Dadditude

You know, last month when I first decided to start accepting products for review, I wrestled with how to handle writing a review for something I hated. I did not want to lie, and so it plagued me (and still does). Today, I am faced with the opposite problem: how do I tell you about something I completely love without coming across as a shill.

Late last month, Phil Lerman contacted me via email and offered me a free copy of his book, Dadditude, for review. I was a little hesitant, because I am not the type to read parenting books (just ask my wife, who often tries to get me to read small sections of the numerous tomes she has, only to have me tell her to "give me the gist"), but in the end I accepted.

And holy crap am I glad that I did.

Dadditude is a funny, entertaining, honest, and irreverent look at parenting through the eyes of an older father. It is the story of one man's journey through the challenges of getting pregnant when both parents are in their mid to late forties, their subsequent success, and the rearing of that child through the first four years of life. The story is told with humour and anecdotes to prove the points he is trying to make.

Reading Dadditude feels like you're sitting at another guy's house talking about life. Sure, you get to the good stuff, but not without discussing Beatles lyrics or whether or not being in Easy Rider made someone cool in the process. He takes shots at Dora (but really, what father has not taken a shot at Dora?) and Oprah (he accuses her for promoting the myth of the absent father, even though he could have kissed her ass and gotten more promotion from her). He even argues (surprisingly rationally) about his theory that three year olds hired a public relations consultant to spin the "terrible twos" story and therefore take the real heat off them.

But the centre of the book is a simple message for all fathers, new and old: accept that you cannot control everything. He is an extremely self-aware individual who understands what it is to be a man, to need to be in control and be able to fix any problem, and he explains why that approach can never work with a kid in a manner that speaks to guys.

Bottom line, I absolutely loved this book. I laughed so hard at parts that my daughter (who was watching - of all things - Dora in the other room) came in to ask me what was so funny, and my wife wanted to know what book could keep me from picking up my PSP for days. I highly recommend it for any father, or father to be on your list.

Phil Lerman, the author, has also offered to send one of the readers of this review a free autographed copy of the book. So, the first reader to email me at talesfromthedadside {at} gmail dot com with the correct answers to the questions below will receive a free signed copy.

The questions are:

1. What television show did the author produce?
2. What newspaper did the author edit?
3. What is his son's name?

All answers can be found on the Dadditude website.