I really enjoyed a look at some famous fathers. Actually some were infamous and some I really didn't know who they were. Some were more well written than others and some held surprises.

Thank you to Netgalley and Artisan Books for providing me with a digital copy.

I found this book to be uneven. Some essays were good and followed the theme of the book, growing up with a famous father. Other essays should have been edited or rewritten. Since these are short do not expect any in depth examination of being famous and a father. Overall it was a quick and enjoyable read.

To Me, He Was Just Dad - Stories of Growing Up With Famous Fathers // by Joshua David Stein

"Those searching for a moving Father's Day gift need look no further." -- Publishers Weekly

To Me, He Was Just Dad by Joshua David Stein is a book of short stories like none other. The children of famous, and infamous, men tell us in a couple of pages each how they feel about their fathers. Sometimes we hear exactly what we expect based on their public appearance but many of them seem to be an entirely different person at home with their families. Each chapter has a picture of the narrator and their father accompanying the story.

This book made me pause many times. Not only was I fascinated to learn about these men from an entirely new perspective but I also started contemplating my own relationships with different members of my family, especially my father. I like how these are not highly detailed essays reminiscent of biographies, but up close and personal in a way that is relatable and easy to understand by anybody that opens this book.

Everyone has two personas, the public and personal that we blend to keep ourselves sane. These stories are all centered on men who had outsize public personas but were very private about their family life. It is entertaining and satisfying to know that they had some of the same parenting goals and problems we all do. The stories are short and sweet, a gift to us from the children to show us the other side of their Dads.

This was a great book! I really enjoyed it's concept as I'm sure many people wonder how the rich and famous take care of their kids. The book gives you accounts of several children's childhood who have had a popular or famous parent ranging from Pablo Escobar to Leonard Nimoy. Definitely a page turner and also a nice book to get for the coffee table to share.

The novel is full of great stories of men who are known to be great in their field but beyond close doors they were even something greater – a father. Taken on board that the stories mentioned by the children of these professional people, it is interesting how father’s who have a very busy and successful career had the time and patience to ensure that fatherhood was juggled into their daily lives.

This is a testament that gives focus on what can be accomplished with just love and devotion to your family and how this makes a difference now that these people are now adults. It was wonderful to hear how their father’s have touched their lives and how their childhoods become something to cherish because of this bond.

This is an excellent book that shows contrary what the media tells us, that fatherhood is alive and well and the importance on what being a good father can do with the relationship with their children and their future. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Sometimes we forget that our parents are people with their own lives. We grow up with these individuals, who may be role models or barely there, and we realize as we grow older that our parents or guardians are known differently in others’ eyes. Reading these short essays on children of well-known individuals within different areas of the Western world reminds us of how these larger-than-life people are quite different to those who knew them as their nurturers from a young age.

A short chapter on 40 stories told by children of famous men. Christopher Reeve, Evil Knievel, Jacque Pepin and John Wayne are included. It’s a great idea for a book and fun to read about how their own children perceived them as fathers. The short essays left me wanting more, though. The family photos were a nice addition to the stories.

4 years ago this month, the man I called "Dad" passed away. He was a huge part of my life and while he didn't have to be a Dad to me, he chose to and chose to love me as his own and I am grateful every day for that and I miss him so very much. He was the best of the best and he left a huge hole, not only for me and my Mom, but to everyone who knew and loved him.
That said, I thought I, after four years, would be ready for a book like this. I was wrong. I don't think that I will ever be ready for a book like this - grief is not linear. That also said, there were stories within this that were just amazing and I reveled with these children who write stories of the men they call [and called] Dad. There were some heartbreaking ones [William Reeves was one that I pretty much cried all the way through, as well as Leonard Nimoy's sons story], some that were shocking and some that were just fantastic [Carl Sagan's sons story was almost perfect]. But I really was not ready. I have a biological father who is not, by his choice, in my life. After years of chasing after him and practically begging him to love me, I finally got brave and walked away. And he let me go with no reservations. I do not even exist to him anymore. And I was reminded of that over and over in this book as children with distant fathers wrote their stories. Their stories have hope as there is always a little bit of reconciliation or forgiveness or whatever they need to move forward there. But not all of us have that and so reading stories like these can be tough. But they did remind me that I am luckier than some - I got to have a Dad who loved me unconditionally. Who adored me and listened to me and counseled me and encouraged me to go live my life as large as I could make it. So even though this book made me sad [and a bit angry in parts] and cry a little, it also made me happy and grateful.

I miss and love you Dad.

Thank you to NetGalley and Artisan Books/Artisan for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a collection of short essays written by the children of "famous" men. Some of them are men you've probably heard of (Samuel L. Jackson, John Wayne, Miles Davis, etc.,) there are also several who don't have the same name recognition (Herb Brooks, Michio Kaku, Donald Cabana, etc.) Some children write about how amazing their fathers were, how normal, what great memories they have, while other children lament about how absent their fathers were, how demanding, how unloving. There was even one child who had never met his father, and he wrote about that impact on him.

While an interesting premise, I just wanted more. While short essays are perfect for a blog or a magazine, a book gives you so much more room to create something bigger, and that's what was ultimately lacking here. I wanted more details about their lives as father and child, more stories, more information.

Honestly, I found information about the writer -- found at the end of each essay -- to be the most telling... Which children used their famous fathers' connections to make it in the same industry, who is living an every day kind of life, who has kids of their own. Because ultimately, sometimes the measure of how successful a father really was can be seen in the legacy he left behind.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. It has not influenced my opinion.

Joshua David Stein, editor at large for Fatherly, has compiled the stories from children with famous fathers in the new book To Me He Was Just Dad. The stories very from glowing pictures of loving fathers to  sometimes heartbreaking portrayals of fathers who failed their children. While readers may know the name and actions of the Father's featured, it is fascinating to take a look at these men from their child's perspective.

Features in this book are folks like John Wayne, Evel Knievel, and even infamous folks like cult leader Saul Newton.  As stated above, there are times where the stories will break your heart, but Stein has also done an amazing job of including in these first person essays positive looks at Fathers as well. Whether you have or had an amazing relationship with your dad, or not, this collection will at some point hit home for the reader.

To Me He Was Just Dad will be available March 31, 2020 from Artisan Books.

No matter if you have a great or a messy relationship with your dad this book can be a delight to read no matter your age. At the end of the day even famous dads are still people. The pictures added a personal touch to the stories.

This book surprised me and I was not sure what to expect. There were so many famous and amazing people in this book - and to see their lives through their children’s eyes and how they truly were just dad, and in turn had impactful lives of their own due to the life of their dad was girly astounding. Highly recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Beatle - John Lennon, Vulcan - Leonard Nimoy, Chef – Jacques Pepin and the Duke – John Wayne are just four of the dads included in this book. Each essay includes a short biography of the “Dad” followed by an essay from one of their children and a picture of them together. It was a good book to read a little each day. Some of the dads I knew and some I didn’t but it presents a nice insight on how our children see us. It would make a great father’s day present.

I received an electronic ARC from Artisan Books through NetGalley.
A charming series of short essays about well known men as told through the lens of one of their children. Men from all areas of fame are included. Some heroes were certainly not parenting role models and some infamous men were brilliant fathers as seen through their children's eyes.
Stein has compiled a broad ranging set of writings that will allow dads everywhere to see themselves - how they are; how they could be, and how they want to change.
Terrific Father's Day gift.

This was a fascinating read. Looking through the eyes of a child. They are "Dad." Stories told by the children of famous dad's. The adventures, memories, and things their dad told just to them. This would make a wonderful Father's Day gift.

Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for the eARC

This is filled with incredibly moving essays written by the offspring of famous fathers and put together in this book. Some of the fathers I knew and others I hadn’t heard of but I found the whole concept to be an interesting one, and the essays were so good for the most part that it didn’t matter when it was a stranger. It’s getting a peek at what these men were like as a dad, and that makes it charming, especially in tandem with the inclusion of a picture of the dad and child that really makes it glow.

This was better than I had expected and I’m glad I picked it up as it was a fun read that would really be great for Father’s Day. I liked the mix of fathers chosen also. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Joshua David Stein, and Artisan.

received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

wow! what a neat concept! i really enjoyed learning about famous men from the eyes of their children, if you like biographies, this book is for you.

The title really says it all: to me, he was just dad. This is an excellent collection, written by adult sons and daughters, of short heartfelt biographical glimpses of their fathers. Most fathers are well-known household names (John Lennon, for example). There is a brief biography of the father before each family story, and of the adult child after each story, along with a photograph of the two. This is such a good, interesting book! I found I would read only a few stories/chapters at a time in order to savor them. The book also piqued my interest in wanting to know more. 5 stars.

Truly interesting compilation about some incredible men. I loved hearing their stories from the perspective of their children. The honesty within these pages makes some of the stories hard to read, but adds to the humanity of the men many of us feel like we know.