Fathers of a Certain Age: The Joys and Problems of Middle-Aged Fatherhood (Hardcover)

~ Martin Carnoy (Author), David Carnoy (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A father and son interview dozens of men in their 40s and 50s to discover why these men have decided to delay parenting or start over, and how they feel about fathering children in late middle age. The result is a timely assessment of the challenges and rewards older fathers face, as seen through their own eyes and those of their wives and children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 181 pages
• Publisher: Faber & Faber (April 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571198597
• ISBN-13: 978-0571198597
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,647,889 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The only, best guide for men over 40 thinking about babies, August 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Fathers of a Certain Age: The Joys and Problems of Middle-Aged Fatherhood (Paperback)

This is the only book of its kind. Millions of men become fathers at 40, 50 or more, which is something that nature has designed us to do. But there is very little information on what the issues are or how best to cope.

The book has some statistics but mostly anecdotes of specific families with either delayed or remarried fatherhood. It gives some glimpses of societal changes as we all live longer and healthier and so may have children later.

It has excellent breadth, taking in subjects of stepkids, may-december marriage, adoption, fathers-at-home, etc.

The writing is clear and it's an easy read.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Could be very helpful for some; it just wasn't for me, September 4, 2000

By	Mark Youngkin (Canal Winchester, Ohio, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fathers of a Certain Age: The Joys and Problems of Middle-Aged Fatherhood (Paperback)

This book is well written, although perhaps too academic in nature for my tastes. But I thought it would be more helpful to me for my situation than it was. I am 40 and expecting my first child early next year. I'm seeking information that will help me be appropriately supportive of my wife and a better father for my child. If I had known the book spent so much time comparing how fathers raised their second families with how they raised their older children I would not have bothered.

Perhaps I'm just not in the target demographic for this book, and perhaps I will re-read it in a few years and get some insights that escaped me this time around. But I just didn't find it very helpful.

I would recommend that men who are starting second families read this book, but those who have never been through a wife's pregnancy should look elsewhere.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I was looking for!, June 30, 2002

By	Cheryl (Arlington, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fathers of a Certain Age: The Joys and Problems of Middle-Aged Fatherhood (Paperback)

This book hit it on the nail in so many ways. My partner and I have a 26year age gap and have question so much in the last 4years. This book helped us find so many answers to our questions concerning having children together and about our relationship. Since this topic isn't a subject that is easily conformed at the dinner table, I feel like I am normal in how I feel as does my partner. We don't feel like we are the only ones feeling the way we do now!

Some of the basic questions that it helped us through was how the child might feel having an older parent? How society might treat us? Death and divorce...all major topics in a relationship that are hard to talk about to anyone.

A lot of the book concentrated on second time children...having older children(in their twenties) and having young children(children under 10)at the same time. This doesn't really apply to us, but it was interesting reading. It even included a section on adapotion which was very interesting as well.

I hope this book can help other people as much as it has helped my partner and I.