Resources

Having just searched the public library for resources concerning fatherhood, it's evident that little is invested in the subject. Of the resources available, two are by national weatherman Al Roker: Don't Make Me Stop This Car! and Big Shoes. Only Daddy Smarts by Bradley G. Richardson approaches fatherhood from a general perspective. Though, as a dissatisfied reader pointed out, 26 of the 29 chapters concerned pre-birth topics. (The follow-up concerning "the first two years" is not available.) Father and Child Reunion by Warren Farrell, Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Margaret J. Meeker, and novelist Michael Chabon's Manhood for Amateurs complete the list of resources found with a subject search for fatherhood.

Fatherhood is a growing subject of interest and worth investing in. The number of "daddy blogs" substantiates such a claim. Recently Daddy Dialectic blogger Jeremy Adam Smith published his book The Daddy Shift, addressing the subject of both fathering and parenting in the twenty-first century. Mothering magazine opened the subject to its readers some two years ago with regular articles, as well as a fathering blog authored by Smith; and Peggy O'Mara, the magazine's publisher and editor, takes up the subject and gathers resources in her current editorial.

Yet "motherhood" outnumbers "fatherhood" with resources available to parents in general; and specifically at local levels. I had to order Smith's above-mentioned book using the inter-library loan system.

The options probably aren't much better at the local bookstore. A typical "dad book" is something like The Guy's Guide to Surviving Pregnancy, Childbirth and the First Year of Fatherhood by Michael Crider--also the author of The Guy's Guide to Surviving Toddlers, Tantrums, and Separation Anxiety (Yours, Not Your Kid's!). (I've only read the former, but based on it I don't recommend either.) As a reader review points out, the author employs just about any cliche you can imagine with regard to fatherhood.

Why do so many books about fatherhood rely on humor to sell the product? It seems these personal perspective books are meant to supplement the sterile parenting manuals. And apparently most men go in for humor. It's sad that stereotypes such as this debase the resources available to fathers in general. Take out all the jokes and cliches, and nothing substantial remains.

There are of course more books available for sale online, though with all the bad books out there it's quite the task to find a good book for you. It's best to rely on others whose recommendations you value (not reviews by readers you know nothing about). For example, I personally would start with the books listed in the above-mentioned editorial by Peggy O'Mara. You can find a blog you like, and find out what that blogger reads. Often these resources are online, may even be other blogs. But, more and more, new and better books for fathers are being published. Hopefully these books find shelves in bookstores and public libraries near you.