We get stuff. I mean, really, I get a lot of different things from companies, whether it’s gear to review on my YouTube channel, films to write about here on the Dad at the Movies corner of GoFatherhood, or books to check out. I’m an avid reader, finishing 50-75 books/year or thereabouts (follow me on Goodreads to see what I’m reading at any given moment) so getting books in the mail is a fantastic boon! The two latest I’ve received are both pre-publication “Advance Reader’s Editions” so they’re not quite done but the pages have all been laid out and it’s typically just a few minor edits away from the final bookstore edition.
First up is the beautiful and amusingly titled “This Is The Book You Give Your Dad: Everything An Awesome Father Wants to Know” by Matt Goulet with fun and whimsical illustrations by Andrew Janik and the second is “The Life of Dad: Reflections on Fatherhood from Today’s Leaders, Icons, and Legendary Dads” by Jon Finkel and Art Eddy, the latter tied into the popular Life of Dad podcast and Web site. Both are scheduled for release on May 7, 2019 and both look really terrific.
First off, some covers:
Two very different types of books, but both are definitely time well spent. The Life of Dad book is comprised of excerpts from email interviews with tons of famous dads, including Mark Hamill, Jim Gaffigan, Mark Cuban and Michael Strahan and is broken down into What To Teach (including mindset, character, work ethic, values and humility), What to Know and What to Do Together.
As an example (remember, this is the advance reader’s edition before you swipe this quote), Mark Hamill — Luke Skywalker of Star Wars fame, of course — had this wisdom when asked about core values he wanted to instill in his children:
“Honesty, the golden rule, treating people the way you would want to be treated. All those sorts of things like kindness and selflessness, trying to do the right thing. It sounds corny when you put them into words, but I have been very lucky. It is not an easy journey… One of my proudest achievements is that all three of my kids and I have a great relationship. It is not easy to raise three children and not have them all have resentments or be angry at you. Keeping a strong relationship is something that you have to be dedicated to 24×7.”
Though I haven’t read the series, I imagine that this Life of Dad book format is very similar to the wildly popular “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series, not a book most people will read cover to cover in an afternoon but rather something that will be picked up for inspiration or encouragement and read a few pages at a time. In that vein it is really fun reading and would be a great book for, say, a therapist’s office or in the family area at the local church too.
At the other extreme is This Is The Book You Give Your Dad which utilizes a very funny format and style to convey a lot of wisdom. And it also ties in with a cinematic line bad guy Darth Vader addresses to Luke (Mark Hamill), as it happens:
It’s all in good fun and this is a great coffee table book and is sure to be a hit come Father’s Day. But don’t just flip through it and chuckle, actually read it.
Lots of good stuff, including tips on what a newly single Dad might want to ensure is stocked in his fridge for when the kids head over for a visit, a weekend stay or even for the summer:
I’m not doing great according to Goulet’s checklist, but I know my kids won’t eat cold cuts, I don’t drink beer, and why would I have a bottle of wine in the fridge when I don’t drink wine either? Anyway, still good reading, and oh, those bagels!
If you’re in the doldrums after a long, cold winter and need some Dadly inspiration – or have a partner that could do with a chuckle and some support – either or both of these books would be great additions to anyone’s coffee table or bookshelf. They’re both available May 7, so check ’em out and consider pre-ordering on Amazon.
This Is The Book You Give Your Dad: Everything An Awesome Father Wants to Know by Matt Goulet, with illustrations by Andrew Janik, and The Life of Dad: Reflections on Fatherhood from Today’s Leaders, Icons, and Legendary Dads by Jon Finkel and Art Eddy.
Disclosure: These were both Advance Reader’s Editions and quotes, photographs and illustrations are all subject to change prior to final publication in May. They were sent to me to read, enjoy and review.