Customer Reviews
Eye-opening view on the importance of fathers to their daughters 
2008-05-06
For anyone who wonders what Dad's role needs to be, this book really shows how important a father's influence can be in his daughter's choices in life from values and self-worth down to the kind of man she chooses to marry. If you ever felt that Dad just brings home a paycheck and does a little roughhousing, this will show you just how important it is for Dad to actively participate in making daughters into better healthier adults through insisting on discipline, taking the time to share their opinions and feelings, and just being present.
strong fathers 
2008-05-05
this book is very good, my hushband and i read it and it sure help us .
A wolf in sheep's clothing! 
2008-05-01
The title, cover and introduction are truly misleading. I eagerly began reading this marvelously decorated book as soon as it arrived in the mail. What I found after the introduction was a 180 degree turn-around from what I expected. As a modestly successful person and a progressive man, the expectation was a bit of insight on transferring the strength a little girl needs to be successful and self-valued in a world of varying morals and work ethics. What I received instead was a use of statistics and anecdotal evidence designed to scare men to raise their daughters in a fashion similar to the author's own upbringing.
Please don't mistake the tone of this review. I believe there's some valuable information being presented in the book. I certainly feel that as parents we need to have a better understanding of the STDs presenting in our society and their methods of transference so that we can better educate our children. However, I found the method presentation (a mention of HIV, HPV, and Herpes around every story-line) a bit disturbing in a book I expected to be about will and character. Working in the medical field I understand the bombardment of human illness and its mental implications that a physician can witness. It makes them jaded to a point that they don't think positive things are actually happening out there in the world, and unfortunately that's the message the author portrays to young fathers. There's a level of healthy fear and then there's paranoia. As a father, if you can't find the appropriate balance you end up locking your daughter away with a chastity belt in the basement or giving up entirely.
I do think though, that this book provides solid guidance to some fathers whose morals and idea of family align with the author's. I've known some women, brought up in this fashion, who've turned out to be marvelous and successful contributors to society. I just find for the general audience the views expressed are severely narrow-minded. There's a superb niche out there for which this book can serve as a splendid reinforcement and provider of strength to fathers. It just didn't find a home on my bookshelf.
A very fine book highly recommended to me by the Producer of Fiat Empire 2008-04-30
Very kindly suggestive book of dealing
with the old generation gap. Authorita-
tive Fathers was the origainl title.
Covers the subject(s) from A-Z.
Great Book for any Dad 2008-03-31
Really informative. Some of the stats are scary but I think we need that some times instead of going through life with rose colored glasses. Being a Dad today is hard and even harder for being a Father. This book helped me focus on what is really important... My daughters
Excellent 2008-03-31
In today’s increasingly complicated world, it’s often difficult for parents to connect with their daughters–and especially so for fathers. In this unique and invaluable guide, Dr. Meg Meeker, a pediatrician with more than twenty years’ experience counseling girls, reveals that a young woman’s relationship with her father is far more important than we’ve ever realized. To become a strong, confident woman, a daughter needs her father’s attention, protection, courage, and wisdom. Dr. Meeker shares the ten secrets every father needs to know in order to strengthen or rebuild bonds with his daughter and shape her life–and his own–for the better. Inside you’ll discover:
• the essential virtues of strong fathers–and how to develop them
• the cues daughters take from their dads on everything from self-respect to drugs, alcohol, and sex
• the truth about ground rules (girls do want them, despite their protests)
• the importance of becoming a hero to your daughter
• the biggest mistake a dad can make–and the ramifications
• the fact that girls actually depend on their dads’ guidance into adulthood
• steps fathers can follow to help daughters avoid disastrous decisions and mistakes
• ways in which
a father’s faith–or lack thereof–will influence his daughter
• essential communication strategies for different stages of a girl’s life
• true stories of “prodigal daughters”–and how their fathers helped to bring them back
Dads, you are far more powerful than you think–and if you follow Dr. Meeker’s advice, the rewards will be unmatched.
“Reassuring and challenging . . . a helpful road map for concerned fathers [that] tackles difficult issues.”
–National Review“A touching, illuminating book that will prove valuable to all of us who are fortunate enough to have been blessed with daughters.”
–Michael Medved, nationally syndicated radio talk-show host, author of
Right Turns“Dr. Meeker’s conclusions are timely, relevant, and often deeply moving. No one interested in what girls experience growing up in our culture today–and the impact that parents, especially fathers, have on the experience–can afford to miss reading this book.”
–Armand M. Nicholi, Jr., M.D., professor of psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
A Must Read 2008-03-29
For that segment of the population that thinks men are obsolete, this book will open a few eyes. Men are crucial to the rearing of children, offering unique gifts to boys and girls, gifts that cannot be provided by a mother. Dr. Meeker focuses on the need for fathers in the raising of daughters, and she has validated my own thoughts, while offering some new ones. My daughter is almost eight... and I intend to be waiting on the porch with a shotgun for the first pimply-faced adolescent male who walks up the steps. The author tells me that I alone stand between my daughter and American pop culture. That's enough to get my adrenaline up!
Must read for fathers of girls 2008-03-25
This is an excellent book that will help fathers of girls. Its advice is at once conventional, common sense and yet goes against the mainstream of our toxic culture. If you didn't believe her advice already, it will hopefully convince you of its truth. If you suspected Meekers' advice was correct all along, this will validate it and give you the confidence to be the father your girl needs despite the bad advice you will get elsewhere.
It is definitely written from a conservative point of view, but with good reason - alternative ways of parenting are what have failed our daughters. This will offend radical feminists, "progressives," post modernists, and other non-traditionalists; but loving our daughters is more important than being PC.
Personally, I enjoyed Meekers' writing style. I got through the book in about 2 or 3 sittings. I have recommended it to other fathers but will not lend it out as I will be consulting it again in the future.
Nice Title, Bad Book 
2008-03-20
This book came highly recommended, but is just full of moralizing and threats of doom, rather than helpful adivce about how to communicate with your daughter or help her grown in a strong young woman. The author has a very particular set of values that she wants you to impose on your daughter, which do not leave room for a diversity of beliefs. There are much better books out there on having a good relationship with your kids, such as Gordon's Parent Effectiveness Training.
Great book 2008-03-08
Great book. Any father who has a daughter should read this book. It will greatly help you and with effort, revolutionize how you think through nurturing your daughter through life.
