Adventures in Fatherhood: 12 Unique Parenting Books for Dads
by Tom Burns
There is more to the world of parenting books than just What to Expect When You’re Expecting.
While those kinds of reference books can be invaluable to those expecting their first baby — and also pants-wettingly terrifying — they only address certain aspects of what it really means to be a parent.
Also, speaking from my own personal experience, most parenting books tend to be focused solely on the mother, which … I get. I do. I will not in any way try to argue that becoming a parent is equally hard for women and men. My personal transition into parenting was difficult, but it didn’t involve words like “gestation” or “mucus plug,” so, yes, moms win the “who had it harder” debate hands-down.
That said, it doesn’t mean things are easy for dads, so, because parenting books can be such a lifeline to nervous new parents, I think it’s wonderful when there are books out there for men that really speak to the “dad experience” specifically.
I thought I’d collect this list of wonderful books about both the logistics and the emotions of becoming a dad. If you know a nervous father-to-be, trust me, they will find some solace — or at least some commiseration — in these pages.
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Diaper Dude: The Ultimate Dad’s Guide to Surviving the First Two Years
Available from:Becoming a dad is a BIG lifestyle change for most men, so Chris Pegula has put together a fast, fun guide to help men make it through the baby years without freaking out. Pegula started the Diaper Dude brand, which makes dad-friendly baby products — speaking from experience, it’s SO nice to be able to buy a diaper bag now that doesn’t look like a big purse — and his message of how to become a father without losing one’s self-identity will speak to anxious soon-to-be dads everywhere.
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Sleepless Nights and Kisses for Breakfast: Reflections on Fatherhood
Available from:This book is just lovely. Bussola is an Italian illustrator and his book collects a series of brief, interconnected thoughts about fatherhood, all inspired by his experiences with his three daughters. His remembrances are funny, perceptive, and incredibly insightful. If a man wants to have an idea, a real idea of what it will feel like to become a father, Sleepless Nights will do the trick — Bussola’s voice reads like a candid best friend who takes you out for a drink and tells you, “Okay, this is what fatherhood is really like…”
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A Dude’s Guide to Baby Size
Available from:Taylor Calmus takes an unconventional approach to expectant fatherhood in this hilarious guide to pregnancy for men. With humor and honesty, he guides dads-to-be through each stage of pregnancy, giving them fun facts, music recs, and advice every step of the way. Readers will appreciate his insights and authenticity as he explains the ups, downs, ins, and outs of supporting a pregnant partner and preparing for the big day.
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The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Dad
Available from:Shannon Carpenter pens a helpful guide to the wild world of becoming a stay-at-home dad — something more and more fathers are choosing. With humor, anecdotes, and practical advice on everything from cooking to mental health, this book offers fathers actionable ways to tap into their inner strengths and become the best parent possible.
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New Dad, Same Bad Jokes
Available from:Every parent knows how challenging a baby’s first year is. This book offers new dads a break from the stress with a daily cringe-worthy joke, helpful advice, and space to record important moments in their child’s life. Besides blowing raspberries on your baby’s belly, this book will be the best part of your day.
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Outdoor Kids in an Inside World
Available from:If you’d like to reduce screen time and increase your child’s sense of adventure in the outdoors, this bestselling book is a must-have. Outdoor expert Steven Rinella gives you a practical guide to getting outside and spending quality time with your family through camping, fishing, hunting, gardening, and more.
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Be the Coolest Dad on the Block: All of the Tricks, Games, Puzzles, and Jokes You Need to Impress Your Kids (and Keep Them Entertained for Years to Come!)
Available from:People have certain expectations of dads. If you’re a dad, you need to know how to burp the alphabet; how to sing fun, inappropriate songs around a campfire; or how to tell the perfect “dad joke.” You also need to be able to hold yourself up as an authority on every topic known to man and, if you don’t know something, you need to be able to fake it until another adult who knows better shows up. But where do you learn all that? Fortunately, this book can help — Be the Coolest Dad on the Block offers an irreverent, engaging guide to how dads can reach their ultimate dad-ness and become the most fun father in their neighborhood.
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When I First Held You: 22 Critically Acclaimed Writers Talk About the Triumphs, Challenges, and Transformative Experience of Fatherhood
Trying to prepare yourself to become a father is a difficult experience. You can buy all the stuff and read all of the “how to” guides, but the emotional aspect of fatherhood … how do you prepare for that? One way — and, in my opinion, the best way — is by listening to other fathers tell their stories about what the experience meant for them. When I First Held You is an amazing resource for dads looking for those kinds of stories. Editor Brian Gresko has assembled 22 personal narratives from a selection of hugely talented writers — including Dennis Lehane, Lev Grossman, Andre Dubus III, Rick Moody, and more — who all do a beautiful job of bringing that emotional reality of becoming a dad to life.
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Star Wars I Am Your Father: Lessons for Parents, Protectors, and Mentors
Available from:Calling all Star Wars dads and dads-to-be! This book is your hilarious geeky guide to fatherhood, told through lessons learned from Darth Vader and other pop culture fathers and father figures. Real-life dads and mentors will get their fill of laughs and practical advice in this one-of-a-kind parenting book.
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Fatherhood by Papa B: A Game-Changing Guide for Parents, Father Figures, and Fathers-to-Be
Studies have shown that children, families, and fathers thrive when dads take an active role in parenting. In this heartfelt guide to fatherhood, influencer and motivational speaker Bodé Aboderin empowers fathers to break unhealthy parenting cycles, upend stigmas about race and masculinity, and maintain a work-life balance. He encourages fathers to be the best versions of themselves and show up for themselves and their children.
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Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share
Available from:Tap into your imagination and make something unique with this bestselling parenting book. In it, Ken Denmead provides digital age-dads with techy crafts, projects, and science experiments they’ll love working on with their kids. It’s also worth exploring the other titles in this series, The Geek Dad: Book for Aspiring Mad Scientists and The Geek Dad’s Guide to Weekend Fun.
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What Do You Say?: How to Talk With Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and a Happy Home
Available from:Modern teens deal with many unique challenges, including social media, school stress, and friendship drama. Parents often struggle to comfort their children and offer support. The authors of The Self-Driven Child provide tools for parents wanting to communicate effectively, offer constructive feedback, give guidance, and establish boundaries. It’s a must-read for parents of digital-age teens.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2022.