In any hierarchy of life's important roles, fatherhood unquestionably sits near the top. And yet, for all its myriad and complex demands, the job doesn't come with an instruction manual. In The #1 Dad Book, famed writer James Patterson does his best to remedy that deficiency. It's a breezy but heartfelt and highly practical guide to navigating the challenges facing fathers at any stage in their journeys.
Like much of Patterson's fiction, The #1 Dad Book is served up in compact, easily digested chapters. As he offers tips that include being liberal in hugging your children, not being afraid to say no, and taking time to read to them, Patterson--father to a millennial-generation son--adopts the tone of a trusted friend sharing his own experience over a beer. Indeed, he hopes to encourage men to be more open about comparing their parenting experiences and learning from others' failures and successes.
Patterson supplements his gentle, amiable prescriptions with anecdotes and tips from fathers both anonymous and famous. He also includes lists of favorite children's books to encourage reading together, and books for fathers who want to go deeper into the subject of parenting. He concludes with a summary of his recommendations--17 in all--that's suitable for taping to a refrigerator or slipping into a wallet. And while he admits that not every one of his ideas will land for every reader, any father will walk away from this book both with feelings of reassurance and some useful hints about how to do a vital job just a bit better. --Harvey Freedenberg, freelance reviewer