The Council of Dads is now a New York Times bestseller!! My fifth in a row. Thank you for all your support.
The Latest Book from Bruce
My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could Be Me
When bestselling author Bruce Feiler was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his leg, he could only imagine all the walks he might not take with his daughters, the ballet recitals he would miss, the art projects left undone, and the aisles he might not walk down. Though his daughters would have plenty of resources in their lives, they wouldn’t have their Dad. He decided to write to six men who had been with him throughout his life- men who could become his voice and his daughters’ Council of Dads. READ MORE
Read Bruce’s cancer diary.
Moses and the American Story
In this groundbreaking book, New York Times bestselling author Bruce Feiler reveals how Moses became America’s true founding father. Traveling through touchstones in American history, Feiler traces the biblical prophet’s influence from the Mayflower through today. Feiler visits the island where the pilgrims spent their first Sabbath, climbs the bell tower where the Liberty Bell was inscribed with a quote from Moses, retraces the Underground Railroad where “Go Down, Moses” was the national anthem of slaves, and dons the robe Charlton Heston wore in The Ten Commandments. READ MORE
Bruce's latest news
Watch my brand-new talk about THE COUNCIL OF DADS! It lasts just under 18 minutes.
My wife and I appeared on “The Today Show” to talk about THE COUNCIL OF DADS with Matt Lauer. Check it out here.
Quotes
Six Quotes From “Dreaming Out Loud”
Garth on his appearance: “I’ve always been one of those guys that if I could change one thing about me it would be everything. I’m kind of squatty. I don’t have long legs. The word round keeps coming to mind.” On clothes: I always wear my jeans too small. When I was 190 I was wearing 29 Wranglers. Even now my sizes will vary four or five sizes from what I wear offstage to what I wear on.”
Garth on being a cowboy: “I sing about cowboys. I try to get as true as I can. But I ain’t trying to hang out with those guys in Wyoming who make a living cowboying, because I can’t. I’m a guy who owns some acreage, enjoys planting his hay, enjoys horseback riding even though he’s got a horse that protects him because he’s not any good, enjoys roping, though he’s not worth a shit at it.”
Garth’s mother on Garth: “When I talk to Garth I say, ‘I’m so proud of you. You’re such a good man.’ And this means all the world to him. What Garth needs to do is stop and say, ‘It’s not what I’ve done, but who I am.’ I don’t care who you are, John Wayne or anyone, life only offers you a certain level. Garth’s reached it. He just doesn’t realize it yet. If I could give him any advice it would be, ‘Son, you’re there. Be happy, and enjoy it.’”
Wynonna on her childhood: “Mom always felt toward me that she had to make up for something. She had to give me more, babysit me more, spoonfeed me more, hold me more, love me more. I was very high need. I was born into chaos. My family was always fighting. I was very sensitive. I was the kind of person who would get up into somebody’s lap I didn’t know. I was just hungering for love. I wanted desperately to be held.”
Wynonna on trying to kill herself: “I was coming home on a long, deserted stretch of highway. I was so wasted I don’t even remember what happened, but I do remember attempting to run off the road. The car spun around 360 degrees, at least twice, and I ended up in the middle of the road facing the other way.” Why? “I was being forced to go to college. To me that was prison. My Dad had me get my hair cut. He took my guitar away from me. He made me get up and read everyday and listen to classical music. That was very different from what I wanted. I wanted to be Elvis and play guitar and put on my lipstick and go out there and jam.”
Wynonna on learning who her father was: “I think everyone was terrified about what would happened. Would it mean that Mom and I wouldn’t speak for ten year? Would it mean the end of our relationship? I don’t want to sound like Mother Teresa here, but after a while I got up and I went over and hugged Ashley and Mom. I was so caught up in their pain. Ashley wept in my arms and said, ‘I love you and you are my sister. It doesn’t matter how much of your blood is running through my veins.’”