The parent–child book market has suddenly taken on a more masculine vibe. Books by authors Chang Ta-chuen and Yang Zhao about their children were followed by My Little Boys, a collection of Facebook entries by Luo Yijun, and On Fatherhood: Shock and Surprise by Dennis Huang. A new approach to fatherhood is rising that offers something quite distinct from the typical women’s take on childrearing.
Li Wei-wen, the founder of the Society of Wilderness, who is also the author of parenting books, explains that because the previous generation of fathers didn’t involve themselves much in their children’s lives, or were too reserved to express their feelings on such matters, there was a dearth of books about parenting from a father’s perspective. In recent years, as the role of fathers has changed and with the increasing popularity of blogs and social networks, many more men have become willing to share their take on childrearing.
When Li took responsibility for Society of Wilderness publications, he also entered the ranks of parenting book authors. For the society’s periodicals, he began to write articles that combined his interests in exploration of nature and in children’s growth. To his surprise, these pieces really resonated with readers, and attracted new readers who were also grappling with their own roles as parents.
Media figure Dennis Huang’s On Fatherhood is packed with small details about his two sons’ lives, as well as loving memories of his own mother.