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Letters to My Son: A Father's Wisdom on Manhood, Life, and Love
In an attempt to gather what wisdom he could to guide his son into adulthood, Kent Nerburn published a powerful collection of essays that touched the hearts of parents and children everywhere. In this beautiful revised edition, Nerburn refines his advice and expands his thoughts.
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
January 19th 1999
by New World Library
(first published 1993)
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I got this book yesterday, and finished it today.
I went into SAVE Thrift store to pass some time before catching the bus home and I walked back to the book shelf just to look around. My eyes immediately fell on this book and for some reason, even though it is a book written by a man and aimed at boys/men I wanted to read it.
So I bought it and started reading it on the bus. Despite the fact that this is a book about the philosophies of becoming a man, about what dilemmas a man faces and what he c...more
I went into SAVE Thrift store to pass some time before catching the bus home and I walked back to the book shelf just to look around. My eyes immediately fell on this book and for some reason, even though it is a book written by a man and aimed at boys/men I wanted to read it.
So I bought it and started reading it on the bus. Despite the fact that this is a book about the philosophies of becoming a man, about what dilemmas a man faces and what he c...more
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I really enjoyed how poetic and insightful this book was. My favorite chapter was on "Travel" ...“That is why we need to travel. If we don’t offer ourself to the unknown, our senses dull. Our world becomes small and we lose our sense of wonder. Our eyes don’t lift to the horizon; our ears don’t hear the sounds around us. The edge is off our experience, and we pass our days in a routine that is both comfortable and limiting. We wake up one day and find that we have lost our dreams in order to pro...more
1 like · like · see review
I think all these quotes are from this book? I just found them unlabeled in a computer file...
"That is why we need travel. If we don't offer ourselves to the unknown, our senses dull. Our world becomes small and we lose our sense of wonder. Our eyes don't lift to the horizon; our ears don't hear the sounds around us. The edge is off our experience, and we pass our days in a routine that is both comfortable and limiting. We wake up one day and find that we have lost our dreams in order to protec...more
"That is why we need travel. If we don't offer ourselves to the unknown, our senses dull. Our world becomes small and we lose our sense of wonder. Our eyes don't lift to the horizon; our ears don't hear the sounds around us. The edge is off our experience, and we pass our days in a routine that is both comfortable and limiting. We wake up one day and find that we have lost our dreams in order to protec...more
This book is amazing!! It is one of the wisest book i've ever read in my life! it touches your heart. Absolutely beautiful. It feels great to know that someone out there shares the same knowledge and thoughts as you.
it gives you an insight of his life, experiences, emotions, thoughts, advice and basically everything else you could think of. It shows you every aspects of life and is truelly awe-inspiring. loved it.
it gives you an insight of his life, experiences, emotions, thoughts, advice and basically everything else you could think of. It shows you every aspects of life and is truelly awe-inspiring. loved it.
I really enjoyed this book. The author is down to earth and keeps things concise and clear. The topics he picked to write about were all relevant ones which I find myself thinking about often. Sometimes it is just nice to hear another man's take on things such as spirituality, drugs, family/fatherhood, death, love, giving, etc. I like his references to Zen. I took a lot away from this book.
This book was given to me by a close family friend when I graduated High School and had a profound impact on me. It was the first time I was challenged to reflect on how I live my life in a way that encouraged me to be true to who I am in my pursuit of happiness. If you want to investigate what it means to "be a man" to yourself I highly recommend this book.
May 09, 2012
Amelia
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
a fan of Kent Nerburn, I suppose
Recommended to Amelia by:
I bought it for 15 cents at Goodwill
I wasn't impressed. He generalizes when he should probably specify his own opinion, and somehow that really grated on me after a while. It would have been a different book if he had just written it from his own point of view instead of trying to extrapolate world views from his own opinions, and it would have been worth a read then.
This is a very insightful book that is perfect for a 20-something young man. I especially appreciated the sections on material possessions and giving unselfishly. Overall, it's as good as secular advice gets. This book will bring you to the threshold of faith, but you have to take the leap yourself.
I like the idea of the author writing a batch of letters, and saving them for critical junctures in a boy's life--rather than trying to strong-arm a high school graduate to digest the entire book in a sitting. Perhaps the parent interested in disseminating the wisdom of this thoughtful author will do the same--present the thoughts by chapter with plenty of time for reflection between doses.
The author tackles difficult and uncomfortable topics with equal grace and wisdom. Highly recommended.
The author tackles difficult and uncomfortable topics with equal grace and wisdom. Highly recommended.
A very simple book that all fathers should write to their sons. Wisdom imparted to his son that I wish I had written to my sons. But it is not too late. I can still share those things with my sons and grandsons. My first book read on my Kindle App for my iPad.
I've enjoyed reading Nerburn's work. I will recommend this to my own son and son-in-law as they are both father's of sons. Nerburn provides much to reflect upon as a father and offers a nudge to fathers to express some of their wisdom with their sons.
I found this book at a time when I was struggling with many family issues. The profound wisdom contained in this book truly made some difficult decisions easy to make. While it is meant to provide guidance to a boy it is appropriate for all.
Wise and practical advice. An honesty and candor for people that speaks to wanting your children's lives to be richer and better by contemplating his thoughts. I wish I had written this book.
I recommend this to each and every parent out there. This book is a gift from the heart to the heart and mind of every reader. Loved loved loved this quick little gem.
Mar 21, 2011
Bonnie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Gave this book to Harry in 2003
Recommended to Bonnie by:
no idea
Having raised a son in a home without a father, I was particularly intersted in reading this (odd choice, I know) book. I found it very tender and inspirational.
Every man should examine what he thinks it means to be a man. This book has that and a bunch more interesting stuff to talk about.
Wonderful insights and advice for not just boys and their faters but for all parents and handling the larger questions of life.
Wisdom passed along from father to son - enjoyed it as both a father and a son.
Jul 10, 2012
Kgostis
added it
One of my favorite books of all time
Now that my son is older I plan to reread.
One can always be a better father.
An amazing book with great insight. Inspirational.
This book was very helpful to me at a time when I needed advice from an absent father. Unfortunately, it includes some of the downsides of fatherly wisdom--most importantly, predicate thinking.
A regular on my bedside table. Always offering a fresh reminder on life's essentials told through a very personal voice.
Most recent read. Good wisdom from a father to his son. But really thought-provoking for anyone.
Много приятна книжка. Особено ми харесаха разсъжденията за работата, вещите, споделянето, парите.
For the first time, after reading this book, I realized my father was also a father's son. EVERY man should read this!
Jun 17, 2013
Brianna Buttel
marked it as to-read
Jun 12, 2013
Elena Petrova
is currently reading it
May 29, 2013
Bassem Battisha
marked it as to-read
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