Letters to My Son : a Father's Wisdom on Manhood, Women, Life and Love

In this newly revised edition, author Kent Nerburn extends his horizons with sections on education, competition, and more. Although written from a father to a son, this eloquent collection carries timeless wisdom for us all.

In an attempt to gather what wisdom he could to guide his son into adulthood, Kent Nerburn published a powerful collection of essays that touched the hearts of parents and children everywhere. In this beautiful revised edition, Nerburn refines his advice and expands his thoughts.

Library Journal

In these short selections, 25 well-known authors, e.g., Diane Ackerman, Martin Luther King, Thich Nhat Hahn, Albert Einstein, and Isabel Allende, search for the meaning of life, love, faith, meditation, and death. Very brief biographical information about each author is included at the end. While excellent passages, such as Harold Kushner's "When All You Ever Wanted Isn't Enough" and Mother Teresa's "Silence," are very moving, the overall collection is random and limited in nature. A hospital, church, or public library might possibly use it as a basis for therapy, inspiration, or discussion, but the lack of explanatory or supportive material makes this a marginal purchase.--Nancy Shires, East Carolina Univ., Greenville, NC

We all need advice growing up and facing the big stuff life gives us. We all need the voice of a parent or a good friend who has lived through joy and suffering and has thought deeply about it. Kent Nerburn is an extraordinary writer who can be that voice when we are lost and in need of guidance. Letters to My Son, written for his son, Nick, but true for all of us, shows us that life isn't always shared in all its richness with those we meet along the way. Kent shares with us what he believes, and makes us look at the hard questions, but never offers easy answers. Like a wise and gentle friend, he guides us to the truths that emerge when you approach life openly and honestly.