Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood - Michael Lewis - 2 Stars

[Jason]

I enjoy Lewis' writing and plan to read his complete bibliography. This book, however, fell far short of my expectations.

The title says it's an accidental guide to fatherhood. Please do not let anyone read this book in preparation for fatherhood. Lewis started writing a journal and articles about his experience with being a father and husband and these have been collected into this short book. While at its core, many of the stories ring true, overall, I got the sense of a sitcom dad. Dumb, obtuse, selfish, sneaky.

Yes, I have dressed my children and thought they looked incredible only for my wife to say, "they can't wear that." I think every dad has experienced something of the sort. Or taken their kid to the doctor only for the mother to say, "why didn't you ask this question or what about that question" only for me to shrug my shoulders. Those stories are in this book. But so are stories of giving the wrong amount of medicine, applying cough syrup to the skin, minimizing the father's involvement and importance in many aspects of family life.

Maybe Lewis was trying to overexaggerate to be funny or maybe he really feels this way. It wasn't a book for me though.

[Booknblues]

As a preschool teacher, I've witnessed mothers picking up the child the father has dropped off and seen their reactions to what the child was wearing. One memorable occasion, mother says "he is wearing his swim trunks!"

I'm sure the kid was delighted to leave the house wearing the swim gear.

I would add that I have seen many outfits that were amusing even when the mother dropped off the child. After we told one mother that her son was old enough to wear underwear and to let him pick them out at the store so he was invested in becoming potty trained he came to school with blue sweats with superman underwear worn over them. Super!