Good Talk, Dad: The Birds and the Bees… And Other Conversations We Forgot to Have

Conceived after Bill let the world know he had Parkinson’s disease, this work is meant to show Bill’s grandkids and Willie’s kids the unique relationship and friendship between father and son. Written in a call-and-response style that is reminiscent of the way people used to write letters, the structure allows each Geist, both of whom are New York Times bestselling authors, to tell his own side of family stories that include everything from love and parenting to careers, sports, and cars. Kicking off with chapters about the birds and the bees, summer camp, and fishing, this dual-memoir starts off slowly and predictably. Thankfully, as the pages turn, the tales become more personal and with more humor, insight, and cheeky advice for guys of all ages. While known for his wry sense of humor, Bill is best in his more serious stories about his time spent in Vietnam and dealing (or not dealing) with his disease, while Willie shines in the lighter moments, especially his essay, originally published on Grantland.com, about taking his four-year-old daughter to a Columbia University football game. Though these days both Geists are TV hosts/journalists by trade, prose suits them equally well, allowing each to be more off-color and more in-depth in their storytelling. This is a fun read sure to be much-talked about during the Father’s Day season. (May)