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A young boy doesn't come with instructions. He just comes with boundless energy, spirit, and love, all waiting to be shaped. And one of the powerful forces in the shaping is the wish to grow up to be "just like Dad," who was himself a young boy once. With apologies to mothers and daughters, there's really nothing like the primal bond between a son and his father.

A little book of wisdom for fathers on raising boys, Father to Son is a guide to the joys and responsibilities of fatherhood. Divided into sections covering the different stages of a boy's life, the book features one succinct lesson per page--some lighthearted, some serious, all supported by the book's strong moral backbone. Here is the importance of passing along skills-- "Show him how to eat an Oreo." "Show him how to put a baseball in a new glove and wrap a belt around it." Of setting a good example--"Be home for dinner." "Do push-ups together." Of staying involved-- "Race him. You'll never forget the day he beats you." "Be sure to meet his girlfriends." Being flexible--"If his favorite thing about organized sports is the uniform, let him wear it to school." Offering guideposts, material and intangible-- "Hang a punching bag in the garage." "Put a computer in his room. Never a TV." "Never tell him boys don't cry-ask him why he's crying." Nurturing responsibility-- "Make him understand that even a small lie makes him a liar." "Teach him the joy of finishing a job." And instilling wonder--"Teach him the joys of staring at the moon." "Encourage him to go barefoot."

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Presents an inspirational compilation of hundreds of practical tips and wisdom on the joys and responsibilities of fatherhood, the relationship between fathers and sons, teaching values and responsibility, and more. Original.

From Little Boys...

Teach him to keep a secret.

Take him for walks and introduce him to the world of bugs.

Read to him nightly. He'll love it.

Don't let him sleep in you bed, even if he's scared or sick. Sleep in his room on the floor.

From Boys & Sports...

Show him how to put a baseball in a new glove and wrap a belt around it.

Accept the fact he may not be a quarterback, he may be a tuba player. And a fine one at that.

From Boys & Money

Help him buy a small amount of stock with his own money when he's twelve. Think how rich he'll be if he keeps that up for fifty years.

Show him how to return something to the store and get his money back.

Excerpted from Father to Son. Copyright (c) 2000 by Harry H. Harrison Jr. Reprinted with permission by Workman Publishing.