I hope you won't take offense, But will accept what I say here as some fatherly advice.
我希望你不要反感,能够接受我这父亲般的建议。
A good book is a best friend who never turns his back upon us.
一本好书,莫逆之交。
Men, particularly, spend hours of their leisure time installing their own fireplaces, laying out their own gardens; building garages and making furniture.