Raising Dad: What Fathers & Sons Learn from Each Other

This book takes a unique approach in splitting the writing of each chapter with two perspectives. First, the son shares what he remembers his dad doing right in fathering him and his brothers while growing up. Then, the father weighs in giving his honest perspective of his son's stories. Dad doesn't always think he did as well as the son does.

This is not a how-to book. Rather this is almost a hybrid biography-autobiography. Still, there is a lot to learn from this father and son in their experiences. What I read is very much how I want my relationship with my six month old son to turn out. The principles Thom Rainer tried to father by look to show children masculine love that is real and present, not distant and guessed at. Rainer's goal was to prepare his sons for adulthood in a world that doesn't love them like dad does. Most of all, Rainer wanted his love as a father to give his sons a little taste of Gods love for them.

There are no formulas, no instructions given in this book on how to father in any specific situation. Instead, it goes deeper showing a picture of how living by principle, even imperfectly, a father's son has grown to love and respect his father.