I just finished this book and if I could sum it up in 3 words, they would be "JUST READ IT!" This is a fantastic book, written with unexpected candor, humor, and common sense.
Peter Greyson writes this book to his beloved daughter Lilly to try and give her some insight into the world she will face when she comes of age. Some of the subjects he feels are important to tackle are boys (and he puts that chapter first because he knows as a father that for a teenage girl boys are pretty much of a primo concern!), teen angst, drugs, abuse, work and school. A teacher, father, former substance abuser and college drop out, he speaks about these serious topics from experience and this book is a compilation of his "Life Rules" to Lilly.
Greyson drew me in immediately and soon I was wending my way through the ups and downs of his life wishing that I had had a book like this when I was a teen. As a child, he deals with an abusive mother and a paralysing stutter which in turn compelled him to win friends by throwing a party they would never soon forget. The quest to be accepted by his peers drives him deeper into depression and failure. Never once though, does he make you feel like he is a victim or that you should feel sorry for him. Instead, his life is a series of twists, turns, bad decisions and great choices which have brought him to the point where he could eloquently draw from his screw ups and successes to be a better father to his daughter, husband to his wife (who, I swear, is a saint!!) and teacher to his students.
There is a pretty complete list of the drugs our kids face and their street names in Chapter 4: Drugs and Alcohol. He mentions everything from psychedelic drugs to cigarettes and great explanations of why people choose to do them and why you shouldn't. His explanations are a combination of actually having done the drug and the latest scientific research. He disputes the common belief held by many that marijuana is not a gateway drug by explaining that it may not be physically addictive like some of the very dangerous things out there, but that it will lesson you inhibitions about trying something harder.
It's not all gloom and doom though! There are plenty of wonderful anecdotes even in the middle of the serious stuff. There is wonderful advice and observations that I think is somehow being lost to our kids...simple things like, life IS tough!! Yes it is! Or that NOBODY is perfect! Not even that supermodel! And that knowledge is power...school is important...he did go back to school and became a teacher with several degrees.
Greyson makes lists too of the things he wants Lilly to know. Things such as the different ways kids learn, movies she should make a point of seeing, tips to having a fulfilling career and what to look for in a prospective mate and how to be a good mate herself. He also lists his favorites teachers through the years and why they were. Being a musician, music is important and he shares artists and songs he doesn't want Lilly to miss! And then out of the blue, he mentioned something that I never would have expected to find from someone so wordly...his Faith! What a refreshing little tidbit and one worth reading (Iwon't spoil it for you!). The funniest thing..and very practical little tip he gives her is "Never sit in the front row at a comedy club"!
Remember, he's not writing this to be a scientific journal, or a parenting book! He is writing this love letter to his teenage daughter, who at the time he penned it was 3 years old!! It is very readable!
I could go on and on and on! Since I've read this book, I can't stop thinking about it and talking about it! I want my teenager to read it too!
So you probably should "JUST READ IT!!"
The author has graciously given me a book to give to one of you!!
If you would like to win your very own signed copy of
"Dear Lilly, From Father to Daughter: The Truth about Life, Love, and the World We Live In" by Peter Greyson
comment below, Tweet about it, Shout out on Facebook and tell me you did!
To read more about Peter Greyson and Dear Lilly, visit
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