9780062675538
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Mean Dads for a Better America audiobook

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Mean Dads for a Better America Audiobook Summary

From the stand-up comedian and popular host on the Fox News Network, a nostalgic look back at his childhood and the simple American values that shaped his worldview–a portrait of growing up in 1970s America.

As a comedian and conservative thinker, whip-smart funny Tom Shillue grounds his ideas about our current culture and political climate in stories from his childhood. Growing up as one of five kids in a devout Irish Catholic family in a small town outside of Boston, Tom sincerely believes that the rough-and-tumble, rules-dominated world in which he came of age was a better America–a time and place that made him into the well-adjusted, happy, successful man he is today.

In Mean Dads for a Better America, Tom reminisces about his childhood, his family, and the traditional values he cherishes. He takes us back to a time when neighbors disciplined each other’s children without fear of being sued, when kids made it to the family table for dinner, when parents’ rules were gospel, when the occasional fistfight was considered a fair way to solve a problem, and when children were free to roam, make mistakes, and experience the first tastes of independence.

On the Fox News Network, Tom debates, debunks, and entertains with his hilarious approach to issues of the day. Here, he brings that talent and wisdom to the page, tackling the issues that confound many Americans, like our hypersensitive culture and overzealous parenting. As Tom celebrates the stability of family life and the sanity of days gone by, he encourages us to hold on to our sense of humor and look back at our own lives, as we work towards creating a better future for ourselves and our kids, all while making us laugh.

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Mean Dads for a Better America Audiobook Narrator

Tom Shillue is the narrator of Mean Dads for a Better America audiobook that was written by Tom Shillue

Tom Shillue is a popular host on Fox News Channel. He has appeared in his own Comedy Central Special, on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Last Comic Standing, Comics Unleashed, Broad City, and in the feature film Mystery Team. Shillue has been featured as part of the barbershop quartet on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon along with Justin Timberlake, Kevin Spacey, Steve Carrel, and Sting. In 2013 Shillue released twelve consecutive comedy albums as part of his ambitious “12 in 12” project. From 2012 to 2015, he toured the U.S.A. with friend and fellow comedian Jim Gaffigan. In 2014 he brought his solo show “Impossible” to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in 2016 he headlined at SF Sketchfest in San Francisco. He lives in New York City.

About the Author(s) of Mean Dads for a Better America

Tom Shillue is the author of Mean Dads for a Better America

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Mean Dads for a Better America Full Details

Narrator Tom Shillue
Length 6 hours 36 minutes
Author Tom Shillue
Category
Publisher HarperAudio
Release date June 06, 2017
ISBN 9780062675538

Subjects

The publisher of the Mean Dads for a Better America is HarperAudio. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is Biography & Autobiography, Rich & Famous

Additional info

The publisher of the Mean Dads for a Better America is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780062675538.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Erin

June 27, 2017

This book was pretty good. I'm not a parent, but this book isn't really for parenting. It's about his life and growing up and having a healthy fear of your parents. I enjoyed his story because it reminded me of what my own parents' childhood must have been like. It seems like such an idealistic, albeit, wild, time to be a kid. Though I'm from a 90's baby, I'm so thankful that I had the parents and the childhood that I had. The older I get the more thankful I am for how I was raised. growing up with 6 siblings on a farm was definitely an adventure. kids today lack so much structure and respect, and it's a direct result of society teaching us to only care about how people feel - I just wanna say that even though I didn't like being spanked at the time (who does?), I would be a terrible person if my mom didn't get the spoon every now and then.

Lois

July 24, 2017

Excellent read...and somewhat of a travel back in time for me.

Denise

February 09, 2020

I loved this book! As a child of the 70’s, I remembered everything Tom talks about. But even if you didn’t grow up in that time period, it is still very entertaining. One of my favorite parts was the altar boy story, but they’re all great, and it’s hard to pick a favorite. Very funny and brings back lots of memories.

Chris

July 14, 2017

Totally enjoyed this book. I had a similar kind of childhood and could really relate to the attitudes and experiences of the author. A fun walk down memory lane and a wonderful, incisive view of how to incorporate traditional values into modern family life. Moving, funny, and great from beginning to end!

Marianne

July 12, 2017

Great book. It brought back a lot of memories. It had a lot of laughs.

Rachel

July 10, 2017

Laughed out loud many times while reading. Shillue is hilarious and very relatable.

Deborah Granay

June 13, 2017

Tom must have been my neighborAs I read this book, it seemed so familiar to my childhood upbringing. Fond memories. Solid parenting lead to responsible adulthood while letting the young Tom find his own way and discover the world around him. Well done Mr. and Mrs. Shillue.

Cara

August 21, 2022

Comedian Tom Shillue recounts growing up in the 1970s with 1950s values. Dad was the head of the household and a man to be feared. Mom stayed home and instilled moral values. It was the kind of childhood that kids don't have anymore: free and unscheduled. Kids played in streets and ruled the neighborhood. Anyone who was a kid in the 50s, 60s, or 70s will find humor and nostalgia in this book. It just might may you long for the good old days.

Reza

January 13, 2019

Looking at the title on first glance, I thought this would be a book on parenting, thus I kept my expectations low. However, those expectations were soon to be dashed. An autobiography on the author’s old-school upbringing, he extols values of his childhood as espoused by his scary, no-nonsense dad and laissez-faire, enterprising mom, and also how he came to grip with adolescence, getting to know the fairer sex, finding jobs in showbiz, and so on, even though the way that he lived was deemed to be ‘politically correct’ by today’s standards. Reading the book, I can feel that the world in the past was rough, but in the same way more idyllic than today, where people had less things to be concerned. A good, light-hearted book about coming of age, and certainly the type of parenting I wish to do in the future.

Matty

June 19, 2018

Mean Dads For A Better America is a hilarious and profoundly truthful book. Author Tom Shillue highlights what it was like growing up in a different time when parents were parents, households still taught values and respect, and children were allowed to be just kids. It seems in these tumultuous times of political correctness, everyone being overly offended about everything, core values slipping to the way side, entitlement running rampant, and the joke that is our public school system, that this is a truth that should be heard far and wide by everyone. This is my honest review in exchange for winning this book through Goodreads giveaway.

Floyd

May 02, 2018

I have never seen Mr. Shillue doing his act but this book was funny. At first he mentioned his political leanings and I almost put the book down as I was looking for another "you're wrong - I'm right" kind of book. The book wound up being a very well-written autobiography. Funny as all get out in some parts. Other parts broke back recollections of my own life during those years. Pretty clean, a few swear words but used in the right context. His Dad must be someone to know as he is tough and funny without being a bear about it.

Theresa

April 23, 2018

Thank you for this book won on Goodreads Giveaway! I was unfamiliar with this author but admire his ability to share stories. The book is not preachy but teaches through family life. The author shares his childhood when families worked together, prayed together and laughed together. I enjoyed his memories and also am impressed by the moral wisdom weaved in his storytelling. I encourage others to read his book and to give their own families such memories.

Janet

July 31, 2017

This was such a fun book for me to read. It is a look back at the author's childhood in the 70s and 80s, how he was raised and the environment he came from. I could totally relate. For real. I grew up in the same town around the same time as the author. This book was a walk down memory lane of my childhood, reminding me of some really fun times, places and people in my early life. Tom Shillue is a great story teller.

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