The Council of Dads (book)

Book by Bruce Feiler

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The Council of Dads

Author| Bruce Feiler
Language| English
Publisher| William Morrow and Company

Published in English

| April 27, 2010
ISBN| 978-0-06-177876-6

The Council of Dads: My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could Be Me was written by Bruce Feiler and published in 27 April 2010 by William Morrow and Company. Written in Feiler's perspective, The Council of Dads is classified as a memoir and biography, focusing on the author's real-life journey grappling with an unexpected osteogenic sarcoma diagnosis in his left femur.[1] The book explores the impact of this life-threatening medical diagnosis on his family, and the importance of rallying friendships and support systems, which Feiler would then refer to as his 'council of dads'.[1]

The success of the memoir gathered interest from production companies and was later considered for TV series adaptations. Whilst generally received in a positive light, the Council of Dads (TV series) was cancelled after its first season with NBC[2] in 2020.

## Synopsis

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When author Bruce Feiler discovered he had cancer he was worried about his daughters growing up without him by their sides to advise them. He decided to create a "Council of Dads", and wrote a letter which he then read to six of his friends asking them to be father figures to his children.

## Reception

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Sherryl Connelly writing for the New York Daily News said, "Bruce Feiler's twin daughters, Eden and Tybee, were three when he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer in 2008. Just days afterward, the best-selling Brooklyn author came up with the idea of asking six friends to look out for his daughters should he not survive. Feiler's moving new book, "The Council of Dads", tells their story".[3]

Christine Seib writing for The Times said, "What caused the "tsunami of emotion, horror, fear and sleeplessness" that forced him out of bed that morning was the prospect of leaving the dark-haired toddlers who loved to do a dance that was a mix of ballet, ring-a-roses and the hokey pokey. "I kept coming back to the girls—would they wonder who I was, would they yearn for my voice, my approval, my love?"[4]

Nancy Gibbs writing for Time magazine said, "Bruce Feiler is a writer with diverse interests and an adventurous spirit. His best seller Walking the Bible, about his 10,000-mile trek through the Holy Lands, became a hit PBS series; he wrote a book about his year as a circus clown and one on Abraham—nine books total, but none like his latest, The Council of Dads".[5]

Dennis McCafferty writing for USA Today said, "After author Bruce Feiler was diagnosed with cancer in July 2008, he concluded that he needed to write a letter. Yet, he never put it in the mail. It was written to six of his closest friends, asking them to be there for his then-three-year-old twin daughters, Eden and Tybee, in the event of his passing. Each man represented a different era of Feiler's life and a different aspect of Feiler's personality that he wanted passed on to his girls. In the letter, Feiler asked them to join what he described as 'The Council of Dads' that would live on well after he was gone".[6]

Steve Myall writing in The Daily Mirror said, "Dying young and leaving your children to grow up without your love and guidance is a nightmare most parents dare not even contemplate. But that was the chilling prospect facing devoted 45-year-old father of two Bruce Feiler when he was told a seven-inch cancerous tumor was growing in his thigh. At the time his twin daughters Eden and Tybee were just three years old and the terror of facing his own death was overshadowed by his fears for his girls' futures".[7]

Bella DePaulo writing in Psychology Today said, "Have you heard of "The Council of Dads"? It is a concept, a set of friends, and the title of a new book by Bruce Feiler. The author, at age 43, was diagnosed with a rare and potentially deadly form of cancer. Wracked with worry that his twin daughters, then three years old, might grow up without him, Feiler decided to assemble what he called a council of dads for his girls. The council was actually a group of six of his friends, who would go on to become his daughters' friends as well".[8]

## Adaptations

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### Fox TV pilot

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In 2011, Fox picked up a single camera, half-hour comedy Council of Dads pilot from Peter Tolan and Sony Pictures Television. It was directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and starred Diane Farr, Ken Howard, Rick Gomez, Patrick Breen, Kyle Bornheimer, and Richard T. Jones.[9][10] The pilot was not ordered to series.[11]

### NBC TV series

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Main article: Council of Dads (TV series)

In October 2018, NBC announced that Joan Rater and Tony Phelan were developing a new Council of Dads series inspired by the book. This story is about Scott, a loving father of four, has his entire life's plan thrown into upheaval by a cancer diagnosis, he calls on a few of his closest allies to step in as back-up dads for every stage of his growing family's life. Scott assembles a trusted group of role models that includes Anthony, his oldest friend; Larry, his AA sponsor; and Oliver, his surgeon and best friend to his wife, Robin. These men agree to devote themselves to supporting and guiding Scott's amazing family through all the triumphs and challenges life has to offer – just in case he ever can’t be there to do so himself. Sarah Wayne Callies was cast as Robin and Clive Standen as Anthony Lavelle. The series premiered on March 24, 2020.[12]

## References

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1. ^ a b Beach, Patricia Ringos (2010-11-01). "Knowledge Central". Oncology Nursing Forum. 37 (6): 785–786\. doi:10.1188/10.ONF.785-786. ISSN 0190-535X.
2. ^ Nussbaum, Katie. "Savannah-shot NBC series 'Council of Dads' canceled after one season". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
3. ^ Connelly, Sherryl (April 25, 2010). "6 good men: How 'The Council of Dads' author Bruce Feiler put a new twist on friendship". Daily News. New York. p. 1. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
4. ^ Seib, Christine (May 4, 2010). "The council of dads I built for my daughters". The Times. London. p. 1. Retrieved June 17, 2010.[dead link]
5. ^ Gibbs, Nancy (May 17, 2010). "How a Cancer-Stricken Dad Chose a Council of Successors". Time. Archived from the original on May 11, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
6. ^ McCafferty, Dennis (April 28, 2010). "Facing cancer, dad asks 'Council' of friends to be there for his kids". USA Today. p. 1. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
7. ^ Myall, Steve Myall (May 21, 2010). "I've chosen six new dads to raise my kids". Daily Mirror. London. p. 1. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
8. ^ DePaulo, Bella (May 26, 2010). "Do You Have a Council of Friends?". Psychology Today: 1. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 26, 2011). "Fox Picks Up Peter Tolan, Joe Port/Joe Wiseman Single-Camera Comedy Pilots". Deadline. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
10. ^ Guthrie, Marisa (March 11, 2011). "Peter Tolan's 'Council of Dads' Casts the Kids". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
11. ^ Salem, Mitch. "The Sked's Busted Pilot Theatre: "Council of Dads" | Showbuzz Daily". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on September 1, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (February 26, 2020). "'Council Of Dads' Premiere Pushed Back By Two Weeks On NBC". Deadline Hollywood.

## External links

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* The Council Of Dads
* An excerpt from the book