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Letters to Our Sons
Fathers from around the world and from all walks of life come together in this honest and moving collection of letters to their sons.
What advice do you wish you'd shared before your son's first day at school? When he missed or scored that goal? Or the day he left home?
When was the last time you hugged him?
And what would you do if you had your time again?
Award-winning actor Stephen Graham and psychology lecturer Orly Klein have invited fathers - doctors, builders, actors, prisoners - to put into words the things they couldn't say out loud to their sons. Letters from dads in the world of sport and entertainment are also interspersed throughout the book. Olympian Tom Daley, Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem, football mainstays Chris Kamara and Jamie Redknapp, artist and musician Goldie and Rivals star Danny Dyer have all contributed, as well as documentary-maker Louis Theroux, comedians John Bishop and Romesh Ranganathan, and actors Ashley Walters and Riz Ahmed.
Full of hope, fear, shame and pride, Letters to Our Sons is a raw and extraordinary outpouring of the sometimes messy, often joyful, and always complex realities of modern fatherhood.
What advice do you wish you'd shared before your son's first day at school? When he missed or scored that goal? Or the day he left home?
When was the last time you hugged him?
And what would you do if you had your time again?
Award-winning actor Stephen Graham and psychology lecturer Orly Klein have invited fathers - doctors, builders, actors, prisoners - to put into words the things they couldn't say out loud to their sons. Letters from dads in the world of sport and entertainment are also interspersed throughout the book. Olympian Tom Daley, Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem, football mainstays Chris Kamara and Jamie Redknapp, artist and musician Goldie and Rivals star Danny Dyer have all contributed, as well as documentary-maker Louis Theroux, comedians John Bishop and Romesh Ranganathan, and actors Ashley Walters and Riz Ahmed.
Full of hope, fear, shame and pride, Letters to Our Sons is a raw and extraordinary outpouring of the sometimes messy, often joyful, and always complex realities of modern fatherhood.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published September 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 15, 2026
It was good in principle and some of the letters really insightful. Worth a read but not the best I have read this year. And yes I am a father
October 18, 2026
4.5 / 5
A beautiful collection of letters, messages and insights that every grandfather, dad, son, brother, uncle (and woman) should read.
As a woman I found this book a needed insight, and honestly, a harsh reality check of the difficulties men face. We hear so much negativity around men, violence, aggression and society has a lot to answer for regarding the untenable expectations of men and subsequent male mental health. So, it was a relief to see so much love, kindness, softness and optimism in these pages.
I loved the variety of relationships, ages and backgrounds. Carefully curated letters from actors and teachers to prisoners and estranged dads. It was beautiful to see so many “I love yous” from people from all walks of life. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or what your family looks like you’re still worthy of love, hugs, forgiveness and space to be both strong and soft.
Whilst the letters were full of reflection, growth and optimism, I would have loved a smidge more psychology talk in here. To tell men all these letters aren’t just nice things to say and do, but that there is literal evidence of the impact father/son and same-sex role models have on a person. For the literal thinking, data-needing men (like my lovely partner).
Highly recommend to devour in a day like me, or read bit by bit over time. I hope it helps these conversations move from the pages to around the dinner table, in schools and at work so we see a world that represents more of this love, kindness and community.
A beautiful collection of letters, messages and insights that every grandfather, dad, son, brother, uncle (and woman) should read.
As a woman I found this book a needed insight, and honestly, a harsh reality check of the difficulties men face. We hear so much negativity around men, violence, aggression and society has a lot to answer for regarding the untenable expectations of men and subsequent male mental health. So, it was a relief to see so much love, kindness, softness and optimism in these pages.
I loved the variety of relationships, ages and backgrounds. Carefully curated letters from actors and teachers to prisoners and estranged dads. It was beautiful to see so many “I love yous” from people from all walks of life. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or what your family looks like you’re still worthy of love, hugs, forgiveness and space to be both strong and soft.
Whilst the letters were full of reflection, growth and optimism, I would have loved a smidge more psychology talk in here. To tell men all these letters aren’t just nice things to say and do, but that there is literal evidence of the impact father/son and same-sex role models have on a person. For the literal thinking, data-needing men (like my lovely partner).
Highly recommend to devour in a day like me, or read bit by bit over time. I hope it helps these conversations move from the pages to around the dinner table, in schools and at work so we see a world that represents more of this love, kindness and community.
October 25, 2026
Letters to Our Sons by Stephen Graham with Orly Klein
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved the premise of this book: giving fathers the opportunity to put into words the things they haven’t always been able to say to their sons.
Bringing together letters from dads from all walks of life, alongside familiar names from sport and entertainment, this collection explores the love, fears, regrets and hopes that come with fatherhood.
The opening letters were incredibly moving, and I found the honesty and vulnerability quite emotional. There’s something powerful about reading such personal reflections and the advice these fathers want to pass on.
As I worked through the collection, some of the themes began to feel familiar, and I found my attention wandering a little. While those shared feelings are very much at the heart of the book, the later letters didn’t always have quite the same impact on me. For me, this might have worked better dipped into over time, allowing each letter a little space to resonate.
Even so, this is a heartfelt and thought-provoking collection, with a lovely reminder of the importance of saying how we feel while we have the chance. 🤍
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved the premise of this book: giving fathers the opportunity to put into words the things they haven’t always been able to say to their sons.
Bringing together letters from dads from all walks of life, alongside familiar names from sport and entertainment, this collection explores the love, fears, regrets and hopes that come with fatherhood.
The opening letters were incredibly moving, and I found the honesty and vulnerability quite emotional. There’s something powerful about reading such personal reflections and the advice these fathers want to pass on.
As I worked through the collection, some of the themes began to feel familiar, and I found my attention wandering a little. While those shared feelings are very much at the heart of the book, the later letters didn’t always have quite the same impact on me. For me, this might have worked better dipped into over time, allowing each letter a little space to resonate.
Even so, this is a heartfelt and thought-provoking collection, with a lovely reminder of the importance of saying how we feel while we have the chance. 🤍
October 11, 2026
What a beautiful and brilliant book, I’m only 40% in and feel touched and inspired by many of these letters so far. These words of wisdom, encouragement and advice are what we want our own children to read, to feel, to be in this world.
I’m a mother with a 8 year old son who is finding his own way in a world so different from when I was younger, he has his own struggles with a disability and SEN processing needs. I want him to one day pick up this book and read these honest thoughts and letters sent from fathers….
I want him to know it’s okay to be different, to have dreams, to fail and to learn. Stephen Graham is a brilliant actor and role model and this book should be one for all to read as a young man or a a father. Life is tough but it should never get you down and if it does it okay…. It’s how we grow.
I’m a mother with a 8 year old son who is finding his own way in a world so different from when I was younger, he has his own struggles with a disability and SEN processing needs. I want him to one day pick up this book and read these honest thoughts and letters sent from fathers….
I want him to know it’s okay to be different, to have dreams, to fail and to learn. Stephen Graham is a brilliant actor and role model and this book should be one for all to read as a young man or a a father. Life is tough but it should never get you down and if it does it okay…. It’s how we grow.
November 8, 2026
Im currently halfway through the book and so far its been a good read, seeing into the hearts of fathers for their sons. Im finding consistently themes of what men acknowledging and holding in high regard the value of kindness and encouragement to be vulnerable.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews