Write Father, Write Son: A Bond-Building Journey (by Jared and Joseph Cohen) explores fatherhood through the correspondence between a father and a son. The role of mother needs little explanation. Among other things, she gives birth, nurtures and comforts humanity. At this point in human evolution, her place is secure. However, the role of fathers seems to grow more obscure with each new generation of single parent households, test tube babies begotten from nameless sperm donors and the advent of same-sex marriages.

At worst, our society seems to portray fathers as unnecessary, expendable...