52 Things Sons Need from Their Dads: What Fathers Can Do to Build a Lasting Relationship

52 Things

by Jay Payleitner, Jerry B. Jenkins (Foreword)

Perfect? No. But you’re still the right dad for your boy. Bestselling author Jay Payleitner, dad of four grown sons (and one amazing daughter), gives you a bucketful of man-friendly ideas on how build a father-and-son relationship. Good news is, you don’t have to say a lot. By your life and example, you can These 52 quick-to-read chapters offer great ways to relate or spend time as dad and son. And each idea provides a new building block for a father-son relationship that will help your boy along the path to becoming a man.

Genres: Parenting

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Jay Payleitner spent a decade in major market advertising. Learning how people think and doing some fun work. Including creating TV spots for Midway Airlines, Kroger, and Corona Beer. And heading up the creative team that named "SunChips."

But God called him into Christian media. And he became an almost-too-busy freelance producer. For more than a decade, Jay scripted and produced Josh McDowell Radio, Today's Father, Jesus Freaks Radio with TobyMac and Michael Tait, Project Angel Tree with Chuck Colson, and thousands of hours of radio that aired across the country and beyond.

Jay is a long-time affiliate with the National Center for Fathering and nationally-known motivational speaker for Iron Sharpens Iron, marriage conferences, men's retreats, women's events, writers' conferences, and weekend services.

Jay has sold more than half million books including the bestselling 52 Things Kids Need from a Dad and What If God Wrote Your Bucket List? His latest -- and perhaps most important release -- is The Jesus Dare.

This June, Waterbrook/Multnomah is releasing the surprising book, The Prayer of Agur.

Jay's books have been translated into French, German, Spanish, Italian, Afrikaans, Indonesian, Slovenian, Polish, and Russian.

He has been a guest multiple times on The Harvest Show, 100 Huntley Street, Moody Radio, Building Relationships with Gary Chapman, Cornerstone TV, and Focus on the Family.

Jay and his high school sweetheart, Rita, live in the Chicago area where they’ve raised five great kids, loved on ten foster babies, and are cherishing grandparenthood.

Reviews

[Jared Bercea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is okay. Jay's heart comes through the pages and some of the points are very well presented but honestly about 70% of this book should have been considered or thought of BEFORE the "dad" he refer's to constantly (being the reader or a metaphorical dad) has a kid. It's not a bad book, but as an analytical and self-reflective person and as someone who grew up seriously longing for a better relationship with my own father, most of this book has already crossed my mind and in my intentional processes with my own son. Read the book, but don't expect any revelations.

[Jeff Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

Before buying this book, make sure you are the stereotypical Amurican dad as you will be subjected to praying for a good son, joining the wrestling team and baseball cages. The examples are out of touch with any other idealogy. Of course, chucking 52 balls at a batter will always result in a few home runs but when half the throws are powered by prayer alone, they never leave the pitchers mound. Good luck wrestling with the rest.

[Doug Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Jay Payleitner's "52 Things Daughters Need From Their Dads" a couple of years ago. This was recommended to me by a friend. I really liked what the author had to say, but my daughter was 16/17 years old at the time, so most of what I read was a little too late. My son is young enough for the lessons from this book to still be impactful, so I wanted to learn from it. Jay Payleitner did not disappoint.

If you new to the series, Jay Payleitner offers 52 short chapters that each describe something he has learned and that he recommends to do/not do with your child as they are growing up. They are usually fun and interesting ideas that help fathers with their role. For example, Need #2 is A Son Needs His Dad...To Not Kill the Creepy Centipede Right Away. Jay talks, in his very affable manner, about how his first house had a bug infestation and he trapped the centipede in a glass jar. Then, he talked to his young pre-school aged son about the centipede, asking him questions about it. As he puts it, "That investment of a few minutes and a dash of creative brainpower yielded a little science, a little English, a little math, and you young curious mind made even curiouser."

So, this is not a how-to guide for raising a son. Think of it more as lessons learned of things that worked and things that did not. Later in the book, Jay even mentions at least one or two things he never did but wishes he had.

What I like to do with the books (my apologies to book purists) is I read through the book, turning down the corners of the pages for chapters that impacted me most. That way I can go back to it later and see where and how I can use it, or maybe to remind me of some good lessons for sons and fathers. Here are a few of the "Needs" I earmarked: A Son Needs his Dad...
To Teach Him Stuff Your Dad Taught You
To Purchase the Entire Wendy's Dollar Menu. Twice.
To Buy a Unicycle.
To Finally Grasp That Poem You Read Back in High School.
To Bestow Quiet Courage.
To Defend Twenty-First Century Chivalry.
To Take the Generational Challenge.
To Schedule Mountaintop Connections.
The list goes on.

Not everything you are going to agree with. I have a more accepting view of video games than Jay does, but he was raising his sons, by my guess, 10-20 years ago. Things change, and as parents we all must make the best decision we can with the data we have, keeping in mind the best choice is usually the one that requires the most love, which was something else I got from this book. It's an excellent choice for all parents.

[Sothearak Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well well well this is a book for those who want to be a dad or is becoming to be a dad this book will give a new perspective and a whole lots of simple ideas that will make a big difference to your son. Why am I reading this book anyway? Seriously? This book is for every Parents but why am I reading this? I don't exactly sure what I want from this book but I'm glad I got to end this book in two weeks and I really enjoyed all of this ideas and a relationship Jay (Author) had with his son and his grandchildren with a wonderful reminders and fresh tips about what a dad is to them. I would recommend it in small doses.

[Robert Hultman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book overall. The approach is a little old fashioned and comes across as privileged at times — it all mostly holds up, but has small issues. An indecisive father is influenced by Satan? I suppose indecision is sometimes influenced by evil or negative influence, but the fire and brimstone nature of such lines is strange to me. A little heavy on the white-Christian morals (though maybe that’s what you’re looking for). Very approachable and easy to read. Some analogy and metaphor, but not overly whimsical or labored. Inspiring and interesting and definitely some great advice.

[Book Boyfriend · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book that I think all dads should read. Especially new dads.

[Sam Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book full of simple ideas that will make a big difference to your son.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful reminders and fresh tips about what a dad is to his son. I would recommend it in small doses.

[Christien Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. Should be added to every fatherhood plan.