I Wish My Dad: The Power of Vulnerable Conversations Between Fathers and Sons

Mental health advocate Romal Tune (God’s Graffiti) and his son Jordan explore the role and impact of fathers in these heartfelt reflections. Each chapter summarizes a chat with one of Tune’s friends or colleagues that centers on what each son wished for from his relationship with his father. Tune’s former coworker David, who was five when his father died of a cerebral hemorrhage, wishes his dad would’ve taken better care of his health; Simon, a friend, “never felt like he knew his dad because he was so emotionally guarded” and tells Tune, “I wish my dad put feelings before finances”; and Jorge, a pastor, wishes his father had been able to be vulnerable with the family. Many of the tales convey heartrending trauma—one man watched his dad die in a car accident and others are victims of abuse—but several of the men report repairing relationships: “Fathers never lose the opportunity to make changes,” Tune writes. While many of the voices sound the same (reasonable, reflective, and self-aware), and the format gets a little repetitive, the takeaways at the end of each chapter are rich with insight. These thoughtful conversations offer a powerful look at “the cycle” of toxic masculinity. (Oct.)