Product Description
Now with Discussion Guide.Paul Lewis is editor of the Smart Dads Newsletter, and founder of Family University. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Ultimate Manual for Dads
Dads, if you can't understand your role after reading this book, you just can't do it!I've read many, many 'dad' books, but this is absolutely my favorite, because it's the best!

Best "Dad" book I've read, and I've read a lot!
The author gives an overall strategy for being a smart dad, as well as specific tips.He is honest!He admits that his fathering journey has not been without its bumps.He arranges things in a metaphor that men can definitely identify with.I've read it several times, and get something more out of it each time.

Good resource for new dads
Well written and organized material that gives you some key things to focus on in raising your kids.Plus each page has a "smart idea", something simple you can do for building a good relationship or for just having fun. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a heartfelt, sincere, and very practical book for any father. It's main intention is to connect fathers with their children. It is written by a man who raised 2 children, on his own, and took notes. It is inspiring, informational, and down to earth. The first section of the book will aid in preparing men for the psychological, emotional and day to day changes that will occur in their lives as they become fathers. The second section of the book is a practical "how to" on everything ranging from clipping fingernails, to selecting what kind of diapers to use. Fathers (and mothers) are gaining a real foothold on parenting by reading this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

A short, sweet read for new dads or newly single dads or even new stepdads
A month or so ago, I received a book in the mail to review.Since I wasn't Pregnant, or planning on becoming pregnant, I wondered how much I would have to add to this book to give it a review of any sort.However, I'm a trooper and when I opened the book, the time flew.I have to say that I was surprised by how into this book I really was.As somewho who, when she was pregnant, read what felt like every freaking parenting book out there, I was impressed by this little tome of information.

Let's start with the obvious:this isn't a large book.It's not a step-by-step "how to be dad" book.It's not going to give you the blow-by-blow details of parenthood that "What to Expect" would give you, nor will it scare you half to death like that book will.What it will do is give you a laid back view of fatherhood written by a man who has been a single dad for a long time.

At times, the book has a crunchy, granola-like feel, but overall, the information felt sound.Some of the most important advice in the book is simple:You are not your parents and you aren't anyone else.Do your best.

The book hits on important topics such as how to hold a baby all the way through how to talk to your kids about important things.There are aspects of parenthood such as the "how to"s and the things you never consider when you are starting as a parent such as the inevitable poop in the bathtub.Yep.Been there, done that.

Overall, I'd say this is a good book for a new dad or for a new stepdad.It is a book to give to a dad who needs to not be overwhelmed with what is happening or about to happen.If you are a dad who is anal or who likes a lot of lists or being told what to do, this book isn't for you.But if you just need a primer and a little encouragment, I highly recommend "Pregnant:A Field Guide to Fathering" by Gary Kleiman.

Keeping It Simple Ain't Easy
"Pregnant: A Field Guide for Fathering" is short, sweet and simple -- perfect for those overwhelmed with the prospect of their lives being turned upside down by a tiny helpless creature! This book is an excellent gift for dads-to-be; let them digest it as their partner reads up on all the books for her.

As a mom of two, I found Kleiman's writing honest, kind and wise - it takes great courage to relate our mistakes and heartbreaks to others. The single-dad perspective is a view we don't see enough in the parenting genre, yet it becomes quite clear that conscious parenting is the same for both mommies and daddies, a philosophy that Kleiman distills down to two basic principles: Patience and presence. May we all be blessed with infinite amounts of each!

Great read!
Great book - it is insightful without being dry.Written for the "real world conditions" in our house.Being a new dad myself, I appreciate what the author is relating to the readers.Thanks!

Manly? Yes, But I Like It Too!
I sat down this morning with a cup of lemon tea and began reading Gary Kleiman's book Pregnant...a Field Guide to Fathering. What a delight!! I was entertained. I was inspired. I was amused. I was impressed. He is a spirited writer with a lot to say not only to dads but to moms, too.

Gary'sapproach to fathering is lighthearted yet it sends a deep message: spend time with your children. He writes well and peppers his work with stories of his own experiences. This easy read is a must for every father and more importantly to every daddy-wanna-be!His writing is totally free of gender bias. He speaks to raising children and the importance of sharing and learning together all life experiences. Read this one, Readers, whether you are a dad, a mom, or a grandparent! You will love it!! Thank you, Gary, for this sincere, heartfelt book!

A gem of a book
I loved reading this sweet little book. It is graced with the insight, humor, and humility of a truly devoted dad. "Pregnant" is thoughtful and offers a down-to-earth perspective on parenting along with its practical tips and advice. Fathers, mothers, and others with the good fortune of having a young child in their lives will enjoy this book.

... Read more

Product Description
This is a handbook for fathers who want to make a difference in their children's lives. These power-filled messages are written to encourage consistently good fathering, and presented in a way that is both fun and informative. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is for fathers who want to do a better job raising their children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, for mothers of ADHD children who want to understand the special needs that fathers have in parenting these children, and for professionals who have the challenging task of involving the fathers of ADHD children in their treatment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The book has been a wonderful coach to me as a father.
Until very recently I hadn't even heard of Attention-Deficit/HyperactivityDisorder (ADHD).Typical of most parents, I refused to acknowledge that mychild had any "illness" serious enough to warrant a clinicaldesignation.Most kids generally seem over-energetic to their parentsanyway, so how is a parent to know when a child crosses the line to"hyperactivity?"Only a clinical professional can offer anaccurate diagnosis and I urge all parents to seek help if they suspect thattheir kids may need help.

Once I learned and acknowledged to myself that my child was, in fact, more than just "energetic," I was scared. However, I was also determined to learn as much as possible about ADHD andhad the good fortune of attending one of Dr. Jacobs' public speakingengagements in the Boston area, where he is very well known and respected. (He is often interviewed on the local news shows, and writes a weeklycolumn in one of the area newspapers.) Well, I bought his book that dayand read it cover-to-cover in two sittings.

Dr. Jacobs presents hismaterial in a very pragmatic and understandible fashion.His comprehensivestrategy covers much more than just how to help the child, which it doesextremely effectively.He also describes creative ways for parents to helpone another.He focuses on both problem prevention and resolution.Idiscovered through other literature and journals that Dr. Jacobs is anexpert on the naturally different parenting instincts of fathers vs.mothers.I think that his knowledge and experience in this differentiationare key to the success of his methods and teachings.

I recommend"Fathering the ADHD Child" to anyone with children, not justthose with ADHD children.I think Dr. Jacobs' coaching techniques areuniversally applicable and helpful to any parent who could use someguidance on familial responsibility and relationship nurturing, whichincludes just about any mom or dad I have ever met. ... Read more

Product Description
FatherTime inspires and challenges parents toward a greater understanding of the art of fathering.The book provides a model of strong, loving fathering followed by a series of 52 brief stories which, like parenting itself, are by turns poignant, sharp-edged, and laugh-out-loud funny.The stories reveal universal themes of fathering through moments on the job that will echo the reader’s experience -- the wonder and fear of childbirth, the death of a boy's own father, weaning a toddler from the pacifier, divorce, learning to swim, the first baseball glove, a teenager's first date. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Seriously misleading...
This book reads like a "men's right's manual."Rather than reading a book with stories about fatherhood, I found myself reading a book about the two author's experiences as fathers, and their histories with their own fathers.For every five chapters about how essential men are to children's lives, there's a cute anecdote.This book was far from touching, moving, or heart warming.I was seriously mislead by the editorial comments.I found this book while looking for a "father" counterpart to the wildly successful "Operating Instructions" by Annie Lamott.What I found was a book by two men who tooted their own horns as fathers.Besides the obviously lacking storyline, the constant editorial mistakes (spelling, grammar, etc.) made it difficult to muddle through.Do yourself a favor, skip this book and move on to something better.

For future fathers.
I enjoyed reading this book.It was an easy read that I could just pick up and go with any time.It is a good book for filling in the small amounts of wasted time you find waiting for things.I could relate to many of the stories.I think this book could be especially useful to a new father that may not be sure of himself or his roll as a father.Many fathers feel the way you feel and many things should not be totally unexpected after reading this book.

A Refreshing, Personal Look at Fathering
FATHERTIME provides a refreshing, personal look at fathering, very different from other books on the issue which are more analytical and detached . . . Many fathers will identify with [these stories], and fathers-to-be will draw great benefit as well . . . a series of 52 brief but inspiring stories . . . a delight to read.

--excerpted from EVERYMAN: A Men's Journal, #48, April/May, 2001

FatherTime
This book taught me a lot about fathering, about the kind of father I am and how I can be a better father.Through personal stories of pain and joy, Chris Scribner and Chris Frey opened up new insights for me.I couldn't help but visualize my kids in many of the stories.Their writing styles complimented one another and painted pictures that made me laugh and cry.As a divorced man with two kids and a new blended family, I feel like I am not alone dealing with all the complexities. A heartfelt "thank you" to both Chris's on this beautiful work. Randy

Fathering With Heart
FatherTime by Chris Scribner, Ph.D. and Chris Frey, MSW started out as the private journals of two men, writing notes to themselves to preserve memories of their childhood and their experiences as fathers. Perhaps that is why it is one of those books in which the authors open their hearts to share deeply of themselves and inspire the reader to open their own heart to receive what is offered. FatherTime is a gift of the heart; of two hearts. Here are stories of connection, love and admiration for their own fathers, as well as the bittersweetness of old healed wounds of childhood. FatherTime reveals that the authors, through the alchemy of their own internal work, have transformed their histories into great strengths of manhood and fatherhood; gifts of love, insight, and nurturing for the next generation. And for the rest of us fathers on the same path. The old paradigm of mothers as closer nurturers and fathers as more distant providers is fading. Fathers must be helped to see the impact they have upon the social, emotional and spiritual well-being of their sons and daughters. Both sons and daughters need to receive healthy masculine nurturing as well as feminine energy. In the past fathers have been too easily marginalized as being too emotionally shutdown to be nurturing, and therefore incapable of providing a role model for healthy adulthood, and healthy masculinity. Frey and Scribner are leading the way in demonstrating that men can be loving, sensitive, compassionate and nurturing toward children. And that men have value in the wisdom they bring. Especially out of their inner work, for our strengths as men and fathers comes as much from our healed wounds as from our blessings received. Frey and Scribner are writing about the fathers we all want to be; the gift we want to bring to our children from the core of who we are. FatherTime is best read with tears; tears of sadness and regret, tears of healing, tears of relief at the recognition of our common human experience, tears of joy and hope. Your reading will be a gift to your father, to yourself, and to your children. The hearts of these two men will change and empower the hearts of many men. Read this book....for yourself, and for the children of the world. ... Read more

Product Description
This collection of short humorous and heart warmingstories written by psychologist-dad will make grandparents reminisceabout parenting, remind parents to treasure each moment with theirchildren, and parents-to-be reflect on their own childhood.Amazon.com Review
Fathers parent very differently from mothers, and vive ladifference!This book of short personal essays focuses on thefather-son relationships between Michael Murphy and his three boys.Whether inadvertently peeing on the cat or going through the agoniesof LIKING a girl for the first time, Murphy's kids come to life forus.

In "The Big D," his 6-year-old sobs, wanting to know whathappens to the stars when they disappear.Once reassured, he says,"Hey Dad, can I go play Nintendo now?" It's not so much whatthe kids do--all kids have moments of surprise brilliance andpoignancy--it's how well Murphy filters and responds to them.You'llbe glad to meet this big-hearted father who has a lot to teach all ofus. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A beautiful gift for every parent
I found this book to be a wonderful read. It's not just humorous and wise, but I found that I could re-read it six months later and see new things as my own children grew older. The author has a warm way of communicating that makes this book one you'll want to keep for a long, long time.

Is a father's role essential?
In an interview with Bodywise, Dr. Murphy said "We are at themost powerful and critical point of human history as the traditional roles of men and women are changing. For the first time in human history, we have a choice... Fathers are no longer necessary to the biological creation of a child; the result is a change in the constitution of the family as never before." Dr. Murphy goes on to say that "Studies show that many children in the US will have lost their father by a child's eighteenth birthday. What does this mean to our society's future? And is a father's role essential to the healthy development of a child and if so how? Research shows that children perceive their fathers as a mixture of love and fear. That fear is translated into a sense of safety against risks in the world. So as the child grows into adulthood, he has a postive sense of himself via a role model and can feel safe. Studies have shown that this feeling of security is directly to violence in adulthood". This title is for all fathers who devote and give of themselves to their children. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life between career and modern life's demands, it's easy to lose focus or maintain a sense of humor on what raising a child is truly all about; reading Popsicle Fish will certainly change that even for but a few peaceful moments. Dr. Murphy, a father to 3 children: his own child, a step-child, and an adopted son - he takes us out of 'our reality' and shows us how to look at life and its many events through the eyes and heart of a child. Don't even think about reading this title in one sitting - indulge yourself and read the 3 page chapters whenever you need a "reality check" on how vital your contribution as a father really means to your child and how it the powerful impact that will last a lifetime. ... Read more

Product Description
Do you find yourself overwhelmed with guilt-laden messages that tell you of the many ways that you are falling short as a husband and father? Are you tired of running on the "you just need to try harder" fathering treadmill? The author of "Like Father, Like Son" will lead you on a liberating journey of discovery of your need to embrace Another Father as you grapple with the issues of fatherhood. In "Like Father, Like Son," you will discover: * How deeply you have been influenced by the relationship with your father and why that is so critical for you to grasp for your family's sake, * How being a father provides divinely designed opportunities for you both to heal from a painful past and to build upon a lasting legacy from the good inherited from your father, *How embracing your fathering role will lead you and your children to discover the reality of Another Father. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Man Behind the Book
I have known Jamie Bohnett for over 20 years. He walks what he believes. He poured his heart out into this book and doesnt bore you with endless statistics and graphs. Having raised and discipled four kids, plus discipling and mentoring United States Marines, Jamie has real and practical life experience. This is a great read. I recommend you take the time to peruse this book. You will love it!!!!

Fathering like the Eternal Father
A woman's relationship with her father permeates how she expects to be treated by a man.Just like a woman brings this type of baggage (or positivity) into a relationship, so does a father bring the positives or negatives of his relationship with his father into the marriage.It also colors how we see the heavenly Father. When we realize that, we'll be halfway there.The other half you'll gain through reading this book is that there are several areas where our families need us to strive as hard as we do at work when we are in the home arena.Discipline, love and attention, spiritual equipping, play and several other topics are addressed in quick chapters that can be digested in one sitting.If you would like to improve your relationship with your wife and kids before it is too late, you need to check this book out.Be intentional about taking care of your family.

Like Father, Like Son
I am reading through this book and am finding it to be hitting on some very foundational issues related to being, not only a dad, but a husband as well. Jamie Bohnett is very transparent in sharing his own life experiences and the lessons he has learned.
The book has made me think even more about what my son is learning from me in the way I live my life day-to-day.I am buying a copy for a new dad in my office and will get a copy to give my son when he becomes a dad.I highly recommend this book to all dads.

Fathering Book That Respects Your Intelligence
Finally a fathering book that is not a simple minded "how to book."Like Father Like Son ask fathers to analyze how they do parenting and how their sons develop an image of God through the way they parent.Until reading this book I never really looked at being a father this way.Now, every action I take I ask how will my son see God differently because of my actions.It doesn't create guilt in me it just makes me realize that when I do make errors to go to my son and correct any damage I might of done.Thanks to the author for treating me like an adult in writing this book.No simple ten-step book here....The author just sets out to ask you thought provoking questions and tells great stories to make sure you discover what God has for you and you son.

Like Father, Like Son
Outstanding material that clearly articulates issues fathers and sons face in their relationship, from the author and coauthor who each faced unique trauma as sons, and also had experience being fathers.

The stories really brought the material home in a way that is easy to identify with, and great for discussion groups. ... Read more

Product Description
Ever need a fact or quotation on fathering? Designed for speechwriters, journalists, writers, researchers, students, professors, teachers, historians, academics, scrapbookers, trivia buffs and word lovers, this is the largest book ever created for this single word. It represents a compilation from a variety of sources with a linguistic emphasis on anything relating to the term "fathering," including non-conventional usage and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities. The entries cover all parts of speech (noun, verb, adverb or adjective usage) as well as use in modern slang, pop culture, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This "data dump" results in many unexpected examples for fathering, since the editorial decision to include or exclude terms is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under "fair use" conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain. Proceeds from this book are used to expand the content and coverage of Webster's Online Dictionary (www.websters-online-dictionary.org). ... Read more

Product Description
'Diaries of a Forgotten Parent: Divorced Dads on Fathering Through and Beyond Divorce' opens an intimate window on the lives of divorced men. Literature on divorce focuses primarily on its effects on women and children, but fair and personal accounts of the lived experiences of custodial and non-custodial fathers are less available. In this highly accessible text, ten American men share intensely personal reflections of guilt, pain, frustration, sacrifice, loneliness and pride. The men do not see themselves as exemplary; rather, their stories are graphically honest, revealing what Paterson calls ordinary men 'with all their warts'. The author reviews significant works on the male experience of divorce from psychological, legal, educational and sociological experts, interspersing commentary and research with the men's own voices. From the initial discussion of why men marry and why they divorce through the men's painful memories of being pushed out of their children's lives by angry and resentful mothers, the author illuminates the legal, fiscal, emotional and practical experiences of men struggling to reinvent their fathering while they find themselves reconfigured into deserters, deadbeats and visitors. The societal myth that fathers are less valuable parents than mothers is thoroughly deconstructed in this text. The book will help divorced and divorcing men and those who work with them to fully understand the experiences of fathers who never stopped loving and caring for their children, in spite of the fact that the contributions of fathers are still largely discounted by schools, courts, and worst of all, by their children's mothers. From this book, readers will understand that there are just too many reasons why fathers must never be forgotten in the lives of their children. ... Read more

Product Description
This provocative study will help both new and seasoned fathers build a better relationship with their daughters.Each chapter poses questions such as "Why is a son 'Daddy's big man' and a daughter is 'Daddy's little girl'"/and provides tips and usggestins on improving father-daughter relationships. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I do not recommend this book
This book is a collection of essays by Mennonite theologian and author Dr. John W. Miller. These essays go along so well together that they seem no different than the chapters in any other book. In this book, Dr. Miller examines how fathering progressed from the simple biological function found in pre-sentient, un-evolved man, through the grasping of the male role in reproduction to the raising of the male role to patriarch and "owner" of the family.

The author then goes on to show how, properly understood, the Biblical understanding of fatherhood resulted in a taming and locking in of men in a more humane and equitable system than was prevalent in other cultures in the ancient Near-East. Towards the end of the book, Dr. Miller shows how the Biblical family was first assaulted by the Industrial Revolution and then smashed by the Sexual Revolution, but that it is still a good idea. And finally, he gives his "Few Modest Proposals," that is that churches attempt to reinforce a non-patristic fatherhood.

This is another one of those books, about which I find myself writing, "I wanted to like this book, I really did..." In fact, while the book starts out strongly, the author becomes increasingly wishy-washy and unconvincing. For example, as he seems to address Christianity and Judaism as mere psychological and social movements, which have a claim to acceptance on the grounds that they have some good effects, his idea that churches should go on teaching a certain family arrangement cannot tell the reader why women who do not want that arrangement should submit themselves to it. No doubt there are many other psychological studies that suggest that the Biblical family arrangement is not the perfect arrangement.

Therefore, my interpretation of Dr. Miller's argument is that the Biblical family is better than Patriarchy and better than fatherless households...so you should have one. I found this book flat, passionless and unconvincing. If the author was preaching to the choir (people such as myself), then his sermon fell flat. Alternatively, if you are against the patristic tone of the Bible, you will not find anything in this book that will convince you that you should change your mind.

I do not recommend this book.
... Read more

Product Description
Fathering: A Practical Guide for Dads will help you make the most of your role as a partner, protector, and playmate for your children. Dr. Grace Ketterman, pediatrician and psychiatrist, offers hands-on helps to be a world-class father. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Keep god away from children!
This book has no place in any responsible parent's house: it is a religious pamphlet, not a parenting book.If you are an open-minded person and want your child to become one too, god is not an appropriate character to enter your family's life.If you are looking for a real parenting guide that leaves mythology aside, look elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description

Over the past few decades, scholarly and policy interest in fatherhood and fathering has burgeoned, in large part because of profound social changes in women’s and men’s lives in the last half of the twentieth century. However, this research has remained largely national in focus, with little cross-cultural dissemination of knowledge about fathering practices and supportive or constraining social policies.

This insightful volume presents a transatlantic perspective on fatherhood and fathering comparatively across nation states, as well as in individual countries (including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Norway.) Exploring the diversity of fatherhood, it encompasses differences across social class, race and ethnicity, age and life course, and varied household formations. The articles examine young fathers, separated and divorced fathers, fathers from minority ethnic and immigrant groups, working-class fathers, new fathers, gay fathers, and fathers of children with special needs. Readers can gauge the different “epochs” of fathering over time and explore the tension that fathers may experience between being good financial providers and actively caring for their children.

Authored by leading figures in fathering research from North America, Europe, and Scandinavia, the multilayered and intriguing articles in this volume of The ANNALS point toward the need for sustainable policy frameworks that enable fathers to be involved in their children’s lives in ways that do not include biased assumptions about the expression of that involvement.

Product Description
Ensure the Transfer of Your Spiritual InheritanceOne of the most important benefits of reading this book will be the fresh understanding of the power and importance of God as father.God fathers His church through those who have His Spirit, which is a Fathering Spirit. Prov. 13:24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. (NIV)Godly discipline chastens, corrects, and loves and can only come from a father who has a Fathering Spirit. The writer of Hebrews says it this way: Heb. 12:6 Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. (NIV)In a day when there are so many absentee fathers and perverse child rearing laws, we must learn how to love our children and teach them how to live in their rightful place. This holds true in the church as well. Many feel they are not loved when a spiritual father disciplines them. Still others long for the embrace of a fathering spirit who will dare to discipline them and help them achieve God's best for their lives. My prayer is that this book will help you navigate through cloudy and sometimes difficult places and arrive at the place of safety in the father's arms.May the church of the Lord Jesus Christ embrace the true love of the Father and receive His discipline. Author's Bio:Apostle E. James Logan is the Senior Pastor of Christian Faith Fellowship Church in Zion, Illinois. He is committed to building the Body of Christ in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. James Logan possesses the unique ability to uncover God's purpose in the lives of people often shrouded by the pain of the past and the snares of the enemy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

KINGDOM INSPIRED
THIS BOOK, THE FATHERING SPIRIT IS A MUST READ....IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT WE EMBRACE THE NEED IN OUR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND CHURCHES FOR THE FATHERING SPIRIT. IN THIS BOOK E.JAMES LOGAN PASSIONATELY EXPLORES ON NUMEROUS LEVELS WHAT THE FATHERING SPIRIT AND THE INHERITANC OF THE FATHER MEANS. PAGE BY PAGE YOU ARE LEAD ON A SCRIPTUAL JOURNEY WHICH ULTIMATELY LEADS TO THE SOURCE OF THE FATHERING SPIRIT, GOD THE FATHER...OUTSTANDING......

Increase and Blessing
The Fathering Spirit will definitely bless your life. It is easy reading and just as he teaches every Wednesday, Apostle James "makes it plain".This book blessed and increased me personally.If you do not have a Fathering Spirit in your life, I encourage you to recognize the spiritual leader God has placed in your life. I truly have received more wisdom in this book.The clarification Apostle imparts on what a father and mother provides a child is edifying (bottom pg.38).This is a book I will read again.I thank God for Apostle James and Pastor Deborah and pray increase and blessings into their lives.
God Bless~ ... Read more