“My dad’s genius is in his hands,” said David Amadio, describing his father Jerry, a carpet master in Upper Darby.

David, who teaches writing at Lincoln University, grew up working with his father installing carpet inside Delaware County and Main Line homes, writes Peter Crimminst for WHYY.

Jerry’s laid carpet for Will Smith, former 76er Ben Simmons, news anchor Jim Gardener, former Phillies player Lenny Dykstra, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and philanthropists Walter and Leonore Annenberg.

Now David’s honoring his dad’s artisan work with a comic novel, “Rug Man,” about an aging carpet installer working at a frantic job site.

The book is based on written observations David made watching his dad work.

Jerry Amadio has been laying carpet for nearly 50 years. He loves the book.

“I loved every minute of it because it was like a redo of my life,” Jerry said.

He sees himself as an “old school” tradesman. He learned carpeting from his uncle in the 1970s and bought the family business, Ascot Carpets, in the 1980s.

They operated out of an Upper Darby warehouse until it was sold to Havertown Carpet Company. Jerry stayed on installing carpets with the new company.

Read more about Jerry Amadio and David Amadio’s book about him at WHYY.