Whether they’re a birth parent, an adoptive parent, a father figure, or a dad-to-be, this list of books for dads has something for every father to enjoy. Whether you are a dad on your way to work, doing chores around the house, relaxing in the backyard, or working on a project, an audiobook bestseller is a great accompaniment to your day. Find your next new listen from our curated list of best audiobooks.
From informative histories to crime thrillers to touching memoirs, storybooks, picture books (yes, audio pictures books), great celebrity comedies, and more, there really is a book for everyone here. These are the very best audiobooks for new dads, old dads, first-time dads, and dads all around the world.
Jim Gaffigan is an actor and comedian known worldwide for his jokes about everything from Hot Pockets to manatees, and he’s also the contemporary champion of dad stories. And with five kids, he certainly has a lot of them. This is an uproarious listen, narrated by Gaffigan, of the silly, sweet, and gross things that go on in the Gaffigan household and what it’s like to be overrun by children in your own home. Gaffigan’s real-life experience and truly hilarious yet encouraging insights might make Dad Is Fat even more helpful than the standard parenting books for dads. Heartwarming and hilarious all at the same time. Dad is Fat is storytime with a difference.
Dear Black Dads: Wisdom For Your Journey to Fatherhood is a powerful balance of personal storytelling and a combatant to the old negative stereotypes that plague African American fathers. This unique development title is a collaboration of fathers, all raising their children together while changing the negative fatherhood narrative in the Black community. Dear Black Dads is an excellent listen for fathers-to-be or fathers looking to make a change through their parenting. Combating stereotypes is a daily battle, and it is through fantastic non-fiction audiobooks such as Dear Black Dads: Wisdom For Your Journey to Fatherhood that individual progress is made. This is an absolute must-listen for all dads.
Emmy Award winner and iconic American journalist Dan Rather has been reporting the news for so long that he has become synonymous with the latest in day-to-day America. No matter the origin of his cutting-edge journalism, good storytelling is good storytelling. Rather has decades of amazing stories, from surviving a debilitating childhood illness to reporting on some of the most historical moments. He brings them all together in this Audible Original recording of his staged performance, Stories of a Lifetime. Dan Rather might be an American celebrity, but his reputation rings loud and clear in Canada, too, and there is something about good storytelling that is truly universal. Stories of a Lifetime is storytelling at its finest.
This is a perfect audiobook for fathers who are history buffs! In the 17th century, pirate Henry Every was a thorn in the side of the British government, which offered a massive reward for his capture—dead or alive. Every’s story is not that different from other notorious pirates of his time—he and his crew pillaged and plundered, and many of their adventures were greatly exaggerated—except for a staggering robbery. In Enemy of All Mankind, historian Steven Johnson traces one of Every’s crimes to a monumental shift in the global economy, with repercussions still felt today. Esteemed actor Jason Culp is the perfect narrator to take dads through every twist and turn of this fascinating pirate’s tale. If you’ve got a dad who loves the insanity of history, Enemy of All Mankind is the perfect gift.
Father’s Day is another wonderful listen that proves there is not just one way to define a father. Harvey was just six years old when her parents died in a car crash. Her only remaining family member is an uncle, Jason, a disabled felon with anger issues. But thanks to the instincts of a kind social worker, Harvey and Jason discover they are exactly what each other needs, and they help each other begin to heal. The story follows Harvey at six and in the present as a young woman in Paris getting ready to return home for a visit. This novel will tug on your heartstrings, and it’s made all the more remarkable by the voice work of the legendary actor Bronson Pinchot. One of the best books for dads, bar none.
This audiobook is packed with parenting advice specifically tailored to gay dads, whether they are about to welcome their first baby home or are already parenting older children. From navigating adoption and surrogacy to childproofing your home, this fantastic dual-narrated guidebook includes advice from professionals in several fields to help any gay dad be the best dad. The Ultimate Guide for Gay Dads is packed with actionable tips and tricks. At the same time, Paul Michael Garcia and Richard Powers do an excellent job of narrating the information and highlighting that which is truly important. Which is, as we all know, being the best dad you can be.
This collection from Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon started with an essay in GQ about a trip he took to Fashion Week with his 13-year-old son, Abraham, and how it felt to realize his son was becoming a young man with his interests and tastes. Chabon then wrote six more essays to form Pops. In this excellent collection about fatherhood, which he narrates himself, Chabon reflects on his relationships with his four children, his relationship with his father, and the joys, frustrations, and mysteries of being a dad. Being a dad is an all-encompassing experience, and Michael Chabon’s masterly Pops is a beautiful homage.
Written by esteemed playwright Mike Lew, tiny father tells the touching story of Daniel, a freelancer without health insurance, who suddenly finds himself caring for his premature newborn daughter all alone. While struggling to grow into fatherhood, he befriends a neonatal intensive care unit nurse with a busy life and complicated family of her own. Actors Ali Ahn (Supernatural) and William Jackson Harper (The Good Place) lend their expert acting skills to the drama of navigating the joys and terrors of fatherhood with the help of a friend. In this audiobook adaptation, one of the great books of our time, tiny father sparkles.
Though we often put dads on a pedestal, it is essential to recognize that not everyone has a good relationship with their father. This Audie Award-winning memoir is multi-talented actor Alan Cumming’s story of growing up with a disapproving, tyrannical father and how he got out from under the shadow of his father and family secrets, learning to be happy on his own. Not My Father’s Son is one of those tremendous father and son books that explores how each generation can be so different even when they’re so closely related. Cumming’s famed melodious voice lends itself beautifully to the narration of this true story about breaking generational cycles.
Who doesn’t like to laugh? Over the last decade, Kevin Hart has had a meteoric rise to stardom, becoming one of the highest-paid entertainers in the world. But Hart’s early years were not easy, as he reveals in his New York Times bestseller, I Can’t Make This Up. Hart grew up in a home of violence and drug use and had to fight to survive before he could turn his situation around. Hart narrates this story with humour and h(e)art, detailing how he beat the odds and believed in himself to become an outstanding success and a dedicated husband and father.
One of the most daunting tasks in parenting is the balancing act of career and raising a child. Working fathers are left to juggle being an actively engaged parent while ensuring they remain productive and on task with work-life demands—no easy feat. If you or a dad you know needs a guide to navigating these roles, Workparent by Daisy Dowling is an excellent resource. With helpful tips on childcare, coping with feelings of guilt and self-doubt, and making it through day-to-day stressors, this listen is an absolute must for the working dad in your life.
Sweetgirl is an excellent novel for dads who love compelling, True Grit-esque tales of familial love and crime. It also happens to feature an excellent dual narration. 16-year-old Percy James is trying to locate her mother at a local drug dealer’s house before the storm comes when she finds something completely unexpected: an abandoned baby. Impulsively, Percy takes the child, which leads to her being pursued by a dangerous drug dealer through a blizzard. Helping Percy make her escape is a man who dated her mother for several years and was more of a father figure to her than anyone else, and still holds a place in his heart for her.
Listeners might be familiar with Luke Daniels as a beloved narrator and a member of Audible’s Narrator Hall of Fame, but not his heartbreak. When his 21-month-old son passed away from breathing issues complicated by congenital disabilities, Daniels found himself lost for words. In Unspoken, the narrator and author tells the story of his son’s life and their short time together, using comic-book metaphors, Shakespearean references, and lilting Irish brogues to help him navigate his grief. This is a profoundly touching audiobook, especially for dads who have lost a child. It isn’t the easiest listen, but it is an important one.
No book list for dads is complete without Erik Larson, one of the most popular historians of our day. Known for The Devil in the White City and Dead Wake, Larson turns his attention to Winston Churchill and London during the first year of the World War II Blitz in his latest release. The Splendid and the Vile includes information gathered from diaries, original archival documents, and once-secret intelligence reports to cover the 12 months of bombing. It also examines Churchill's professional side as prime minister and his private side as a family man with a son and daughter at home. The audiobook is expertly narrated by Larson and much-lauded audiobook actor and narrator John Lee. Plus, as a real treat for history buffs, this listen includes a recording of Churchill's 1941 Christmas Eve speech!
Many books about fatherhood focus on fathers and sons, but far fewer are devoted to the father-daughter relationship. David Chariandy’s I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You is one. It’s written as a letter for his 13-year-old daughter. He talks about the past life he wants her to know now. The son of Black and South Asian immigrants from Trinidad, Chariandy explains to his daughter the truths about their ancestry and the legacies of slavery, indenture, and immigration. Reading his letter, the author talks about the current world and the bigotry and hate that still surrounds them—but also expresses his hopes and dreams for her and a better world. This listen is a powerful testament to a father’s love for his daughter.
If your dad loves all things DIY, he’ll love listening to Mythbusters star Adam Savage talk about making stuff! With more than 40 years of maker experience under his (tool) belt, Savage has a lot of tips and advice for unleashing creativity to help any dad get started on a project. He embraces the messes and mistakes he makes, understands the importance of taking time to cool down instead of overheating about a troubling issue, and more. Everything that happens when you’re making something is vital to the process. Every Tool’s a Hammer also features advice on creativity and turning ideas into realities from other famous creators such as Nick Offerman and Guillermo del Toro. You might find a dad joke or two as well.
The multi-Grammy-winning musician James Taylor has been making music for half a century now, which means he has been a favourite of dads for several generations. Taylor’s lyrics are often autobiographical and tackle many of the joys and losses in his life, including the death of his mother and his struggles with mental illness and addiction. In this Audible Original, Taylor focuses on his early years before fame, combining storytelling with musical performances. Taylor’s soothing voice throughout Break Shot creates a one-of-a-kind listening experience that will please young and old fans. Taylor has transcended generations for good reasons (the universal magic of good tunes first and foremost), and Break Shot is a beautiful celebration of the man.
Many kids dream about what it would be like if their dad were a spy—Stewart Copeland lived it. Copeland is best known as a musician, composer, and founding member with Sting of new-wave icons The Police. Many people don’t know that Copeland’s dad was a spy. In this Audible Original podcast, Copeland takes listeners on a journey as he and his sister recall their pampered upbringing while moving around the Middle East. Their naivety surrounded what their father did for a living, which came complete with dangerous espionage missions, home invasions, and shootouts. An exciting and amazing story, this is a great choice for dads who always dreamed of a life as a spy.
This is the story of Roman Dial’s two-year search for his son Cody in the jungles of Costa Rica. Roman had raised his son to be fearless and seek adventure amid Earth’s wildest places, which Cody was up to when he vanished. Join Dial as he deals with an uncooperative judicial system, a language barrier, and the possible involvement of criminals in his son’s disappearance. The Adventurer’s Son is a story of frustration and a father doing everything possible to find a missing child. Roman Dial experienced every parent’s worst nightmare, and The Adventurer’s Son is the gripping telling of that trauma.
Part investigation, part memoir, Pops: Learning to Be a Son and a Father is the story of Craig Melvin’s journey to understand his father, his addictions, and the challenges his father faced that led him to spiral. Along the way, Melvin shares the raw lessons he has learned about fatherhood from the previous generations. This memoir is a reminder of family strength, love, and forgiveness. Fatherhood is an incredible life-changing experience, but it comes with no shortage of pressure and fear. It isn’t always sunshine and roses. Narrated by Craig Melvin himself, Pops lifts the lid on the lesser-told stories of the darker side of fatherhood. A gripping tale, from start to finish.
What better way to round off this list than this classic story? One of the great children’s books, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has brought fathers and children together since its publication in the summer of 1969. Narrated by Kevin R. Free, the audiobook adaptation of the famous picture book swims along at a darling pace, and the audio soundtrack only adds to the listening experience. Eric Carle’s famous tales are bedtime stories done correctly, and what father doesn’t love a good bedtime story? It is the perfect light and fun audiobook experience for a dad and young child to share together.
