Reviews for The Father's Almanac

The average rating for The Father's Almanac based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2008-07-28 00:00:00 Robert Roselli The author is a father of two sons and a child-center volunteer, but this book is not just one random guy's ruminations on how to be a better father. The author is also an experienced book editor, and he uses those skills to blend the experiences of nearly 50 other fathers of various backgrounds as he compiles this almanac of observations and seasoned advice. The style is matter-of-fact yet sympathetic; pragmatic, down-to-earth, and engaging. The content is fair and balanced, offering varying points of view on many details of child-rearing, and does not preach. And while fairly nuanced in this way, on the other hand, it's not wishy-washy and "anything goes" about things -- it's also crisply authoritative in areas where there is just one no-nonsense way to go. E.g., the dangers of older cribs and the maximum recommended gaps between slats, or other safety issues not really open to much experimentation. Overall though, the book is refreshingly descriptive rather than prescriptive. It's a nice mix of specific, often creative suggestions along with a general philosophy of caring, healthy, and personally appropriate/satisfying fatherhood. The Almanac will make an excellent gift for fathers of newborns or young children -- up to approximately kindergarten, I'd say, although some of the material is appropriate for even slightly older children too. Note: although even the more recent edition feels slightly dated simply because the pictures are old, the material itself is all still relevant as far as I could tell.

Review # 2 was written on 2009-02-23 00:00:00 Lea Cloe This book was written 15 years ago and I worried that it would be dated. Sadly, it is as relevant today as it was then. Lots of information here to digest, mostly about the pressure parents put on their children regarding their education, and the impact of teachers in that journey. Thompson shadows a number of students through their school day and it is fascinating to follow along. We never know all that a student carries with them (psychologically) to school. A valuable read.