What My Father and I Don't Talk About

Summary

A follow-up to the wildly successful What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About, this “moving and deeply relatable” (Qian Julie Wang, New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Country) collection of essays from sixteen notable writers breaks the silence on the complex—and sometimes contentious—relationships we have with our fathers.

What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About is a rare gem in the literary world. Both a viral sensation online and chosen by Oprah Daily as one of the best nonfiction books of the past two decades, it is an essential collection that dives into the topics we struggle to discuss with those who are meant to know and love us best.

“With tenderness and aplomb in equal measure” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), this captivating follow-up tackles the intricate and challenging relationships we have with our dads. Andrew Altschul reflects on the life-altering experience of becoming a father and how it reshaped his view of his own dad’s parenting. Isle McElroy revisits weekends spent tagging along as their father fixed up the homes of his wealthier colleagues. Jaquira Díaz delves into her father’s history in 1970s Williamsburg, uncovering the roots of their shared restlessness. Tomás Q. Morín paints a raw portrait of an absentee father, while Kelly McMasters portrays her father’s love and dedication. Maurice Carlos Ruffin insightfully captures a father who communicated through his integrity rather than words. Jiordan Castle reveals how we can love our fathers from a distance and Susan Muaddi Darraj’s “Baba Peels Apples for Me” explores the similar burdens placed on immigrant fathers and their eldest daughters.

With moments that are both humorous and deeply moving, “these fearless essays, each one unputdownable, are likely to reassure readers that whatever relationship they have or don't have with their own fathers is just right” (Booklist).

Contributions by Michele Filgate, Andrew Altschul, Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Dylan Landis, Jaquira Díaz, Kelly McMasters, Isle McElroy, Susan Muaddi Darraj, Tomás Q. Morín, Robin Reif, Heather Sellers, Jiordan Castle, Nayomi Munaweera, Joanna Rakoff, and Julie Buntin.