Fathers & Sons [Hardcover]

Todd Richissin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 4, 2003

This moving volume of photographs and essays explores the unique relationship between father and son, the first and most elemental expression of male bonding. Thirty essays accompany sixty evocative portraits of fathers and sons of all ages, including newsmen Mike and Chris Wallace; writer/radio personality Garrison Keillor and his son, Jason; golfer Jack Nicklaus and his sons Jackie, Steve, Gary, and Michael; and NASCAR legend Richard Petty and his racing son Kyle and grandson Adam.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The imminence of Father's Day means it's relationship^-picture book time again. Writer Richissin and photographer Graham present the expected dual or multiple generational subjects. Some are famous in one generation (dads such as Garrison Keillor and Jack Nicklaus, sons such as John McEnroe), and some are famous in more than one generation (comics Bob and Chris Elliott, for instance, and NASCAR stars Lee, Kyle, and Adam Petty). Others aren't famous, just commendable, such as the Zagars: one old man with Alzheimer's; his sixtyish artist son, who cares for him; his two grandsons, one still a teenager; and his toddler great-grandson. Paul Pikorski and grown sons Viktor and Stephen spend weekends reenacting the Civil War, with authenticity their watchword, though that means getting soaked in their authentic 1860s uniforms. Of course, there are gay fathers with adopted sons, once estranged fathers and sons who reconciled, a dad who takes his preschool sons with him to work, and other nonstereotypical guys. Another good example of a very gratifying genre. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Marvelous, moving photographs . . illustrate and amplify . . . interview/essay/reflection pieces on 30 fathers--many justly famous and others superbly ordinary--and a great number of their sons."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Courage Books (March 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762415363
• ISBN-13: 978-0762415366
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,263,902 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fathers & Sons By Todd Richisson and Jim Graham, June 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fathers and Sons (Hardcover)

It's hard to capture those things that make the relationships between fathers and sons unique. This book is a well written and facinating acount of some of the most celebrated and well-known father and son teams along with some 'ordinary Joes' and their sons. The book is divided into stories of individual families of fathers and sons with photographs of each.

The book is very beautifully photographed in black and white, with interesting shots of the subjects. I got it as a gift for my father-in-law, and it is an impressive-looking book, which will be noticed on a coffee table or in an office waiting room. It has newsmen Mike and Chris Wallace on the front cover and quarterback Boomer Essiason and his son on the back. It was fun to show it to friends and ask them to guess if they recognized the photos of famous father/son teams in the candid settings shown in the book. I thought it made a pretty impressive looking gift that had a little personal touch, because it describes things that have gone right and wrong in some famous and not-so-famous father and son relationships. Overall, I would highly recommend it as a nice looking book that provides some thought-provoking stories about what a father/son relationship is and can become.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of Ways for Fathers and Sons to Connect!, July 3, 2001

By 

Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 110,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Fathers and Sons (Hardcover)

Review Summary: Fathers and Sons profiles 30 fathers and sons (and occasionally grandfathers and grandsons, as well) plus describes Mr. Richissin and Mr. Graham's relationships with their fathers. The examples look at the famous and the unknown, the heroic and the fallen, the typical and the unusual, and the traditional and the nontraditional relationships. These connections are exposed in the context of both soaring success and tragic loss . . . and everything in between. What speaks loudest is that the sons want to be connected to the fathers, regardless of how the relationship started out. Most dads will get ideas for how to be there for their sons in more ways.

Review: This book is greatly enriched by emphasizing both photography and family relationships. Each exposition enhances the other. The expressions and body language of the pairs say a lot about their connections that an essay could not.

Fathers and sons who feel estranged from each other will find this book most valuable. They will see that there is always a way to start again, and they will eventually be welcomed.

The book will also be valuable to those who are about to face a family crisis, like an illness, death, or divorce. The examples here will give you ideas and courage for dealing with the inevitable in constructive, emotionally enriching ways.

In the introduction, Mr. Richissin indicates that he asked the men and boys for candor. He seems to have been pretty successful in that way. A number of the men describe what had to have been the most painful moments in their relationships. That made the book more meaningful.

Regardless of your interests, you will probably find fathers and sons whose occupations will be relevant to you. There are a number of sports star families including the McEnroes, Alomars, Mannings, Nicklauses, Graves, Lindroses, Pettys, and Esiasons. You also have performers like the Elliotts and Gebels. Journalists and authors are represented by the Keillors, Schapps, and the Wallaces. Business families are represented by the Mondavis. Politicians are represented by the Lockes.

The stories of ordinary families are moving also. You don't have to be a celebrity or father one to be an inspiring father. Some did it even through their hobbies.

The most touching story for me was about the Aycocks. Knowing that his grandson needed a kidney transplant to survive, grandfather Charlie insisted on being the donor. Going into surgery together and recoving forged an even closer bond than would otherwise have existed.

I was also powerfully moved by Mike Wallace's description of having a sense that something was wrong with his son, Peter, and catching the next plane to look for him in France. Mr. Wallace found Peter's body at the bottom of a 150 foot cliff.

The Lindroses inspired me by their strong desire to make choices that were good for the family in every circumstance.

The courage of the Farrell-Forsteins in sharing their nontraditional family impressed me very much.

After you finish enjoying this wonderful book, I suggest that you share what you learned from it with your father and son(s). Encourage them to read it, too. Then sit down together and discuss how you can make your relationships even richer.

Share your heart with your father and son(s) to fulfill yourself!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, August 7, 2011

By 

BD - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fathers and Sons (Hardcover)

This is an excellent and timeless book, beautifully written and photographed. An interesting and thought-provoking addition to any coffee table or bedside table.