Dad, How Do I?

December 1, 2020

Famous for breaking the Watergate story with Bob Woodward, Bernstein backtracks to his early-1960s experiences as a teenage reporter at the Washington Star in Chasing History. Structured around Gwendolyn Brooks's "We Real Cool," Punch Me Up to the Gods recounts award-winning poet/screenwriter Broom's upbringing in Ohio as a Black boy crushing on other boys, falling into wild sex and drug use, and finally finding his way. Laden with Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, SAG, and Grammy honors, Foxx pivots here to talk about raising two very different daughters in Act Like You Got Some Sense (400,000-copy first printing; originally scheduled for October 2020). In The Windsor Diaries, published posthumously, Howard records staying with her grandfather at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park during World War II and befriending princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Emmy Award winner Leslie Jordan, a viral sensation, pulls out the Southern charm to tell funny stories about life and celebrity in How Y'all Doing? (100,000-copy first printing). Having started the YouTube channel Dad, How Do I? to hand out the fatherly advice and how-to tips he wishes his dad had been around to give him, Kenney here reiterates that advice while surveying his childhood and how the channel went viral (75,000-copy first printing). In Sparring with Smokin' Joe, Lewis, director of journalism at York College, CUNY, recalls the months he spent in 1981 in the gym and on the road with boxing great Joe Frazier. Brat Packer McCarthy relates a life that encompasses acting, directing, and working as an award-winning editor-at-large at National Geographic Traveler. In Sunshine Girl, Margulies shows how she created order amid the chaos of a difficult childhood to become an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actress. In Sinatra and Me, Oppedisano, a longtime confidant and key member of the singer's management team, reflects on Sinatra's life, loves, and commitment to his craft (100,000-copy first printing). Finally, in The Wreckage of My Presence, actress/podcaster Wilson offers funny but heartfelt essays ranging from the joys of eating in bed to her obsessive need to be liked (100,000-copy first printing)

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 16, 2021

One of the feel-good stories to come out of 2020 was a new YouTube channel that went viral for its simplicity and usefulness. The channel Dad, How Do I? was created by Rob Kenney, who realized that many people, himself included, lacked a fatherly influence in their life. Kenney used his quarantine time to record a series of brief instructional videos on topics customarily taught by a father, such as tying a tie or changing a tire. He wasn't seeking fame, but after a viral tweet and media interviews, he has since amassed over three million followers. Following the success of his channel, many have reached out to him to share their own experiences of growing up without a father. Kenney has since shared with viewers his advice on pain, forgiveness, grief, and how to move forward. He saw a need for practical advice and emotional support, which inspired him to write this guidebook that contains both elements. There's advice on home maintenance and personal finances, as well as musings on deeper topics like reconciliation and faith. VERDICT Like the YouTube channel, this is a touching yet informative guide for those seeking fatherly advice, or even a few good dad jokes.--Jennifer Clifton, Indiana State Lib., Indianapolis

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.