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Wisdom of Our Fathers (Abridged): Lessons and Letters from Daughters and Sons Audiobook
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(4.00) - 876 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
What does it really mean to be a good father? What did your father tell you, that has stayed with you throughout your life? Was there a lesson from him, a story, or a moment that helped to make you who you are? Is there a special memory that makes you smile when you least expect it? After the publication of Tim Russert’s number one New York Times bestseller about his father, Big Russ & Me, he received an avalanche of letters from daughters and sons who wanted to tell him about their own fathers, most of whom were not superdads or heroes but ordinary men who were remembered and cherished for some of their best moments–of advice, tenderness, strength, honor, discipline, and occasional eccentricity. Most of these daughters and sons were eager to express the gratitude they had carried with them through the years. Others wanted to share lessons and memories and, most important, pass them down to their own children. This book is for all fathers, young or old, who can learn from the men in these pages how to get it right, and to understand that sometimes it is the little gestures that can make the big difference for your child. For some in this book, the appreciation came later than they would have liked. But as Wisdom of Our Fathers reminds us, it is never too late to embrace it. From the father who coached his daughter in sports (and life), attending every meet, game, performance, and tournament, to the daughter who, after a fifteen-year estrangement, learned to make peace with her difficult father just before he died, to the son who came, at last, to appreciate the silent way his father could show affection, Wisdom of Our Fathers shares rewarding lessons, immeasurable gifts, and lasting values. Heartfelt, humorous, engaging, irresistibly readable, and bound to bring back memories of unforgettable moments with our own fathers, Tim Russert’s new book is not only a fitting companion to his own marvelous memoir, but also a celebration of the positive qualities passed down from generation to generation.
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"A must read! This one will make you think or re-think your relationship with your Dad. My brother sent it to me and told me I had to read it. It's a series of letters sent to Russert after he wrote "Big Russ and Me," where people told of their Dads. Read it, you won't regret it!"
— Michael (5 out of 5 stars)
Wisdom of Our Fathers Listener Reviews
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" I miss Tim Russert. He was one of the good guys. The stories in this book will bring tears to your eyes. "
— Carol, 2/17/2014 -
" Definitely a thought-provoking, moving book! A must read for all! "
— Julie, 2/12/2014 -
" Great. Easy to set down and pick up. "
— Raj246, 2/11/2014 -
" I enjoyed this one -- not quite as much as I enjoyed "Big Russ", but this one is readable, touching, and inspiring. "
— Kay, 2/7/2014 -
" Tim Russert put together one of the books that would strike the heart of anyone who reads it. This book brought tears to my eyes continuously as I thought of my own Dad. This is a MUST READ by anyone who ever had a Dad that means/meant anything to them. "
— Larry, 1/31/2014 -
" Fathers are appreciated more as we get older and realize how smart they truely are. There is a great deal of wisdom in this book by average people. This is a great book to carry while traveling as it can be picked up and read off and on without problem. "
— Cheryl, 1/23/2014 -
" A friend and colleague gave me a copy of this book a week or two after my father passed, and I read it while I composed a eulogy to be given the following month [as I type these words I'm still working on the eulogy]. The power in this collection of short pieces is in their ordinariness, and through it the news that love, respect, and formative experience is grounded for most of us in simple acts of loyalty, decency, attentiveness, and sacrifice. (Thanks, AR...) "
— Steve, 1/15/2014 -
" Like it less than Big Russ & Me which I read years ago. The vignettes got a bit boring. I did enjoy reminising about my dad at first. "
— Cindy, 1/6/2014 -
" A beautiful tribute to all fathers of "the Greatest Generation" "
— Rebecca, 1/6/2014 -
" Not much authorship here but a warm & fuzzy compilation of many folks saying nice things about Dad. "
— Bob, 1/1/2014 -
" Being a life long Republican I was a little leary of reading this book, however it was excellent and I would recommend it to everyone. "
— Trevor, 12/26/2013 -
" Though not entirely done with this book, I am savoring it. I am putting it on my read shelf, but continue to enjoy it a bit at a time. Our Dad's are SOportant to us. What memories Tim Russert left us with... "
— Robin, 12/23/2013 -
" I listened to this audio book. It is a great tribute to fathers and made me contemplate how much I love my father. "
— Kristen, 12/22/2013 -
" A must read for everyone...including daughters! "
— Sam, 12/22/2013 -
" this was a fast sweet read. I felt so sad when Tim Russert died and this is just a reminder of the amazing person he was. I wish he could have stayed around a while longer. "
— Nancy, 12/19/2013 -
" Finished the book. It is sad, funny, inspirational and makes anyone, whether a father or a child, think about relationship. Recommend it to all "
— Tom, 11/28/2013 -
" Lots of great stories that brought back memories of my own father. "
— Jim, 7/27/2013 -
" I love Tim Russert! I really enjoyed this book! "
— Dawn, 5/6/2013 -
" Excellent - not sure I would have picked prior to his passing but offers wonderful glimpse into the lives and thoughts of fathers and adult children. Especially recommended if a father grew up in or around WWII. Helped me to see my father from a different perspective. "
— Duffy, 4/17/2013 -
" A remarkable book. Funny, poignant, reaffirming. If you have a father or are a father, you need to read this. "
— Brandon, 3/13/2013 -
" Very neat book. I really enjoyed it. "
— J.t., 12/7/2012 -
" Wonderful book. Fantastic stories. A great follow-up to Big Russ and Me. "
— Msimon6986, 9/3/2012 -
" Amazing book of letters written to Tim Russert about our relationships with our dads. It is especially touching reading about Tim Russert's relationship with his dad and his son. "
— Melissa, 11/27/2011 -
" Nice collection of very sentimental vignettes about fathers, from their sons and daughters. I listened to the audio version and had to stop because the emotions were too strong. "
— Bill, 8/21/2011 -
" Took away a little insight on how other perople look at their childhood "
— Jaclynn, 8/9/2011 -
" Its a feel good book.....an easy listen "
— Judi, 8/8/2011 -
" i enjoy reading books of letters. it is a window to peoples lives. "
— Frances, 7/22/2011 -
" Actually listening to this one too...it's getting boring. "
— Mike, 7/14/2011 -
" Wonderful read by one of my favorite commentators. "
— Char, 7/1/2011 -
" Loved this book! It illustrates in story after story how important a father's love is to his children. It can't be overestimated. It's very encouraging to read about the dignity and decency of the men discussed in this book. There's lots of spiritual food here to savor. "
— Susan, 5/25/2011 -
" Wonderful book but be sure to keep a box of tissues near by. I couldn't get past the introduction without balling my eyes out. Really great book. "
— Erin, 5/14/2011 -
" I listened to this audio book. It is a great tribute to fathers and made me contemplate how much I love my father. "
— Kristen, 2/10/2011 -
" Like it less than Big Russ & Me which I read years ago. The vignettes got a bit boring. I did enjoy reminising about my dad at first. "
— Cindy, 1/19/2011 -
" the only thing I can say is "I love you, dad". "
— Ronica, 8/6/2010 -
" I liked his memoir better but this was okay. "
— Karijean31, 5/10/2010 -
" Great for a new dad. Lots in interesting memories of fathers. "
— Deb, 4/13/2010 -
" Nice collection of very sentimental vignettes about fathers, from their sons and daughters. I listened to the audio version and had to stop because the emotions were too strong. "
— Bill, 1/23/2010 -
" Read this if you haven't cried enough lately. "
— Stefanie, 1/3/2010 -
" Great!!!!!!! we should ALL read this! "
— Steven, 12/29/2009 -
" I loved the variety of stories told about their dads. Everyone's experience is so different. Some of the stories were very tender, and I loved Tim Russert's chapter introduction with an ancedote about his dad. "
— Robyn91856, 10/30/2009 -
" Took away a little insight on how other perople look at their childhood "
— Jaclynn, 10/14/2009 -
" I loved this book. Very inspirational. It reminds me of all the things I like best about my own father, grandfather, etc. "
— Roxy, 10/11/2009 -
" This book is amazing and really makes you appreciate DADS <br/>Especially you own. Loved it "
— Mary, 9/3/2009 -
" This is a follow-up to "Big Russ and Me." He recounts letters received from sons and daughters. So much reminded me of my dad. I loved it! "
— Aldafan, 9/3/2009 -
" Its a feel good book.....an easy listen "
— Judi, 9/2/2009 -
" This book wasn't nearly as good as Big Russ and Me, but most likely because Russ didn't write it himself. Touching at times, but sort of a let down to me. "
— Mary, 8/17/2009
About Tim Russert
Tim Russert (1950–2008) was an American journalist who had hosted NBC’s Meet the Press since 1991. He was the Washington Bureau Chief for NBC News, and hosted Tim Russert, a weekly interview program on MSNBC. He was also a frequent correspondent and guest on other NBC News programs, such as The Today Show and Hardball. He co-hosted the network’s presidential Election Night coverage. He also presented the polling results of the NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey on the NBC Nightly News alongside the anchor of the show.
About the Narrators
Arthur Morey has won three AudioFile Magazine “Best Of” Awards, and his work has garnered numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed him as a finalist for two Audie Awards. He has acted in a number of productions, both off Broadway in New York and off Loop in Chicago. He graduated from Harvard and did graduate work at the University of Chicago. He has won awards for his fiction and drama, worked as an editor with several book publishers, and taught literature and writing at Northwestern University. His plays and songs have been produced in New York, Chicago, and Milan, where he has also performed.
Kathe Mazur has narrated many audiobooks, winning the prestigious Audie Award for best narration in 2014, being named a finalist for the Audie Award in 2013 and 2015, and winning several AudioFile Earphones Awards. As an actress, she can be seen as DDA Hobbs on The Closer and in the upcoming Major Crimes. She has worked extensively in film, theater, and television, including appearances on Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, House, Brothers and Sisters, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, ER, Monk, and many others.
Marc Cashman, Earphones Award–winning narrator, was named one of the “Best Voices of the Year” by AudioFile magazine. His voice can be heard on radio, television, film, and video games. He also instructs voice actors through his classes, The Cashman Cache of Voice-Acting Techniques, in Los Angeles.
Susan Denaker is an actress and Earphones Award–winning narrator. Her extensive theater credits include numerous plays in the West End of London, national tours, many English rep companies, including a season with Alan Ayckbourn’s company in Scarborough. In the US, she has appeared in Our Town and Sweet Bird of Youth at the La Jolla Playhouse and Breaking Legs at the Westport Playhouse.