Description:
The term "family values" has been bandied about by people on both ends of the political spectrum, but in The ABCs of Real Family Values, Steven Lewis, author of Zen and the Art of Fatherhood and father of seven "mostly wholesome" kids, cuts to the core of the phrase in a series of essays about true family values that have nothing to do with politics. From "Affection" to "Zeal," Lewis covers the basics of parenting--including fidelity, generosity, humility, humor, inconsistency, mercy, and nonviolence. Lewis is unafraid to show his failings and successes as a father, and he teaches wisdom without ever getting preachy. In the section called "Virtue" his clever writing evokes chuckles as he rants about the self-righteousness of parents whose cars bear the ubiquitous bumper stickers proclaiming, "My Child Is an Honor Student at...." In "Resilience" he offers a heart-wrenching description of his wife--nine months pregnant--learning of her mother's death. In "Manners" Lewis presents strong arguments encouraging the daily family dinner: "In this, the land of the abundant breakfast bar, practically nothing else in our lives will provide the starchy glue that keeps family members from flying further apart in this fragmented universe." The ABCs of Real Family Values is a delightful, insightful read that will comfort and inspire parents. --Ericka Lutz
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