Official Book Description:
Fatherlessness is a “rot that is eating away at the modern soul,” writes Douglas Wilson, and the problem goes far beyond physical absence. “Most of our families are starving for fathers, even if Dad is around, and there’s a huge cost to our children and our society because of it.” Father Hunger takes a thoughtful, timely, richly engaging excursion into our cultural chasm of absentee fatherhood. Blending leading-edge research with incisive analysis and real-life examples, Wilson:
- Traces a range of societal ills―from poverty and crime to joyless feminism and paternalistic government expansion―to a vacuum of mature masculinity
- Explains the key differences between asserting paternal authority and reestablishing true spiritual fathering
- Uncovers the corporate-fulfillment fallacy and other mistaken assumptions that undermine fatherhood
- Extols the benefits of restoring fruitful fathering, from stronger marriages to greater economic liberty
Filled with practical ideas and self-evaluation tools, Father Hunger both encourages and challenges men to “embrace the high calling of fatherhood,” becoming the dads that their families and our culture so desperately need them to be.
“Wilson sounds a clarion call among Christian men that is pointedly biblical, urgently relevant, humorously accessible, and practically wise.” ―Richard D. Phillips, author of The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men
“Father Hunger illulstrates one of the greatest influences or lack thereof on the identity of a man: a father. Read a book that will strike an invisible chord in the lives of men both lost and found.” ―Dr. Eric Mason, pastor of Epiphany Fellowship, Philadelphia
“Biblical authority knows how to bleed for others.” – Doug Wilson
So I was really excited about reviewing a book on fatherlessness. The whole conversation of the “delinquent dad” really stirs my heart, probably on account of my coming from a divorced family. Dad’s are crucial and I know that.
That said, I followed along as Doug Wilson lead me through his research and thoughts. He seems like a great guy with solid convictions, which he represents with consistency as he moves throughout the text. The main nail that he is trying to drive in appears to be sex roles (according to Scripture), especially the importance of the masculine figure as it is important for the future generation(s), and the hard and fast statistics that he obviously spent some time working through before he sat down to write this book.
That book has a lot of solid truths that fathers today need reminded of, and no I’m not talking simply from my own experiences. With almost 20,000,000 children having delinquent fathers over them (or not over them), we have really got to wake up and smell the turmoil we’ve got ourselves in. And then we have to respond and do something about it.
Most importantly, the last few chapters really drive home the applicability. They speak to God the Father and how we are to model after Him. If nothing else, give the book of John a read and note the many tangible truths that come from the intangible Father (taken from Wilson’s book).
It is a challenging read, and though I don’t agree with all that he writes, I would recommend it as a text to be worked through in community. Wilson does offer questions throughout his book to stir the mind a bit more.
About the author:
Douglas Wilson is the minister of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, which is a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC). After his stint in the submarine service of the U.S. Navy, he attended the University of Idaho, where he obtained an MA in philosophy.As one of its founders, he has served on the board of Logos School, a classical and Christian school (K-12), since its inception. He is also a Senior Fellow of theology at New St. Andrews College. He is the author of numerous books, including Reforming Marriage, The Case for Classical Christian Education, Letter from a Christian Citizen, and Blackthorn Winter. He is also the general editor for the Omnibus textbook series. His blog can be found at
www.dougwils.com.All his favorite authors begin their names with initials—C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, H.L. Mencken, J.R.R. Tolkien, N.D. Wilson, and P.G. Wodehouse. The one exception is Nancy Wilson, a favorite author to whom he has been married for over thirty-four years. They have three children and fifteen grandchildren.
- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 1, 2012)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1595554769
- ISBN-13: 978-1595554765
*This book was free with my promise to post an unbiased review.
