Mean Dads for a Better America: the Genuine Rewards of an Old Fashioned Childhood

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· 185 ratings · 38 reviews

Start your review of Mean Dads for a Better America: The Generous Rewards of an Old-Fashioned Babyhood

This book was pretty good. I'm not a parent, merely this book isn't actually for parenting. It'south about his life and growing up and having a healthy fearfulness of your parents. I enjoyed his story because information technology reminded me of what my own parents' childhood must have been like. It seems like such an idealistic, admitting, wild, time to be a kid.

Though I'm from a xc's infant, I'grand and then thankful that I had the parents and the childhood that I had. The older I get the more thankful I am for how I was raised. growing up w

This book was pretty practiced. I'm not a parent, but this book isn't really for parenting. It's about his life and growing up and having a healthy fearfulness of your parents. I enjoyed his story because it reminded me of what my own parents' childhood must have been like. It seems similar such an idealistic, admitting, wild, time to be a kid.

Though I'1000 from a 90'south baby, I'yard and so thankful that I had the parents and the childhood that I had. The older I get the more thankful I am for how I was raised. growing upward with half dozen siblings on a farm was definitely an run a risk. kids today lack so much structure and respect, and it's a direct event of social club teaching u.s. to but care about how people feel - I just wanna say that fifty-fifty though I didn't like being spanked at the fourth dimension (who does?), I would be a terrible person if my mom didn't go the spoon every now and and then.

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Excellent read...and somewhat of a travel back in time for me.

Apr 06, 2021 Kris rated it liked it

I had no thought who Shillue was, but I was in the mood for a memoir and this came upwards.

I'k glad this remained more than a memoir than a how-to or cocky-assist book. He chats loosely through themes of his childhood: rules with parents, playing in the yard, games with friends, services at church, camps and clubs, rebellion as a teenager, starting time jobs, and interactions with girls.

I liked that he doesn't constantly talk well-nigh his success as an adult. This really is focused on his babyhood simply. He doesn't psycho

I had no thought who Shillue was, only I was in the mood for a memoir and this came upwards.

I'm glad this remained more a memoir than a how-to or self-aid book. He chats loosely through themes of his childhood: rules with parents, playing in the yard, games with friends, services at church, camps and clubs, rebellion equally a teenager, commencement jobs, and interactions with girls.

I liked that he doesn't constantly talk almost his success as an adult. This really is focused on his childhood simply. He doesn't psychoanalyze his younger self, or talk about how terrible and undisciplined children are these days, or make sweeping claims about ways to solve mod problems in America. At the end at that place's a few sentences near life lessons he learned and he shows appreciation for his mentors and guides. That'southward it!

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Shillue wrote a very funny book nearly growing up in the lxx'south. Structure meant "go outside and play" rather than trip the light fantastic toe class, t-ball, soccer teams day care--you lot know, similar kids today who seem to have not a minute of being what they desire to be and doing what they want, unless it involves electronic devices. Some of the scenes had me laughing out loud and others had me gasping "how did we survive!?" I recommend this to anyone who grew up in that time or around that time and to anyone who can stretc Shillue wrote a very funny volume virtually growing up in the 70'due south. Structure meant "go outside and play" rather than dance class, t-ball, soccer teams day care--yous know, like kids today who seem to have not a minute of being what they desire to be and doing what they want, unless information technology involves electronic devices. Some of the scenes had me laughing out loud and others had me gasping "how did nosotros survive!?" I recommend this to anyone who grew upwards in that time or around that time and to anyone who can stretch their brains to wonder most their parents childhood. ...more

I loved this book! As a child of the 70'south, I remembered everything Tom talks nigh. But even if y'all didn't grow up in that time period, it is still very entertaining. One of my favorite parts was the chantry boy story, merely they're all great, and it'due south difficult to pick a favorite. Very funny and brings back lots of memories.

So, I got this for the title. It's a combination of autobiography and advice for life. Those of u.s.a. who were kids in the 1970's will remember a great many of these things, even if y'all are a rural southern child similar me.
I loved the description of the ice cream truck, especially the red, white and blue Flop Pop-"American children refreshed themselves by sucking on huge frozen bombs."
I am non Cosmic, but take been to services in that location, and the clarification of some of the altar boy antics was really funn So, I got this for the title. It's a combination of autobiography and communication for life. Those of united states of america who were kids in the 1970's will call up a neat many of these things, even if you are a rural southern child like me.
I loved the description of the water ice foam truck, especially the red, white and blue Bomb Pop-"American children refreshed themselves by sucking on huge frozen bombs."
I am not Catholic, but have been to services at that place, and the description of some of the altar boy antics was really funny.
I laughed out loud at the Meat Loaf anthology incident and made my hubby read information technology.
The terminal affiliate, Be Grateful, was very good and meaningful.
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Totally enjoyed this book. I had a similar kind of babyhood and could really relate to the attitudes and experiences of the writer. A fun walk downward retentiveness lane and a wonderful, incisive view of how to incorporate traditional values into modern family life. Moving, funny, and smashing from get-go to finish!

Great book. It brought dorsum a lot of memories. It had a lot of laughs.

Laughed out loud many times while reading. Shillue is hilarious and very relatable.

Actually good! I would recommend this volume to all parents of young and old. They need to meet what parenting is supposed to be instead of trying to exist the "friend."

I relived similar memories though I'm female and much older than Tom :).

Really good! I would recommend this book to all parents of young and old. They need to see what parenting is supposed to be instead of trying to be the "friend."

I relived similar memories though I'm female and much older than Tom :).

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Great Story

I bought this for my hubby for Male parent's Solar day. So bought the Kindle version for myself. Loved the story and the wisdom.

Corking Story

I bought this for my husband for Father'due south Day. Then bought the Kindle version for myself. Loved the story and the wisdom.

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Some chapters are ridiculously hilarious. I was laughing then hard I was crying. Some chapters contain sentimental looks at growing upwardly in the 70s. The book is filled with references so if you grew upwardly around the same time, you'll know what he'southward hinting at.

The stories he tells illustrate some valuable lessons he learned growing up, just the are non preachy. For the well-nigh part, sticks to the narrative and avoids launching into sermons.

A funny and wise await at integrating traditional values in modern

Some chapters are ridiculously hilarious. I was laughing and then difficult I was crying. Some chapters contain sentimental looks at growing up in the 70s. The book is filled with references so if you lot grew upward effectually the same time, you'll know what he's hinting at.

The stories he tells illustrate some valuable lessons he learned growing upwardly, but the are not preachy. For the almost part, sticks to the narrative and avoids launching into sermons.

A funny and wise look at integrating traditional values in modern times.

This book would exist a fantastic gift for grads.

...more than

Tom must have been my neighbor

As I read this volume, it seemed and so familiar to my childhood upbringing. Fond memories. Solid parenting lead to responsible adulthood while letting the young Tom find his ain way and observe the earth effectually him. Well done Mr. and Mrs. Shillue.

Bad volume. Just a bunch of rambling about cypher. Not funny, not unique. Just dull stories from a guy about his babyhood years--things all of u.s. that age went through but are told hither in a way that is wearisome and has no meaning. If you similar this guy on Fox News you may like the book if y'all are over 70 and don't need that stories accept points to them, but otherwise this "storyteller" actually has no thought how to tell a story with a commencement, centre, and end.

The first one-half of the book is virtual

Bad volume. But a bunch of rambling about null. Not funny, not unique. Just dull stories from a guy well-nigh his childhood years--things all of us that age went through just are told here in a mode that is boring and has no meaning. If you like this guy on Fox News you may like the book if you are over seventy and don't demand that stories have points to them, just otherwise this "storyteller" actually has no thought how to tell a story with a beginning, centre, and finish.

The first half of the book is virtually worthless. Just skip to virtually page 160 because before then it's nigh his incredibly dull childhood. While he claims to be trying to show how onetime fashioned values were better for America, he doesn't actually discuss any values in the first half of the book and makes no commentary on how things have changed today. Too, most of the "stories" he tells seem exaggerated or embellished dramatically. He claims to have very detailed memories of many things that occurred when he was 6 or 7, and unless he has Marilu Henner's retentivity it becomes clear that he is just making stuff up to fill pages.

The second half of the book has three and 1/two good chapters (out of 23 chapters total). When he reaches high schoolhouse he at to the lowest degree has to deal with moral issues, and in the case of sex he uses a few paragraphs to finally accept a stand on an issue (he's for forbearance just then he says he never had sex in high school). Hard to believe we had to expect a couple hundred pages for a Fox News commentator to have a stand on something. Of course he never goes beyond that to tell us about when he starts having sex or how it impacted the rest of his life--he just keeps everything very safely closed off and makes a stand without personal stories. He has a somewhat entertaining chapter on his time in a barbershop quartet, but then it leads to just some bragging about existence on Jimmy Fallon now. No points are made, nothing in stated about how his high school years compare to education today. More dull stories that go nowhere and have no real endings.

The but story in the book that has any type of indicate is about his mentally "slow" uncle. It'due south somewhat offensive because the author mocks the guy. This story actually has a signal to it (that the slow uncle was smarter than the author when it came to using keys in the door) simply then at the uncle's funeral the author decides to non use the fundamental in the door story considering "I wasn't sure what the betoken was going to exist." HUH? The only story in the book with a real point and y'all don't even get it? This guy is pretty clueless when it comes to storytelling.

He skips ahead 25 years at the finish, so we take no idea what his life as been like since. What a mistake. This book should have started in high schoolhouse and talked about how a liberal-minded guy raised in a traditional conservative home managed to become a late nighttime comedian on Play a joke on News. It should accept gone into great depth about specific values and habits from the past, and how we need to return to them today. Instead he wallows in first grade stories that have no endings and he fails to employ the book as an opportunity to specifically say how America needs to return to old-fashioned values. Even near the end, when he briefly mentions his kids on the playground, his "hands off" attitude proves that despite his claim to desire to instill sometime-fashioned values, reality is that the choices he makes today are modernistic and wimpy. He just liked the self-centered nostalgia of his babyhood and got a publisher to somehow impress information technology. What a complete waste of paper.

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Looking at the championship on start glance, I thought this would be a book on parenting, thus I kept my expectations depression. However, those expectations were soon to be dashed. An autobiography on the writer's old-schoolhouse upbringing, he extols values of his childhood as espoused by his scary, no-nonsense dad and laissez-faire, enterprising mom, and too how he came to grip with adolescence, getting to know the fairer sexual practice, finding jobs in showbiz, and so on, even though the way that he lived was deemed to Looking at the title on first glance, I thought this would be a book on parenting, thus I kept my expectations low. However, those expectations were soon to be dashed. An autobiography on the author'south former-school upbringing, he extols values of his childhood as consort past his scary, no-nonsense dad and laissez-faire, enterprising mom, and also how he came to grip with adolescence, getting to know the fairer sex, finding jobs in showbiz, and so on, even though the way that he lived was deemed to be 'politically correct' past today's standards. Reading the book, I tin can feel that the earth in the by was rough, just in the aforementioned way more idyllic than today, where people had less things to be concerned. A skillful, light-hearted book about coming of historic period, and certainly the type of parenting I wish to do in the future. ...more than

I was a goodreads giveaway winner of this book. Tom Shillue writes virtually his childhood growing upwards in Massachusetts in the 1970s and 80s. He grew up the fourth of five children in a strict Catholic family. These were the days before electronics set in so he grew up in a babyhood where they played outside with the neighborhood kids. He writes about being an altar boy in church building, and going to the roller rink. dating his first girl He writes nearly wanting to be a stand upwards comic and eventually singin I was a goodreads giveaway winner of this book. Tom Shillue writes about his childhood growing up in Massachusetts in the 1970s and 80s. He grew up the quaternary of five children in a strict Catholic family. These were the days before electronics set in then he grew up in a babyhood where they played outside with the neighborhood kids. He writes about being an chantry boy in church, and going to the roller rink. dating his first girl He writes about wanting to be a stand comic and eventually singing In a barbershop quartet. There are many other capacity about him growing upward in the 70s and 80s. those who grew up during this time may like to read this volume. Information technology is well written and a fun read. ...more than

May 04, 2018 Matty rated it it was astonishing

Mean Dads For A Amend America is a hilarious and profoundly truthful book. Writer Tom Shillue highlights what it was like growing up in a unlike time when parents were parents, households still taught values and respect, and children were allowed to be simply kids.
It seems in these tumultuous times of political correctness, anybody being overly offended almost everything, core values slipping to the way side, entitlement running rampant, and the joke that is our public school organisation, that thi Mean Dads For A Meliorate America is a hilarious and profoundly truthful book. Author Tom Shillue highlights what it was like growing up in a different time when parents were parents, households still taught values and respect, and children were allowed to be just kids.
Information technology seems in these tumultuous times of political correctness, anybody beingness overly offended about everything, core values slipping to the way side, entitlement running rampant, and the joke that is our public school system, that this is a truth that should be heard far and wide by anybody.
This is my honest review in substitution for winning this book through Goodreads giveaway. ...more

I have never seen Mr. Shillue doing his deed merely this book was funny. At first he mentioned his political leanings and I nigh put the volume downward as I was looking for another "yous're incorrect - I'm right" kind of book. The book wound up being a very well-written autobiography. Funny as all become out in some parts. Other parts broke back recollections of my own life during those years. Pretty make clean, a few swear words merely used in the correct context. His Dad must be someone to know as he is tough and funn I have never seen Mr. Shillue doing his human action just this book was funny. At starting time he mentioned his political leanings and I well-nigh put the book down equally I was looking for another "you're incorrect - I'm right" kind of volume. The book wound up being a very well-written autobiography. Funny equally all get out in some parts. Other parts broke back recollections of my own life during those years. Pretty clean, a few swear words but used in the right context. His Dad must be someone to know as he is tough and funny without being a bear about information technology. ...more

This was such a fun book for me to read. Information technology is a look back at the author'southward childhood in the 70s and 80s, how he was raised and the surround he came from. I could totally relate. For real. I grew upward in the same town around the aforementioned time as the writer. This volume was a walk down retentiveness lane of my childhood, reminding me of some really fun times, places and people in my early on life. Tom Shillue is a swell story teller. This was such a fun book for me to read. Information technology is a wait back at the author's childhood in the 70s and 80s, how he was raised and the environment he came from. I could totally relate. For real. I grew upward in the same town around the same time equally the author. This book was a walk down retention lane of my childhood, reminding me of some actually fun times, places and people in my early on life. Tom Shillue is a dandy story teller. ...more than

This book was terrible. I picked it up because he is described as a comedian and what I assumed was the argument was interesting. The volume had not one laugh and it wasn't really about what the championship suggested. Information technology was a play by play of his childhood (without focusing on any theme of an old fashioned childhood) that would be interesting to maybe him, his mom, and the people who are mentioned. I was hurrying to finish information technology, and not in a good style. This book was terrible. I picked it upwardly because he is described as a comedian and what I assumed was the argument was interesting. The book had not ane express mirth and it wasn't really about what the title suggested. Information technology was a play by play of his childhood (without focusing on whatsoever theme of an old fashioned childhood) that would be interesting to maybe him, his mom, and the people who are mentioned. I was hurrying to end it, and not in a good way. ...more

Cheers for this volume won on Goodreads Giveaway! I was unfamiliar with this author but adore his power to share stories. The book is non preachy but teaches through family unit life. The author shares his babyhood when families worked together, prayed together and laughed together. I enjoyed his memories and also am impressed by the moral wisdom weaved in his storytelling. I encourage others to read his book and to give their own families such memories.

A mundane, coming-of-historic period autobiography that only briefly touches on "mean dads" and fatherhood; rather, volume is full of self-centered nostalgia (with few funny moments), and author doesn't make whatever meaningful effort to reflect or explain why "old-fashioned" 1950's Cosmic/white/hypermasculine/heart-grade values are superior; he just states it as fact (I guess using the success he has found in his life as proof?). I'm clearly not the target audience for this volume A mundane, coming-of-age autobiography that merely briefly touches on "mean dads" and fatherhood; rather, volume is full of self-centered nostalgia (with few funny moments), and author doesn't make whatever meaningful effort to reflect or explain why "erstwhile-fashioned" 1950's Catholic/white/hypermasculine/middle-class values are superior; he just states it as fact (I guess using the success he has found in his life as proof?). I'chiliad conspicuously not the target audience for this book ...more

Comedian Tom Shillue recounts growing upward in the 1970s with 1950s values. Dad was the head of the household and a man to be feared. Mom stayed home and instilled moral values. It was the kind of childhood that kids don't accept anymore: complimentary and unscheduled. Kids played in streets and ruled the neighborhood.

Anyone who was a kid in the 50s, 60s, or 70s will find humor and nostalgia in this book. It just might may you long for the good old days.

Comedian Tom Shillue recounts growing upward in the 1970s with 1950s values. Dad was the caput of the household and a human to be feared. Mom stayed habitation and instilled moral values. Information technology was the kind of childhood that kids don't have anymore: free and unscheduled. Kids played in streets and ruled the neighborhood.

Anyone who was a child in the 50s, 60s, or 70s will notice sense of humor and nostalgia in this book. It but might may you long for the adept old days.

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This book was a large reminder of my childhood. My dad was not like this dad, but my small boondocks was and I laughed at many of the situations the author found himself in. At that place is of form, some sadness in the book, as in real life. It was a good book to read after a year of reading all the Poldark books.

Won a copy of this. The author grew up in the 70 's and thru this volume, he took us dorsum to a fourth dimension when family values were lots different than at present. Then almost families were 2 parent families, sad to say lots kids raised by single parents at present.

If y'all enjoy a visit to the past, should savor reading.

Won a copy of this. The writer grew up in the 70 's and thru this volume, he took us dorsum to a fourth dimension when family unit values were lots different than now. Then most families were two parent families, sad to say lots kids raised past single parents now.

If you savour a visit to the past, should relish reading.

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I could chronicle to the volume. He grew upward in the 70s with 50s values, I grew upwards in the 60s with 50s values. Fun volume to read. Some other volume of the same blazon is Bob Greene's " Be Truthful To Your School." I loved that book.

Read either, read both

I could chronicle to the book. He grew up in the 70s with 50s values, I grew up in the 60s with 50s values. Fun volume to read. Some other book of the same blazon is Bob Greene's " Be True To Your School." I loved that book.

Read either, read both

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Really 3.5 stars. The book is a fleck of a bait-n-switch. It really is less a cultural commentary than a biography that includes some cultural commentary. Pretty well written and fairly funny and then worth the read.

Great book nigh growing up in the 60s and 70s and how childhood and parenting has changed since so—and not for the meliorate.

Funny, funny, funny! Mr. Shillue made me chuckle equally I recalled memories of my own childhood through stories from his. If you lot're looking for a lighthearted memoir, pick this i up and give it a attempt! Funny, funny, funny! Mr. Shillue made me chuckle as I recalled memories of my own childhood through stories from his. If you're looking for a lighthearted memoir, pick this one upwards and give information technology a try! ...more

A real fun book, reminded me a lot (in several ways) of my childhood in the 90s.

Tom Shillue is an American stand up up comedian, FOX News Host, actor and storyteller. He currently resides in the Riverdale, Bronx department of New York City with his wife, Denise.

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