“Most men spend very little time pondering the question, Am I doing the right things to become a great dad? This book addresses this most important question in a profound way. It’s filled with personal stories, focused on powerful principles, and is written for real people. We all know how easy it is, biologically, to become a father. What we often don’t realize is that it takes work, dedication, and learned skills to become a dad, especially a great dad.” — From the foreword by Jack Canfield, Co-Creator, #1 New York Times best selling series Chicken Soup for the Soul®

In How to Be a Great Dad, you will learn:

• The 15-day Great Dad Challenge that transforms fathers into dads.

• Why dads matter way more than you may think.

• The lifelong impact fathers have on their children.

• The three simple and strategic skills to great dad success that all dads can master.

• Why bad or absent dads can land kids in prison.

• How to become the father you wish you’d had.

• Why “father nurture” is as important as “mother nurture.”

• Why saying “I’m proud of you” makes all the difference.

• Why “I’ll love you no matter what” means so much to your kids.

• Why a hug is not “just a hug” when it comes from Dad.

• How to build your kids’ self-esteem.

• How to give what you may not have received.

• A doable process to overcome hurts or limitations from the past.

My Thoughts:

I am going to come right out and say it – the title of this book is just all wrong.

Surprisingly, I really liked this book, but I felt that the title was… well, for lack of finding a better word – wrong.

In the beginning of the book there is an area directed for female readers, but I felt that even that was still directed at women regarding the male relationships in their life (either their dad or lack of dad or relationships with their husbands). I felt it was so much more.

I am not a dad (duh), but I am a mom. I grew up without a dad. Long story short, my biological mother and father divorced around my age of 1 and my mom remarried. My stepdad had an affair on my mom and divorced her and I when I was 14-ish. He continued seeing my half sisters for a few years, but even now, he has a poor relationship with them. I really missed out on the fatherly figure growing up and it has affected me as a person, wife, and mother.

I felt that the things that were shared in this book were great tips for any and all parents – with or without a father – mom or dad! While I get that the basis of the book was written based on what the author missed from his own father growing up – this book really is so much more than I think the title gives it credit too.

This book really is a great book for new parents, experienced parents, moms, dads, even caregivers of children! It is jam packed with fabulous tips on how to make our children feel our affirmation, acceptance, and adoration!

I see myself becoming a better mom because of this book and highly recommend it for all individuals who care for children – mom, dad, grandparents, etc. Taking the advice and the tips from this book and putting them into action are sure ways to create a better relationship with your children as well as make sure your children feel the three A’s.

Follow the Author

About the Author:

Keith Zafren helps transform fathers into great dads. He is a fathering expert and coach who has learned first hand how to father as well as an engaging speaker and writer.

Keith has been inspiring fathers for 30 years from all walks of life, from executives to inmates, to become the dad their children need and want. Through his work as founder of The River Church Community, a founding board member and fatherhood trainer for the Prison Entrepreneurship Program and Defy Ventures, and now as founder of The Great Dads Project, Keith has touched thousands of lives.

As Captain of the rugby team, Keith won an NCAA National Championship at UC Berkley where he graduated with honors and completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in Rhetoric. He also earned an M.A. at Asbury Theological Seminary.

His personal mission is to relentlessly pursue his own authenticity, healing and growth, and to create peak experiences that elevate and inspire dads toward self-awareness, receptivity and transformation through his in-depth research, compelling writing, charismatic speaking, and supportive mentoring. Keith brings his enthusiasm for personal transformation to dads—and moms—across the country through speaking engagements, workshops, and his new book, How to be a Great Dad—No Matter What Kind of Father You Had. Inspiring his own father journey are his three sons, the healing gifts of his life: JD, Cal, and Kai.

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