For Father’s Day my son gave me The Wolf and the Watchman: A Father, a Son, and the CIA by Scott Johnson. It’s the personal story of the author, who is the son of a CIA agent.

Today Johnson is a journalist and (I think) his father is retired. But what an interesting relationship the two of them have over the decades. The book covers a childhood in India, Yugoslavia, Islamabad, Virginia and Madrid. It continues with an adult life that spans Paris to Mexico, Afghanistan to Iraq, Ramadi to Washington State.

But I’m making it sound like a travel book. It’s not. This is a serious look at a father-son relationship that is deepened and sometimes threatened by secrets. Ultimately it is a story of hope in relationships, of family love, and and the sheer joy of respect for others. Scott Johnson pursues a vocation in journalism, which in many ways is the exact opposite of the life in the CIA his father chose. But somehow, through depression and angst and confusion and simply growing up, they make it work.

There are several takeaways for me from this book. As a father, I was struck that the Dad never gave up. He always loved his son, through dark times and good times. And even though he was fully committed to his job, his son was somebody special to stop everything for. On the flip side, the son never gave up either. Through his angst, confusion and depression, Johnson kept digging for what made his father tick. What was it about his Dad that was … well, special?

A good book, perhaps a bit slow moving at times, but it will make you think about your own child or parent. Thanks, Jedd, for sharing it!