FATHER'S GIFT

A debut semi-autobiographical manual offers detailed life advice.

Nwafor introduces a character named Tiger, the oldest child in a tightknit family. Although Tiger makes his share of mistakes (such as crashing a motorcycle), he feels lucky to have a book of advice that his grandfather GG wrote. Tips from GG’s guide, which Tiger views as a “walking stick for the madness of life,” populate much of this work. In a series of chapters with titles like “Education,” “The Right Job,” and “Appreciate Your Parents,” readers are steered through various aspects of what it takes to be successful adults. Whether it’s the importance of attaining and maintaining a good credit score or not overeating, the suggestions are always on the practical side. They also include times when people should take the initiative. Readers should “hang around with honorable characters” and “speak up against merchants of deceit and discord.” Excess in life is frowned upon; momentary gratification can lead to all sorts of trouble. While readers cannot hope to avoid difficulties in life, the commonsense nature of this manual is meant to put them in a place in which they can manage their troubles. While under 300 pages, the book is dense with such material. A lot is thrown at readers quickly without wasting words. Some of the advice can be very specific, such as how new homeowners should expect “to put in an average of three hours per week for a half-acre’s maintenance during the late spring through early fall.” The content is always provided with a sincere tone yet it can be ambiguous in places.  Some notions, such as “always act with honor and dignity,” may sound fine on paper, but how to apply them to the real world remains a bit vague. Nevertheless, most readers will find something worthwhile in these pages.

A useful, genuine, and personal guide to navigating the complexities of the modern world.