BOOKS AND REPORTS

This section contains a selected list of books and reports focusing on the Fatherhood Initiative and Male Involvement.

Biller, Henry B. Fathers and Families. Auburn House Publishing, 1993.
     In Fathers and Families, Biller gives compelling evidence that fathers - so relatively under - researched - are quite important to complete child development. He focuses on the positive results of active paternal involvement that affect an overall family environment, which is both nurturing and satisfying. The presence of a caring father encourages a child's body image, self-esteem, moral standards, and other important qualities. The child-father relationship is shown to impact later life adjustment. Biller establishes, too, that variations in paternal involvement influence not only children, but also general family well-being, including marital relationships. This is a needed and timely work essential to understanding fathers' roles, potential, and importance in family life.

Canfield, Ken. 14 Keys to Successful Fathering (Men of Integrity Series). Moody Press, July 1993.
     From the founder of the National Center for Fathering, this book is an easy read about how to be a better dad.

Canfield, Ken. Adventures In Fathering. National Center for Fathering, 1998 series.
     When a dad knows what his children are experiencing during particular stages of their lives, he gains confidence for the present task and knows how to prepare for the changes that lie ahead. Each of the six books in the series addresses a specific age of development in the child's life and what fathers can do to positively impact their child's growth and development. These include: I. Forming a Lifelong Bond (for dads of infants); 2. Learning and Growing (for dads of preschoolers); 3. Exploring the World Together (for dads of school-age kids); 4. Thriving in Times of Change (for dads of adolescents); 5. Charting the Future (for dads of young adults); and 6. Leaving a Lasting Legacy (for grandfathers).

Canfield, Ken. Learning and Growing: For Dads of Pre-Schoolers. National Center for Fathering, 1998.
     Learn key tasks that will lead you to a lifetime of healthy relationship with your child. This concise book addresses the specific challenges, key issues (and joys!) dads face with preschoolers. Canfield provides lots of practical helps, a self-scoring feedback survey, recommendations for further reading, and more.

Condrell, Kenneth. Be a Great Divorced Dad. St. Martin's Press, 1998.
     A handbook that covers the practical and emotional issues facing divorced fathers today. Be a Great Divorced Dad offers advice, guidance, and support for the ever-growing number of divorced fathers who seek to remain "real" dads, but fear that their situation after divorce will make that impossible.

Epstein, Lewis. Coaching for Fatherhood. New Horizon Press, 1996,
     Provides a step by step method to revitalize fatherhood, utilizing family histories and participants. It expands men's images of themselves and the families that formed them. Through it, men can learn to actively participate in their present families, develop a stronger sense of themselves, and become truly involved in their children's lives.

Glennon, Will. Fathering: Strengthening Connection With Your Children No Matter Where You Are. Conari Press, 1985.
     Written especially but not solely for divorced dads, this collection of powerful personal vignettes, based on the experiences of 100 fathers, shares important lessons, offers practical and creative ideas, and focuses on overcoming obstacles such as travel, divorce, and long work hours.

Hawkins, Alan J. and David C. Dollahite, editors. Generative Fathering: Beyond Deficit Perspectives. (Current Issues in the Family Series #3). Sage Publications, 1996.
     From the founders of FatherWork this book is an excellent scholarly work on how dads can be more actively involved in their children's lives.

Henry, Dewitt and James Alan MePherson, editors. Fathering Daughters: Reflections by Men. Beacon Press, 1998.
     This is a collection of essays that strikes deep into the heart of issues spanning both nurture and gender relations, and represent some of the best recent writing about manhood. Looking beyond a politicized definition of the father-daughter relationship, the editors have sought for this collection essays that express what they call "the perplexities of parenting daughters during these decades of questioning, polarization, and social change."

Horn, Wade. Father Facts 3rd Edition. National Fatherhood Initiative, 1998.
     This booklet, compiled by National Fatherhood Initiative president Wade Horn, Ph.D., provides a thorough review of the current social science literature on fatherhood and family trends, and emphasizes how father absence is related to our nation's most pressing social ills such as crime and poverty. "The most disturbing social trend of our time is the dramatic increase in father absent families. In 1960, the total number of children living in single-parent families was less than 10 million. Today, the number is a staggering 23 million. For the first time in our history, the average child can expect to live a significant portion of his or her life in a home without a father."

Horn, Wade, Alice Feinstein and Jeffrey Rosenberg. Better Homes & Gardens New Father Book: What Every Man Needs to Know to Be a Good Dad. Meredith Books, 1998.
     From the founder of the National Fatherhood Initiative and the column Fatherly Advice, this book offers practical tips for new fathers on everything from how to show love and provide discipline to how to help children with health and emotional problems.

Jacobs, Edward H. Fathering the ADHD Child: A Book for Fathers, Mothers, and Professionals. Jason Aronson, 1998.
     Clinical psychologist Edward H. Jacobs recognizes the needs and perspectives particular to fathers and suggests how differences can be harnessed to strengthen and enrich the parenting team to benefit the ADHD child.

Ketterman, Grace H. Fathering: A Practical Guide for Dads (Framing Better Families, Bk. 3). Beacon Hill Press, 1997.
     Dr. Grace Ketterman, pediatrician and psychiatrist, offers hands-on help on becoming a world-class father. This is a guide aimed at helping fathers make the most of their roles as a partner, protector, and playmate for their children.

Kilcarr, Patrick J. and Patricia O. Quinn. Voices From Fatherhood: Fathers, Sons and ADHD. Brunner/Mazel, 1997.
     Voices From Fatherhood is the first book written specifically to help fathers in their journey through the complex world of fatherhood and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It encourages personal growth while arming fathers with strategies for guiding their sons. Building on first person accounts, this book strikes the unique balance of offering factual information about ADHD and at the same time focusing on the personal impact on the father-son relationship.

Kita, Joe. Wisdom of Our Fathers: Timeless Life Lessons from Men Who Have Had Time to Learn Them. Rodale Press, 1999.
     In this inspiring book of life lessons, journalist Joe Kita asked men in their autumn years what they wish they had known 30 years ago. In the process, he gained a harvest of wisdom from the older generation.

Klatte, William. Live-Away Dads: Staying a Part of Your Children's Lives When They Aren't a Part of Your Home. Viking Penguin, 1999.
     Practical tips and advice on how to be involved with your children after divorce.

Klinger, Ron. Common Sense No-Frills, Plain-English Guide To Being A Successful Father. CSF Publishing, 1996.
     Ordering information at: www.fathering.org. Published by the Center for Successful Fathering, this positive view of fathering is based on the lessons taught by ordinary, hard-working men who are also active father, with the basic principle that children need the balance of a mother and a father. Dr. Ron Klinger leads you through the mistaken beliefs, myths, misconceptions, and obstacles that disconnect men from their children. In a straightforward approach you learn the destructive effects of fatherless children and the unique and irreplaceable contributions of devoted dads.

Lamb, Michael E. The Role of the Father in Child Development 3^rd ed. John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
     In this third edition of Dr. Michael Lamb's Role of the Father in Child Development, a team of leading experts provides a thorough and up-to-date summary of the current scholarship on fathers and fatherhood, father-child relationships, and the influence of the father on the development of the child. This edition is distinguished by a broader view of the social context within which these relationships take place, including ethnicity, marital quality, and the operation of particular ideals of fatherhood. The book examines the father-child relationship at different stages of the child's development and constitutes a study in the evolution of this relationship and its effects (both direct and indirect) on child development. The book also explores non-conventional or particularly difficult relationships, including those experienced by divorced fathers, stepfathers, gay fathers, adolescent fathers, abusive fathers, and fathers of children with disabilities. For developmental, family, and clinical psychologists, child psychiatrists, researchers, social workers, and anyone involved in developmental psychology or child custody issues, this book offers rich detail, authoritative analysis, and profound insight into one of the most important relationships that any child will ever have.

Lansky, Vicki. 101 Ways to Be a Special Dad. N T C/Contemporary Publishing Company, 1993.
     The author of the popular 101 Ways to Make Your Child Feel Special presents a heartwarming collection of tips and special ideas for dads. This delightfully illustrated book shows good dads how to enrich the parenting experience with thoughtful activities.

Levine, James. Getting Men Involved: Strategies for Early Childhood Programs. The Fatherhood Project, Scholastic Inc., 1993.
     This is a hands-on guide for early childhood program workers who want to involve fathers and other significant males in children's lives. The first part of the book outlines four "stages" of reaching out to and working with men and includes over 100 practical strategies. The second part profiles 14 model programs throughout the United States. A resource section includes an annotated bibliography of books for children that feature men in nurturing roles. Getting Men Involved was supported by the A.L. Mailman Foundation and Smith Richardson Foundation.

Levine, James. New Expectations: Community Strategies for Responsible Fatherhood. Families International, 1995.
     New Expectations: Community Strategies for Responsible Fatherhood offers a new way of thinking and acting to promote responsible fatherhood, including a jargon-free review of research, state-of-the-art review of community-based strategies, tips from leading practitioners, and a guide to more than 300 programs nationwide and to the 100 most useful publications.

Levine, James and Todd L. Pittinsky. Working Fathers: New Strategies for Balancing Work & Family. Harcourt Brace & Company, 1998.
     From the founder of the Fatherhood Project, this book offers strategies for fathers and businesses on how to deal with balancing work and family issues for men.

Lewis, Paul. The Five Key Habits of Smart Dads: A Powerful Strategy for Successful Fathering. Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.
     This book inspires confidence by offering a simple model of effective fathering. Charts, tips, quotes, and activity ideas make it an easy read. Each page has a "smart idea," something simple you can do for building a good relationship or for just having fun.

Lindsay, Jeanne Warren. Teen Dads: Rights, Responsibilities and Joys. Morning Glory Press, 1993.
     Introduces young men to various aspects of parenting – things dads need to know about, but which are usually considered more morns' domain (prenatal care, birth, breastfeeding, etc.), as well as special problems for young fathers, such as maintaining ties when the baby lives somewhere else with its mother. Nothing is covered in much depth, but the encouraging tone and informality of the text make the information easy to assimilate, and the inclusion of comments from teen dads will bring readers closer to the fatherhood fold.

Meyer, Donald J (ed.). Uncommon Fathers: Reflections On Raising A Child With A Disability. Woodbine House, 1995.
     Uncommon Fathers is a collection of essays by fathers who were asked to reflect and write about the life-altering experience of having a child with a disability. Nineteen fathers have taken an introspective and honest look at this extremely emotional subject, offering a seldom-heard perspective on raising children with special needs. Written for fathers by fathers, Uncommon Fathers should also be helpful to partners, family, friends and service providers who will appreciate this rare insight and perhaps learn from what these fathers have to say.

Frank Minirth, Paul Warren, and Brian Newman. The Father Book: An Instruction Manual. NelsonWord Publishing Group,1995.
     With a little theory and a lot of practical guidance, this book explores what it means to be a father, how fathering has changed in the nineties, and how you as a father can meet many of your children's needs as no one else can. Offers valuable advice for taking your children through every stage of growth — infancy, preschool, grade school, early adolescence, teens — and addresses those important developmental issues that come up along the way.

Minnesota Fathering Alliance. Working With Fathers: Methods and Perspectives. Nu Ink Unlimited, 1992.
     A hands-on field guide for people who work with fathers, written by a team that has been working with fathers for years. Offers perspectives and techniques for helping men who want to be involved with their kids.

National Center on Fathers and Families. Strengthening the Role of Fathers in Families: Report on a Federal Conference.
     The Federal Conference described in this report is a collaborative effort between the National Center on Fathers and Families (NCOFF), the Philadelphia Children's Network, the National Performance Review, the Domestic Policy Council, and the Department of Health and Human Services. The conference attempted to address a range of questions concerning families and the role of fathers. It puts first the idea of the family as fundamental to the care, support, and nurturing of children and fathers as central to ensuring the well-being of their children and families. It seeks to better understand how fathers can and do contribute to the general quality of their children's lives, and seeks ways that fathers might support mothers more effectively in daily parenting and tasks of caring for children.

Parke, Ross D. Fatherhood. Harvard University Press, 1996.
     Authored by one of the first generation of American fatherhood researchers, this is a state-of-the-art survey of research into fatherhood and child development, relating to the impact of absent fathers, styles of play, divorce, discipline, remarriage, custody, competence, confidence and class on the development of boys and girls.

Parke, Ross and Armin Brott. Throwaway Dads. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998.
     Are fathers really important? Of course they are. Yet we as a society have wittingly and unwittingly built nearly insurmountable barriers that restrict men's involvement with their children and families. Parke and Brott explode the myths of neglectful, uninterested, abusive, deadbeat, and lazy dads with real-life studies and statistics. They explain why the largely negative portrayal of fathers in books, television, and the movies is both inaccurate and harmful, training young boys and girls to see men as having little or no role in the family.

Pitts, Leonard, Jr. Becoming Dad: Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood. Longstreet Press, 1999.
     Syndicated Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts offers a thoroughly absorbing study of the African-American man's struggle to become a competent father in a society sorely lacking in role models. Detailing his personal efforts to bond with his children, the author also presents numerous case studies of black men facing similar difficulties. Pitts offers helpful, sensible advice and urges black men who have fathered children to locate them and establish a relationship with them and their mothers, then Pitts discuss how to create structure and stability while praising them, allowing the next generation to grow up confident. It is a readable, well-balanced, impassioned account of a dilemma that touches not just the black family, but all who care about children.

Sears, William. Becoming a Father: How to Nurture and Enjoy Your Family. La Leche League International, 1986.
     Addresses the joys and problems of parenthood from the male perspective — everything from how to hold a tiny baby to sibling rivalry and organized sports. The author, a pediatrician and father of six, writes from personal experience, promising that becoming a father can bring rich rewards, among them love, a better marriage, and maturity. "Fathering means carrying through with what you started," Dr. Sears writes. That means being sensitive to the mother's needs so she may be a better mother, giving children the time and attention they need from their father, and learning the joys of nurturing. In this well researched but easy-to-read volume. Dr. Sears documents the importance of the distinctive paternal role.

Willis, Andre C. Faith of Our Fathers: African-American Men Reflect on Fatherhood. Plume, 1997.
     Black men are under scrutiny as never before, yet one aspect of their lives often overlooked or dismissed is their role as fathers. Andre C. Willis brings light on issues of black fatherhood in this collection of 12 original essays by African-American men. Authors include Cornel West, John Edgar Wideman, Anthony Cook, Robin D. G. Kelly, Delfeayo Marsalis, Playthell Benjamin and Michael G. Hanchard. The essays cover a range of topics from media stereotypes of black men as irresponsible fathers to a eulogy for a deeply religious man.