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mich_mm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
3.25
I vaguely remember when the show based on this book was on TV so I figured I'd give it a shot. I usually don't enjoy nonfiction and find it tedious but this book was a very easy read and I finished it rather quickly.
esnapp1's review against another edition
3.0
I’ll be honest, I only read this because I loved the show. The book is nothing like the show at all, so I’m trying not to see through a tainted lease. It is absolutely beautifully written. It’s a wonderful sentiment. And his daughters should cherish this for the rest of their lives. But I just felt like it needed a little more. Like bringing things full circle? I’m not sure what I’m looking for, but I feel like it was missing.
kski83's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Inspiring concept. It makes me wish I had something in place since my mom passed. I like the general idea of expanding the meaning of family beyond blood relatives.
hillarya's review against another edition
3.0
A pretty quick read about relationships and love and enduring hardships. I enjoyed the refresher on how blessed we are even through our trials.
krissybarton's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. I think that if you have kids, it is a must read.
zoemig's review
The Council of Dads by Bruce Feiler is the heartbreaking and powerful true story of what happens when a father of two young girls is diagnosed with an extremely aggressive and life-threatening cancer. Bruce Feiler was only in his forties when he learned he had bone cancer, and he was instantly concerned about what life would be like for her his twin girls if he was no longer in their life. Within a few days he had come up with the concept of a Council of Dads, a group of men who were not biologically related to him but rather friends that represented different facets of himself and would be able to give his daughters advice and let them in on what their dad would have thought.
Feiler is the author of several acclaimed non-fiction books but with The Council of Dads he lets the reader into his own life and what an extremely difficult year in his life was like. The memoir intertwines with a lesson and short biography of each of the six dads on Feiler's council, as well as letters he sent to family and friends about his illness, and of course some of his own advice for his daughters.
Instantly upon reading the synopsis of The Council of Dads I knew it would be a sad book, but because of Feiler's skilled writing it is so much more than that. It makes you laugh and smile and it warms your heart. It's a powerful testament to the strength that people can find in impossible situations, and the bravery of an ordinary man. The Council of Dads is an emotional and moving story which sticks with the reader, reminding them of the value of each day. Unlike Two Kisses for Maddy by Matthew Logelin which I read recently and is also about a man's relationship with his daughter in tragic circumstances, the reader is able to maintain a sense of optimism throughout The Council of Dads because we know that Feiler comes out okay and that is how he is able to write the memoir in the first place. I think that Feiler's positive attitude throughout his experiences, even though he is realistic about his chances of surviving, means that despite its serious subject matter this is not a bleak book.
An interesting aspect of The Council of Dads that I didn't expect is the insight into the uniqueness of male friendships, and how important good friends are. There is so much talk in the world about deadbeat dads, it is definitely a nice change to read a book written by a man who is clearly a loving and caring father and is more concerned than anything about the impact his absence would have on his daughters. With Father's Day approaching, I could not think of a better book to recommend than The Council of Dads.
Feiler is the author of several acclaimed non-fiction books but with The Council of Dads he lets the reader into his own life and what an extremely difficult year in his life was like. The memoir intertwines with a lesson and short biography of each of the six dads on Feiler's council, as well as letters he sent to family and friends about his illness, and of course some of his own advice for his daughters.
Instantly upon reading the synopsis of The Council of Dads I knew it would be a sad book, but because of Feiler's skilled writing it is so much more than that. It makes you laugh and smile and it warms your heart. It's a powerful testament to the strength that people can find in impossible situations, and the bravery of an ordinary man. The Council of Dads is an emotional and moving story which sticks with the reader, reminding them of the value of each day. Unlike Two Kisses for Maddy by Matthew Logelin which I read recently and is also about a man's relationship with his daughter in tragic circumstances, the reader is able to maintain a sense of optimism throughout The Council of Dads because we know that Feiler comes out okay and that is how he is able to write the memoir in the first place. I think that Feiler's positive attitude throughout his experiences, even though he is realistic about his chances of surviving, means that despite its serious subject matter this is not a bleak book.
An interesting aspect of The Council of Dads that I didn't expect is the insight into the uniqueness of male friendships, and how important good friends are. There is so much talk in the world about deadbeat dads, it is definitely a nice change to read a book written by a man who is clearly a loving and caring father and is more concerned than anything about the impact his absence would have on his daughters. With Father's Day approaching, I could not think of a better book to recommend than The Council of Dads.
smithy361's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.0
ayanez427's review against another edition
5.0
I won this through the First Reads program...and LOVED it! The author does well telling the story on three different fronts. He alternates between present interactions with people, letters to family and friends, and most importantly, asking the 6 men he feels best represent his personality and views to act as his Council of Dads. This Council is supposed to share his views with his daughters in case he passes from the rare bone cancer he has been diagnosed with.
Even not having children myself, this book made me think about how I view my life and what perceptions I want to put out in the world. My favorite part was asking his friend "Ben the Second" to be on the Council. The section is sub-titled Live the Questions and has a quote from Rainier Maria Rilke that I love- "Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves. Do not seek the answers themselves, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions."
Even not having children myself, this book made me think about how I view my life and what perceptions I want to put out in the world. My favorite part was asking his friend "Ben the Second" to be on the Council. The section is sub-titled Live the Questions and has a quote from Rainier Maria Rilke that I love- "Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves. Do not seek the answers themselves, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions."
carm_caught_reading's review against another edition
5.0
This is how much a daddy is supposed to love his kids. Makes me wish I had been blessed more in that regard as there were so many times I could’ve used a man’s input and guidance in my life. Truly beautiful the lessons this book teaches.