This book is written as a thinly veiled novel, which is why I’ve put it under Parenting instead. It tells a simple story of Jeff, a busy, stressed out dad who works long hours, doesn’t have a good connection with his teenage son, and is struggling to work out how to be a good father. As a result of having to do community service after a car accident, Jeff meets a number of wise men who teach him what is really important in life, through the secrets of the “ancient scrolls of leadership”.
I’m liking
This book has some great content. The “ancient scrolls of leadership” teach common-sense concepts that are easily forgotten in the never-ending stream of superficial parenting tasks. I appreciated the chance to take a break and think about the “important but not urgent” stuff like taking time to listen to my children, loving them unconditionally, having the courage to look at my own strengths and weaknesses, and most of all, remembering that (together with my husband) I am the one with the job to lead my children. If I’m not setting them a strong example, whose are they going to follow?
Because it’s written as a story, the book is easy to read. It’s got chapters, so if you have to put it down, there’s an easy place to stop. !
Things that made me go hmmmm
It may be just an American thing – but if you’re looking for subtlety, you’re reading the wrong book! All the lessons are heartfelt and totally upfront, but because of this, a little unrealistic. As nice as it would be if people talked honestly about their feelings about parenting and shared what is really important to them in life, it just doesn’t happen that easily. By the end of the book I found I was quite irritated with Jeff because he takes in every lesson so eagerly and understands the point straight away and goes home and thinks about it, and immediately gets how it fits in with all the other lessons.
It’s also a little ‘self-referential’ at times: in one of the last lessons with Willy, a wise old man in a rest home, Jeff turns up to find the room empty with all Willy’s stuff gone. He immediately assumes the worst, until Willy turns up and says with a grin, “Did you think this was one of those cheesy mentoring books where the old mentor dies at the end?”
The conclusion
Overall I really enjoyed this book and will re-read it to remember the lessons. I think it would be most relevant for parents of older children – there’s lots about talking to your children and finding out their interests, goals and desires, and as anyone else with 3-5 year olds knows, getting this age group to talk doesn’t really take much work! Recommended to anyone who likes a feel-good read too.
