Rating: 
Summary: A must for everyone interested in America's children
Review: "Divorced Dads", a new Tarcher/Putnam book written by Sanford L. Braver with Dianne O'Connell, should be read by everyone interested in America's children. It will not be, primarily because it presents unmistakable findings that many of the most central myths Americans want to believe are wrong. Eliminating those myths from our lives, which we must do if we hope to reach rational conclusions, would expose and threaten our profound biases, however, and is thus too painful to tolerate. Better to continue the way we were, ignoring and diminishing what has already happened to children who have had one parent taken away from them by a society protecting the other parent regardless of what may be best for the children."Divorced Dads" misses the mark only once when it concludes that "no real remedies" are available to a court to prevent a custodial parent from wrongfully preventing children from obtaining access to their other parent. A right without a remedy is no right at all. Before looking the other way at this kind of unlawful conduct by a custodial parent the courts had better think harder about remedies that can be effective. The U.S. Government for the first time is starting to spend a tiny amount of "seed" money to explore the question, and individuals like Professor Richard Gardner have offered a host of suggestions to this problem, some of which are being tested by courageous judges. There is no shortage of possible solutions - only an absence of will to buck the prevailing political tide. If the "Jim Crow" mentality of the Deep South could be overcome despite the determination to maintain "segregation forever", surely our children should not continue to be kept from maintaining relationships with decent fathers because of vindictive and hateful mothers. "Divorced Dads" can help lead the way to change that is long overdue.
Rating:
Summary: A must for everyone interested in America's children
Review: "Divorced Dads", a new Tarcher/Putnam book written by Sanford L. Braver with Dianne O'Connell, should be read by everyone interested in America's children. It will not be, primarily because it presents unmistakable findings that many of the most central myths Americans want to believe are wrong. Eliminating those myths from our lives, which we must do if we hope to reach rational conclusions, would expose and threaten our profound biases, however, and is thus too painful to tolerate. Better to continue the way we were, ignoring and diminishing what has already happened to children who have had one parent taken away from them by a society protecting the other parent regardless of what may be best for the children. "Divorced Dads" misses the mark only once when it concludes that "no real remedies" are available to a court to prevent a custodial parent from wrongfully preventing children from obtaining access to their other parent. A right without a remedy is no right at all. Before looking the other way at this kind of unlawful conduct by a custodial parent the courts had better think harder about remedies that can be effective. The U.S. Government for the first time is starting to spend a tiny amount of "seed" money to explore the question, and individuals like Professor Richard Gardner have offered a host of suggestions to this problem, some of which are being tested by courageous judges. There is no shortage of possible solutions - only an absence of will to buck the prevailing political tide. If the "Jim Crow" mentality of the Deep South could be overcome despite the determination to maintain "segregation forever", surely our children should not continue to be kept from maintaining relationships with decent fathers because of vindictive and hateful mothers. "Divorced Dads" can help lead the way to change that is long overdue.
Rating: 
Summary: Mythological Bull written to destroy single-parent homes
Review: As a systems integration developer who's worked on several Deadbeat Dads projects for various state's soc. services, I can tell you that it is NOT a 'myth' that it is the DIVORCED DADS who abandon their responsibility to their children! Why do you think they don't call it 'deadbeat MOMS'? This book was written by folks intending to subvert the best interests of the children of divorce AND to help destroy single-parent families by ridiculing their need for the legislation currently in force to protect their needs. I think it was VERY shameful for John Stossl to give these irresponsible folks air-time on 20/20... disgusting! If Stossl wants to know what's REALLY going on, why doesn't he talk to the Deadbeat Dads social services folks or the police who enforce the child support laws, instead of listening to these nincompoops. Don't waste your money on THIS pile of manure! Aunty-Violet
Rating:
Summary: An invaluable resource
Review: As someone who spent several years working in a Texas courthouse, I had many experiences in dealing with child custody cases and the day-to-day child support procedures. I was so often subjected to face-to-face encounters with mothers desperate to get child support and fathers who felt they were being treated unfairly. There is a multitude of dysfunctional ex-couples and when they end up in court the judges often make the matter worse.
Divorced Dads: Shattering the Myths is the most clear-headed, objective work I have seen on the subject.
Sole possessory custody by the mother just does not work as it should. This type of custody should only be used where there is clear evidence that the father was abusive toward the children.
Wherever possible, joint custody, should be the norm and not the exception as it is today.
In so far as "Divorced Dads" spreads the word on the merits of joint custody, it is an invaluable resource. I highly recommend it as a primer on the child custody/child support controversey. It is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: An invaluable resource
Review: As someone who spent several years working in a Texas courthouse, I had many experiences in dealing with child custody cases and the day-to-day child support procedures. I was so often subjected to face-to-face encounters with mothers desperate to get child support and fathers who felt they were being treated unfairly. There is a multitude of dysfunctional ex-couples and when they end up in court the judges often make the matter worse.
Divorced Dads: Shattering the Myths is the most clear-headed, objective work I have seen on the subject.
Sole possessory custody by the mother just does not work as it should. This type of custody should only be used where there is clear evidence that the father was abusive toward the children.
Wherever possible, joint custody, should be the norm and not the exception as it is today.
In so far as "Divorced Dads" spreads the word on the merits of joint custody, it is an invaluable resource. I highly recommend it as a primer on the child custody/child support controversey. It is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING
Review: Being a divorced parent of a now grown son, I was amazed at how many incorrect perceptions I personally had, due to media reports etc, that this book shows are factually incorrect. Everyone, especially legislators should read this book!!!
Rating:
Summary: Affirming... and Depressing.
Review: Braver and O'Connell's Divorced Dads: Shattering the Myths, emerges as the first work on the subject to extend it's reach beyond mere hyperbole in either direction. Having put pen to paper expecting to verify current cultural wisdom about the attitudes and actions men who experience divorce have toward their children, the authors instead develop a credible body of research showing that most of what is thought of as true.... simply isn't. In the same vein as works like "Who Stole Feminism" by Christina Hoff Sommers, it dares to question many of the myths that have served to paint men into an anachronistic corner as we move into the twenty-first century. While we live in a world that increasingly supports women in "nontraditional roles from the corporate boardroom to construction site, there are no such affirmative action programs for men who want to start daycare centers or be stay at home dads. Such is the paradoxical society that Divorced Dads writes about. My only criticism of the book is it's rather brief treatment at looking at the reasons behind the myths and prejudice described within. Without understanding the reasons behind them, they will be difficult to correct. I found it affirming in its ability to describe the kind of prejudice I have personally experienced as a divorced dad, and depressing in its description of the despair and isolation such men frequently face when trying to stay involved in their children's lives. Hopefully, this book will help stimulate disenfranchised fathers, open-minded politicians and policy makers into action intended to reverse the laws and attitudes preventing children from having loving relationships with both their parents. Our children deserve no less.
Rating: 
Summary: Must read for legislators, fathers, attorneys...
Review: Excellent book. Dispels many myths that exist in the family court system today. It should be a must read for legislators, domestic relations attorneys and judges, and fathers in the hope that they can change the way things are done today.
Rating:
Summary: Tremendous insight into the negative stereotyping of dads
Review: I am the founder of Fathers for Fair Visitation and I routinely distribute this book at no cost to decision makers in California. The information is very valuable. My only criticism is that Mr. Braver appears to apologize for the truth. Somehow feminists will be angry at him for showing that many of their statments about divorced dads are inaccurate. Must reading for a divorced dad!
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT BOOK THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!
Review: I just finished reading Divorce Dads: Shattering the Myths. It's a great book that can make a difference both in the policy debate as well as to the many individual dads who have had a tough time with their ex-wives and/or the courts. Men need to know that their problems are shared . . . and not necessarily (or entirely)a reflection of their own weaknesses and mistakes. As a disenfranchised dad myself, it's shocking to read how misconceptions, disinformation, sloppy statistics, and the mythology of gender and divorce in America have contributed insidiously to our own personal and family tragedies . . . and have left many of us feeling powerless in a prejudicial system. On a more personal and individual level, this book can comfort dads who have been disenfranchised from their fatherhood and estranged from their kids by illustrating so well that we are not alone . . . that our problems are not entirely of our own making and not altogether a reflection of our own mistakes. Apart from the content, this book is really well written ... it's engaging, interesting, and very easy to read. I urge all those who care about our nation's children to get a copy, read it, talk about it, and work to get the book read by people who can make a difference -- journalists, judges, legislators, and lawyers. Moreover, it's an important book for all dads and moms -- especially those contemplating, in the process of, or already divorced.
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