Rad Dad: Dispatches from the Frontiers of Fatherhood

I was totally amped to get this book, being a new father myself, living in the San Francisco Bay Area (where most of these dad's do) and being progressive and open minded on all walks of life (I read the back cover and some reviews before purchasing) . Essentially, I am not the dad that most parenting books for and/or by parents are written for.That said, I was quite underwhelmed by this book that had so much promise. Instead of finding stories written by "alternative dads", I read story after story (with few exceptions) of pretentious guys that wanted to brag more on their stance on a social topic than adventures in fatherhood. Many stories also had new dads complaining about their lot in life or how parenting has burdened their social relationships, love life, leisure time and finances. But, isn't that what parenthood is all about? Making sacrifices?The only story that I really enjoyed was the one of the father that helped deliver his baby in the bathtub of their home when the midwife couldn't make it. That one story showed the horror, fear,joy, relief and unconditional love that sums up fatherhood, no matter who you are. It was also very well written. Many of the other stories came off as sounding posts or complaints on different aspects of society, class and race with little pieces of parenthood sprinkled in. Basically, political and lifestyle rants veiled as stories of fatherhood. I was turned off by these by about the sixth story, and I am about as progressive as it gets.Everyone has different taste, so you may really enjoy this book. There were enough pretty good stories and one great story that kept me reading until the very end. If you are not familiar with, or from, the SF Bay Area, you may not understand some of the locations that the authors speak of and some of the Bay Area local speak might be misread.Side note: If you do not agree with or are offended by transgendered people, activists, interracial couples, gay couples or families that are not, for lack of a better term, "traditional", you may want to steer clear of this title. On second thought, you may want to read this to see that we are all not so different, after all.Again, not a bad book, just not a very Rad book about Dads.

I was worried after reading some of the reviews here that this book would be too political. I ended up buying it for a friend who's going to have his first kid soon, and he ended up reading it through three times, and won't stop talking about how much it's helped him.So I bought it as a holiday gift for another friend who's having a kid soon, and he texted me a week later to tell me it was the best and most thoughtful gift he received.I first found the book in a bookstore where there were three shelves of books for moms, and literally three books total for dads. I'm glad I found this one. It gives dad's some outside perspectives on what it means to raise a kid, and be a great father today. Sharing these kinds of stories are critical for dads, who don't always have the same networks and resources around parenthood that moms get.

One month into fatherhood, that is. A good friend gave me this book and I have been reading a story or two per night out loud to my wife and month-old son. I find the stories resonate very much with the complex feelings I had leading into fatherhood and emotions that continue to evolve as I have embarked on the journey.The stories, as they are all contributed by different writers, are varied in content and subject. But they are all honest, well-written, often funny, and always relieving to me as I hear how other men have internalized and digested this transformation that I am in the thick of - from young adult to father.To the negative reviewer, and more importantly to those who might be at all deterred by her review: not sure that this book, or more accurately the stories in this compilation (pointing perhaps to her lack of understanding of the content) are trying to be "progressive" or whatever other criticisms she threw out. They are honest essays written by fathers...A GREAT gift for any expecting father in your life!

This is a really sweet compilation of short stories. It was on a baby registry but since then I've bought it for others too.

What does it mean to be a dad? What does being a dad look and feel like? Rad Dad talks about all forms of fatherhood and all forms of parenting. If one is looking for a nuclear family, full of traditional stories of parenting, then this book may not be for you. The fathers in here are not "typical" and some are more involved with their kids, some being stay-at-home parents. Some are dads of color. Some are merely donors. Some are trans. This book gives voice to those who are usually voiceless, those who are considered different by mainstream society. This book can give the reader the potential to open up their world and realize that people--all of us--lead different lives. In no way is fatherhood supposed to be the same, totalitarian script or manual that we all must use.This book may be interpreted as polarizing because it may not be what some wanted to read about. I want to address this. We are all humans. We have different opinions. But in no way is this book meant to be something to separate us or make us angry. It is written to give us all opportunities to learn from each other so children and their parents can be loved no matter their race, gender, political views, or religion (or lack of one).

Super lecture