Bobblehead Dad: 25 Life Lessons I Forgot I Knew - Softcover

Jim Higley

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1608321428 ISBN 13: 9781608321421

Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press, 2011

Synopsis

An inspirational account of one dad's extraordinary journey through cancer, fatherhood, and several forgotten life lessons--and the discovery of one life-changing gift
 
Jim Higley was a forty-year-old bobblehead. Just like those collectible figurines with oversized, bouncy heads, he'd put on a smiling face and bobble through his hectic, overflowing days.
 
Higley's bobbling came to a screeching halt with the diagnosis of cancer, surgery, and a summer of healing. More than a cancer story, however, Bobblehead Dad puts you in a front row seat as the author discovers the illuminating parallels between events in his childhood and his adulthood. Higley, whose weekly fatherhood column appears in the Chicago Tribune's TribLocal, unwraps poignant lessons from his family history with rich, vivid detail. His story reveals meaning in simple moments and the people who fill them--including the surprise discovery of his most important lesson, which had been quietly waiting for over thirty years.
 
Written in an informal but eloquent style, Bobblehead Dad keeps you laughing, crying and--most importantly--thinking. Higley's distinctive storytelling rhythm, combined with a knack for handling heavy topics with an embraceable voice, quickly draws you into his experiences--while launching you on your own journey of self-discovery and reflection.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

A Review of Bobblehead Dad - 25 Life Lessons I Forgot I Knew (About.com)About.com Rating 5 Star RatingBy Wayne Parker, About.com Guide

The Bottom LineBobblehead Dad, written by Jim Higley, is a memoir of a dad who lives through divorce, co-parenting, and a cancer scare and shares his life lessons. Higley is an entertaining writer and has a way of making the lessons of his life real, touching and motivating to fathers everywhere.Pros

• An easy and entertaining read, perfect for a short plan flight or a lazy afternoon
• Jim shares insights that many dads can appreciate, regardless of their own personal experiences
• I found myself relating to many of his fathering stories, with his own children and as a child

Cons

• Jim does not share anything at all about his wife or his divorce. It was a missing link in the book

Description

• Bobblehead Dad is a retrospective on Jim Higley's life and with his experiences with cancer.
• Higley's lost a father, mother and brother to cancer and fought a battle with cancer of his own
• The experiences of Jim's kids with his cancer are instructive and helpful to any father dealing with cancer
• Jim's insights into fatherhood, career and life will help any dad challenged by work life balance.

Guide Review - A Review of Bobblehead Dad - 25 Life Lessons I Forgot I Knew by Jim HigleyOn an airplane flight from Salt Lake City to Chicago to visit my grandchildren, I grabbed Jim Higley's new book Bobblehead Dad and read it on the trip. I was not quite sure what to expect in this book. I knew from the information I had read that it told Jim's story about his survival from cancer and I was worried that I would be depressed after reading the book. But I really enjoy personal accounts of fatherhood and family experiences, so I forged ahead.

I found myself totally engrossed in the book and hardly noticed the time going by. At the end, I was uplifted rather than depressed and truly felt as I seldom feel when reading books - I was sorry that it was over and felt that I had a made a new friend.

Jim Higley is a columnist with the Chicago Tribune and writes frequently about fatherhood issues on the web and elsewhere. I have enjoyed the occasional reading of Jim's Bobblehead Dad column in the Trib and his book had his same familiar and comfortable writing style. The book not only addressed his current life, but was a retrospective on his growing up years and on his family experience with cancer.

Cancer was the unifying theme of Bobblehead Dad, connecting three generations. Jim lost his father to cancer at an early age, his mother to cancer later, and then a cherished older brother. So while his diagnosis with prostate cancer was not a surprise, it was a moment of truth for him and his children.
The book focuses on 25 key life lessons that Jim has gained, and each one is accompanied by anecdotes from his life and his role as a father. Some of the great stories had me laughing on the plane, to the consternation of my seatmates. The story about snooping on his parents giggling in the bedroom was priceless (and it is not what you are thinking). And the life lessons are all poignant and meaningful for any father.

All dads live through some adversity in life. It may be cancer or divorce, like Jim has experienced, or it may be illness, death of a child, a job loss or accident. But the life lessons Jim shares are equally applicable, regardless of a father's situation.

Jim's book was a cause of some serious reflection for me, and I suspect he wants it that way. I thought about what I have learned as a dad, what I still need to teach my children and grandchildren, and what I can convey to others as well.

At once inspiring and thought provoking, Bobblehead Dad is a book I would recommend to any father who feels a need to return to the roots of his fatherhood. It reminds us of the things that really matter and what we need to do to really matter in the lives of our families and children.

From the Inside Flap:

"'Funny,' 'witty,' and 'entertaining' are not words people typically use to describe a story about cancer. But Bobblehead Dad isn't just about being sick. It's about the joy of living and discovering who you are, where you came from, and ultimately, where you want to be."
 -Tracy Beckerman, syndicated humor columnist "Lost in Suburbia," and author of
Rebel without a Minivan.
 
"Jim Higley's soul-stirring memories of his Nebraska childhood strengthened him during his struggle with cancer. His life lessons are poignant, rich and oh-so-genuine. The healing is real."
- Suzette Martinez Standring, Syndicated columnist,Award winning Author, The Art of Column Writing
 
"The lessons that can be learned from Jim's courageous and beautiful story are invaluable.  His touching words will evoke gratitude and push you to become a better person."
-Melinda Marchiano, Author and International Book Award Winner, Grace: A Child's Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery
 
"Why wait for that 'smack on the head' to wake up and enjoy the precious moments of life? I highly recommend Bobbblehead Dad to any who loves a page turner! The pictures tell thousands more words!"
-Wade Rouse, Best-selling author of At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream and It's All Relative

"Jim is an insightful and passionate storyteller who has written the new 'must read.' In a unique 'bridging the time-space continuum' style, Jim's book is a reflection, an inspiration, an entertaining and heartfelt read that is hard to put down. I heartily recommend it!"
-Sandra Gehring, Emmy Award winning author of Breaking Your Own News
 
"Jim writes about how to find life in the nooks and crannies of everyday existence. He reminds us not to wait for an emergency to live--he reminds us not to wait for anything. Best of all, he shows us how."
-Jason Seiden, author of Beyond Social

"Jim Higley invites others to look more closely at the positive pivotal aspects of challenging life experiences by humorously and courageously sharing intimate insights from his own. Throughout this beautiful book, readers will discover the liberation and empowerment derived from uncovering the hidden gems in both the everyday and unexpected leading them to their own journey of illumination."
- Annie Burnside, Author of Soul to Soul Parenting
 
"As an empty-head dad, I highly recommend 'Bobblehead Dad.' Jim Higley writes with warmth, humor, and optimism. He's also a great guy. Buy his book or I will come over to your house and drink all your beer."
- Jerry Zezima, Syndicated humor columnist for The Stamford Advocate and author of Leave It to Boomer

"Bobblehead Dad isn't a story about cancer so much as it is the story of a man who faced cancer-and way too much of it for just one family. You'll fall in love with Jim Higley the child, and root for Jim Higley, the dad with cancer. Bobblehead Dad is a delightfully soothing read for any parent who has steered a family through difficult times."
- Jen Singer, moderator, ParentingWithCancer.com, and author of You're a Good Mom (and Your Kids Aren't So Bad EIther)
 

About this edition

• Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1608321428
• ISBN 13: 9781608321421
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 201