The Council of Dads audiobook

This is how much a daddy is supposed to love his kids. Makes me wish I had been blessed more in that regard as there were so many times I could’ve used a man’s input and guidance in my life. Truly beautiful the lessons this book teaches.

It was AMAZING! One of the best books I have ever read!

** spoiler alert ** I got this book and enjoyed it, I had seen the story on Oprah or some news program and thought it sounded interesting though very sad. The father was sick with a rare form of cancer, and in the event he died, he wanted to have 6 men who could, together, represent different aspects of his character or personality and advise his daughters. I thought it was well written and very touching, I especially enjoyed the letters he wrote updating his council of dads throughout the year during his treatment. However, the book seemed to skip around, going from one memory to another, how one dad was chosen to the next, and I found it a little disjointed. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had skipped around less. Overall I would recommend it to people who are looking for an interesting book and a great idea, whether the parent is sick or healthy, it's always a great idea to have other adults in your kids lives...particularly for those kids whose parents may be out of town a lot, such as children whose parents are in the military.

I was so grateful to win a copy of this book thru Good Reads First Look. I liked it a lot and it reminded me of combining Randy Pausch and Mitch Albom style of writing with humor, great lines, awesome quotes, and deeply spiritual and moving. The author, Bruce Feiler talks about his childhood and an unfortunate accident that happened when he was a kid. Fast forward years later and he learns that he has cancer. As he worries about his twin girls he and his wife decide on the council of Dads, 6 men that Bruce picks to represent him in the event of his death. Each man comes from a different time in Bruce’s life, not family but ones who mean the most to him. I really loved this idea and it really does make you think about your own mortality as you are reading this. He literally goes thru hell and back with his chemotherapy treatments and pain from the surgeries. Bruce is an inspiration and I urge everyone to pick up a copy of this great book!

Inspiring!

This is a remarkable account of how a man transforms his cancer diagnosis into a lesson in how to live each moment and how to keep his voice alive for his daughters.

I was surprised by this book, in a good way. I was expecting more of a straightforward intro of the council, how they might aid the girls though their life, and how that might compare to what their Dad would do if he were there or not. Instead, it was a meandering memoir with thoughtful insights and reflections on illness, legacy, parenting, masculinity, friendship, walking, and most of all, family. Bruce is clearly a great storyteller, and the exposition and family history I had thought at the beginning was going to end up being self-indulgent and extraneous to the point of the book, was actually what tied everything together as a narrative of a difficult period of life that made him think about all of the things listed above.The concept of the council is honestly the biggest takeaway from this book, whether you're facing a momentous life challenge like cancer or not. It reminds me of what I grew up thinking godparents were meant to be in a child's life; particularly in relation to me. My godmother was my mother's closest friend at the time of my birth, and unfortunately when their relationship deteriorated, mine went with it. My godfather is my father's brother, and to me it made sense to have a godparent from each side of my parent's marriage because they were to mentor and love me from the periphery of my parent's influence, and only step into those roles if the worst should happen. As an adult, I understand that the role of a godparent is often more religious, unsurprisingly, and that is how my growing family will treat it. However, the concept of a "council" of figures from my life, or my wife's life, that could act in place of either of us if we weren't available feels like the correction of my idea of godparents that I had in my head growing up. This would take more thought and exploration, but I feel like there are several people who fit the space between family and friend for us in the way that Bruce described. I will also treasure this book, and likely return to it, because of the nuggets of parental wisdom that Bruce provided and uncovered here. At the cusp of fatherhood, I am learning to value the opportunities to learn and store away as many resources as possible.

Having seen Bruce Feiler recently speak in Northbrook, Illinois, I feel as if this book is an old friend. I knew much of the story, already. This elaborated on what I already knew. It is the story of a talented, courageous man who is forced to face his monsters as cancer attacks. Having two, three year old daughters adds to this as he realized that he might not be there for them. He finds men in his life to take part on a ‘Council of Dads’ and be there for them in case he doesn’t win his fight. He chooses men who are not blood, men who each stand for some special part of his persona, so that they can relate that to the girls, should need be. It is a story of the importance of emotion and how men need to learn how to deal with it. It is about the importance of storytelling and how it is the glue of our lives. It tells of the need for networking, whether we are dying or not. It also talks about walking and what it represents and how we all need to slow down and realize what we have and how we must observe and appreciate it. This is a very good read by a fascinating man and author.

In all honesty I read this book on a whim not even knowing what it was about .I did not even read the synopsis. So basically it was a blind date with a book. Let me tell you this was overall one of the best books that I’ve read in a long time. It made me cry, it made me laugh and it most importantly made me feel like I knew these people on a deep and personal level one that I was ever so grateful for. This book is one that I will recommend to all I know in hopes that they will enjoy and pass along to others especially to those with children and cancer survivors. “The second half of that wish—“May your last word be love”—is up to you. And if I’ve learned anything from my illness, it’s that we never know when our last word may come. So I beg of you: Be awash in love every dayExcerpt from: "The Council of Dads: My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could Be Me" by Bruce Feiler. Scribd.This material may be protected by copyright.Read this book on Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/163630083

Bravo!! I’m feeling all the empathetic feels. This will be the next book I recommend to practically every single person in my circle. It’s a brilliant concept turned into a passionate telling of a life story. Heartwarming. Insightful. Sensitive. At times, profound. It‘s simultaneously reflective and enlightening. Beyond that, it’s a well-constructed and thoughtfully laid out book. With thoughts and words we all can live by, whether parents or not. The concepts in this book often gave me pause, an elegant reminder of life’s greatest lessons and prescriptions. What I maybe loved most was reflecting on who I would select to comprise my own council, and why. The people who constitute various sides of me, those who are a narrative of my selves. Those who have an empathy that is part of the greatness of human beings. It’s such a meaningful concept, and I really believe we all ought to have councils in our lives. I am changed after reading this piece.

Fabulous listen--made me cry many times--but also poetic and thoughtful. Enjoyed his perception of his twin girls and what he wanted for them as their father and for his voice to continue to be present, even if he was not. Facsinating that he did research and read the journals/listened to the tapes of his grandfather and wove it all into a story, men's stories of their lives...will definately pick up his earlier books and google him to find out what he looks like as well as what has happened since--think we're within a few years of one another and his girls I think were born in 2005...so just a year ahead of our boys. Would most decidedly recommend for any parents/travelers/philosophers/cancer survivors--heck think anyone could get something out of this self-reflective book/ and gift to his daughters and us--the reader.

Being a father of three girls and reading this on New Years day probably skewed my rating, but I was thrilled with this book. The idea was inspiring - namely to form a group of past friends that could speak to some element of the authors life, and help guide, shape, and direct the authors daughters lives in the advent of the authors not beating his newly diagnosed cancer.While it was the briefest of glimpses into each of the "dads" lives and interactions with the author, it was enough to paint in broad strokes the ideals and morals that shaped the author's life, and how best he hoped to do the same with his daughters.I of course rolled tears at the last letter to his daughters. It was sweet, cliche, and sappy, but it was everything I needed to start the year off with a renewed appreciation for what I have, and just how precious every minute really is in this life.

La narrativa compleja y profunda que utiliza Bruce logra una experiencia inmersiva, llena de contexto y de lo que rodea la historia. Al principio abordé el libro pensando que sería una historia de supervivencia pero al mismo tiempo encontré mucho sobre la paradoja de ser padres, el legado a construir en nuestra vida y familia. Me gustó y me hizo reflexionar el concepto de la regla del 2% “Take a year. Give it a try. When you’re fifty years old, you will have spent two percent of your life trying to make your dream come true. And when you look back, I think you’ll realize it was a good 2%”. Recomendable para quienes están buscado libros sobre paternidad, hay tanto en el libro que genera mucha reflexión y aprendizaje a través de la experiencia de Bruce Failer #parenting

Oh my goodness. I read this as a 73 year old receiving radiation therapy for my early stage breast cancer. I cried, I laughed outloud, I prayed and; I gave thanks that unlike Bruce, and a member of my own family, I dealt with cancer when our children and our grandchild were adults. Thank you gracious God for that mercy and blessing. The beginning of my breast cancer journey started a mere 366 days after my last normal mammogram. Take note all of you reading this - get your mammogram when it is due. I will be recommending this book to lots of people. There is truth, there is pain, there is pathos AND there is hope and love. Thank you Bruce for sharing all of this with us. Bruce may you, your wife, girls, family, friends and the Council of Dads live long and healthy lives.

I was inspired by the authors effort he put into thinking about the legacy he was leaving behind for his daughters. There were lots of hard moments that were accompanied by power thoughts and realizations but also just the day to day toughness of fighting cancer and how it affected his family. I enjoyed the humour and stories from his life and especially enjoyed the “council of dads” chapters where he visits people that have inspired him throughout his life. I could def read this book again. I pondered so many things because of it. The overall tone was happy or #blessed. I would def recommend.