Listen free for 30 days
-
Pops
- Learning to Be a Son and a Father
- Narrated by: Craig Melvin
- Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Pops
Buy Now for $35.73
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's Summary
A deeply personal exploration of fatherhood, addiction, and resiliency from Craig Melvin, news anchor of NBC’s Today show.
For Craig Melvin, this book is more an investigation than a memoir. It's an opportunity to better understand his father; to interrogate his family's legacy of addiction and despair but also transformation and redemption; and to explore the challenges facing all dads - including Craig himself, a father of two young children.
Growing up in Columbia, South Carolina, Craig had a fraught relationship with his father. Lawrence Melvin was a distant, often absent parent due to his drinking as well as his job working the graveyard shift at a postal facility. Watching sports and tinkering on Lawrence's beloved (but unreliable) 1973 Pontiac LeMans were two ways father and son connected, but as Lawrence's drinking spiraled out of control, their bond was stretched to the breaking point. Fortunately, Craig had a loving, fiercely protective mother who held the family together. He also had a series of surrogate father figures in his life - uncles, teachers, workplace mentors - who by their examples helped him figure out the kind of person and father he wanted to be.
Pops is the story of all these men - and of the inspiring fathers Craig has met reporting his "Dads Got This Series" on the Today show. Pops is also the story of Craig and Lawrence Melvin's long journey to reconciliation and understanding, and of how all these experiences and encounters have informed Craig's understanding of his own role as a dad.
21 Best Audiobooks for Dads to Inspire and Teach Young Ones
Whether you’re already a proud papa or a father-to-be, our collection of the best audiobooks for dads will entertain and inspire.
More from the same
Narrator:
What listeners say about Pops
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- dana greene
- 2021-07-16
Craigs story is told with dignity and grace!
Excellent!!! A born storyteller especially of his own life! Craig has a lot of integrity that is revealed throughout this story about his father! He shares funny moments as well as the painful ones with clear transparency! A must read especially if you’re a fan of Craig Melvin!!!! * * * * *
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Michael HS
- 2021-06-22
Close to Home
This book is literally and figuratively close to home for me. I grew up in South Carolina, so the places he named. I’m very familiar with, I’ve been to and know people that still live their to his day, including my mother. The story of his father is also reminiscent of the men I saw growing up. When Craig talks about the men hanging out in “The Cut”. We have a similar place where the men would gather after work and drink, gamble and hang out until it was time to go home and go to bed. I will definitely pass this on to my sons and other men in my life. This was an enjoyable listen. Thanks.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ronald R. Stearns
- 2021-06-16
Outstanding real heart felt compelling
Outstanding first novel memoir. His heart felt descriptions of his father’s struggles are insightful realistic and spot on.
I enjoy everything and recommend it to everyone!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2023-03-03
Review of Pops
I absolutely enjoyed this book. I have always liked to watch Craig on the Today show but this lets you see him on another level. It lets you understand the man behind the cameras. Thanks Craig for sharing your story.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- J. Williams
- 2022-09-12
Great book
Really enjoyed this glimpse into Craig's life. Having grown up with an alcoholic father and now being a dad myself I really appreciated his perspective.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Happy Camper
- 2021-12-13
Great story and Narration
I loved the story and the manner that it was written. Thank you, Craig Melvin, for sharing this story about your Pop. Being a parent isn't easy especially in this circumstance. God Bless!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Reva Calloway
- 2021-08-20
Raw, moving, real
First, I have to admit that I adore Craig Melvin
This book made that stronger.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Deirdre Jersey
- 2021-08-18
Anchor Shares All
I watch Craig Melvin everyday on Todsy and thoroughly enjoyed his Dad's Got It series. to learn of his heartache growing up with an alcoholic father was surprising. I value greatly that he vowed not to be his Pops and used his talents for a positive and productive life. His story gave me a better appreciation of my own father who grew up in the shadow of an alcoholic father.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Bettye Evans Vint
- 2021-07-24
How I was fortunate enough to get past the Elephant in the room‼️
I like the fact that Melvin’s mother was the Rock in his family that brought him through his most turbulent crisis and his family provided emotional stability.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sandra L. Keller
- 2021-07-15
Loved this book and Craig's narration of it.
Loved this book and Craig's narration of it. You feel the pain, joy, disappointment, anger and finally pride.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2021-07-13
Loved every minute
Not sure I can put into words how excellent this book is.
Entertaining from beginning to end.
Funny, sad, poignant, wise, truth!!! Listen to it, one and all.