Man of the House: Reflections on Life with Dogs, Divas, and a Bunch of Little Dudes Who Keep Calling Me Dad

It's a skill to make people laugh and cry at the same time, but Chris Erskine manages to do just that. He also makes you think - a lot. A Los Angeles Times columnist who writes about family life in the suburbs, Erskine explores adoring toddlers, narcissistic teenagers, hot neighbors and exhausted spouses. From childbirth to aging via the empty nest, he offers both witticisms and insights. It's an extremely well-written book which is surprisingly profound for something so funny. Bravo for this Dada.

This is a poignant, perfect book, especially for fathers. Buy one for every dad you know.

Haven't read it yet, but anything I've ever read in Chris's column is good fun reading. I'm sure he's 5 stars! You can also view him online at myspace.com/chriserskine

Chris Erskine's weekly LA Times column has been a favorite in my house for years and this book is a delight of new material as well as some good faves from the Times. There are laugh out loud funny parts where pets, sex and kids combine (you've got to read it to get it) as well as heartfelt, eloquent poignancy in letters to family and visitors to the planet. This book isn't as complicated as life, and perhaps that's what is so compelling about Erskine's words. He makes light of what are supposed to be the important things and spends most of his time on what important things are. It's a welcome reprieve from the many psychotic ramblings out there on fortune making, body slimming ways to exist in this world. In Erskine's book, he savors his kids and everything that comes along with them, his wife and everything that comes along with her including apparently very pretty feet and lots of patience. He appreciates his friends because they tolerate him and have attractive wives, and he enjoys a cocktail in the backyard while the barbecue simmers because he can. Seeing the world through this guy's eyes is a gift, enjoy it.