What does it mean to be a father? To the extent that one intends to answer this question with the term "to be," one inevitably discovers, today more than ever, a decline, an inadequacy, a devaluation, an illusion. Thus, whether it concerns rights over the child, those of the child, or children, the structure of social discourse increasingly supports less the notion of "being" a father.

Should one feel sorry about this or rejoice? On the contrary, in response to the question: "what does it mean that you had a father?" a son or daughter can respond. And psychoanalysis, with S. Freud and J. Lacan, provides exactly the testimony for the truth of their discourse (Leur dire).

[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]