This week for the These Dads Are Doing It Right series I am going to showcase some books about faith and fatherhood. These dads share their journey as a dad and spirituality. These books cover different religions and forms of faith. In addition, if there are any other dads that you think we should check out, leave their name and info in the comment section below.
Books On Fatherhood, Faith & Spirituality
Elliot Jager – The Pater
In The Pater, writer and journalist Elliot Jager tackles what has until now been an almost taboo subject. That topic is what it feels like to be a childless Jewish man. It follows a 30-year estrangement from his Hasidic father. “The Pater,” as Jager dubs the Holocaust-survivor father who abandoned him as a small child. Now he implores his son to visit the graves of holy men to seek Divine intervention that will surely end his childlessness. Jager grapples with his relationship with “the Pater”. In addition he explores the stigmas that Jewish tradition maintains towards the childless. In the book he talks to other men. They are single and married, gay and straight and shares their intense experiences for the first time.
Aymann Ismail – Becoming Baba: Fatherhood, Faith, and Finding Meaning in America
From Slate staff writer Aymann Ismail comes an exquisite memoir. It has elements about fatherhood, religion, and the search for identity in an ever-shifting world. In lucid, confident prose, Aymann Ismail questions the sturdy frameworks of religion and family. In addition he looks into the legacies of his childhood, and what will become his children’s ethical and intellectual inheritance. To reckon unflinchingly with these questions offers him a road map for his young Muslim children on how to navigate the singular journey into adulthood. You can check out my interview with Aymann on The Art of Fatherhood podcast.
Maury D. Wood, II- Faith With Work Boots On: A 7-Week Journey Through The Book of James
If you’re looking for a devotional written from a quiet office with a polished desk, this isn’t that book. This is faith learned in the real world. Faith shaped in garages, on flag football and soccer fields and at kitchen tables. In addition they are formed during afternoon conversations with kids who think “shut up” is the S-word. Plus, faith is handed down by grandparents who lived it, strengthened by parents who modeled it. Therefore it is tested in everyday moments where patience runs thin and grace matters most. Faith With Work Boots On is a 7-week devotional journey through James. It is written for people who want their faith to show up in real life. It is not just in church, but at home, at work, and in their relationships.
Andre C. Willis – Faith of Our Fathers: African-American Men Reflect on Fatherhood
Faith of Our Fathers: African-American Men Reflect on Fatherhood is a powerful essay collection edited by Andre C. Willis. It features prominent Black writers like John Edgar Wideman and Cornel West. They share personal stories about their fathers and their own experiences as fathers. Plus, they talk on challenging stereotypes by revealing the complexities of love, absence, influence, and faith. These are all within the African-American father-son bond. In addition, the book explores how personal histories, racism, and societal pressures shape their parenting. This book offers diverse perspectives on fatherhood that resonate with many readers.