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What a Daughter Needs From Her Dad: How a Man Prepares His Daughter for Life

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To encourage and guide men in becoming the dads they want to be, Michael Farris addresses issues common in all families with daughters: friends, dating, personal appearance, and preparing for the roles she'll have as a woman. Michael Farris challenges fathers to take their unique opportunity to train daughters for life's challenges--in ways that only a dad can. Originally published as How a Man Prepares His Daughters for Life, it now includes new material on relating to an adult daughter.

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

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Michael Farris

33 books13 followers

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Ryan Rodriquez.
Author 1 book12 followers
December 26, 2020
First off, this book is VERY Christian-based. So, if you're open to reading the perspective of a man who is a believer (and has 10 children, six of them being daughters), I would recommend you read this book. But it's not JUST for believers. The principles expressed in this book can be relayed to anyone looking to raise strong daughters who will grow into amazing women as a result of being the father that she needs.

Nothing in here was life-changing for me as a father of a 12 year-old daughter. However, I did come away with some new ideas in how to more actively engage with my daughter and build a relationship of love and trust. As I do that, she will be able to easily identify those who are looking to build a relationship on that rather than the devious self-interests of those around her.

Michael Farris is a loving father who promoted what's called "Empowered Traditionalism" when it comes to his daughters and how he raises them. This term is a source of strength for his own daughters who now have their own families and are passing the torch of the ideals taught in his book.
Profile Image for Jason.
Author 1 book29 followers
September 21, 2008
This is an excellent book providing basic and advanced instructions to fathers on how to raise their daughters to be the women God wants them to be. As the first chapter explains, we can either be a stumbling block to our daughters or a building block. This book addresses a fathers' spiritual leadership, dating/courtship, positive friendships, and training our daughters to be good citizens for their nation, among many other topics. Much of the advice applies to sons as well. It is well written and a quick read. All dads with daughters would do well to own this book.
Profile Image for Wesley.
5 reviews1 follower
July 4, 2019
Over all it offers good advice. Many paractical ideas are given on how to help raise your daughter(s). Though at times his experience and advice contradicts that of other pastors/parents experience who actually recommend a different direction (with dating and tech). This book needs some updating in light of it being almost 20 years old. I would have preferred a stronger scriptural principles approach that would stand the test of time instead of here is what I did and it worked for me so it should work for you approach.

Stengths:
Quick and easy read.
Encouraging work to guide us in raising daughters.
Adivce on being honest about your own failures (25), living and treating your wife and daughter(s) in a way that understands their needs (Ch 2), and other wise advice.

Weaknesses:
The Jephthah passage (20-ff) needed more study since it is unlikely he killed his daughter but instead offered her as a dedication to celibacy (translation of the conjunction as "and" or "or").

The Fruit of the Spirit section (60-ff) could offer a path to living "moral" without God. In my opinion that has been a major issue of our country (USA) historically as it works or appears to be moral on the outside instead of being holy via Christ. The FOTS are an out growth of loving God and others. The author does acknowledge this (71-ff), but the focus should be in the inner man.

The last weakness I saw was that the book appears designed for families with income above a living wage. For a family of limited means or time practicing some his advice will be difficult. Whether this involves regular outings like meals out with your daughter or designing overly structured learning tracts (63-ff). In the end he does mention we are not responsible for results but for faithfulness and obedience to Gods leading and teaching. (168)
Profile Image for Justin.
70 reviews1 follower
August 22, 2019
An easy-to-read, practical little book that I would recommend to any father hoping to raise a God-honoring daughter.
Profile Image for John.
40 reviews6 followers
April 18, 2011
As both a Christian and homeschooling father, I thought this was an absolutely great read. Farris' viewpoint on child-raising definitely pointed out some things outside of my paradigm that, though different, I really appreciated and think are great ways to think about parenting -- i.e., politics, training daughters for careers, and dating.

This book ssays it is about daughters, but honestly I think this is a perfect book for any dad whether you have sons or daughters.
Profile Image for Jeremy.
824 reviews32 followers
February 21, 2010
There were elements of this book that I didn't align with, but it was a could overview of the issues involved in being the father of a girl. It brought to mind some issues that I hadn't thought of yet.

A good, short, simple read, and I'd recommend it for any parents of girls.
Profile Image for Matthew Bandy.
64 reviews3 followers
January 1, 2015
Great practical book that my wife and I enjoyed reading out loud together and discussing this past fall. Having three daughters we both feel this is been an excellent book with a lot of good insight for us.
Profile Image for Carrie.
91 reviews12 followers
April 4, 2010
Good solid practical advice from a man who has lots of girls.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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