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  • Hero: Becoming the Strong Father Your Children Need
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Hero: Becoming the Strong Father Your Children Need Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Meg Meeker MD (Author), Coleen Marlo (Narrator), Blackstone Audio, Inc. (Publisher)
4.7 out of 5 stars 473 ratings

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Pediatrician and best-selling author Meg Meeker has a message: stop undervaluing fatherhood.

We live in a culture that hails motherhood as a woman's crowning achievement yet defines men first and foremost by their professional accomplishments, treating fatherhood as almost incidental - a bonus. But from her years spent as a pediatrician listening to children's needs and fears, Dr. Meeker understands just how crucial a father's role is.

Hero is a powerful affirmation of fatherhood that shows men how being a strong, active father can be their greatest triumph.

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Previous slide of product details
  1. Listening Length
    5 hours and 23 minutes
  2. Author
    Meg Meeker MD
  3. Narrator
    Coleen Marlo
  4. Audible release date
    May 15 2017
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  7. ASIN
    B071NHJ2RV
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
Next slide of product details

Product details

Listening Length 5 hours and 23 minutes
Author Meg Meeker MD
Narrator Coleen Marlo
Audible.ca Release Date May 15 2017
Publisher Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B071NHJ2RV
鶹 Rank

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
473 global ratings

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Top reviews from Canada

  • Mason
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
    Reviewed in Canada on July 30, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Any parent worth their grain of salt should read this book. No ones perfect, but in an Imperfect world, this book I recommend for parents whom are trying their best.
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  • John Aubrey
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a great read for any father
    Reviewed in Canada on January 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a great read for any father. It shows that any father can still be and is the hero in their child's eyes. It shows the impact that a father can have in a child's life. It is a great read and can be a great read for even mothers just to better see some of those things a father provides for his child. This is a book that I definitely plan on reading more than once to just help remind me who I need to be for my child.
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  • Sheila
    5.0 out of 5 stars Affirming and encouraging book
    Reviewed in Canada on July 23, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I ordered this book for my husband, but I'm reading it first! ;) I'm just over halfway through, and loving it! I'm looking forward to hearing what my husband thinks when he gets around to reading it. I'm sure for him it will be affirming, encouraging, and I hope it will help him to see what a huge impact he is having on our kids (ages 12 and 9 right now), even when he can't see it now.
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  • Scotty Anderson
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but lacks substance and a target market
    Reviewed in Canada on July 13, 2017
    I got this book from my wife for Father's Day. It has a foreword by Dave Ramsey, and that goes far in the family, but the book itself was not that impressive. Or good. I will tell you why below.

    1) The books title is Hero, and the central thesis is that dad's have an all important role to play in their children's lives, and that dad's must embrace this role using their many dad talents.

    The problem with this framing is that the dad's it refers to are not very relatable or realistic. My favourite was the dad who loves sports, golfing, and being out with his friends, but never does those things because he knows he should be with his family. He sounds like a hero of a dad alright, but not someone I would want to be. Or hang out with. Not that I'd have a chance.

    2) A LOT of the material is, frankly, aimed at dad's from pretty crappy backgrounds. I like the repeated firm instruction to not call your child names like idiot or stupid. I am sure there are dads who do that, and I hope they get better, but I doubt too many dads who routinely name call their children are reading a book about being a better dad. Or how about the entire chapter on alcohol abuse or anger control problems? Not irrelevant, but it seems a bold statement to group dad problems into alcohol or anger. Some others come to mind, like abuse, or addiction. Look, they even start with A!

    3) The book is recommended by Dave Ramsey, so it has an evangelical bent. Nothing wrong with that. But the references to God and the bible come off as pretty much a marketing tool only. Airy fairy references to "your Daughter needs to know they have your love (and God's)" are nice but don't have much substance. How about some examples of Dad's doing good work through the church with their daughter? How about bonding over learning more about the bible? Feels very whitewashed. Not normally something I'd mention as a downer, but pick your market, be evangelical or not, don't just insert some bible quotations every 20 pages and check off the religious checkbox on your marketing plan. Or reference your daughter's modesty and it's importance every 2 pages. Didn't know we live in the kind of country where we dictate the clothing of women in the family.

    4) There is nothing in this book about work life balance for Dads. Literally nothing. The closest thing to it is the story mentioned in point (1), give up any hint of a regular life for your kids. You can do it, you're a hero! You are built for not having friends or hobbies or interests beyond your children. The best dad is a dad that is around a lot and always puts his kids first. ALWAYS. In EVERYTHING.

    I'm putting words into her mouth now, but the point remains: How about some tools to be a good dad beyond "follow your instincts, you're built for it!". The closest the book comes to this is emphasizing spending time with your kids, even small amounts of time, because it makes a world of difference for them. The references to putting away the cellphone are probably one of the most relevant parts of the book.

    The book has its good points in the content, namely that it does give proper advice for a father, from being firm, to consistent discipline, to just being physically present with your children even when you don't know what to say. And it has decent stories of interactions between kids and their fathers too. But it tries to combine those good points and good stories with football, and stereotypes, and superhuman idealistic never-going-to-happen-in-real-life ways of daily living, making it come off as shallow and more of a guide to how to generally approach fatherhood in your thoughts than to actually be a father.

    This book would be the perfect read for a born again christian who had a poor upbringing and is now struggling with beings adad. For others it may just be a decent review of fatherhood and reminder for how to keep it going well.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Greg and Sara Masarik
    5.0 out of 5 stars A love song celebrating fathers and a playbook for authentic fatherhood.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    “The Creator of all, the source of all power and wisdom, has one great desire: to be called Father. You share that name with God.”

    I do not think there is a greater cheerleader for dads today than Dr. Meg Meeker. This book is friendly, practical, encouraging, and inspired. I think that every dad could be blessed by what Dr. Meeker has written in Hero: Becoming the Dad Your Children Need. Both a love song to dads and a playbook to equip them, this dynamic book will affirm their worth, inform their attitudes, empower their actions, and encourage their very souls. This book is for all dads: seasoned dads, young dads, married dads, divorced, widowed, and single dads. Endorsed by Jim Daly, Dr. Les Parrott, Philip Rivers, Dave Ramsey, Rob Davis, David Tyree, and Benjamin Watson, Hero is about God’s perfect creativity and the unique role fathers fill in the lives of their children.

    “It’s time for the men in this country to rise up, stand firm, and truly become the heroes their kids need them to be. I truly believe that, with a world of strong fathers, there simply is no limit to what the next generation can achieve.” -Dave Ramsey, Forward to Hero

    Dr. Meg Meeker is a Christian, a pediatrician, a wife, a mother, a daughter, and a contributor to the NFL Fatherhood Initiative. Dr. Meeker’s long experience in clinical medicine, her friendships with dads of many stripes, her family relationships, and her work with Christian fatherhood organizations uniquely qualify her to understand the pressures that dads are under today, the ways in which fathers leave an indelible mark on the health and well-being of their children, and the societal ramifications that evolve when our culture devalues fatherhood. In this book, Dr. Meeker seeks to celebrate masculine fatherhood and empower dads to know their irreplaceability and worth. She does this in part by debunking secular myths and lies about what children need. Additionally, her intention is to equip dads to overcome their own wounds, help dads to heal wounds they may have inflicted on their children, and remind dads that their Father in heaven is always there to support them.

    “What happens is that when a father spends meaningful time with a child, the experience is magnified. As a father, you have the power to make time stand still. It’s the power to make fifteen minutes every other week seem like an hour of every night… you alone have this power. I have never heard children talk this way about teachers, or about other people who play important roles in their lives. It’s all about dad, because nothing is more important to children than acceptance and affirmation from their father.”

    Moms, this is for you too. If you wish to bless the father of your children, may I suggest that you read this book with an open mind and a heart for the health and well being of your kids? As a wife and a mom, I read this book so that I could know how to best encourage and support my husband. I want my children to have the best father possible. I know that no man is perfect, but I also know that he is the perfect father for my children and that children naturally adore and admire their dads (even in situations of divorce where children do not live with their dad). This is how God designed it to be. He calls men and women into different roles for our own good, for the good of our children, and for His glory. The role that God has designed for dads cannot be fulfilled by moms.

    “We fought a battle of the sexes without remembering that battles leave casualties – and we certainly did leave casualties… After thirty years of working as a pediatrician, I can say without a doubt that the sexual revolution was a disaster for kids – with families far more fractured and fragile than they were before and with kids far more endangered physically, through an epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases, and emotionally, because of a breakdown of the nurturing bonds kids need.”

    We live in a very broken culture. One in which it is considered insensitive to say that children need their dads. We fear hurting women who have been abandoned, abused, or betrayed by the men in their lives. We hesitate to highlight the gaping hole that is left by a dad who leaves, for whatever reason. Tragically, however, no matter how much we fear hurting those women, children are absolutely hurt when we do not acknowledge the pain that fatherlessness causes in their lives. Our right concern about not wanting to cause pain to single and divorced moms has caused us to remain relatively silent on an issue that is causing destruction in the lives of men and children. Dads are not well served when we do not acknowledge their intrinsic and irreplaceable role. Children are absolutely harmed when they are left fatherless. Children need their fathers and, when a father cannot or will not be found, they need devoted father figures. This book unabashedly acknowledges these truths.

    “One of my challenges to dads is to put their love on the line: prove it.”

    Sometimes books like this can be disorganized. Even if the author’s points are perceptive and erudite, some books in this style wander all over the landscape and fail to really commission readers into making the necessary changes in their lives that will affect the results they are hoping for. Not so with this book. Dr. Meeker is categorically a physician who intends to look after the psychological and emotional health of her readers and to prescribe for them a heavy dose of truth and encouragement. Organized in an intelligent way, the book is divided into ten chapters, each of which explores an aspect of fatherhood. Each chapter starts with a friendly reflection on the topic and then moves into examples from Dr. Meeker’s clinical experience. Teaching and cheerleading the whole time, the chapter ends with practical advice that can be applied to the life of any father. Like her friends at the NFL Fatherhood Initiative, Dr. Meeker views the subject of this book, fathers, as men in need of a solid and practical plan to capitalize on their natural talents, hone their skills, and encourage confidence.

    “‘Father’ is a word of such profound significance, meaning, and hope that it was the first word Jesus uttered when he was crucified. It was the cry of a man who agonized for the people he loved. Those people are us. And the Father he cried out for watches over us still, just as you, in your children’s imaginations, will always watch over them, just as Brett Favre’s father was always watching over him. Be worthy of your children. Be like your own Father, the one who is in heaven.”
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  • Paul, Northern Ireland
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book will really help you
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 18, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A lot of books on parenting / fatherhood are interesting but not terribly easy to apply in everyday life. This book is so different. It is very easy to read and very easy to implement.

    Meeker does an excellent job showing the importance of fatherhood. Mothers and fathers are different, each bringing something vital to the life of a child that the other can't contribute. Fathers who are present and involved in the lives of their children benefit them in every measurable way. So many of the problems children have, and the ills of society, are due to absent fathers.

    Meeker then gives practical guidelines for becoming the father your children need you to be. There are far too many for me to list, but in chapter 6 she has six "plays" for being a good father: Play with your children; pray with your children; be steady; be honest; be firm; stay committed.

    It's not a cheap book, but it's worth every penny, and will pay off in the lives of your children. I can't recommend it highly enough.
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  • 鶹 Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars When Dads Invest Time In Their Children They Reap The Highest Return Of Love, Honor, Admiration, & Respect
    Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    After reading Strong Fathers Strong Daughters by Dr. Meeker, I became a fan of her insight and straight forward honesty about how a father impacts his children. The more I read I felt I was reading something written about my dad. He died when I was thirty-three but not a day goes by that he isn't on my mind and influencing the decisions I make.

    I purchased Hero for a friend and single father of two young boys. His biological father fell victim to a life time of alcoholism and abandoned his role as a father when my friend was only three years old. Fortunately, family friends stepped in and offered to raise him until his teenage years. However, the pain of not having his father lingers yet he is committed to breaking the cycle. Knowing Dr. Meeker's ability to deliver powerful messages about parenting, I decided to read 'Hero' before wrapping it up for Father's Day.

    'Hero' delivers a powerful message about the importance of the role that father's have in the lives of their children! I know the message is truthful because my dad was by far the single most influential person in my life. I am a woman and there was never a day in my life that my dad did not have time to spend with me. If he was going to the hardware store I was the shadow right beside him. If he made a quick run to make a bank deposit, I was right beside him. Whether he was going for a five minute trip or two hours he would ask me to come along. As a teenager he and I built a lake home together. He never missed a dance recital, an activity I was involved in at school, or a chance to watch Leave It To Beaver together. He taught me about business, money management, how to make major purchases, work ethic, and how to succeed in life. He made sure I knew what it felt like to take pride in my work and the confidence I built by making my own way. He provided a great life for our family but he somehow knew the secret to his success as a dad was to invest his time in his children. Dr. Meeker hits the nail on the head when she emphasizes the necessity for spending time with a child. Dads need to put down the phone and the remote control and go throw balls, pull their son in a wagon, teach their kids how to rake leaves, grill some hamburgers, etc. and never stop being an example of what 'Hero' will teach them to be.

    Every dad that reads this book and follows her guidance will make a difference in our world. He will also make a difference in who he is and how he feels when a little voice calls him "Dad."

    If I could give this book ten stars it wouldn't be enough. Buy it. Read it. Live it.
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  • Karis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gift for hubby
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I haven't read it yet but I have heard the author speak and she has a lot of years of experience and I know the book will be packed with wisdom
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  • Marcella Carmen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good for newborn dads
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this for my son, who says it is excellent.
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