It is widely acknowledged that children need structure, security, stability and attachment to develop and flourish, and that the father is an important part of this.

Issues such as high divorce rates, new family structures, increased mobility, women's liberation and contraception are very common in society. This book sets out to explore what has happened to men and to fathers during all these changes and transitions. Judith Trowell and Alicia Etchegoyen, along with an array of renowned contributors, consider the importance of fathers in various situations, including:

It is argued that the father is important, not only to support the main carer (usually the mother) but also to provide a caring, thinking, comfortable, confident presence.