How to be a Good Divorced Dad

May 15, 2013

Divorce attorney and father advocate Leving offers a combination legal strategy-parenting guidebook for dads. He is a vocal advocate for fathers' rights, hosts a weekly radio show in Chicago, and is known for his work on the Elian Gonzalez case in 1999. Covering psychological topics, such as the difference between "good and struggling fathers" and strengthening connections with your kids, the text mostly examines the legal aspects of these issues, taking the offensive more often than not. Much of the information will be helpful to dads who have every intention of both staying close with their kids and doing right by their former spouses, but some seems inflammatory and conspiracy-laden (e.g., watch out for the ex who would flee to Japan because he/she never signed the Hague Convention treaty). Leving is a national leader for fathers' rights, and his efforts to keep dads closely involved with their children are commendable. However, citing statistics such as "Seventy-two percent of all teenage murderers grew up without fathers" seems crass--Leving should know better. VERDICT This is aimed mostly at white-collar couples who have the means to swap retirement plans for the family home. Libraries should thus purchase according to their demographics.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.