I wrote this last month and everything with the classic formatting was fine. I’m trying to publish this now and the formatting is all effed up. Why do they have to mess with a good thing? Anyway, apologies if the formatting looks …. not my choice.

A friend of mine gave the book to me after reading it. She liked it and I did also. I will bring it back to her at our book club meeting next month and hope someone else takes it. (It was taken 2 weeks ago.)

The title is apt in its giving good practical advice for dads and for other guys in the family who might not have children but can step in to be memorable uncles, then grand-uncles.

It’s also accurate in that it takes an hour, even if you stop to think about what you’re reading, which is one of the reasons I decided to read it. The size of the book is a small 4″ x 6″. It is double-spaced much of the time, and lots of space in between text, where the reader has been encouraged by Patterson to make notes, draw pictures, doodles, lists, etc. This is a very freeing format to read.

All of the advice, suggestions, etc., is broken down by many topics, followed by quotes from men who are fathers and to-be-or-not-to-be fathers, including their parenthood status and how many children they have if they are parents, is solid. Only having been a mother, I can see where the advice would be helpful for dads — but also for moms.

I did think that an awful lot of the quotes came from traditionally male roles such as athletic coaches, truck drivers, active duty military professions. That’s fine. There were also some gentler types.

I think this book would make a great Father’s Day gift, especially for fathers who are expecting. That said, the price tag of $25 is a little stiff. I never would have bought it, but I was blessed to have been able to read it.