Customer Reviews

Raising Cole: Developing Life's Greatest Relationship, Embracing Life's Greatest Tragedy: A Father's Story

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I liked this book. No, I loved this book! It was a "can't put it down" read throughout. The story, which is true, is about less than perfect people who build a relationship that is perfect for them. It tells of a tragedy but it is not about the tragedy. It is about what real people can do with their lives through tragic events. It is not a sad book. Although I cried. Reading "Raising Cole" was an uplifting experience. I hope we hear more from Mr. Pittman in the near future.

I just finished this incredible book. It is wonderful story of a family and love shared between a father and two sons. A few comments: (1) this book is a fascinating, loving and gut-wrenching story of a father's love for his sons and the subsequent loss of one his eldest son. You will laugh, you will cry and your heart will ache for this family. Even though at times, it is a tough read in that I closed the book with tears streaming down my cheek, it is a MUST read for every parent. As a new father of a little girl, it made me think of how I want my relationship with her to develop. I told her every day, before I read this book, that I love her. Now I tell her I love her sooooooo much and that I want her to always feel that love and know she can talk to me. Yes, I say this to my 16 month old because I want to get in the practice of saying that to her for the rest of my life. This book helped visualize what I want my relationship with her to look like. (2) For every tough macho man in this world, this is a must read book. This is a book about two stud football players at the University of Texas and about a father who wrestled a bear and won. Yet, they showed their love for each other every day through words, hugs, hand holding, and yes even kissing. Man, was that refreshing. For so long we have had this stigma of men not being able to show their feelings. Then you see this family, each male over 6 ft, 200+ pounds of masculinity and yet they constantly showed the world their bond and their love. Wives and mothers should buy this book to give their husbands to show them how open and loving a relationship with their children can be. Men should buy this book too see how one can be strong, macho and yet openly affectionate. Lastly, this book makes you appreciate the moment, right now. One never knows when someone they love gets in a car or on a plane or walks down the street if they will see that person again. Life is wonderful and precious yet fragile. This book reminds you to NEVER left things unsaid. Well, I hope I haven't rambled. I was just so moved by this book. Thank you Marc Pittman for sharing your story!

Screven Watson
Tallahassee, Florida

I met the author of this book before I even bought it. My husband and I had been to two book stores in Shreveport and both were sold out. Upon purchasing it, my husband read it in one day- unable to put it down. I read it next, more slowly, so that I could embrace each sentence, each thought, even rereading whole paragraphs just to let it sink in. Some parts brought a smile to my face as I could just imagine these events in Marc's life taking place. Several times I stopped to praise God for the miracles He performed in the lives of the Pittmans. As I was reading, I would suddenly become aware of tears streaming down my cheeks. This story gives me hope for our children. If only we had more parents like Mr. and Mrs. Pittman, maybe today's children would be happier. I have told basically everyone I have spoken to, since I read the book, of its powerful message, and I have urged them to read it themselves. In my mind, this book is for everyone- those with children of a young age and even those whose kids are grown. I think it's appropriate for grandparents, aunts, uncles, stepparents, and those of us who aspire to have children someday. It's about relationships- everyboody has those. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

My husband read this book a little over a year ago, when we found out we were pregnant with our first child. Our lives have not been the same since. This book has made a positive impact on our lives and the relationship we want to have with our children and family.

After being blessed with the birth of our first son and reading your book, we now understand the importance of church, family and God. We are now members of a church and attend every Sunday.

We are expecting our second son in July. We are going to name him Cole, in honor of your son and as a reminder of how important God and family are. We can't wait to have our own Love Wars and my husband can't wait for his first Dead Man's Talk.

Thank you for sharing your wonderful and inspiring story!

This is a must read not just for any father but for every one! Marc Pittman's insightful look at his relationships with his sons goes beyond football and beyond the typical scope of day-to-day parenting. I am thankful to Marc for candidly sharing his experiences and emotions. I will use 'dead man's talk' with my children and will never lose sight of what's important in life.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is an easy read. I read it in one day. It is such a moving story. I think the story will inspire/motivate others to triumph over tragedy. Nothing can replace the loss of a loved one!!! I believe Marc Pittman's story shows a productive way to deal with great loss as well as a beautiful way to live LIFE everyday with those you love...your children.

This is an extremely compelling book of profound significance that you absolutely must read for the sake of everyone you have in your life that you genuinely love and care about. In this book, Mr. Pittman describes the powerful bond he created with his sons and shares practical methods he calls Dead Man's Talk and Love Wars that anyone can use to strengthen the relationships they have with the most important people in their lives. It is a poignant story of love, of living life to the fullest, of cultivating a relationship of ultimate honesty and openness, of never leaving thoughts and feelings unsaid to the people you love most. It tells of the kind of relationship that you've always wanted and shows you how you can achieve it. It reminds you how precious life is and that tomorrow is never promised. It shatters every obstacle that stands in the way of building deeper relationships with the people you love. It tells of a drastic change that happens in one generation and how Mr. Pittman is able to turn the void of what he felt was lacking in his relationship with his own father into such a strong relationship with his sons. When you read about the difference between how Mr. Pittman was raised and how he raised his sons, you simply cannot hide behind the excuse that your upbringing effects your ability to have better relationships with the people you love. This book shatters the idea that the tough guy image is an obstacle to building relationships. It is filled with stories you will never forget that show Mr. Pittman and his sons to be as tough as they come, yet to also be incredibly compassionate people. This book shatters the idea that the social pressures of the teenage years are an insurmountable obstacle that stands in the way of a closer relationship. When most kids are asking their parents to drop them off two blocks away from their high school so they don't have to be seen together, Mr. Pittman and his sons are holding hands and kissing in public before stadiums filled with thousands of spectators. This book also demonstrates the importance of faith and our dependence on God to have any hope of creating close relationships with the people we love. Life is about the relationships you have with other people and, even though we are all flawed and broken people, this book clearly shows that with God's help, we can have relationships that mirror the perfectness of God's relationship with us more closely than we ever thought possible. Raising Cole is a fitting tribute to the extraordinary life of Cole Pittman. Thank you, Mr. Pittman, for sharing your story with us and may Cole's legacy live forever in thousands upon thousands of lives affected by this book.

I am a mother of 5 boys. They are now grown, and I have few regrets about their upbringing, but there are always some things that tug at all parents' hearts on given moments when we say, "I wish I had been more open; I wish I had not been afraid to say what I felt and to encourage our children to speak without fear." Marc Pittman's book would have plugged up that weakness in my parenting. It would have left me with fewer regrets and fewer 'holes' in my past, especially late at night when all moms and dads replay their encounters with their teens. This is book for all parents! It is a short read with a long result. It can make a permanent difference in one's inner circle. Long after Christmas wrappings are discarded and long after Christmas trees have become duck blinds, this book will still be sitting by a bed with life-changing implications.

After reading "Raising Cole" I went home and hugged my 15 year old son and told him I loved him. I now make it a habit to tell him I love him and hug him every day. This story of the Pittman family has changed my life. I respect my son more and value his input in daily situations. This book is a great read and I have shared it with others.

Marc Pitman opens his heart and soul in this book. This book is one of those books that you find yourself grabing your children and never letting them go. I read it in one sitting and the next day I bought 10 more copies to give to every father I knew. I cried, laughed, and most of all was reminded how tomorrow is never promised. This book has wisdom for fathers that will change the way children are raised. Love is the main theme, and a true love between two men, which is hard to find today was clear. The men that I have given the book to, have read it, cried, hugged their children and passed the book on to others. A must read!!