Fatherhood : evolution and human paternal behavior /

This book should be required reading for all fathers and potential fathers. Whether a man is contemplating starting a family down the road as a biological father or buying one ready-made off the shelf as a stepfather, this is the indispensable guidebook for trying to be good at fatherhood. Similarly, for social and behavioral scientists interested in families and parenting from a cross-cultural perspective, this will become the standard reference for years to come. No matter what perspective one brings to the table--this reviewer's happens to be evolutionary--there is plenty here to make one think. It is almost scary how much information Gray (Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas) and Anderson (Univ. of Oklahoma) pack in this book, let alone how easy it is to read. The book is extremely well indexed and referenced, but the references are interwoven with the text in a reader-friendly manner, as opposed to simply being stuck in to make a point. This is, in summary, one of those rare books that one looks at and says, "Gee; I wish I had written that." It will appeal to all levels of readers--laypersons, undergraduate students, and graduate students and professionals in anthropology, sociology, psychology, and biology. Summing Up: Essential. All public and academic libraries. M. J. O'Brien University of Missouri--Columbia