Absentee fatherhood seems to be the norm in today's culture and it impacts everyone - families, children, wives, and husbands. Pastor and parenting expert Douglas Wilson reveals the true cost of invisible dads to families and society, encouraging them to be the fathers God calls them to be. Includes self-evaluation tools for dads to critique their fathering methods and a study guide for men's Bible studies and small groups.

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(8 Reviews) 8

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Customer Reviews for Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love & Lead Their Families

Review 1 for Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love & Lead Their Families

Overall Rating:

2 out of 5

No More Excuses

Date:January 18, 2013

JJ Shimko

Location:Williamsport, PA

Age:35-44

Gender:male

Quality:

3 out of 5

Value:

3 out of 5

Meets Expectations:

2 out of 5

This book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishing (Booksneeze) to review. I found it difficult to work through. I have had it for a while trying to read. I found myself not always agreeing with the tone used. Father Hunger, I found not always helpful to me as a father trying to be and do what is right in raising up my children. I took offense to the male superiority language. Although not stated, I heard that we aren’t “getting our way” as men of God and we should take back fatherhood. I would’ve appreciated more the approach that we should be seeking more of a life of humility and brokenness. We have failed and we need help from God, plain and simple. Instead, retaliation against culture and feminism all around us crowded out any encouragement for me to be who I need to be.

I don’t think we can make simple excuses such as it is the result of feminism of why we aren’t being who we need to be as fathers. If anything, I have been challenged by the women in my life to be the man of God I need to be. I want my children to see their mother and the women of God He places in their lives, whether school teachers, other moms, and family members and friends, as ones leading them to be who God desires them to be. This is an opportunity that has been placed before each of us, men and women alike, to be there for our children.

I did agree with Douglas Wilson, the author, when he states, “The right kind of surrender means that we will be open to God’s timing. When God delays our ambitions, it is not because He is saying no, but because those delays help shape who we are becoming.” I as a father have failed in many respects with this. It is nobody’s fault except my own. A daily surrender to God’s work in my life enables my kids to see how much I truly trust in God and am living for Him. Honestly, I can blame all of society’s problems concerning the family on the culture, feminism, the church or its pastor, the educational system, the government, or even my own parents, yet what needs to happen is that I daily step up and be a person who cares more about others than about myself.

Men, we need to embrace our role of fatherhood wholeheartedly and “pick it up and put it on, like a coat (199).” Let it become a part of you. Yes, it is scary and might even feel awkward at times causing us to fall down at times. But, stop making excuses and begin to believe and live for this great opportunity we have been created!

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Review 2 for Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love & Lead Their Families

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

Informative and Challenging

Date:January 12, 2013

Chuck

Location:Hickory, NC

Age:35-44

Gender:male

Quality:

5 out of 5

Value:

4 out of 5

Meets Expectations:

5 out of 5

It’s no secret fathers are a dying breed. Not actually fathering a child but being a father. Men who have been called by God to lead their families and their children according to Scripture.

In Doug Wilson’s book Father Hunger, he addresses the call to being a father based on God’s Word and His example as the perfect Father.

If you’re looking for a how-to on parenting, you should probably consult a different book. What I really appreciated about this book is that it pulled the precepts for being a godly father from Scripture and didn’t give step-by-step instructions. I have learned by being a father that since no two children are the same, step-by-step instructions would have to change with each child.

What really stood out to me from this book is how from page 1 Wilson has you hooked drawing on insight from the Bible. You didn’t have to read through 2-3 chapters of filler to get to good content. From the first chapter on egalitarianism, he addresses the problem of this fatherless generation and it builds from there.

I don’t always agree with Wilson’s approach. He’s never been accused of being timid or shy. In fact he’s quite confident, bold and even a bit sarcastic at times but overall he is honest and diligent about his work. But that’s why I like reading and listening to him.
Over all, while this book may not appeal to unbelievers or those who sit on the liberal side of the fence, it is a good,informative read for the diagnosis of a major problem in our culture.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

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Review 3 for Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love & Lead Their Families

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

Great Resource for All Fathers

Date:December 15, 2012

Ted C

Location:Wheaton, IL

Age:25-34

Gender:male

Quality:

5 out of 5

Value:

5 out of 5

Meets Expectations:

5 out of 5

Three months from yesterday, I’m due to be a father. And Wilson has me pegged when he writes, “it is likely that a number of readers have felt simultaneously encouraged and overwhelmed.” (198)

In his book, Father Hunger, Wilson seeks to re-establish the “high calling” of biblical fatherhood by pointing our society’s fathers away from the aloof “sitcom-dad” and back towards God the Father.

While this high calling of fatherhood is, at times, overwhelming, the strength of Father Hunger is in recognizing that a father’s strength comes from the Father. ”Theology undergirds everything,” he argues, “how we think of God the Father will drive how we think of all fathers.” (189) Therefore, Wilson contends, our culture’s incorrect understanding and view of God the Father is the source of not just our familial but also our cultural woes (educational, vocational, financial, political, etc…).

Hope in Imitation:

Wilson writes with a pointed hope which finds its foundation in the good news of Christ. ”Our comfort is that the author of this great disaster story wrote Himself into the very center of that disaster, that He might carry the weight of it Himself.” (58)

Because “the way children really follow a father is by means of imitation” (186), we, as fathers, are to imitate God the father so our children (whether physical or spiritual) might see what He has done on our behalf (cf. 1 Cor 11:1; 1 Peter 1:16):

The hands of fathers are there for provision (which means openhanded giving), and also to protect. For the former we may read through the gospel of John again and see what the Father has done with His hands—He gives and gives again. For the latter, we can look at the hands of Christ and see the nail prints still. (197-198)

Experienced Writing:

Wilson’s years of experience are clearly evidenced in his masterful writing. Having mastered the tools of logic and illustration, Wilson simultaneously simplifies and expands one’s understanding of otherwise difficult-to-grasp concepts. Here he explains how treating men and women differently (as is done in a complementarian gender roles) does not diminish the value of either:

When two things are the same we tend to treat them the same. But if we treat two things the same, it does not follow that they are the same. If we found two hammers on the workbench, we wouldn’t have any trouble picking up either one of them to do the job—because we intend to treat them exactly the same. But it does not follow from this that if we should treat something the same (in a legal setting) they must, therefore, be the same. A man might be called up to take care of all his tools, treating them all with the same kind of respect. But treating a hammer with respect and a screwdriver with respect means treating them differently—you don’t twist screws with a hammer, and you don’t try to drive nails with the handle of a screwdriver. (6)

Concluding Thoughts:

While there are days I am overwhelmed by the practical implications of what it means to be a father, the encouragement of Father Hunger is in its dependence upon scripture and God as the only perfect father. My responsibility, then, is to seek Him first—and make sure my children (and my wife) see me doing so.

I fully expect this book to become well-worn by the time I reach empty-nester status. I highly recommend it to future or present fathers of both physical and spiritual children (read: all men).

—————–

I received this book as part of Thomas Nelson’s Booksneeze blog reviewer program.

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Review 4 for Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love & Lead Their Families

Overall Rating:

3 out of 5

What ails society? Father Hunger!

Date:October 17, 2012

Blog4readers

Location:Michigan

Age:55-65

Gender:female

Quality:

3 out of 5

Value:

3 out of 5

Meets Expectations:

2 out of 5

“Fatherlessness is a ‘rot that is eating away at the modern soul,’” according to Douglas Wilson. He did his research and listed many statistics which uphold his thoughts on how fatherlessness shows forth the symptoms of a “rotting” society. Douglas points to examples of the “fruit” of absent fathers in areas of faith, education, the workplace, government, poverty...as well as others.

Though I am not a man, I picked up this book because I agree that fatherlessness is one of the major ailments of our society. I was hoping to read it and pass it along to our pastor. Also, I wanted to see what someone else discerns regarding fatherlessness’ effects. I agree with many of Douglas Wilson’s conclusions yet found the book difficult to read. I can tell he is very educated and speaks as a scholar...and not to the common man (or woman). This book would be great for a college level class (and discussion) for those in theology.

I think that this is an excellent issue to bring to the discussion table in the Christian arena. Although I agreed with much of what he said, I give this book 3/5 stars because I feel the readability is for a narrow group.

This book was given to me by Thomas Nelson Publishing (BookSneeze) in exchange for an unbiased review.

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Review 5 for Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love & Lead Their Families

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

Highly recommended. Do read this book.

Date:August 16, 2012

Annie Kate

Top 1000 Contributor

Location:Canada

Age:45-54

Gender:female

Quality:

5 out of 5

Value:

5 out of 5

Meets Expectations:

5 out of 5

“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,” says Douglas Wilson, author of Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love and Lead their Families. He addresses some fundamental questions. What is fatherhood? Where did it come from? What does it mean? What is it for? Who cares?

True fatherhood begins with worship and finds its meaning in our heavenly Father according to Wilson, and this belief is the basis of the entire book.

As one can expect from Douglas Wilson, Father Hunger is full of illuminating concepts. Not only are men assigned to the father role of provider and protector, but fatherhood is basic to all human relationships. Fathers are much more important than they believe themselves to be, and this book goes a long ways towards showing them just how crucial they are. Atheism, education, economics, poverty, crime, politics, feminism, and America’s weight problem are all related to fathers. Missing fathers. Distant fathers. Mistaken fathers. Uncertain fathers. All contribute to the father ache that is a “jagged hole in this generation’s soul.”

God our Father is central to life, faith, fatherhood, and society. Understanding what He says about Himself (as in a tip-of-the- iceberg analysis of the book of John), worshipping Him, and living for Him are fundamental to curing our culture’s father hunger. This is true for men who are fathers as well as for those who miss their fathers. It is also the key to preventing more father hunger.

There’s a lot here for fathers to learn. There’s a lot for mothers, pastors, politicians, sons, and daughters to learn, too. And it all centers around God our Father who ‘calls men to love and lead their families.’

Do note that Wilson doesn’t leave fathers in despair over their high calling and dismal failures. He encourages them to find wisdom and understanding from God. He reminds them that God is generous, that we must all focus on ‘being before doing’, and that ‘a father should be a father in the presence of God first’ before he sets out to change his family.

This is one of the most important books I’ve reviewed in the past year. If read, remembered, and applied, it would lead to dramatic and life-giving change in individuals, families, and society. I highly recommend Father Hunger to all Christian families. Non-Christians could benefit, too, but they would need to change some of their fundamental beliefs.

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Review 6 for Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love & Lead Their Families

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5

An Urgently Needed Book

Date:July 6, 2012

Jimmy Reagan

Top 250 Contributor

Location:West Union, OH

Age:35-44

Gender:male

Quality:

5 out of 5

Value:

5 out of 5

Meets Expectations:

5 out of 5

Just how important is fatherhood anyway? Our culture has no answer as it can’t think of one good reason for fatherhood beyond the biological one. For that matter, many fathers can’t add any more items to the list. Shall we listen to our culture? I’m not sure what our listless age has to commend to itself to be our guide. God, as the Master Designer, is left out of our thinking and the consequences are horrific. That’s where one of the most incredible books on fathers I have ever read comes into play. “Father Hunger” by Douglas Wilson is profound and greatly impacted me. Every page was like the hard steel blades of the plow tilling through the soil of my heart.

What Mr. Wilson was able to accomplish in this volume is rarely done. When the subtitle proclaims “Why God calls men to love and lead their families”, the book actually delivers on the “why.” Few books can give us the big picture and get especially practical as well. As an avid reader, it’s my opinion that most authors can give us only one or the other. Mr. Wilson, with verve, skill, and a pastoral heart actually pulls it off.

With deftness he upholds the essential equality of men and women while showing that the Lord, again the Master Designer, has assigned men and women different roles. That will probably keep this book off the New York Times Bestseller List, but it will have the smile of Heaven for its Biblical faithfulness. God is Father, so do you imagine in His design fathers would have a non-essential role? Ladies, don’t panic—Mr. Wilson never gives men power to be selfish brats, just power to love and be unselfish and sacrifice himself for his family. Listen to this incredible statement on men taking responsibility: “… to take on a lifetime of sacrifice and hard work. A man who takes a woman to the altar is going there to die to himself. But that is all right because it is not good for man to be alone.”

He looks at our country and where it is today and sees the absent father as the biggest culprit for the mess we are in. From fathers who provide the seed for a child and vanish to the fathers who live at the same address and mostly do their own thing in life, we have a generation of absentee fathers. The Lord designed everyone to need a father. A father’s loving hand is needed in the life of every child. He says, “Your actual pursuits are a running scoreboard. They reveal what you actually prize.” Are you challenged here? I am.

He shows how feminism, or the dire warnings of overpopulation, or the design of the welfare system, or the plea for gay marriage are all direct attacks on fatherhood. It also a direct attack on what every one of us needs to thrive as God intended. Statistics on everything from crime to education are given. The jury is in and the verdict says that homes without fathers are destroying children today. Without a Dad they will much more likely be a school dropout or be in prison. Also, the worst we see out of men comes from not encouraging them to settle down, accept responsibility, and protect their family. He shows how God is masculine (not male) and how masculinity (defined with care) is needed all around.

There’s so much more, but this review is getting ridiculously long. For the practical side, the chapter “Some Father Mechanics” is worth the price of the book alone. I saw my lack all over its pages. Thank you Mr. Wilson. If no one else needed your book, I did.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 .

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Review 7 for Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love & Lead Their Families

Overall Rating:

3 out of 5

Good Book for Fathers

Date:June 30, 2012

Chris Land

Top 100 Contributor

Location:Wichita Falls, Tx

Age:35-44

Gender:male

Quality:

3 out of 5

Value:

4 out of 5

Meets Expectations:

3 out of 5

It seems that more pastors are challenging the men of their churches to be the leaders of their homes. Not only that, but there a growing challenge for the men to take their role of father more seriously than ever before. How many homes do we hear about where the father is absent or won't do anything for his family?

Douglas Wilson talks about the role of the men in leading their families as a father in his book, Father Hunger. Wilson discussed in a wide range of catergories concerning Fatherhood for why fathers are need, not just from Scripture's view point, but also from history. Wilson also addresses the issues of the absentee father which has a hot topic for the last few years.

Other topics include the true and false fact of masculinity and proper godly education. Wilson devoted one chapter on God as our Father. Using scripture, he tells his readers all the Father is without comparing God to some product we use everyday like Coke or Alka Seltzer.

This book is a good resource to have during Father's Day and possibly one to give to all young fathers.

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Review 8 for Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love & Lead Their Families

Overall Rating:

4 out of 5

Deep, Controversial, but Life Impacting

Date:May 1, 2012

Lauren Caldwell

Location:Northeast

Gender:female

Quality:

4 out of 5

Value:

4 out of 5

Meets Expectations:

4 out of 5

Douglas Wilson has written a powerful book on a hot topic. Now, he can get a bit pedantic and a little too moralistic, but I think the reader can handle a little passionate exposition of truth. Some statements you might not agree with. Some statements are boldly proclaimed and you wonder if you have to swallow the conjectured point completely, like "Simply put, masculinity is the glad assumption of sacrificial responsibility." Hmmmm, I'll have to contemplate that.

Expect to cover a very broad array of topics underneath the concept of what Fatherhood is and deals with: gender roles, the role of the state, Atheism, Education (if you went to boarding school you'll want to read his opinion on that!), the Church,etc. You might sometimes think he's going off track.

But there are some poignant and powerful points he makes that might rock you off your feet. "Fathers are speaking about God the Father constantly" he says, even if what they are saying indirectly leads to an awful depiction of what God the Father is. Hopefully you had a loving human father. Chances are, though, he was a very human father, and therefore you've got some "issues" to deal with.

Chapters 11 and 12 are not for the faint of heart, but boy are they eye opening! There's some very frank discussion of sexuality and gender roles.

At the end of each chapter, he has some great study questions called "Questions to Consider." This book could be a great resource for study groups and it would certainly prompt some vigorous discussion!

I hope you consider reading this book, if for no other reason than that you need to know God as your Father in a better way. We all do. Since earthly fathers are human and botch things up, and human fathers are an indirect representation of the Heavenly Father, this book could shed some light on some "issues" you might have in your theology of the Father.

This book is deep, weighty, controversial, and not at all a light read. But it's impacting and illuminating as well.

Because everyone is hungry for more of the Father's love, even if they don't realize they are.

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