When the author's son John suggested he write a book about fatherhood, he thought, with all the books on fatherhood, who needs another? He concluded, "Perhaps I do." While the book is indeed about fatherhood and fathers, it also tells of other fitting paternal exemplars – father figures – who may not have had children of their own but nonetheless have or had the right stuff as men and mentors. A central tenet herein is that good strong fathers are essential to the character building and moral fiber of our young and the very fabric and future of our currently downward-spiraling society. One reviewer writes, "...the testimonials describing the influence for good one person can have over another, be he parent, son, friend, teacher, comrade, barber, sports coach, or even our children are remarkable. The vignettes sometimes evoke amusement, sometimes tears, but lift the spirit and stay in the memory."