Better Dads, Stronger Sons

By: Rick Johnson

Narrated by: Rick Johnson

Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

The relationship between a father and a son is like none other. Dads have a God-given role to protect and provide for their families, always striving to teach their sons the life skills they'll need to grow into honorable men. But many dads struggle with feelings of inadequacy regarding their fathering abilities. They want to be better dads. Rick Johnson can tell them how.

In this insightful and practical audiobook, Johnson shows how fathers can be equipped and inspired to be positive role models for their sons. He stresses the significance of male bonding, discipline, and spiritual leadership; discusses important topics such as sexual purity, respect, and self-discipline; and reveals the top 10 mistakes to avoid as a father.

From commitment and courage to honesty and humility, Better Dads, Stronger Sons helps men strive to be the dads God designed them to be - so their sons can grow to be everything they are meant to be.

©2006 Rick I. Johnson (P)2009 Treasure Publishing

Too much "how to be a man", not enough substance

Positives: Rick Johnson's story about his journey from his own childhood with a terrible father-figure to coming to faith in Christ and his journey as a father and into manhood is truly amazing and inspiring. He writes with heart and conviction as a man who has lived quite a journey, and I truly respect and admire it.

Negatives: I was hoping for more in-depth discussion on father-son relationships and dynamics. I felt this book focused way too much on the kind of stuff you'd hear at a Promise Keeper's rally or Saturday morning men's breakfast at a church. (Accountability, male friendships, being a man with a purpose, integrity, etc etc) Those are all great and worthy topics, but when it comes to actual every-day parenting of my son, trying to understand him and build a relationship with him, the book didn't really help me at all unfortunately. It didn't focus nearly enough on ways to understand your boy and bond with him, give enough ideas on practical ways to impart those character lessons in everyday life, how to understand him at different stages of life, how to have a real relationship with him from childhood into adulthood, etc. Lots of talk about being a great man and showing him how to be a great man, hardly any talk about building a true, deep relationship with a boy through the various stages of his upbringing. Overall I was disappointed. If you're looking for these types of discussions, the book I've found that has come closest is Boys Should Be Boys by Meg Meeker. It had much better discussions on understanding how a boy ticks and how best to meet his needs.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Read the Descriptions, People!

Several other reviewers have complained about the religious focus of this book; the description of the audiobook here on Audible.com talks about "being the dads God designed us to be" and our "God-given" roles as dads - what are you expecting people?

I greatly enjoyed the book, both the subject matter and the presentation. The only thing that kept the performance from being five stars was that the author proceeded a little more slowly than I like through some areas of the narration (but that's my taste).

Overall, "Better Dads, Stronger Sons" made me pause and consider several things about both my relationship with my two young boys (both under two) and my wife of five years, which is exactly what I hoped for when I ordered the book. Thanks Rick!

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Relevant fathering advice

The advice struck true to my heart. My father live separate when I was growing up and these are the conversations I wish we what I've had.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Open & Honest

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

A dad sharing his story. Simple insight and advise for men looking to be better fathers. Another book to add to your collection on the continuing journey of being a better Dad. I would recommend this book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

GREAT BOOK!!! Terrible (wrong) audience reviews!

What did you love best about Better Dads, Stronger Sons?

Excellent material! Right-on advice! If more fathers followed this book (myself included) the world would be a better place! Spot on accuracy about how to be a great dad!

DON'T (and I can't emphasize that word enough here) listen to the few negative reviews of this book. If you want an excellent guidebook on how to be a great father, no, on how to fulfill YOUR responsibilities of being a father, this book is IT!

This book reveals, reviews and rehearses the essential (and crucial) characteristics, responsibilities and rituals of good fathers and it reminds us of the things that our society has lost over the generations of fatherless households. It screams of the critical element that men, good, honest, loyal, effective men bring to society and illustrates how to apply those crucial qualities in fatherhood.

As for the naysayers claiming "too much religion", you're only validating the author's point that men have failed to be men (good, real men) for far too long and it's time that we step up and fulfill our God-given responsibilities to our families. If you're offended by a man who claims to follow God or His Gospel, then this book is not for you. But if you're man enough to look at yourself and honestly acknowledge what you should be focusing on to be the best father you can be, and you recognize that there is actually a power greater than yourself who has already paved the way and left hints and notes all along the way (our Creator), then you have come to the right place! Pleasant listening!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Better Dads, Stronger Sons?

I really soaked this book in, so I had 3 most memorable moments. So I'll be brief:
1. That God, my Creator, has chosen ME to be the father of my children and with that He will (and has) support me, help me, guide me, and expect me to be my very best in this role.

2. That our survival as a society is dependent on good, strong, faithful men. That we have critical roles - Men, Women, and even our children have critical roles. But this book talks about our roles as men and how we must not fail if our society is to survive. As fathers, we have the power to impact GENERATIONS just by what we do with ours. Don't shrug your responsibility to be the man you must be!

3. Statistics show that more than 80% of crimes stem from fatherless homes. Don't abandon your responsibility to be a father!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The (nearly) perfect guidebook to being a great father!

Any additional comments?

Read it! Any man who wishes to improve even a little bit at being a father will be glad they did!

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

this book brought me to tears multiple times

As I thought of my sons this book brought me to tears multiple times. One of the best books I have read this year.

Very Stereotypical view of Fatherhood

For those of us who don't easily fit into the "typical" mold of "manhood" (love sports, fishing, don't show emotion, etc.) this book may resonate very little. It's not the author's fault, he's being true to himself, but for me it ended up being more discouraging than anything else. His advice is based from that very traditional view of manhood, so you might pass this one up if that's not you.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

False Advertising

I don't mind people being influenced by religion. I don't mind people telling me that their actions are influenced by their religion. But this book just seems more of a book about how the author found god, then real practical advice on parenting, that the title suggests. If I was a Christian I'd be annoyed in having to listen to his constant banter about Christianity.
Admittedly, I only made it through 4 chapters. An hour and a half of listening to stories I've been told many times before at scripture lessons when I was at school.
But seriously, I didn't want to waste my time wading through a born again Christian's life story, looking for the actual bits on parenting I bought the book for.
I'm going to email Audible asking for my money back on this one. False advertising I'll argue.

2 of 15 people found this review helpful

WAY too much religion!!!

If I could give zero stars I would. Anytime and author relates to himself as a "God Warrior" you can expect a lot of religion, but this is ridiculous. He couldn't go 1 paragraph without mentioning God and Christianity. I felt like he was cramming it down my throat. It was way too over the top and I couldn't get past it. They should really mention that this is all about being Christian in the overview of the book because that is all it is about.

2 of 16 people found this review helpful

Way to Christian for me...

I got about an hour in and couldnt take it anymore the Jesus and found god stuff was painful to listen to. I am sure there are some useful insights that can come from it but it was not for me.