I had to use this book for my sociology class in college.

It is a pretty good book that shows different aspects of society

through 4 main sociological concepts. I will not be selling my

copy back at the end of the semester for sure....

Author marshals significant amount of factual and statisical information to justify the importance of intact families. The subject matter is "politically incorrect" considering that any group of disparate individuals may call themselves a family now days but Popenoe argues persuasively that the best conditions for raising emotionally healthy children are in families units containing the biological father. He also uses the emerging field of evolutionary psychology to bolster his arguments. Try bringing up the topic of importance of biological fathers with your acquaintances to find out how loaded this subject is.

With all of the various problems associated with the youth of our country - violence, drug use, sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy, lower academic achievements, etc. - it is time that we consider how fathers can make a positive difference. Popenoe makes a strong case using authentic, supportive evidence for his conclusions about the unique contributions of father and the need to restore marriage. Even with research citations, the book is not difficult to read except for the pain of perhaps "having your toes stepped on". But Popenoe manages to do this with tact and honesty as well as offer comprehensive solutions in which everyone can participate to help our nation's children. I would recommend this book whether you are a parent, educator, or in some other profession involving children and families.

In "Fatherless America : Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem", David Blankenhorn brings forth some important facts:

We are rapidly becoming a fatherless society. 40 years ago, 17% of all children had no father living at home. Today, 50% of American youths will live without their fathers at some time before they turn 18. Fatherlessness is also the leading cause of many of our most urgent social problems:

·80% of all adolescents in psychiatric hospitals come from fatherless homes.
·90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes.
·85% of all youths in prisons grew up in a fatherless home.
·80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes.
·72% of adolescent murderers grew up without fathers.
·71% of all pregnant teenagers lack a father.
·63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes.

Fatherhood has two important functions: a biological function and a social function. When a mother nurses her infant, she is playing both a biological role and a social role. She is feeding and bonding. The two can't be separated.

A father makes his biological contribution at the moment of conception. Nine months later, the infant enters the world. The phrase "to father a child" usually refers to the act of impregnating a woman, not to the act of raising a child.

The social function of fatherhood is that of actually raising the child. Social fatherhood isn't always linked to biological fatherhood, however. Many men don't feel a deep connection between sex (the biological fathering of a child) and love (the emotional fathering of that same child).

The problem is well-stated, and the facts here are very compelling. Unfortunately, this information is used as a springboard for some very narrow and fundamental "solutions".

For instance, men who care for or support fatherless children ("Big Brothers" are an example) are called "Nearby Guys". These are men who did not biologically father a child, but who have taken on the responsibility of social fatherhood. Blakenhorn states that "the Nearby Guy is a cultural idea aimed explicitly at the deconstruction of fatherhood." This view is taken towards any male who doesn't match Blackenhorne's ideal: "The GOOD family man."

"The GOOD family man" is Blackenhorne's solution to a "Fatherless America". Ultimately, Blackenhorne advocates a return to the family model of the 1950's. Traditional roles - father as breadwinner, mother as nurturer - are an essential part of Blackenhorne's "Good family" model. All other possibilities are denounced. It is a "one-size-fits-all" solution.

If you agree with this point of view, then you will love this book. If you don't, then you'll have to resolve the important questions raised by this book, in a way that is congruent with your own individual needs and values.

Blackenhorne is president of the Institute for American Values, a right-wing think tank. You can find more of his views at americanvalues.org. This will tell you more about the biases of the author. I feel that the facts speak for themselves. The author's opinions border on propoganda and for this reason, the book was docked two stars.

Blankenhorn puts forth a well-documented and well-reasoned argument that the crisis in fatherhood in America is our nation's most urgent social problem. Blankenhorn argues persuasively: "A good society celebrates the ideal of the man who puts his family first" (1995:5). He demonstrates that fatherhood is diminishing both as a positive idea and in practice in America. Forty percent of children will go to bed tonight in homes in which their fathers do not live (1995:1). He argues that this loss of fatherhood is not remediable "...by either maternal investment or public investment" (1995:48).
Blankenhorn carefully examines and critiques seven current concepts of fatherhood in America. The first he calls the "unnecessary father". He argues that fatherhood is increasingly being considered irrelevant in our culture. The "old father" is unwanted because of an authoritarian abuse of power in years gone by. The "new father" is widely applauded today. He is nurturing and caring and virtually interchangeable with a mother. Blankenhorn argues that he is another form of unnecessary father as his masculinity is emaciated. The "deadbeat" dad is universally decried. Blankenhorn puts forth that even if all deadbeat dads paid up, their offspring would still be poorer than children with a father at home. His children are still missing the benefits of daily fatherhood. The "visiting father" despite his best efforts is not able to parent as effectively as an equally motivated father who lives at home with his children and their mother. The "sperm father" is merely the provider of genetic material. He has no responsibility for the un-going provision and parenting of children. The "step-father and nearby guy" despite high motivation cannot take the place of an involved father who lives at home with his biological progeny and their mother.
Blankenhorn argues for a return to the "good family man" who puts his family first. The good family man: "is responsible for his family", "spends time on family activities", is a "good and steady provider", "sets a good example", "admits mistakes", is "flexible", shares the household "workload", is a "provider", "shows love of spouse and children through actions", lives "Biblical and moral values",(1995:205-208).
Blankenhorn makes a persuasive case. I recommend this book for all who seek a clear and well-documented understanding of fatherhood in America today.

We have no shortage of fathers, in the pro-creative, biological/physiological sense of the word. What is missing in our society is the institution of "fatherhood;" the process whereby the patriarch of the family takes his rightful place in the family as leader, provider, protector, and nurturer.

Feminists will hate this book because Blankenhorn uses scientific study, statistics,logic, and, at times, rhetoric and polemics to conclusively state that the absence of true fathers is indeed the "most urgent social problem of our kind."

Whether unwittingly, or by design, feminists have played a big part in destroying this sacred institution; their call for the "rights" of women did not stop there. There has been a full-scale diminution of fatherhood, to the detriment of all involved, and, ultimately, society.

This jeremiad is a must read for anyone, i.e. parents, teachers, ministers, social-workers, and counselors, who are concerned about the state of our youth today. Blankenship proves that without a father, all is chaos in the family.

A truly dynamic and passionate book. I cannot believe that there has not been any noticeable public acclaim for this book,but then again I should not be surprised given the antipathy with which academia, the media, and the various and sundry other members of the literati, view the "traditional family."

We see how women and children suffer. Where's the outrage?