Papa, My Father: A Celebration of Dads

by Leo F. Buscaglia

While relating specific events which he remembers about his own father, Leo Buscaglia has written this book "in celebration of all fathers." Readers are reminded that seemingly ordinary events can forever remind us of a cherished family member. This book reached #7 on the New York Times Best Seller list.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Parenting, Inspirational, Autobiography

125 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1989

About the author

known as "Dr. Love"

Dr. Felice Leonardo Buscaglia Ph.D. was a professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Southern California. He was a graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School (Los Angeles).

Leo Buscaglia authored a number of New York Times bestselling inspirational books on love and human reticences on the subject, including The Fall of Freddie the Leaf, Bus 9 to Paradise, Living Loving and Learning, Love and My Father. In lectures he often protested, in outrage at the comparative absence of writings on the subject, "I got the copyright for love!!!"

Reviews

[John Stepper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful love letter to a Father. As an Italian, it was especially wonderful to read the stories of the garden and the food and the way the family related to each other. So many memories...

[Ron Wroblewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving tribute to Leo's dad and how much he appreciated him. I have to record here the lessons Leo learned from his dad

Dance, sing, and laugh a lot
All things are related
Don't waste time trying to reason with pain, suffering, life and death.
An animated person animates the world
Find a quiet place for yourself
Don't ever betray yourself
Birth and death are part of a cycle. Neither begins or ends with you
Stay close to your God
It's crucial to love
Idealism is a strength, not a weakness
People are good if you give them a chance to be
Discrimination, for any reason, is wrong
Self-respect is essential for life
Cruelty is a sign of weakness
Commitment and caring are the basic ingredients of love
Love is indestructible and therefore the most powerful human force
Change is inevitable
People who think they know it all can be dangerous

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief, concise, told with an open heart and an open eye to his father's strengths and shortcomings, but ultimately this book is a big thank you from Buscaglia to his father and a way for the reader to see his or her own father in a new and revealing way. And for those of us who are fathers it provides some needed perspective on our role and our value. This is a book I will turn to again, I am sure.

[Figen]

insanın babasını böyle içten yazabilmesi çok güzel. insanlar babamı çok severdi. yalnızca para babamı sevmezdi.yetmis yaşına dek çalışmaya bir gün olsun ara vermedi...diyor yazar.evin dört duvarı arasında babanın çocuklarıyla konuştuklarını zamanında kimse duymaz ama gelecek kuşaklar onun sesini ve sözlerinin odalarda hala fisildadigini duyarlar.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful story Leo Buscaglia wrote about his father. This story does not portray his father as totally wonderful.....it is just an honest look at man much admired by Leo.
Mr Rocco Buscaglia immigrated from Italy and had trouble speaking English. After he had been here many years, he went to school to learn to speak better English and apply for citizenship.
He lived until age 88. About a years before he died he was diagnosed with a fatal illness. He stated, "Everyone dies. I just have a better idea when it will happen. We don't live forever."
The two things he wanted to do before he died were to go to Hawaii and Las Vegas. (my kind of guy)
Leo describes their plane trip to Hawaii. The family took tons of food since their plane fare did not include meals. They fed most of the passengers and crew. He says people in first class complained because they didn't get any of the good smelling food.
It just is a great read....looking at a man who was appreciated by his family.

[Bartholomew Timm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leo Buscaglia is an absolute joy to watch and listen to, and he writes about his father in the same enthusiastic vein. Clearly an homage to his father, the book also evokes a different time and era, where relationships within and between families were paramount. A time when family histories and stories were part of the oral traditions and handed down over dining room discussions; when food and family became one. It is a wonderful little book, it would probably mean little or nothing to those born before the 1980's, but would trigger happy memories for those born in and earlier and more family-oriented time. But those who are younger, it would be a good example of how life could still be lived, and how fathers could still be wonderful role models.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading about the influence and impact of Leo Buscaglia's father on his life. The chapters are vignettes of the various roles of Buscaglia's Italian father, "Papa" as "the husband, educator, philanthropist, oenophile," etc. His Papa was not a success by worldly or financial standards, but the legacy he left was large. He modeled a life of sincerity, generosity, passion, pride in his Italian heritage, hard-work and love. I loved the stories of Papa's prolific zucchini, and the wine-making. This is a book that makes you reflect on the many gifts of family.

[Cyndi Fulco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just reread this book and it is still beautiful, inspiring, lovely!! Such a beautiful celebration of life & love! A wonderful time to take your father in your arms and let him know just how much you love him and his special place in your heart!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated: B+

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

For everyone who loves and misses their dad.....you'll enjoy this book!

[Sandy Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful tribute and great idea for others with special fathers!

[Deanna Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any man who has a dad, or wants to be a dad. Or for anyone else who loves to love.

[Shirley Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love all of his work

[Mark]

As a father and grandfather, I can do no better than to take Papa as my vision and example. Not having analyzed my own exemplary father, Leo has done it before me.

[Lisa Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me cry! I will buy this as a gift for my own father this Father's Day. Beautiful.

[Ayse Turan · Rating 3 out of 5]

....Her cumartesi günü eski bir italyan atasözünü yinelerdi.Ekip, dikip yetiştiren insana Tanrı her zaman iyi gün gösterir.
...

[Angela Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it and HIGHLY Recommend it!!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet collection of reminiscences about an Italian immigrant father in Los Angeles. Lightweight, short, a quick read, a little love letter from a son to his papa.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely! A celebration of an Italian-American father.

[MHW · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book soon after I found it on my late parents’ shelf, but it took me a while to get into it. Even though I’d raved about it in my inscription to my Dad years ago, I think I might have been a bit afraid to read it again. It’s not my usual novel.

Once I resumed reading it, I remembered why I liked it so much. It’s a testament of the author’s father’s love. Any father’s love. MY father’s love. I tested up a bit at the end, but feel good about the book. I’m glad it’s on my shelf now.

[Mike Zickar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick fun read that takes me back to my teenager years, listening to Leo Buscaglia on tapes that my mother borrowed from the library. Buscaglia's writing is more gentle than his speaking, where he used the full range to connect with the audience.

The book shares nice, loving anecdotes about his father and how he navigated being a father as well as being a recent immigrant to the US who often had little money to help provide for his family.

[Şule A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yazarın babasına övgü niteliğinde yazdığı anı/mektup tarzında bir kitap. Çevresinde gördüğü ve duyduğu babalardan çok farklı, sevgi dolu, onlarla sorunlarını paylaşmaktan ve onların yanında ağlamaktan çekinmeyen, çocuklarıyla ilgili bir baba olduğunu anlatıyor. Gerçekten takdir edilesi bir babası varmış yazarın. Özellikle çocuklara her gün yeni bir şey öğrenmeden eve gelmeyin diye öğütlemesi detayına bayıldım. Akşam yemeklerinde o gün öğrendikleri şeyi paylaşıp ailecek üstüne tartışırlarmış sonra. Çok iç ısıtıcı bir aile :)

[Blanche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Library book. This is the 1st book I've read by this author , and it won't be the last. What a little heartwarming gem this was. Even more poignant for me as it is nearing the anniversary of my Dad's passing We all miss our Dad's

[Larry Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister in law gave me this book almost twenty years ago. I was cleaning the basement and found it. Once I started I couldn't put it down. A wonderful story. Got me thinking about my dad, for sure!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

warm and sentimental a great read for Father's Day.

[Lola · Rating 2 out of 5]

Buscaglia is an internationally known teacher, writer, &
TV lecturer. He wrote this book to honor his much loved
father, an immigrant, & the many roles he played in his
life.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book about a well-loved Papa

[Murat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kısa, hemen okunan, çok içten yazılmış mükemmel bir kitap

[Esma · Rating 5 out of 5]

this my favorites book because everything is beautiful and really good

[Michele Maxey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving story on how the view of your father changes as we age. Touching story.