Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons

by Tim Russert
Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons
book data
183 ratings, 4.15 average rating, 57 reviews (more data...)
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published
May 15th 2007 by Random House Trade Paperbacks

binding
Paperback, 320 pages

isbn
081297543X   (isbn13: 9780812975437)

description
What does it really mean to be a good father? What did your father tell you, that has stayed with you throughout your life? Was there a lesson ...more






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i liked it 1 3 09/07/2008 06:51PM  

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 350)



Kerry
Kerry rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
12/24/07

Read in December, 2007
recommends it for: Anyone who has/had a father worthy of praise of any kind
This book was a very enjoyable read--I laughed, I cried and I learned a few things, too. Although I always knew MY DAD was the BEST dad in the world :-)), it was nice to hear about others that shared that title! The historical perspective the stories offer is very interesting and help explain why some men respond the way they do in relationships. Understanding this could certainly put a different spin on things as many had concluded in the book. I fortunately never had to wonder whether my dad l...more
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Spudsie
Spudsie rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/28/08

Read in August, 2008
recommends it for: Anyone who is a father or has a father
I had a hard time trying to figure out how to rate this book. In fact I almost didn't rate it--but that's not fair to the author or to any of the letter-writers featured in it.

This was a very difficult book for me to read. For a number of reasons. 'nuff said.

Tim Russert wrote brief introductions for each section/category of letters. Here's what he wrote at the beginning of "Hands (and Feet)"

"Just as I used to focus on my father's hands Luke used to focus on mine. ...more
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Andrea
Andrea rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
05/02/08

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in August, 2007
I almost forgot about this one but an absolutely lovely, at times heart wrenching book. One of my favorites. It's compromised of all letters from sons and daughters to their dads. Some dads are still living and others gone..It's not about your dad being special but just unique.. to you. Take the good with the bad. When reading the letters you can definitely relate to some of the writers,their descriptions and characteristics of their dads. Tim Russert seems like such a good, down to earth man..a...more
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Brandondean
Brandondean rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
11/22/08

Read in September, 2008
A remarkable book. Funny, poignant, reaffirming. If you have a father or are a father, you need to read this.
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Shirleen
Shirleen rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/29/08

Very uplifting and heartwarming collection of stories of fathers written by their sons and daughters and compiled by Tim Russert from Meet the Press, who recently died. There are lots of lessons to be learned from these little snippets, not only for fathers, but for people in general who want to make a difference in peoples' lives. I loved reading these, some made me laugh, some brought tears to my eyes, some made me stop and think about what I want to be remembered for.
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Donella
Donella rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/21/08

Read in August, 2008
I loved this book! I appreciated how the thoughts, shared by the letters written to Tim Russert, show that all dads make on impact on their children's lives. Not all of the stories were gushy, warm fuzzy type and that made me like them even more ... unique and thoughtful ideas for helping me be a better parent to my own children. What a wonderful bond he had with his own father and son. Now I want to read Big Russ & Me.
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Jan
Jan rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/27/08

Thanks to the dads who set good examples, spent time with their kids, taught them what was right, did the very best they could and worked hard to give them (us) every advantage they could possibly give. And thanks to Tim Russert for opening the pages of a book for all of us to write in--whether we sent in letters or wrote mental letters as we thought about our dads reading the letters that were published.
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Bill
Bill rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/08/08

An enjoyable book of letters from a range of people telling remembrances of their Father. The book is best read by a new Father while he still has a chance to affect what his children perceive of him. This book gets my five stars because not only is it an easily read,enjoyable, and interesting book, but it was given to me by my Daughter Leah, one of the few very very special persons in my life.
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Jennifer
Jennifer rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
11/30/08

bookshelves: currently-reading
I am on page 4 of this book. I challenge ANYONE to read this without bawling your eyes out.

almost done with this book....really quite wonderful
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Missy
Missy rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
10/27/08

This book was written from letter to Tim Russert in response to his book about his own father, see "Big Russ and Me". It really is a wonderful book that anyone can read and enjoy. I had my other siblings read the book and write their own letter about our father and we gave it to him for his birthday in 2007 (we gave him the book and the letters were tucked in pages throughout the book).
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Erin
Erin rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
09/25/08

bookshelves: just-cant-finish
Read in September, 2008
I didn't get past the first couple pages...so technically, I didn't read it. But it's been sitting on our bookshelf forever, (I think someone gave it to Tom for Father's Day or something) so that's the only reason I started reading it. It's just a bunch of letters people wrote in response to his first book...I should probably read that one instead.
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Jpiepkorn
Jpiepkorn rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
05/15/08

Read in September, 2007
recommends it for: erin
I read russert's books in the wrong order. I read Wisdom of our fathers first, and Big Russ 2nd. I actually enjoyed Wisdom of our Fathers a little more since it gave you such a wide range of emotions that people felt for for their dads. This book makes you laugh, or tear-up with the turn of a page.
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Kris
Kris rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/22/08



A must read! This one will make you think or re-think your relationship with your Dad. My brother sent it to me and told me I had to read it. It's a series of letters sent to Russert after he wrote "Big Russ and Me," where people told of their Dads. Read it, you won't regret it!
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Michael
Michael rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
05/17/08

A must read! This one will make you think or re-think your relationship with your Dad. My brother sent it to me and told me I had to read it. It's a series of letters sent to Russert after he wrote "Big Russ and Me," where people told of their Dads. Read it, you won't regret it!
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Jason
Jason rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/05/07

bookshelves: non-fiction
Read in June, 2007
Another great book. Really, it is just a series of small stories about the fathers of various people. It is easy to identify with many of the memories/stories and reminds us that we should appreciate our own fathers.
After reading this, I bought a copy for my own father.
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Cheryl
Cheryl rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/16/08

bookshelves: currently-reading
Fathers are appreciated more as we get older and realize how smart they truely are. There is a great deal of wisdom in this book by average people. This is a great book to carry while traveling as it can be picked up and read off and on without problem.
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Sharyn
Sharyn rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/21/08

Read in August, 2008
Great stories about fathers, from their sons and daughters.
I am certainly thankful for my wonderful Dad, who has taught me so much, and help to make me the person I have become.
What a loss that Tim Russert is no longer here with us.
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Sheila
Sheila rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
11/02/08

Read in October, 2008
My mother-in-law read this first, gave it to my mother who gave it to me. Each of us loved the book but for different reasons. I think that had a lot to do with the three very different fathers that we had.
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Dave
Dave rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
11/05/08

Read in November, 2007
A compilation of letters written to Tim Russert about the fathers of many readers. Includes some cute stories and good advice. Not all the stories are of great relationships but all had a morale.
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DaughterDaDa
bookshelves: dads, dadslit, daughters, fatherhood, fathering, fathers
Read in October, 2008
recommends it for: fathers, daughters, sons, mothers
This book moved me so much emotionally that I had to put it down until another time. The letters people wrote to Tim Russert contained deep expressions of affection and gratitude for their fathers.
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Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons (Hardcover)
Widom of Our Fathers
Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons (Audio CD)
Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons (Random House Large Print (Hardcover))
Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons (Audio CD)







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