What do you think?
Rate this book
Dads Under Construction: Adventures in Fatherhood
Many men today feel set adrift from the notion of themselves as "father." Times have changed, and the old, familiar, traditional models of parenting no longer work. Society has not yet evolved a strong and workable new model of parenting, or, in particular, of fathering.
Dr. Neil Campbell believes the answer to the question "what is an involved father?" can be found within the experiences and stories of our own lives. In this book, he takes us into his life, first as a son, then as a father, sharing some of the profound insights he learned along the way.
Dr. Neil Campbell believes the answer to the question "what is an involved father?" can be found within the experiences and stories of our own lives. In this book, he takes us into his life, first as a son, then as a father, sharing some of the profound insights he learned along the way.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 3, 2026
I wish this book was longer! It was so tender and reflective all the way through, from the authour's childhood to his fatherhood. I also really appreciate how simply it was written; the thoughts of a father writing about being one while in the stands watching his daughter's basketball game, written in short little chapters. My heart feels warmed and strengthened from reading this gentle book, like it was put in a kiln but like...a gentle one.
A couple parts that stood out to me:
"He sat me down in one of the chairs in the kitchen and proceeded to tell me about the amount of work he had put in to growing and caring for these tulips. It was a scolding of sorts, but beyond being sent to my room for a time-out period, there was no further disciplinary action.
That fall, wise man that he was, my father made sure I was involved with him in the planning stage of where the next year's tulip bulbs would go. We also planted them together." (35).
"Often when I drive her to school in the morning, she prefers that I do not kiss her on the cheek. However, I may kiss my hand and she then kisses her hand and then we touch hands. No one sees this. She feels more comfortable and less self-conscious about this." (137).
A beautifully written and thought out book
A couple parts that stood out to me:
"He sat me down in one of the chairs in the kitchen and proceeded to tell me about the amount of work he had put in to growing and caring for these tulips. It was a scolding of sorts, but beyond being sent to my room for a time-out period, there was no further disciplinary action.
That fall, wise man that he was, my father made sure I was involved with him in the planning stage of where the next year's tulip bulbs would go. We also planted them together." (35).
"Often when I drive her to school in the morning, she prefers that I do not kiss her on the cheek. However, I may kiss my hand and she then kisses her hand and then we touch hands. No one sees this. She feels more comfortable and less self-conscious about this." (137).
A beautifully written and thought out book
Displaying 1 of 1 review