Literature for Dads

Daddy Brad: Oh, hey welcome back to the lab. I am Daddy Brad. Daddy Clay: I am Daddy Clay and this week we are going to be pulling down a few titles from the DadLabs bookshelf. Daddy Brad: That is right, this week is all about books. Daddy Clay: Because the holidays are over, you have got your gifts, tie rack, adjustable hammers and of course those wonderful handcrafted homemade gifts. And among those, there may be a few gems. Daddy Brad: Oh, right! the gift guard to the local mega bookstore. Daddy Clay: So, here is some picks for some titles that are dad related that you might want to consider when you go on your gift card book buying spree. Daddy Clay: We have been hearing a lot lately about Daddy Lit. We think this refers to the state of memoirs that have been coming out in the last couple of years from really good writers that are also dad, a good example, Crawling, A Father’s First Year by Elisha Cooper. Like most of these books, great lit, funny stories, slices of life, biting and sometimes even a little off color, gross, in other words, we love it, funny one, brought lots of recognitions from the dad here in DadLabs. Similarly, daddy needs a drink, funny stuff, episodic vignettes from a dad’s life, almost like newspaper columns like the ones he writes the newspapers in Santa Fe, funny stuff. Now, we could go to the interview that we shot with Rob, except he sent Daddy Brad to the airport to pick him up so, we do not have an interview. El Trinidad by Neil Pollack. Now this has become the foundational work for grapster or hipster parents, this is again funny, biting, acoustic we had how to balance your love for alternative music with also being a father. Now, fortunately we had the king of all hipster parents right here in the DadLabs studio not too long ago. Neil Pollack: But I do think there is a desire not to sort of give in to the cult of childhood that has dominated our culture for decades and so, I think that this is, to some extent a pushback. Daddy Brad: Now, guys are not really into the whole of self help deal. Sure a little rich dad, poor dad or Jack Welch, but when it comes to bedroom and relationship stuff, I think I would rather slam my balls in a sliding glass door. However, there are a couple of exceptions. Stacie Cockrell, Julia Stone and Cathy O’Neil, the authors of Baby Proof in Your Marriage, they actually put in to dad’s perspective here. I mean it is kind of funny. Daddy Clay: So, guys will skip to the sex chapters, is that guy MO? Julia Stone: I think that is fair enough to say so. Cathy O’Neil: I think so because it explains how women feel about sex after we become mothers and what men can do to rekindle interests and bring back the girl we used to be. Daddy Brad: Now, if you watched the other DadLabs and you are ready for some real parenting advice, you might want to try ScreamFree parenting by Hal Runkel. This is kind of a down to earth perspective, humorous also, I dig this book. Hal Runkel: I sacrifice that by saying, you know what your behavior is so bad that all of a sudden I have to act just as immature as you, loosen it Daddy Owen: And then you blame the kid for that? Hal Runkel: Of course, you made me man, like The Incredible Hulk, those torn purple shorts. Daddy Owen: Purple shorts, yes. Hal Runkel: His underwear Daddy Clay: So, if non-fiction is your thing, you will definitely want to pick up a copy of this book Birth, the surprising history of how we are born by Tina Cassidy. I really enjoyed this book, it is both personal and a very carefully researched work of fiction. I found that it gave me a whole new perspective, historical and social on my experiences as a dad in the labor and delivery room. Great book, also appreciated the chapter here called the Father’s Place, that spotlights the work of Dr. Robert Bradley, the guy who brought you the birth classes. I also recommend Juliet Shore’s book, Born to Buy which I liked so much that I gave it away. It is a really great book, Sort of analyzing the commercialization of childhood. It will enrage you and you will never look a