Being a Dad Is Weird Lib/E: Lessons in Fatherhood from My Family to Yours

by Ben Falcone (Reader)

Foreword read by Melissa McCarthy and featuring the voices of Stephen, Margaret, and Flynn Falcone. A funny and intimate look at fatherhood from the actor and writer/director of The Boss and Tammy that combines stories about his own larger-than-life dad and how his experiences raising two daughters with his wife, Melissa McCarthy, who also penned the Foreword, are shaped by his own childhood. Though he's best known for his appearances in the movie Enough Said, as well as his hilarious role as Air Marshall Jon in Bridesmaids, Ben Falcone isn't a big shot movie star director at home. There, he's just dad. In this winning collection of stories, Ben shares his funny and poignant adventures as the husband of Melissa McCarthy, and the father of their two young daughters. He also shares tales from his own childhood in Southern Illinois, and life with his father--an outspoken, brilliant, but unconventional man with a big heart and a somewhat casual approach to employment named Steve Falcone. Ben is just an ordinary dad who has his share of fights with other parents blocking his view with their expensive electronic devices at school performances. Navigating the complicated role of being the only male in a house full of women, he finds himself growing more and more concerned as he sounds more and more like his dad. While Steve Falcone may not have been the briefcase and gray flannel suit type, he taught Ben priceless lessons about what matters most in life. A supportive, creative, and downright funny dad, Steve made sure his sons' lives were never dull--a sense of adventure that carries through this warm, sometimes hilarious, and poignant memoir.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Parenting, Humor, Audiobook, Biography, Autobiography

Audio CD

Published May 16, 2017

About the author

Actor, Writer, Director, Husband, and Father. He has acted in comedies like Bridesmaids which also featured his real-life wife Melissa McCarthy.

Reviews

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 2 out of 5]

*1.5 stars*

Have you ever told a story about your family that you know is really funny but no one laughs and you think, "you just had to be there." That is this story. Maybe we just had to be there to appreciate Ben Falcone's Being a Dad Is Weird: Lessons in Fatherhood from My Family to Yours.

I have a deep love of celebrity memoirs, especially from comedic writers (See: A Very Punchable Face). However, more often than not, they fall flat on their faces (See: My Squirrel Days). Still, I knew that Ben Falcone is a very good script writer, and I was hopeful. I shouldn't have been.

Being a Dad Is Weird: Lessons in Fatherhood from My Family to Yours is extremely unfunny. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be amusing, but it is most assuredly not. I was also expecting some very cute/laughable parenting stories, but even those were dull. I'm a parent, I know how funny kids can be, and I'm sure Ben Falcone's are actually extremely funny, but the stories just didn't hit the mark.

It's hard to negatively review a story that is clearly so personal, but know that I'm not judging Ben Falcone's life or childhood. There are plenty of awesome and interesting people who live amazing lives but it doesn't translate well to a written memoir: this is one of those cases.

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[Kris (My Novelesque Life)]

DNF @ 10%
2017; Day Street Books/HarperCollins

I was not able to get into Falcome's writing style (or humour). This may work better as a stand up routine or an audiobook format. As a book it was too simplistic and lacked editing (though this could be due to the eARC).

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusing and light hearted memoir about being a parent and being parented. As the author is from my hometown and was in the same class as my brother in high school, there is an added pleasant nostalgia. With my current stress about the world in general, this book offered a nice respite.

[Gisela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a great combination of storytelling and humor. There were many times I found myself laughing out loud, and many relatable parenting moments. A fun read!

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining musing on fatherhood from Ben Falcone. Lighthearted and heartfelt.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.9
While I was reading this it seemed a bit better than good, but not quite great. Now that I have finished it I find that I really enjoyed it. Go figure. All in all, a worthy addition to the Dad-Lit canon.

[Samantha Plotkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Goodreads for the ARC. I would rate in 4.5 stars so I'm rounding up. Being a Dad is Weird was a fast, enjoyable read on the beauty and weirdness of parenting and being parented.

[Carrie George · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was super lucky to have my name drawn for a giveaway for this book. I had put it on my ‘to read’ list after I saw Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy do an interview on Ellen, and here are my thoughts:
Overall, I think this book is great. The stories involving Ben’s childhood are pretty hilarious. The story when his mom puts on the sombrero is probably my favorite. I also find it extremely refreshing that instead of Ben Falcone writing about himself in a way that would say ‘Hey, I’m famous now, this was my background, and aren’t I lucky to be me?’ He created a tribute to his father and his whole family, and shared his fears and his imperfections, and I really appreciated that aspect. The only reason I marked it down to a 3 star rating was for two reasons. The first reason being that I found the first few chapters really hard to get into. I’m not sure if it is because I am not yet a parent, but I didn’t really start enjoying it until the story about Ben’s dad being a liar. That was my first big laugh, and that’s when the book started picking up momentum. The second reason is that the author makes several references to the particular colors in the pictures sprinkled into the chapters, and the edition that I was given was in black and white, so I lost some of the enjoyment in his descriptions. Other than that, I would recommend this book, and I think I will definitely hug my dad the next time I see him.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad I picked this book up on a whim. Ben Falcone essentially wrote a love letter to his father, a thank-you note for his upbringing, and had it published. This book is lighthearted, joyous and laugh-out-loud funny. Without a hint of drama or scandal, it was a perfect reminder for me that kids thrive on love and to stop stressing so much about the other stuff.

[Jill Lapin-Zell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben Falcone, the husband of actress Melissa McCarthy, writes this charming and witty book recounting his experiences about and with his father, Steve Falcone. Using his upbringing as a backdrop for his own experiences bringing up his two daughters, Falcone tells us, in entertaining anecdotal fashion, that fatherhood is all about humor, love and kindness.

In her foreword, Melissa McCarthy lets us know that her husband’s greatest attributes are his “gentle kindness and supreme weirdness.” All of Ben’s anecdotes about his father, from the boisterous gatherings with a close-knit group of friends to his whacky road trips with Steve, reflect these qualities in himself as well. Yet, by Ben’s own admission, he is “nothing like his dad, yet very much like him.” The existence of this dichotomy and his need to examine it against his own parenting style, are two reasons he felt compelled to write this book.

Two of the most important lessons that Ben learned from his father about parenting are not to sweat the small stuff (which he found was easier said than done) and that material things are not nearly as important as just enjoying good health and good times with your kids. He says that his father “only cares that everyone is healthy and having a good time and truly believes that the rest of life is gravy.”

I think the most relevant takeaway from this book is that, as a parent, there is no substitute for just “being there for your child.” I think that if more people would heed this advice in today’s society of kids falling victim to bullying in schools and the growing number of latchkey kids, there just might be happier homes with well-adjusted kids.

[Veronica Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5. This was very funny and I really enjoyed learning more about Ben Falcone. This was short and sweet. He is very relatable and fun. I loved that the audiobook has the people he is talking about speaking. The only downside to the audiobook is the photos he describes so I checked out the ebook as well so I could follow along.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

More autobiographical than a book about giving personal parental advice. It was a look at the parenting style of his father and an expression of how the author would like to do the same for his own children. At this point his children are relatively young. The language is pretty rough in spots. It was okay but not really funny where he thought it was funny.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read; certainly made me think about how I responded to my kids as they were growing up. They’re all great but as parents; we worry that we could have/should have handled things differently. Lovely stories throughout.

[scarlett pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is sweet and if you live in Southern Illinois he really loves on it too. It’s a love story for Carbondale!

[EssentiallyMeagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable quick read.

[Koren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not know who Ben Falcone was before reading this book. Turns out he is married to one of my favorite comic actresses Melissa McCarthy. This book is more about his relationship with his dad, but there is some anecdotes about his own children. I think this would be better as an audio book. I think a humorous book depends on what your mood is. There were some moments that made me smile, but no laugh out loud moments.

[Myka-lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC through goodreads giveaways. I'm not a Dad or son but this was a great read & I'm making my boyfriend read it next. Often memoirs by funny people tend to disappoint me but not this one! I was literally lol'ing. The balance between humor, storytelling & heart was on point. Thank you Ben Falcone & your Dad for sharing your beautiful relationship!

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben Falcone wants you to know he’s not fancy. Take the following passage: “[O]ne of the best ways to be a good dad is to find a great lady to be the kids’ mom[,] … a great wife who is a great mother…. My own mom is a great lady.” Does Ben Falcone, Hollywood director, know a synonym for “great”? He must. At the very least someone at HarperCollins could have been paid to look one up. But that’s not the vibe of “Being a Dad Is Weird.”

In this short memoir, Falcone is just a simple, nervous guy from the Midwest with a handful of common observations on parenthood (e.g., “All of that pales in comparison to the worrying I do about my kids. I worry—oh how I worry—about my kids.”). The lackluster writing is partly thanks to Falcone not having his normal arsenal of facial expressions and gesticulations to help sell a funny line, but I’m guessing it mostly owes to the manuscript’s origin as an internal memo of sorts, a Christmas present for his dear old dad. But at some point, someone decided to run with the folksy style. Even Melissa McCarthy’s introduction lacks carefully crafted sentences and deep thoughts. I almost stopped reading a quarter of the way in, wondering why anyone would publish something so devoid of literary effort.

But I decided instead to pull over a metaphorical chair and just listen to the stories of this guy who didn’t major in English and maybe had a beer or two. I started laughing. Toward the middle I giggled so often my husband demanded to know what Twitter storm I’d discovered. Falcone certainly has a knack for narrative, and his dad gave him plenty of material, as these excerpts illustrate:

“The only bright spot of the entire week was getting to watch my dad attempt to ride a bike. My father is good at many things, but cycling is not one of them. Apparently, growing up in the 1950s in a scrappy part of Philly is not conducive for learning how to ride a bike in a super-mellow fashion. He kept falling off the bicycle, becoming more and more enraged, not at himself for his lack of skill but at the actual bike. After a particularly bad fall, he started yelling, ‘Stupid f@#$ing bike. Stupid island! F*&^ you, Ocracoke!’ Or I might be making that part up. But it’s fun to think he was yelling, ‘F$^% you, Ocracoke!’ Because no offense, Ocracoke—you might be great for some people, but for fifteen-year-old Ben, you were a real s$^%-show. My dad has since sincerely apologized for that trip to Ocracoke …. I forgive him, of course. I mean, at least he can admit that taking advice from a bird-watcher, when you are not a bird-watcher, is not a good policy when it comes to your vacation plans. But how was my dad to know how lame Farley’s taste in vacations was? He didn’t have the Internet at his fingertips to google ‘Best spots to take a wimpy fifteen-year-old on the North Carolina shore.’”

“My older daughter was born a devout Christian. Sometimes she looks out her open window, holding a cross. No s&^%. She stares at the sky, holding her small golden cross. I have to assume she’s praying. So this one morning, my kids were eating their gluten-free pancakes (KA-F*$&ING-BOOM! I am a great dad!) and my then-three-year-old looked up at her mom and said, ‘Boy, God sure did give me an itchy vagina.’ My wife looked away, trying not to laugh as I instantly panicked. But my daughter continued. ‘I mean, man. It’s really itchy.’ I began to focus on astrally projecting myself to anywhere but where I was at that moment…. The tiny blond child took a pause. I praised all that was holy that she was done. But oh no. There was more. ‘Whoooo. It’s just super itchy. So God made me have an itchy vagina.’ My older child, being fully pious, gets very offended by this kind of chatter. She was compelled by the spirit to correct her sister, posthaste. ‘Georgie! God would never give you an itchy vagina. He might kill you, or strike you blind, but he would never give you an itchy vagina.’ My wife, no longer able to keep it in, burst out laughing, as my older daughter demanded to know what was so funny. I began to clear the plates from the table (people may have still been eating but I didn’t care). I just had to get those plates to the sink; that way I could put another four feet of distance between myself and this ‘situation.’”

“Kelly wouldn’t miss a beat, and he would good-naturedly yell, ‘Ben! Get your pop outta the john!’ I’d walk in, past the person invariably at the urinal, kick open the stall door, and find my pop snoozing away. I’d nudge him, and he’d say, ‘What? What’s happening?’ Then he’d see me and say, ‘Hey, buddy,’ as casual and breezy as if we were having a quick beer together (not that I was old enough to drink beer, but you get what I mean). ‘Pop, you’re asleep on the toilet again.’ With that, my dad would look down at himself, smile, and say, ‘So it would seem.’ I’d step out, he’d splash some water on his face or whatever he needed to do to get himself together, and go back out toward the band as if nothing had happened at all.”

“Whatever my dad had done was bad … [so he] got busy. He knew my mom was coming home from work soon, and time was wasting. I was informed that we were having fish for dinner. I was fifteen and am from the Midwest, so I was not exactly thrilled. But I sucked it up because I knew my dad must have really messed up royally if he felt the need to cook an apology fish. Fish is fancy. Fish is for company. And holidays. And clearly, for apologies when Dad really pisses Mom off.”

“Normally my dad drinks white wine (he can just f^&* up a bottle of chardonnay), but the occasion seemed to call for the solemnity of a red. I started to tell my dad a story about my grandma, his mom [who had just died].... Whatever I was telling him must have registered with him in some form or fashion, because he looked at me with a tired, sad look and said, ‘I’d toast you, son, but you have no wine.’ I politely informed him that he had my glass of wine in front of him, as well as his own. Then my brother turned to him and said, ‘You also seem to have my wine, Pop.’”

Problem is, in telling these tales, Falcone proves he can be smart and insightful (e.g., “He taught me to always say what’s on your mind, which is advice I actually never took—my mind is a sea of unsaid thoughts sometimes pried loose with too much coffee or scotch”), as well as convey dry humor in writing (e.g., “I needed an island for uninhibited girls determined to make a man out of husky shy Italian kids. But I got a rainy island full of old bird-watchers. We watched a lot of David Letterman.”). He also occasionally provides real parenting advice (e.g., “My father’s belief, which I have also adopted, is that parents are responsible for attempting to keep their children from the truly big f*&^-ups in life. The smaller stuff is the stuff that kids need to navigate for themselves.”). That left me wishing Falcone and his editors had tightened and gussied things up a lot more, moving the reader from one anecdote to another with less filler and more precision.

As it is, "Being a Dad Is Weird" isn’t terrible. It’s good even. But it could have been great, really great.

[Review first published on Ready Mommy’s Book Reviews.]

[Vincent Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won an ARC in a Goodreads giveaway.

A nice, quick read. Funny, touching memories, mostly of Ben and his dad. Some laugh out loud moments. A really heartfelt tribute to his father.

[Aria · Rating 4 out of 5]

---- Disclosure: I received this book for free from Goodreads. ----

I quite enjoyed this. It was a light, quick read. It's as much about his being a parent, as it is about his own childhood experiences with family. He seems to have had an interesting family group growing up, and I quite enjoyed reading his telling of that world. What an entertaining group.

The chapters are very short, so if you want something to pick up for short intervals, this will do the trick. I read it straight through in a couple of hours (I'm a fast reader), and laughed out loud more than once. That alone earns you a whole star, as it's no small feat. The book also left me with an overall good feeling when I had finished, and I can easily say that I will recommend this to people looking for something fun to make them smile.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

a review of Ben Falcone's Being a Dad is Weird



What an amazing mirror! Ben Falcone shows us his dad, while mirroring his own quest to be the weird dad for his children. Weird is often good---it is certainly different.
Being raised with a father who swears (been there---"Just hear it, don't say it") and one whom we fear at times but also find hysterical. Laughing, loving and sharing. Ben shares his story of growing up in a house where his mother was the main bread winner for most years of his early childhood and where his father was Mister Mom. Then his dad becomes a professor of English at a local community college and his world turns upside down in a good way.
I saw through Ben's eyes reflections of my childhood, and I find that after reading this book, I longed to be the father I never got to be. There are some who may say his parents' methods may not be proper in raising a child (the drinking, swearing etc.) But look how Ben and his brother Flynn turned out. Pretty successful and happy. And Ben makes sure that we understand that beneath the chaotic facade, his dad was a most generous, caring and loving father.
This book is about more than just the father aspect. This is about trust that when advice is given by a parent, it is probably a good idea to follow it. The parent has been there and done that and has much more wisdom than for which we give credit. It is also about letting the children be responsible for their own growing up. Letting them make their own mistakes and learning from them. Sometimes parents need to be in the background, and only come forward in the most expansive crises. I grew up in a similar household and during a time when, as Ben alludes to, we played outside till dark, went to the park by ourselves at five years old, and at times seemed to be raising ourselves. But Ben makes it clear. His folks were always there for him and his brother, just as he plans on always being there for his daughters.
There is much humor in this book but it is not forced. He is not trying to be funny, he just is. The natural humor shines through. And most of us can relate to parts of or most of this book. He also talks about a Catholic priest who was very competitive when it came to playing sports. Beware of priests when it comes to basketball or as I found out years ago, tennis. I played tennis with my own "Father Carl." If I was not careful and did not play my best, my own Father Carl would wipe the court with me and then say, "Bless you, son."
In this book we get an intimate look into the life of a producer, director, actor and just plain funny guy. But what I like most about Ben's writing is that he deflects most of the praise and attention to his father. He alludes to things he has picked up along the way that help him raise his own children. But he gives the main credit to his parents. And the love he feels for both are reflected strongly in this very engaging story. I wouldn't be at all surprised if many years down the road, one of Ben's daughters might end up writing a very similar book about her father.
This is a quick but very poignant read. I found I did not want to put it down until I reached the end, and even then, I wanted more pages.


jacob erin-cilberto (author of Rewrites and Second Chances)

[Mediaman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shocked to see that a guy with no qualifications or parenting skills is given a book contract to write about the subject of being a dad. Falcone probably is trying to be funny in the book but fails miserably, and it's so full of obscene language that it's difficult to read.

The book is really about Falcone'e memories of his own father and the biggest problem is that Ben holds his own dad up as the example of a great father, but the guy sounds horrible. Falcone's dad allowed them to swear freely, underage drink, be around drugs, lie, and be offensive to anyone they didn't agree with. Namely, obnoxious, completely thoughtless and immoral. There is no spiritual foundation from the family even though they live across from church, and instead the family would host parties once or twice a week so it appears the parents didn't teach the kids anything beyond "drinking and swearing with friends is fun." While it's nice that a son has warm memories of his dad, you quickly realize that Ben married a woman who matches his father in terms of being an offensive slob (even if just in her performances).

Worst is the attempts at being politically correct. The author makes sure to let you know how anti-Republican he is. And how offended he is that anyone would be anti-special gay rights. The irony is that in the gay chapter (which some in the gay community should find offensive since Falcone seems to demean his own sexual questioning) he says "who cares" how others "live their lives?" calling those that don't agree with the outward homosexual lifestyle "big dumb dummies." But just a few pages earlier he talks about the family devastation from a kid at school that told him that Santa wasn't real, condemning the boy for living his life in a way that told school friends the truth. He can't have it both ways--the fact is that the way others behave, talk, and act will have an impact on us and as a parent he should care what other people say to his kids. It's totally acceptable for people to raise their children in a way consistent with their beliefs, and as parents you have to choose carefully who you allow your kids to be around. That lesson seems to be lost on the author, mostly because he had a dad whose life was pretty much "anything goes" (except for the truth about Santa not being real, which was very troubling in their household!).

Falcone comes across as an insecure, neurotic hypochondriac. Judging from that, his overly confident "be happy all the time" father failed in the raising of his son. Wish the writer would have taken the time to step back and realize all his negative quirks and insecurities come from a parent who failed to have proper boundaries. Hopefully Ben will learn to do better with his own kids because based on what's written here he is giving some very bad parenting advice.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is the for the uncorrected proof (ARC) of the book.

I have mixed feelings about this book. First, I am not a man nor a parent, so I expect that I can't identify with those aspects. Second, for most of the book I was going to rate it a 3 star, but then the end of the book just Zapped Me!, so 4 stars. The writing is definitely better at the end. I attribute this to the fact that more emotion is involved.

This is a great tribute to Falone's dad. I love that he wanted to honor his dad this way. He uses cute and funny stories about his dad to explain why he is the kind of father he is. I think that is nice. The "Road Warrior" car stories were among my favorite.

The vignettes often reminded me of "The Goldbergs", which I love. One story in particular would make a great sitcom episode: "The Apology Fish". I could see that one in my mind, and I laughed.

I loved reading about his relationship with Melissa McCarthy (because I adore her) and their two daughters. The chapter "Find a Good Lady" was one of my favorites!

I did not like all the references to gluten-free pancakes! Ugh. You give your kids bagels but also gluten-free pancakes? Huh? Why did he make such a big deal about that?! I don't consider that good parenting unless there is a gluten-sensitive parent or child involved, which was not mentioned. Personally, I'm fine with you giving your kids whatever you like, but I'd leave that part out of the book.

Falcone is 12 days older than I, so I enjoyed the 80s perspectives. I don't have much in common with him other than that...oh, and that he and I both had an uncle who tried to disappear and leave our families! My dad hired a P.I. to find my uncle, just as Falcone's did. How weird is that. Neither wanted to be found. My uncle was found a couple of times and is now deceased but was returned to my family and buried locally. I hope the Falcones are at peace with their missing relative.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. The beginning is rough, but it gets much better as you read.

[Tom Donaghey · Rating 4 out of 5]

BEING A DAD IS WEIRD by Ben Falcone has the misfortune of being read by me shortly after I finished reading a top selling Italian book on this very subject. That book was SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND KISSES FOR BREAKFAST. But BEING A DAD... differs from that first book in that this is more the story of a son looking back at his relationship with his parents, especially his dad, and reevaluating it from the perspective of being a father himself.
Mr. Falcone takes us back to his youth in Carbondale, Illinois and his family as they laughed and loved themselves through bad times and good. While they didn't have much money to start, his parents always provided for him and his brother. When his dad became a professor at Southern Illinois University, things got better financially, but they still maintained the aura of a happy, joyous family. Mr. Falcone was blessed with parents who loved each other and their kids, always managed to find the bright spots along the way and had great friends who loved them and were loved in return. His is a childhood sprinkled liberally with happy memories, even when vacations didn't turn out like they were planned, or cars were little more than wishes of transportation strung together with bailing wire and bondo.
While he talks about his own life with his wife and two daughters, there is little revealed about their family life compared to that which came before. Mr. Falcone does manage to draw lessons from the past and comes to a greater understanding of just how good a parent his dad was and is, and the difficult road it is to raise your own children.
This is a light, airy read about adulthood, coming to terms with your past, and making the best future you can for the ones you love.

[Kelley Snorklefoxie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun short read

This was a fun read that made me think of how to be more happy. I deal with depression and anxiety. I don't feel like life is fun. But Ben reminded me of it! I try to see the humor in life but often its in reflection. And then I laugh freely. Thank you for reminding me of this. I needed this thought process right now. I laughed while reading and that absolutely helped me. I love how your dad just took in your transformation of life rather than putting on that wheel of criticism so many parents do. My mother was very critical, but I knew she loved me. Your dad appeared estranged from that arena. That means you were more open to creativity! So very wonderful for art. I have to share this. I was photographer for several.years and had a family of 5 before me. As I set up a pose, I noticed the mother had 2 different shoes on. I mean totally different. Even the heels were slightly different. I was concerned she had something wrong with her leg or foot. So I was being careful on how she could sit. I asked her if the pose would be alright. She said sure why do you ask. I said because you have 2 different shoes on and I want to make sure you are ok. She looked down and said oh my gosh! She turned to her teen kids and husband and said how could you guys let me go out the door with 2 different shoes on? Lolol. She was mortified. We all made light of it and had a great time. I think I had everyone say "shoes" on one photo. They were amazingly a great family.

[Rob Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a used bookstore on a whim. I had no idea who Ben Falcone is but I recently became a father and the title of the book grabbed me so I decided to try it. It didn't look like the standard parenting book so I was hopeful.

The amount of information conveyed by the book is very low but it is only 216 pages so that is part of it. I like how the book is setup in extremely short chapters because I could read a whole chapter every time I picked it up, even if I did only read 3 pages.

There were chapters where I was left wanting for more information. "Teach Your Children the Value of Money" is a good example. In that chapter in particular Falcone seemed to contradict the beginning of the book where he talked about how much his parents struggled for money. Yet, at the end he was praising his father for being loose with money?

More than anything, I definitely felt the love Falcone has for his father in this book.

4 stars because it was super easy to read and very funny in some parts.

[August Rain Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading this book! Ben Falcone writes much how his father speaks, with wit and charm that is undeniable—he just might not be as loud as Steve. Any casual reader could enjoy his tales of childhood and his own parenting experience, but as someone who grew up through the same decades just a few miles down the road, I felt right at home with his family’s stories.

If you ever read your reviews, Ben, know that I believe you captured your father perfectly! He was my absolute favorite English teacher! Reading this collection makes me hopeful that someday there will be more. Whether they’re more tales of your family and friends or characters like “Vincent DeFrank”, know that this reader is eagerly awaiting the next volume!

Now I have to debate how carefully to guard this book. I want to run out and loan it to all my friends who are parents or who just like reading fun stories, but I don’t want to let go of the memories I feel like I’ve shared with the Falcone‘s and that connection to my own seemingly distant college years.

[Merry Miller moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Goodreads for the free ARC of this book. I apologize, I didn't even know who Ben Falcone was before reading this book. He is a writer, director and comedian who is married to Melissa McCarthy. This book was hilarious. I love the cover photo of a young Ben and his father. He reflects upon his own childhood to provide some much needed advice for parents. Please note that there is language in this book and it is not for the faint of heart. See the chapter in which he describes his father's gym shorts! 'Leprechaun traps'-love this idea! And thanks for sharing your mother's chili con queso recipe! I have to try it. It was very cool reading that Ben and I went to high school the same time-we are the same age! Ben and Melissa seem like very real, down to earth parents. This is refreshing. I laughed so hard reading this book. What a funny family! Wonderful and practical advice. P.S. I want to meet your father, Ben!

[Melissa Lee-Tammeus · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute little book that takes a walk down memory lane of actor and director Ben Falcone - many may know him as Mr. Melissa McCarthy. From the writings, it appears as if Mr. Falcone had a pretty sweet suburban Midwest childhood and since I did too, it was fun to walk with him. The book is made up of short chapters that focus mostly on his Dad and family growing up and how, now looking back as a Dad himself, he can appreciate his parents and brother and what being a family and dad means for him today. It is cute, but some jokes fall a bit flat and it felt more like a conversation on a back porch somewhere that would be much more appreciated by those who lived it such as Flacone's kids and family, versus, say, me. Kind of like the saying, "Not my circus, not my monkeys"? So hard to get really pulled in the way I am thinking it was intended because it simply wasn't my circus. .

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book would be more about Ben Falcone's daughters, and there are a few stories in there, but it is mostly about Ben's childhood. His daughters are still pretty young and I hope he writes about them someday (with their permission), because living in that household, there has to be some funny stuff that happens. They also don't seem to be the typical Hollywood type of people and probably are pretty nice to just talk to and not all self-absorbed, time will tell.

I liked the writing style but was not prepared for all the bad language, but they talked that way in his family. Nostalgic and sweet for the most part. I loved Ben's gratitude for his parents and although they did not have money or prestige, they gave him the best start in life, they loved their son and spent time with him, instilling confidence and acceptance. Well done.