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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
I enjoy Lewis' writing and plan to read his complete bibliography. This book, however, fell far short of my expectations.
The title says it's an accidental guide to fatherhood. Please do not let anyone read this book in preparation for fatherhood. Lewis started writing a journal and articles about his experience with being a father and husband and these have been collected into this short book. While at its core, many of the stories ring true, overall, I got the sense of a sitcom dad. Dumb, obtuse, selfish, sneaky.
Yes, I have dressed my children and thought they looked incredible only for my wife to say, "they can't wear that." I think every dad has experienced something of the sort. Or taken their kid to the doctor only for the mother to say, "why didn't you ask this question or what about that question" only for me to shrug my shoulders. Those stories are in this book. But so are stories of giving the wrong amount of medicine, applying cough syrup to the skin, minimizing the father's involvement and importance in many aspects of family life.
Maybe Lewis was trying to overexaggerate to be funny or maybe he really feels this way. It wasn't a book for me though.
The title says it's an accidental guide to fatherhood. Please do not let anyone read this book in preparation for fatherhood. Lewis started writing a journal and articles about his experience with being a father and husband and these have been collected into this short book. While at its core, many of the stories ring true, overall, I got the sense of a sitcom dad. Dumb, obtuse, selfish, sneaky.
Yes, I have dressed my children and thought they looked incredible only for my wife to say, "they can't wear that." I think every dad has experienced something of the sort. Or taken their kid to the doctor only for the mother to say, "why didn't you ask this question or what about that question" only for me to shrug my shoulders. Those stories are in this book. But so are stories of giving the wrong amount of medicine, applying cough syrup to the skin, minimizing the father's involvement and importance in many aspects of family life.
Maybe Lewis was trying to overexaggerate to be funny or maybe he really feels this way. It wasn't a book for me though.
Far from offering any parenting advice, Lewis here offers anecdotes on the birth and early months of each of his 3 kids. He has a subtle and wicked cynical humor that coupled with his self-avowed sub-par fathering, makes for a quick and reassuring read (for new and soon-to-be dads, I imagine).
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Utterly charming. Required reading for west coast dads.
I buy this book for every expecting dad I know. One of my favorite books on how children teach us how to love.
Short, easy read. Funny in parts, but not laugh out loud. Maybe when/if I have kids I would have enjoyed his anecdotes more.
I think I enjoyed Joel Stein's "Man Made" much more than this one because Stein chronicled a personal transformation that took place, not an easy or expected one, but one quite honest and touching. The stories from Lewis had humor and were self-deprecating at times, but they seemed like more standard, self-centered, dumb guy things (avoiding spending time with baby daughter because he doesn't know what to do, mishandling a kid's sickness, being afraid of a vasectomy) than anything very revealing of the deeper elements of fatherhood.