Pops: Fatherhood in Pieces

Written by Michael Chabon

Narrated by Michael Chabon

Michael Chabon, author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Manhood for Amateurs and Moonglow, returns with a collection of heartfelt, humorous and insightful essays on the meaning of fatherhood.

You are born into a family and those are your people, and they know you and they love you and if you are lucky they even, on occasion, manage to understand you. And that ought to be enough. But it is never enough

What are you allowed to talk about with your children? When to step in with advice, when to let them make their own mistakes? It’s more complicated than you think. Somehow you muddle through.

In this heartfelt, humorous and wise book, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon attempts to weigh in on difficult conversations with his children, on everything from texting girls to death. But it is when he hangs back that he catches them transforming into their own people. What emerges is a father’s deep respect for his children’s passions and for their bravery in the face of conformity.

Whether you know the joy and struggles of being a father, or were shaped by one, you will find a home in these stunning essays.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: May 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9780008286316

Michael Chabon

Michael Chabon is the bestselling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of seven novels – including The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and The Yiddish Policemen's Union – two collections of short stories, and one other work of non-fiction. He lives in Berkeley, California, with his wife and children.

Reviews for Pops

[seschend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great collection of stories for Father's Day weekend

[brakketh-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Chabon's reflections on parenting and being a father, interesting to see the feelings and perspectives he takes.

[benkline · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A fun collection of essays/articles about being a father, fatherhood, and being a son and sonhood (a new term?). Not a whole whole lot of substance, but entertaining reads, that do give some insight on Chabon's parenting/time as a child. I haven't read any of his other works, but this was interesting enough and the writing was good to the point where I might feel the need to look out for his other works.

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A small number of short stories, very enjoyable, that all focus on the theme of fatherhood. Both as a son and as a father, mostly the latter. I particularly liked the one about the son who is into clothes and who has style.

[squeakychu · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a quick book of reflections on fatherhood. It focuses on being a parent of a young teen, but the book actually starts with advice for aspiring authors not to have children! The book ends with an essay by the author about his relationship to his own father. In between are essays, several previously published elsewhere, that talk mainly about the author's relationship with his children. Having raised both sons and a daughter myself, I found some scenes surprisingly familiar, especially those about the author's younger son being quite picky about what he wore to school from a very early age. Nothing offensive is contained herein so this is a nice read for an hour or two in which one might want to relax and reminisce a bit. It did remind me, however, to look for more of Chabon's longer works. I haven't read any for quite a while.

[beamis12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A small book of essays chronicling Chabon role as father. The first essay shows Chabon, not yet married, not yet a popular author receiving advice from a noted author. His main nugget of advice, was never to have children as they g away the needed time and concentration to write. Much humor here.Four children later he writes about his role as a father, his role as a male femsnist with two daughters of his own. Looks back to his own mother and father, advice he was given by his mother, his father who he finds difficult but clearly loves him. Fashion week with his thirteen year old son, who has a distinct child style of his own. There is a great deal of humor, some significant insights in this timely collection. I love his style of writing, his honesty here, his vulnerability, and I think he would be a very interesting man to meet. A short collection, but an entertaining one.

[dknight0918 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. It was so nice to read more about Chabon’s personal life and about him being a father. I read this book in one sitting. I would have loved for it to be five times as long as it is. I will definitely purchase a physical copy of this book for my collection. Thanks to Above the Treeline and Edelweiss and HarperLuxe for the review copy.

[achedglin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic writing by Chabon, as usual, but I'm not certain that there is enough material in here to warrant a whole book.