Not My Father's SonNot My Father's Son
Score Modern
What it's about
When television producers asked actor Alan Cumming to appear on a celebrity genealogy show, he hoped to solve the mystery of his grandfather's disappearance. But another mystery came first: his father, the violent man who had held the family hostage to his cruelty, suddenly made a shocking claim about Cumming himself.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It's a moving, honest and surprisingly funny memoir about family and abuse.
You'll love it if you liked
I'm Glad My Mom Died
The Glass Castle
Educated: A MemoirGood to know
It deals with childhood abuse. It reads like a mystery, with two stories alternating.
By the numbers
- Readers82 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller38 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #155 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #505 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #969 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is Not My Father's Son worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #969 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Not My Father's Son about?
When television producers asked actor Alan Cumming to appear on a celebrity genealogy show, he hoped to solve the mystery of his grandfather's disappearance. But another mystery came first: his father, the violent man who had held the family hostage to his cruelty, suddenly made a shocking claim about Cumming himself.
How long does it take to read Not My Father's Son?
About 8 hours (305 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Not My Father's Son?
If you liked it, try I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls or Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover.