What do you think?
Rate this book
Padman: A Dad's Guide to Buying... Those and Other Tales
"Padman made me smile, chuckle, laugh out loud, cry and all the emotions in between..." --Diana Stroud, Amazon.com
In this collection of personal essays, Mark Elswick offers humorous episodes about being a man and father. Whether it's his daughter sending him to the store to buy those... well, things that transforms him into "Padman"; his realization that at forty-two, he is slowly turning into an old man; or his reaction to his middle school aged daughter dating a "man" two years older than her, readers--male and female alike--will find themselves cracking smiles when they aren't busy laughing out loud.
Elswick also has a serious side to him. Interspersed with the comical tales are heartfelt looks into the lives of people who experience a Traumatic Brain Incident (TBI) injury, including his own story of being in a life-threatening car accident that left doctors predicting he would be a vegetable for the rest of his life. With compassion and insight, while retaining his sense of humor, Elswick writes to raise awareness about TBI; a portion of A Dad's Guide to Buying... Those, and Other Tales' proceeds will go to TBI research.
Acclaim for Elswick's Padman
"I am officially announcing my own support for Mark Elswick, the writer who won his own battle with TBI and is now giving back of himself to those who are continuing or just beginning theirs. Padman offers an 'edutaining' read on a subject that is anything but humorous. And it underscores the importance of embracing now the devastation of TBI among the general public, as well as in the face of our affected troops returning home."
--Joseph Yurt, Reader Views
"Mark Elswick's style of humor will be appreciated by any male reader as he pokes fun at himself and the feminine world that he often perceives to be threatening his masculinity. Plus, what's better than helping a good cause (Traumatic Brain Injury research) while getting some laughs!"
--Tyler R. Tichelaar, PhD, author of the award-winning Narrow Lives Humor : Topic - Marriage & Family
Learn more at MarkElswick.com
Available in hardcover, paperback, and eBook editions
From the Reflections of America Series at Modern History Press www.ModernHistoryPress.com
In this collection of personal essays, Mark Elswick offers humorous episodes about being a man and father. Whether it's his daughter sending him to the store to buy those... well, things that transforms him into "Padman"; his realization that at forty-two, he is slowly turning into an old man; or his reaction to his middle school aged daughter dating a "man" two years older than her, readers--male and female alike--will find themselves cracking smiles when they aren't busy laughing out loud.
Elswick also has a serious side to him. Interspersed with the comical tales are heartfelt looks into the lives of people who experience a Traumatic Brain Incident (TBI) injury, including his own story of being in a life-threatening car accident that left doctors predicting he would be a vegetable for the rest of his life. With compassion and insight, while retaining his sense of humor, Elswick writes to raise awareness about TBI; a portion of A Dad's Guide to Buying... Those, and Other Tales' proceeds will go to TBI research.
Acclaim for Elswick's Padman
"I am officially announcing my own support for Mark Elswick, the writer who won his own battle with TBI and is now giving back of himself to those who are continuing or just beginning theirs. Padman offers an 'edutaining' read on a subject that is anything but humorous. And it underscores the importance of embracing now the devastation of TBI among the general public, as well as in the face of our affected troops returning home."
--Joseph Yurt, Reader Views
"Mark Elswick's style of humor will be appreciated by any male reader as he pokes fun at himself and the feminine world that he often perceives to be threatening his masculinity. Plus, what's better than helping a good cause (Traumatic Brain Injury research) while getting some laughs!"
--Tyler R. Tichelaar, PhD, author of the award-winning Narrow Lives Humor : Topic - Marriage & Family
Learn more at MarkElswick.com
Available in hardcover, paperback, and eBook editions
From the Reflections of America Series at Modern History Press www.ModernHistoryPress.com
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Mark Elswick
8 books9 followersChances are, Mark Elswick is one of the biggest sports fans you'll ever meet. Baseball and (American) football are his favorites. Additionally, he's a country music lover. The past couple of years have seen Elswick polishing himself as an author.
He has written crime/suspense fiction, comedy, inspirational, short stories, and even two erotica books while using a pen name. That was all part of his process becoming a more well-rounded writer.
Elswick's upcoming novel, Fatal Fall, is the gem of his author career, to date. It's an eye-opening book that everyone, especially parents of athletes, will be praying is merely fiction. Fatal Fall kicks off this September.
Surprisingly, this talented author continually proves that "looks are deceiving." People never suspect that he is a 23-year severe-Traumatic Brain Injury survivor. As a 22-year old, an auto accident left him on life support for two weeks, in a coma for a month, and then unable to walk or talk after he regained consciousness.
Miraculous "comebacks," aren't just his writing plans, but a way of life.
He has written crime/suspense fiction, comedy, inspirational, short stories, and even two erotica books while using a pen name. That was all part of his process becoming a more well-rounded writer.
Elswick's upcoming novel, Fatal Fall, is the gem of his author career, to date. It's an eye-opening book that everyone, especially parents of athletes, will be praying is merely fiction. Fatal Fall kicks off this September.
Surprisingly, this talented author continually proves that "looks are deceiving." People never suspect that he is a 23-year severe-Traumatic Brain Injury survivor. As a 22-year old, an auto accident left him on life support for two weeks, in a coma for a month, and then unable to walk or talk after he regained consciousness.
Miraculous "comebacks," aren't just his writing plans, but a way of life.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Read
October 28, 2026Great book with a dads humor about raising a teenager daughter, traumatic brain injuries, and how to get through hard things in life.
December 28, 2013
Your probably saying why would I want to read about a single dad? Well here's why it's amazing, I wish I could say that I couldn't put this book down. But in truth I had no choice. I found myself laughing out load one second and crying the next. Believe me this book is awesome for both men and women. Some stories in here are outrageous almost unbelievable but as a single farther you could see how everything could happen the way it's written. You'll laugh at the things Mark goes though by raising his daughter. Then when talking about himself and the other friends life happenings, well let's just say you just might shead a few tears.
As I find myself sheading these tears I realized that some of my family memories have gone through the same thing, one big thing was yes TBI. Not that I didn't know but to hear it through Marks eyes really opened mine. To have to go through all the hard work to get your life back. Well lets just say I know what my sister went through. Support and Love people with Cancer I've had many family members that had gone through who have survived and have lost, but they had support. I now have a friend that is fighting and the word Support means even more as she doesn't have many to support her but everyday I talk to her even if she don't answer she'll always know I'm here.
As I find myself sheading these tears I realized that some of my family memories have gone through the same thing, one big thing was yes TBI. Not that I didn't know but to hear it through Marks eyes really opened mine. To have to go through all the hard work to get your life back. Well lets just say I know what my sister went through. Support and Love people with Cancer I've had many family members that had gone through who have survived and have lost, but they had support. I now have a friend that is fighting and the word Support means even more as she doesn't have many to support her but everyday I talk to her even if she don't answer she'll always know I'm here.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews