Father and Child Reunion: How to Bring the Dads We Need to the Children We Love [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Like his earlier Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say, Farrell's latest book will evoke strong responses with its polemically argued thesis: that fathers are often missing from the family equation and that this is to the detriment of both children and mothers. His research shows, for instance, that children with involved fathers score better on academic and social competence measures as well as on physical and psychological health tests. Issues like child support, visitation, and the female domination of legal proceedings are critiqued and shown to be frequently unfair to men. Unfortunately, Farrell's intensely pro-male tone pits men against women and obscures otherwise thought-provoking comments. In addition, the style is often overly dramatic, e.g., the author asserts that the denial of father-time is "one of the most documentable forms of child abuse." For a positive, supportive title, try Divorced Dad's Survival Book: How To Stay Connected with Your Kids (Perseus, 2000. reprint). For only the largest public and academic libraries. Douglas C. Lord, Hartford P.L., CT
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"I come away from this book inspired to be a more involved dad, with deeper understanding . . . helpful to my children." -- v Jack Canfield. Co-author, Chicken Soup for the Parent’s Soul

"It will inspire and persuade dads to become more involved with their children -- benefit to kids, to moms as well." -- John Gray. Author, Men are From Mars; Women Are From Venus

"Of Farrell’s books, Father and Child Reunion is his best. . . Its insights are a gift to men and women." -- Kyle D. Pruett, M.D. Professor of Child Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine

The author is a man well-known for his evenhandedness with both sexes. -- Susan Deitz, Los Angeles Times Syndicate

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher; illustrated edition edition (January 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585420751
• ISBN-13: 978-1585420759
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #142,105 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The father's bible, December 28, 2000

By	erin pizzey (uk) - See all my reviews

Thirty years ago I opened the first refuge (shelter) in the world for battered women and their children. I was aware from the beginning that there was a huge injustice being done to men. Domestic violence is not a gender issue. Violence is a learned pattern of behavior from early childhood. Governments, courts, social workers, probation officers turned their backs on the vital need for children to be loved by both their mothers and their fathers. I have just finished reading Father and Child Reunion and I am breathless with admiration for Warren Farrell's love and compassion for parents. I have always followed his work and his writings but this time he has surpassed himself and written 'the bible of fatherhood.' In very simple easily understood sentences, Warren Farrell manages to turn the often difficult and complicated concept into lucid prose. Farrell understands the human condition is fallable and woefully human but he does not pull his punches when he describes the last thirty years of destruction meted out to fathers and men in geneneral. This book should be made widely available to all markets. Anyone who loves children and wants to build a better world for them, should read this book and then send copies to their friends. Erin Pizzey

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bring Back The Fathers: Kids Need Dads, December 5, 2000

By	Bought Copies for My Three Daughters (Vienna, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews

I had the privilege of reading a pre-publication copy of this book and I can't wait until January to talk about it. Warren Farrell has written many books about how to bring men and women together by ending gender warfare but this time he shows how the children are damaged by the warfare and demonstrates the need for all of us to work together to bring fathers back into the lives of children. Whether it is the runaway Dad who needs to be coaxed back into fatherhood or the disconnected Dad who is too busy for the kids or the pushed-away Dad who has been victimized by an unfairly restrictive custody order, Farrell marshalls the proof that Dads are needed for the well-being of their children and for the future of our society. Based on thirteen years of intensive research, Farrell presents mountains of information on the importance of Dads, all of it cross-referenced to the original sources and scientific studies. As a true gender equality advocate (three time member of the N.Y. National Organization for Women Board of Directors and the leader of gender equality training workshops for thousands of men and women), Farrell demonstrates the benefits of increased father involvement for women, for children and for the men themselves. Everybody gains from helping men to be good Dads and from giving them the opportunity to do so. Sure, there are pathological extremes among Dads as in any large group but Farrell shows that most Dads are just ordinary guys who love their kids and who want to be an active part of their lives. Anyone who cares about family health and well-being needs to read this book to better understand the children's need for a father-friendly social environment Most importantly, this book needs to be read by every father to better understand the potential for his contribution to his children and by every mother who wants the best for her children. Mothers and fathers working together for the benefit of their children is best for all of us. It's as simple as recognizing that two is more than one with Farrell showing us just how much more and how to overcome the difficulties of bringing one and one together to make two for the benefit of the children. Buy this book. Read this book. Give copies to everybody you know. It's that important.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for every father, mother and ex-wife!, January 27, 2001

By	Lindsay Kenny "[e-mail]" (San Rafael, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This is the fourth book of Dr. Farrell's that I've read and loved. "Father and Child Reunion", in my opinion, is his best and arguably his most important. From the introduction to the last page, it's full of eye opening revelations and fascinating stories about the incredible influence and importance of fathers to our children. As a woman, I've always taken for granted that mothers were the most "essential" parent. Otherwise, why would courts so often award moms custody, even when the father seemed to be the more responsible parent? Dr. Farrell thoroughly documents astounding statistics about how children raised without dads are, among other things, more likely to wet the bed, have poorer grades, join gangs, run away from home, stutter, drop out of school, develop emotional problems, wind up in jail, and much more. Reading this book made me realize and appreciate the critical role fathers play in the lives today's children and tomorrow's leaders. The parenting lessons, from the different perspective of "Father and Child Reunion" can't help but make every mother (even those who despise their ex-husbands,) appreciate the profound impact and necessary balance dads bring to the upbringing of their children. Additionally, Dr. Farrell illuminates creative ways for "shared parenting" when a dual-parent household is not possible. Without diminishing the importance and value of mothers, this book will help fathers acknowledge and be proud of the crucial contribution they make to their offspring that goes far beyond the content of their wallets or donation of DNA. All that and it's as interesting and fun to read as a novel.