Connection: A Bridge to your Children is available now for purchase online in both print and digital formats.

 

“I didn’t set out to write a book,” Scott explains. “I began talking into a tape recorder I had put in my truck as I was on my way to different construction sites in Boston. I was trying to record my experiences as a single dad with the idea that someday, many years later, my boys would get a kick out of hearing me talk.”

 

Those tapes became the basis upon which this book is written, as well as the insights that led to his parenting blog, thedadconnection.com.

 

After many rounds of editing and re-writes, The Dad Connection became a reality. Scott encourages readers to consider this book a testimony of his experiences and understanding rather than a parenting manual.

 

“Many of the stories reflect my actual experiences,” explains Hanley. The Dad Connection is a brief overview of his time as a dad and ultimately the basic understanding that “relationships are built, they don’t just happen.”

 

About the Author

Scott Hanley was born and raised in Indiana. He has managed his own successful four-star restaurant in Cincinnati, a construction company in Boston specializing in urban remodeling, and a construction business in Portland, OR specializing in ultra high-end remodeling – all while raising his two sons as a single father. He was named the Northwest Regional Contractor of the Year in 1999. His expertise and personality earned him guest appearances on the local ABC affiliate morning talk show “AM Northwest,” which eventually grew into a permanent role as one of the show’s weekly celebrities. From 2000 to 2003 he was co-host of Fox 12’s Saturday morning talk show. He currently lives with his family in Portland, OR.
My Take on the Book

Too often when you become a father you do not know what you are doing! Let’s be honest, no parent has a ready made guide to raising kids handed to them when they become parents. With that being said, you have to learn how to be a good father. Many times in my own experience, this comes with trial and error but it does take work and sometimes you will fail.

What I loved about this book was the honesty the the author shares with his readers. He takes his own experiences with his two boys and makes the experience tangible and real and allows others to learn form his successes and from his failures. The book looks at how as a father you can work on making lasting connections with your children which should be the hope of every father (In my humble opinion).

The book was an engaging, quick read and share so many insights that fathers of any child can learn from.

If you are looking to learn more about being a quality father, this is a great book to start you on your path!

 

Scott Hanley’s book is an insightful account of parenting and loving. Above all Scott teaches his children and us through lines of his book, to love fully and without fear. The reader is enlightened as to the importance and path for raising our children with a bond beyond words and action that lasts a lifetime, long after they leave our daily embrace.”

 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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4

DADuary Book Review – Man With A Pan #DADuary2013 #dadchat

By
dadofdivas
– January 29, 2013Posted in: book review, fatherhood
About the Book
Look who’s making dinner! Twenty-one of our favorite writers and chefs expound upon the joys—and perils—of feeding their families.
 Mario Batali’s kids gobble up monkfish liver and foie gras. Peter Kaminsky’s youngest daughter won’t eat anything at all. Mark Bittman reveals the four stages of learning to cook. Stephen King offers tips about what to cook when you don’t feel like cooking. And Jim Harrison shows how good food and wine trump expensive cars and houses.This book celebrates those who toil behind the stove, trying to nourish and please. Their tales are accompanied by more than sixty family-tested recipes, time-saving tips, and cookbook recommendations, as well as New Yorker cartoons. Plus there are interviews with homestyle heroes from all across America—a fireman in Brooklyn, a football coach in Atlanta, and a bond trader in Los Angeles, among others.

What emerges is a book not just about food but about our changing families. It offers a newfound community for any man who proudly dons an apron and inspiration for those who have yet to pick up the spatula.
photo of John Donohue

About John Donohue

John Donohue, an editor at the New Yorker, has been passionate about food all his life. He worked at a retail fish market when he was in college and was a short-order cook after graduation. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters. He blogs about the cooking he does for his family at www.stayatstovedad.com.

[amazon_enhanced asin="1565129857" /]

My Take on the Book

As a father who likes to cook, this book, is an amazing collection of recipes and adventures that men have had cooking for their families. Many of the selections within the book as humorous, and all are down-to-earth and easy to understand. There were a ton of great recipes that I am looking forward to trying myself including the Meatloaf recipe (I love Meatloaf) as well as the Lone Star State of Mind Chili! These are only two of the recipes, but there are SO many more that will make your mouth water.

Outside of good recipes, the story also shares the experiences of fathers cooking for and with their families, which can be both fun and sometimes harrowing at times. All-in-all though this book takes a pretty informal tone which makes it easy to read, and easy to get through. I had a ton of fun reading the book, and it was one that took me only a few days to read through and now I want to go back and start trying the recipes that I ear-marked along the way through in my first reading!

ll opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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9

DADuary Book Review – In Search of Fatherhood by @KevinRenner #DADuary2013 #dadchat

By
dadofdivas
– January 28, 2013Posted in: book review, fatherhood

 

About the Book

Marketing consultant Kevin Renner turned his crisis of confidence as a father into a personal crusade.  Renner interviewed 50 women from around the world, to understand their life stories and how they were shaped by their fathers—good, bad, and in between.  He wanted to understand fatherhood from the receiving end, as a daughter, so he could bring it home to his own daughters, then nine and thirteen.

 

That crusade became In Search of Fatherhood: A Mother Lode of Wisdom from the World of Daughterhood (Inkwater Press,May 2011).

 

At the time, Renner asked himself if he was giving his daughters what they needed, and if he even knew what that was.  No, he admits, he didn’t.  So after work and on weekends, he conducted interviews in a private therapist’s office he’d leased, women’s homes, and even hotel suites of women who traveled from around the country to share their stories.

 

“When I set out on this project, I wanted to do it for myself and for my daughters,” Renner said. “Very quickly I realized I wanted to have a lasting influence around the world on fathers, daughters, and their relationships.”

 

Some women had drawn what Renner calls “short straws” from the mix of fathers.  One was his sixth-grade girlfriend, whom he met up with decades later.  Stoked on a cocktail of drugs, chain-smoking, she had given up her own children when she hit rock-bottom after working as a stripper and attempting suicide three times.

 

But, when Renner interviewed Cheryl, whose world-famous scientist father took her to business dinners where he was feted, and where she was treated respectfully, he discovered why she had grown up with self-confidence around smart and accomplished men.

 

In Search of Fatherhood includes two-dozen other stories of women who drew the long straw, the short straw, and what the author calls “the long and the short of it.”

 

Some of the other stories he heard include:

  • Rasa’s, whose father raised her from his wheelchair until he drank himself to death when she was 12.
  • Wendy loved her single father so dearly she proposed to him at age five.
  • Courtney’s father sexually abused her until age thirteen, when she turned his German Luger on him.
  • Luna, a former drug addict, is a sex worker raising a daughter and attending college so she can free herself from the sex trade.
  • Raised in poverty during the Dust Bowl, Betty became a state supreme court justice.
  • Kim is transgender, and spent her childhood imprisoned in a boy’s body.
  • Kara was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, and whose father was killed by a drunk driver a week before she turned four.

 

Renner says the insights he took from spending a year hearing women’s stories has made him a profoundly more insightful father. Among his biggest lessons, he says, were the importance of tough love, and how everything that he does as a father, and that every father does, communicates in subtle yet lasting ways. “Take your daughter to your workshop, your office, the bowling alley, the movies,” he says. “Little things make the big difference.  They message that she’ll take away is that she matters—not just to you, but in the world at large.”

 


About Kevin Renner

 

Marketing executive Kevin Renner woke up on a Monday with one glaring realization: “This is the end of my life as a corporate guy.”

 

Renner shifted from a corporate life to founding B2B Market Strategies, a consulting firm.  But, that literal wake-up call didn’t end with a career change.  He realized that he didn’t know his daughters very well, and at ages nine and thirteen, they would be off to high school, to college, to their own lives within a few short years.

 

When Renner asked himself “What does a good father look like?” and no answer came to mind, he decided to find out. He interviewed 50 women from around the world for his book In Search of Fatherhood: A Mother Lode of Wisdom from the World of Daughterhood. His book is the first step toward his goal of having a lasting influence around the world on fathers, daughters, and their relationships.

 

A former journalist, Renner has his MBA from the University of California-Berkeley, and a B.A. in social sciences from UC Santa Cruz.

 

My Take on the Book
While this book is short, it has so much in it. As a father of daughters I was amazed at the author’s findings! As many of you know I have been doing my Dads in the Limelight Series for a year and a half and this series looks at fatherhood through the eyes of a father. What I loved about this book is that it looks at fatherhood from the eyes of a daughter. This book takes the idea of fatherhood to the next level and greatly illuminates what being a father means (or should mean) in today’s society. If you area father of girls this is a much read, but even if you are not and you are a father of a son, this book still is one that I would highly recommend!

 

 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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0

DADuary Book Review – Every Day Dad by @BeABetterFather #DADuary2013 #dadchat

By
dadofdivas
– January 27, 2013Posted in: book review, fatherhood

About the Book
Parenting Experts, Dads, and Coaches are calling Scott Hammond’s new book Every Day Dad: The Guide to Becoming a Better Father the must have book for fathers who want to transform their lives, become a better parent, and live life with purpose and passion.

Every Day Dad: The Guide to Becoming a Better Father shows dads how to overcome the challenges of life, joyfully engage with their families, and build a positive, lasting legacy. Written in a practical, straight-forward manner, the books equips dads (and all parents) with the knowledge and tools they need to connect with their families, to live life with passion and purpose, and become better fathers.

About the Author

Scott Hammond is the author of Every Day Dad: The Guide to Becoming a Better Father, a parenting expert, and the father of 9 children, who offers a unique point of view on fathering and intentional parenting. Scott is an award winning professional speaker and a recognized business consultant and leadership coach.

Scott motivates and inspires others toward positive, personal change and growth with his comfortable style, authenticity, and transparency. Using real-life stories, Scott shares how you can overcome life and parenting obstacles and become a better person.

Scott resides in McKinleyville, California with his wife of 27 years, Joni, and their kids. To connect with Scott, visit BecomeABetterFather.com

My Take on the Book

As a father I can attest that there is no handbook for being a Dad. Usually what I have learned has been from other fatherly role models that I have encountered within my own lives. Unfortunately all too often men do not have these role models within their lives. As the author states, fatherhood is in crisis, and with so many kids growing up in fatherless homes (even when they are present) it becomes even more important to have a guide, a manual per se that can give you an idea for directions or a compass to steer by. This book is hard hitting and addresses important ideas about what fatherhood is and should be. If you are a father, I would highly recommend that you read this book.

What I liked about this book was how easy it was to apply the concepts on a daily basis. You could easily see the passion that the author has for the subject of fatherhood, but also for helping others. I was drawn in by the personal stories that he shared with the reader. As a father of two, I cannot even imagine being a father of nine children… I can see how he would have stories to share.

The book is from the heart and truly attempts to connect with the reader beyond a surface level. The book is also practical, as it provides the reader with checklists, action steps and examples that help to guide fathers into being even better dads and men.

This book makes me want to listen even more to what this man has to say and I am sure that you will also find this to be true also!

If this book sounds like something you would like as a part of your own library you can find it on Amazon!


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1

DADuary Book Review – Dad’s Pregnant Too! by @harlancohen #DADuary2013 #dadchat

By
dadofdivas
– January 26, 2013Posted in: book review, fatherhood

About the Book

More than 4 million babies are born in the United States each year and that means there are more than 4 million expectant dads wondering what the next nine months of pregnancy will mean for them and their relationship with their spouse or partner.
This Father’s Day, what better way to prepare men for impending fatherhood than by giving them a step-by-step guide with advice, tips, stories and pictures ranging from the positive pregnancy test to the delivery room?
Dad’s Pregnant Too!(Sourcebooks, Inc.) by bestselling author Harlan Cohen turns two this year and continues to help soon-to-be fathers handle the ups and downs of pregnancy with their partner.

Harlan Cohen is America’s only nationally syndicated male advice columnist and author of The Naked Roommate, the #1 selling advice book for students going off to college. In Dad’s Pregnant Too!, Harlan tackles the questions and concerns of dads-to-be with his signature wit and humor.

Dad’s Pregnant Too! features more than 100 tips for soon-to-be dads, including:
  • A guide to the different types of expectant fathers, from the Do-It-All to the Me-Too, and the Getting Fat to the Two-For-the-Price-of-Two
  • A rundown on how to spoil your pregnant partner, from massaging wherever she’ll let you touch to the babymoon and push presents
  • How to navigate the baby superstore and limit your purchases to two car seats and a stroller that should go 55 mph, given the price tag
  • And everything in between, from the baby’s development to the body and mind of a pregnant woman to sex during pregnancy!
Dad’s Pregnant Too! includes quotes from hundreds of interviews with men and women who have gone through pregnancy and provides a realistic picture of what expectant fathers will see, hear, feel and touch.
Dad’s Pregnant Too! also provides pictures of baby’s development and is medically reviewed.
As a new father himself, Harlan Cohen provides men with an honest, thoughtful and humorous guide to the dos and don’ts of being an expectant dad.

My Thoughts on The Book

I have read another book by Harlan Cohen entitled   The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College and found this book to be very funny so I knew that this book would also be funny. I also have had a chance to meet Harlan in person a few times and see him speak at a conference in the past as well and his stories are spellbinding and many times leave you laughing.

In this book Harlan does a great job at using humor to talk about his experience in being a man who is entering the realm of preparing to be a father and in going through the pregnancy with his wife (as well as the experiences of others). Harlan does tell it like it is and is not afraid to mince words, so understand that when you read his books. In saying this though, I believe that you will find that his style of writing is quite engaging and humorous.

The book is not a manual, but it is a guide for dads to be and the book’s light-hearted nature will keep a smile on your face from start to finish!

If this book sounds like something you would like in your own collection or you would like to give a copy to a friend as a gift, you can find it on Amazon!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Terms of Use  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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0

DADuary Book Review – The 40-Year-Old Version: Humoirs of a Divorced Dad by @joeljest #DADuary2013 #dadchat

By
dadofdivas
– January 25, 2013Posted in: book review, fatherhood

About the Book
“The 40-Year-Old Version: Humoirs of a Divorced Dad” is a unique and award-winning collection of funny and personal essays that examine how divorce reinvents relationships with kids and one’s own sense of Dadhood.

The 40 short “humoirs” — heroic, hysterical, and heartbreaking reflections on being a part-time Dad in a full-time life — make a meaningful read for any parent, particularly the millions who’ve gone through divorce with their senses of humor intact.

About the Author
Joel Schwartzberg is an award-winning essayist and screenwriter, national champion public speaker and speech coach, law school drop-out, horror fan, divorced father, and former Wheel of Fortune contestant. He was a Head Writer for Nickelodeon in 1998 and later an editorial director for Time Inc. Interactive. Currently, he is the Director of New Media for a PBS broadcast news magazine.

Joel’s essays on parenting and other spontaneous phenomena have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, The New York Daily News, The New York Post, The Star Ledger, New Jersey Monthly, Babble.com, Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Huffington Post, and regional parenting magazines throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Joel is also a featured blogger for The Star Ledger/NJ.com’s popular “Parental Guidance” blog and a “Children & Media” blogger for iVillage.

My Take on The Book
This book was a hilarious jaunt through a number of short essays that takes you through the stages that the author went through in being a divorced dad.

For me, I enjoyed the stories and found them to be engaging. I particularly loved the titles that the author used to explain the stories such as: “Beige Food” , “Lazy Dadurday” and and “Sponge Bob Wins” . All of the stories though gave you a wonderful glimpse into the mysterious and funny experiences of a father who is now parenting on his own.

The book does a good job at allowing the reader to look into the mind of a fether going through many different things within his life and dealing with many issues in strides. In my opinion it gives fathers and parents in general a good opportunity to laugh and see parenting through different eyes.

Though Joel does have humorous moments he also has many parts in the book where he is serious and is talking about important topics that impact many families. He is honest with the reader and I for now commend him on this as it makes the book come alive for the reader.

If this book sounds like something you would like for your own library you can find it on Amazon!


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1

DADuary Book Review – Fatherhood – Philosophy for Everyone #DADuary2013 #dadchat

By
dadofdivas
– January 24, 2013Posted in: book review, fatherhood

About the Book

Fatherhood - Philosophy for Everyone offers fathers wisdom and practical advice drawn from the annals of philosophy. Both thought-provoking and humorous, it provides a valuable starting and ending point for reflecting on this crucial role.

  • Address the roles, experiences, ethics, and challenges of fatherhood from a philosophical perspective
  • Includes essays on Confucius, Socrates, the experience of African fatherhood, and the perspective of two women writers
  • Explores the changing role of fatherhood and investigates what it means to be a father
  • An ideal complement to Motherhood - Philosophy for Everyone (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010)

It has been said that being a father is what finally gives a man his meaning in life. However, a modern Dad’s role is complex and can come with high expectations: sharing the rearing duties during the early years, tightly scheduled play dates, little league fights, tween’ dating, saving for college, cyber bullying, and if it doesn’t work out, shared custody. With these challenges come many joys, with a lot for dads to discover, including coming to see that learning really begins when fathers realize how little they know.

Fatherhood: The Dao of Daddy (February 2011) is the first book tooffer wisdom and practical advice drawn from the tried and true annals of philosophy, exploring paternal concerns such as the search for the meaning of life, the life-changing impact of new fatherhood, how to raise “good little people,” the impact of popular media (“Should I Let Him Watch?”), and how to bake cookies Daddy-style. As Adrienne Burgess writes in her foreword, “Fathers matter.” Indeed, where would we be without them?
The thought-provoking and humorous essays in this volume replace the diaper bag with insightful tools that you can take anywhere, even a crowded mall or restaurant.  Based on the philosophies of Confucius and Socrates, African cultural practices, feminist theory, and many other figures, traditions and insights, each essay features a photo of the contributor with his or her own family.
The book is presented in four sections. Part I: The Impact of Being a Father illustrates the reality that poker games with the guys are now out of the question , with essays such as “The Born Identity: Becoming Daddy.” Part II: Ethics and Parenting Styles delves into the methods and ethics associated with teaching your children the rules of life, and guidelines for behaving ethically towards other people with essays such as “In Virtue of Upbringing: The Art of Raising a Good Person.” Part III: Keeping It Real: Authentic Fatherhood presents the substance of building a relationship with a little one, with essays such as “Real Fathers Bake Cookies,” and “The Heart of the Merciful Father.” Part IV: Dilemmas for Dad explores the continuing role of the father in their children’s lives, as they grow into opinionated and independent adults, with essays such as “Father’s Ideals and Children’s Lives,” and “Dads and Daughters: Wisdom for a Winding Road.”
The volume finishes up with cookie recipes, and “Wisdom of Youth,” quotes from kids answering questions about fatherhood and philosophy such as “What Have You Learned From Your Father?” (Answer: “How to fight, wrestle, shave a beard, and how to wind up a clock”), and “What is A Father?” (Answer: “They catch babies”).

About the Editors

Lon Nease is a Ph.D. student in the Philosophy department at the University of Cincinnati. He holds a M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Kentucky where he studied phenomenology and existentialism. Nease has published on post-Kantian ethical theory.
Michael W. Austin is an associate professor of Philosophy at Eastern Kentucky University. His primary interests are ethics and philosophy of religion. His books include Running and Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2007), Conceptions of Parenthood (2007), Football and Philosophy: Going Deep (2008), and Wise Stewards (2009).
Fritz Allhoff is the Series Editor of the Philosophy for Everyone series. He is an Assistant Professor in the Philosophy Department at Western Michigan University, as well as a Senior Research Fellow at The Australian National University’s Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics.  In addition to editing the Philosophy for Everyone series, Allhoff is also the volume editor or co-editor for several titles, including Wine & Philosophy (Wiley-Blackwell, 2007), Whiskey & Philosophy (with Marcus P. Adams, Wiley, 2009), and Food & Philosophy (with Dave Monroe, Wiley-Blackwell, 2007). 

My Take on the Book
If you enjoy reading and thinking about the many philosophical issues surrounding fatherhood, this book gives you food for thought. What was nice about the book was that you were given perspectives from so many fathers. Each section is so diverse and covers everything from the impact of being a father to dilemmas of being a dad. Each essay is well written and the sections are short, to the point and easy to read and digest. I found that this book started many conversations between myself and other fathers and even opened some conversations between me and my wife.

I was a bit concerned at first when I saw the title and the reference to philosophy. I have read the teachings of philosophy in the past, and sometimes get lost in the mire (if you know what I mean), but I was happy to find that this book was not as lofty as some other philosophical texts and is written for any father. I found the book to be very enjoyable to read and something that anyone can comprehend.

Overall this was a great book. I appreciated not only that it was enjoyable and approachable to read but that it really made me think and question my own thoughts and beliefs about fatherhood.

 

 

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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DADuary Book Review – She Still Calls Me Daddy by @robertwolgemuth #DADuary2013 #dadchat

By
dadofdivas
– January 23, 2013Posted in: book review, fatherhood

About the Book

A memorable guidebook for fathers to help them create a new adventure with their married daughters.

Standing at the altar giving their little girl away begins a new day and the need for a new way for fathers to relate to their daughters. Robert Wolgemuth, author of the best-selling She Calls Me Daddy, reminds fathers of the important role they still play while offering insight as to how it must change in the next chapter of their girls’ lives. Topics cover seven relational issues:

  • Protection
  • Conversation
  • Affection
  • Discipline
  • Laughter
  • Faith
  • Conduct

 

Includes thoughts on an ongoing relationship as well as on becoming a granddaddy. Discussion questions provide a great opportunity for personal or group study.

 

My Take on the Book

As a father of two girls I definitely do not want to rush anything! My girls are still quite young and I have a lot of time until I have to deal with the issues that are brought up in Robert Wolgemuth’s book She Still Calls Me Daddy.

Though this is true I will cherish the concepts in this book and know that down the road I will definitely come back and review it (it is not a one time read for me). The book covers seven main areas: Protection, Conversation, Affection, Discipline, Laughter, Faith, and Conduct, and takes a building up approach to raising and letting go of your daughters.

I enjoyed the way that the author intertwined his own experience with advice to other fathers as it made the read not only enjoyable but also fast. Some of the tips that he gives on dating are ones that I know that I will have to revisit in the years to come (though I am not thinking about that just yet – I’m in denial). I also enjoyed the builders checklist at the end of each chapter as it made the chapters tangible and provided me with some great hands on ideas for helping my girls as they get to be a bit older. Most dads will also enjoy the analogy that the author uses in relation to home renovation, it makes the topics relevant to any type of dad out there!

Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone who is either getting ready to let his daughters go, or will someday have to give his daughters away. It also can be a great gift for a father of daughters as well. It is a book worth reading!

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