Reviewed by Jeanne
Just in time for Father’s Day, which is probably NOT a
coincidence, James Patterson has a little book of advice about how to, well, be
the best dad you can be. It’s both a
light-hearted and serious look at the best way to parent. Patterson says not every suggestion will work
for every parent, but he does give easy tips and things to think about. It’s like having a nice chat with someone
whose been there, done that, and here are the highlights of what he’s learned.
One tip I thought was interesting was the suggestion to talk
to male friends about being a dad.
Patterson points out that men talk about all sorts of things from business
to sports when they get together, but it’s also good to be able to talk about
parenting—even if it’s just to vent.
There might be a new perspective from other fathers dealing with the
same thing.
Another one I liked was about choosing a name for offspring
which involved saying the name out loud many times to decide if it’s really a
name that you like, day in and day out, in joy and in frustration.
He also lists books on parenting and explains why he chose
these particular titles.
The book is sprinkled with quotes from fathers, mostly not
famous ones, which give insights or tips.
Finally, he has 17 items on a checklist of things to look at
and think about, distilled from the book. He doesn’t expect everything will work for
every dad, but if even a few of these resonate then the time spent with this
book will be worth it.
I liked the friendly tone of the book and the simple
suggestions. There were a number of
things worth thinking about and not just for parents: some of them are just
ideas for human beings.
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