The 14 best books for dad: Which titles to gift him this year

Many of us look to organizational psychologist Adam Grant for tips on how to stay mentally well and improve our lives. In his latest book, Grant examines how we can embrace those things we may have previously considered weaknesses, like being wrong and dealing with imposter syndrome. With a compelling body of evidence, Grant makes the case for how powerful it is to be able to rethink and unlearn our beliefs about ourselves and the world.

In this collection of essays, Michael Chabon delivers a handful of funny, heartfelt messages on what fatherhood really means. In the book’s first essay, Chabon opens up about a writer he met who warned him not to have kids, because for every child you have, “you lose a book” and called children “notorious thieves of time.” Over time, Chabon changes his tune about having kids—and ends up with four. A slim book that Dad will tear through in a day or two, there’s a lot to love about these essays.

We all know Tom Hanks can act. But did you know he can write, too? In “The Making of Another Major Motion Picture,” Hanks spins an enjoyable work of fiction based on his own experiences working in movies. Hanks’ debut novel is about the making of a multi-million dollar action movie as viewed through the lens of a collection of eccentric characters. This book isn’t a short one—it’s 448 pages long—but it’s a fun read made extra exciting by the fact that it’s written by a movie star we all know and love.

The dad you’re shopping for knows that the title “Dad” is one of the most important–if not the most important—he’ll ever have in his life. That’s why he’ll appreciate this encouraging book of meditations on parenting in a mindful, respectful way that he can consume in bite-sized daily paragraphs. As the Amazon description notes, it will be useful for even “the most sleep-deprived dad.”

If the dad you’re shopping for loves a good (or bad) dad joke, he’ll be obsessed with this book of family-friendly dad jokes. With thousands of five-star ratings on Amazon, you can bet dads are loving this book. Just be prepared to roll your eyes if you end up being the victim of one of these jokes.

If you’re scanning this list in between checking emails and scrolling through your social media feeds, you’re not alone. We live in an increasingly distracted world, which can make deep, uninterrupted focus feel almost impossible. In “Deep Work,” Georgetown professor Cal Newport makes a convincing case for dedicating several uninterrupted hours to your work, whether it’s work you do at your job, in your home, or elsewhere. Dad will appreciate this unique approach to working and living distraction-free.

The New York Times bestseller “Wellness” is one of the novels everyone’s been talking about over the past year, and you can bet the dad you’re shopping for will find this story thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud funny. “Wellness” follows the love story of Jack and Elizabeth, who meet in college, and later have to navigate the challenges of suburban life, the ever-evolving state of technology, and too much time on screens.

In this touching memoir, Kwame Alexander tells stories about his parents as they learned to love, and the often confusing ways they expressed their love. He also explores his own relationships, from his rocky first marriage to his struggles as a young father. Ultimately, this book of recipes, love poems, and more. Above all, “Why Fathers Cry” is a love letter to Alexander’s greatest loves—his daughters.

While he’s best known for his comedic acting, Seth Rogen is a man of many talents. He also designs ceramics and is known for being an all-around good guy, and this hilarious collection of essays will keep the dad you’re shopping for entertained for hours. In it, Rogen shares stories about his grandparents, his early days as a standup comedian, bar mitzvahs, Jewish summer camps and more. Trust us — Dad won’t be able to put this one down.

Whether the dad you’re shopping for has expressed his desire to be the best dad ever or not, he’ll still appreciate this handy and funny book. Organized by age and stage (from newborns to teenagers to preparing to be an empty nester), every chapter provides helpful techniques for keeping kids safe, healthy, and happy. Once he’s done with this book, Dad will get the Father of the Year Award.

In the New York Times bestselling book “Atomic Habits,” habit formation expert James Clear gives practical, actually doable advice for breaking bad habits and forming new and better ones. The way Clear puts it, bad habits repeat themselves over and over again often because we’re using the wrong systems for change. With “Atomic Habits,” the dad you’re shopping for will learn an actually sustainable system for breaking bad habits and creating new and better ones.

Want to give Dad a book that will make him think? “The Power of Moments” takes a close look at those accidental brief moments in our lives that happen to elevate or change us, and how we can intentionally set out to create those moments for ourselves. This book is a collection of people who have actually created these big, meaningful moments, like a team that completely turned around an elementary school by embracing an hour-long intervention and a company that turned a mediocre hotel into one of the most popular destinations in Los Angeles. This book by Chip and Dan Heath is packed with practical advice that can help you transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Another popular fiction book of the past year, James McrBride’s “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” dives into the story of the residents of Chicken Hill in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. A place where marginalized Jews and African Americans live, the novel opens with the discovery of a skeleton at the bottom of a well. As the novel unfolds, we learn more about the characters who make up Chicken Hill, and ultimately how this body ended up in the bottom of the well. Heartfelt and thought-provoking, Dad won’t be able to stop turning the pages of this novel.

It’s no secret that Americans are collectively struggling with their mental health. So what can we do as parents to raise mentally strong kids? In this book, “neuroscience meets love meets logic” as Daniel Amen and Charles Fay use their expertise to lay out a plan to help parents raise responsible, kind, motivated, and resilient kids.