Review by Booklist Review
The prolific Patterson "talked to lots of experts, and lots of dads, and lots of experts who are also dads" to compile this pithy, low-stress guide to being a better father, written in brief chapters as befits the amount of time a new father probably has to read a book on fatherhood (i.e., not much). Patterson suggests hugging a lot and embracing the messiness of dirty diapers and slimy shirts; reading to your kids until they are old enough to read to you (and here he includes some book suggestions); being consistent and listening; finding dad friends and fostering intergenerational relationships; and showing affection to your partner in front of your kids ("Saying 'I love you' is not a sign of weakness"). Funny and wise ("You want meanness in your house even less than you want rodents. Unless you just got suckered into having a pet hamster. Rookie mistake."), this book will appeal to overwhelmed new dads looking for some reinforcement that they're doing okay. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Even Patterson's nonfiction books are highly sought after, and his dad-readers will appreciate important advice from a trusted source.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Bestseller Patterson (The Writer) steps away from suspense for this good-natured collection of wisdom about fatherhood. Much of the advice centers on the challenges of infanthood, including naming one's baby (steer clear of names that "seem funny, or cute, or clever in the moment," because "you're going to be calling it out many thousands of times over the next eighteen years"), dealing with diapers (fathers should "embrace the poop" and avoid putting off changes, which can lead to diaper rash), and reading to one's kids, which exposes the young brain to "almost three hundred thousand more words before kindergarten" and stokes older kids' curiosity. Meanwhile, dads of older children are reminded of the continued importance of physical touch ("Hugging isn't just for babies"), consistency, and forging bonds with other dads. Patterson brings a wry touch to his advice, mixing deeper truths ("The idea is not to change your kids into who you are.... It's to help them discover who they are") with lighter fare (of baby wipes: "you can never have too many") and sensibly encouraging readers to shoot for progress over perfection. Seasoned dads and dads-to-be will find value here. (May)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A by-the-numbers guide to superior fatherhood. In a mind meld of Dr. Spock and Dr. Seuss, writing machine Patterson churns up a staccato treatise on the fine art of fathering: "Occasionally, you can be a knucklehead. That's okay. This batshit crazy world isn't making things any easier." Most of the advice is the sort of thing you'd find on the back of a cereal box, if cereal boxes were devoted to such topics: Use baby wipes ("Don't scrimp. Buy in bulk"). Hug the kid ("They can't get enough of you"). Exploit the good will of doting grandparents ("a great resource for free childcare and lots of cool presents"). Lay off the booze and ganja ("Your kids are worth it"). An allied sentiment: "Grow the fuck up. It's time." A self-serving bit of advice, perhaps, is one that we'd hope every parent adopts, and that's to read to your kids: Tell them stories, encourage them to love words, and so forth, and they'll have an edge on, as Patterson, borrowing from sportscaster Dick Schaap, puts it, "people trying to make the world dumber." This book isn't dumb, but it's written as if for readers whose parents didn't read to them; just so, some of the best ideas in Patterson's pages come from others, as when the writer George Saunders asks, "My time here is short--what can I do the most beautifully?" The takeaway of this already short book are some dicta to be found on two pages at the very end, and that seems too small a payoff for the price of admission, for all Patterson's enthusiasm about his world-changing mission. Advice for those for whom parenting is an alien concept, with nary a surprise to be found. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
