If you’re a first-time dad, an all-business dad, or just a DIY dad who wants to do fatherhood his way, there’s an audiobook on this list that is perfect for you. Check out these excellent old and new books for new dads, old dads, and dads of all shapes and sizes. Whether you are looking for a guide to help you ease into fatherhood for the first time, or simply want a listen from someone who can relate to the emotional rollercoaster of raising a child, these titles cover a wide range of what it means to be a father.
In Dad is Fat, stand-up comedian and New York Times bestselling author Jim Gaffigan, who is best known for his legendary riffs on bacon, manatees, and McDonald's expresses all the joys and horrors of life with five young children — everything from cousins ("celebrities for little kids") to toddlers’ communication skills ("they always sound like they have travelled by horseback for hours to deliver important news"), to the eating habits of four-year-olds ("there is no difference between a four-year-old eating a taco and throwing a taco on the floor"). Dad is Fat is a tremendous listen, packed with the best dad jokes and heartwarming hilarity. Father-son relationships can be pretty funny.
Academy Award nominee Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction) rocks this mock bedtime story, capturing a hilarious range of emotions as the voice of a father struggling to get his child to sleep. Go the F--k to Sleep is a bedtime book for parents who live in the real world, where a few snoozing kitties and cutesy rhymes don’t always send a toddler sailing blissfully off to dreamland. The picture book original is a must-read, but the iconic narration of Samuel L. Jackson makes this audiobook adaptation one of the best stories for dads out there. Will it get the little one to sleep? That remains to be seen. This is not a children’s book, but rather an adult friendly version of a night time story.
Emmy Award-winning actor Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle) follows in the exasperated footsteps of Samuel L. Jackson, giving voice to the long-suffering father whose indifferent child will just not eat in this hilarious follow-up to Adam Mansbach's international best seller, Go the F--k to Sleep. If you thought getting children to sleep was hard, just wait until you put a plate of nutritious food in front of them. All of a sudden, all bets are off. You Have to F--king Eat perfectly sums it all up, and Cranston does a great job of encapsulating the frustrations of the situation.
In this remarkable dual memoir, film legend Martin Sheen and accomplished actor/filmmaker Emilio Estevez recount their lives as father and son. In alternating chapters — and with voices that are as eloquent as they are different — they narrate stories spanning more than 50 years of family history and reflect on their journeys into two different kinds of faith. Father and son duos don’t come more famous or beloved than Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, and Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son is a fascinating look into the dynamics of a Hollywood family. A gorgeous and thoughtful listen, it is a great choice for any dad.
American actor Billy Crystal is 65, and he is not happy about it. With his trademark wit and heart, he outlines the absurdities and challenges that come with growing old, from insomnia to memory loss to leaving dinners with half your meal on your shirt. He also looks back at the most powerful and memorable moments of his long and storied life, from entertaining his relatives as a kid on Long Island, New York and his years doing stand-up in the Village, up through his legendary stint at Saturday Night Live, When Harry Met Sally, and his long run as host of the Academy Awards.
Hailed by the New York Times as "a marvel of storytelling," The Things They Carried’s portrayal of the boots-on-the-ground experience of soldiers in the Vietnam War is a landmark in war writing. Now, three-time Emmy Award-winner Bryan Cranston delivers an electrifying performance that walks the book’s hallucinatory line between reality and fiction and highlights the emotional power of the spoken word. The Things They Carried is a truly powerful listen that takes on a challenging subject, but the combination of intricate writing and Cranston’s tremendous delivery makes sure that no lines are overstepped. If your dad thinks of himself as a history buff, he’ll love this.
Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner first crossed paths as actors on the set of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Little did they know that their next roles, in a new science-fiction television series, would shape their lives in ways no one could have anticipated. In 79 television episodes and six feature films, they grew to know each other more than most friends could ever imagine. Over the course of half a century, Shatner and Nimoy saw each other through personal and professional highs and lows. If your dad loves all things Star Trek, look no further than Leonard.
After being dumped by his longtime girlfriend, 28-year-old Justin Halpern found himself living at home with his 73-year-old dad. Sam Halpern, who is “like Socrates, but angrier, and with worse hair,” has never minced his words, and when Justin moved back home, he began to record all the ridiculous things his dad said to him. The hilarious dynamic between father and son is gorgeously portrayed throughout Sh-t My Dad Says, a loving relationship punctuated by confusion and a quite hilarious way with words. One of the funniest listens out there, it is great from start to finish, and a heartwarming funny tale.
In nine stories that move between nouveau riche Los Angeles and the working-class US East Coast, Kevin Morris explores the vicissitudes of modern life. Whether looking for creative ways to let off steam after a day in court or enduring chaperone duties on a school field trip to the American capital, the heroes of White Man's Problems struggle to navigate the challenges that accompany marriage, family, success, failure, growing up and getting older. The context and circumstances of everyday life in Canada might be different from those in America, but not all that different. White Man’s Problems: Stories is an essay collection that isn’t so much about specific geography but more about men's internal struggles, no matter where they are from. These true stories are brilliantly compiled.
The ordeal of the Essex whaleship was an event as mythic in the nineteenth century as the sinking of the Titanic was in the twentieth. In 1819, the Essex left Nantucket for the South Pacific with 20 crew members aboard. In the middle of the South Pacific, the ship was rammed and sunk by an angry sperm whale. The crew drifted for more than 90 days in three tiny whaleboats, succumbing to weather, hunger, and disease, and ultimately turning to drastic measures in the fight for survival. This is the perfect gift for any father with a keen interest in non-fiction, especially if that interest leans towards the ‘tall ships’ section of history.
As well as being an accomplished politician, president, and public figure, Barack Obama is a proud father. In this inspiring audiobook, Obama unpicks his troubled relationship with his own absent father and the void he left in his life. Written and narrated by Obama, this title explores his roots and his experience growing up as a Black man in America. After its release, Dreams From My Father soon became a number one New York Times best seller. Any dad will enjoy listening to Obama’s passionate performance as he opens up about personal topics such as fatherhood, identity, race, and class.
We couldn’t think of a more fitting title for this list than A Game of Thrones. The first novel from George R.R. Martin’s captivating fantasy series has become a worldwide cultural phenomenon. If dad is a fan of HBO’s Game of Thrones television series, this is the perfect gift for him. He’ll be equally impressed if he loves to hit play on action and mystery titles. The first book from the A Song of Ice and Fire series is brought to life by the late British actor and accomplished narrator, Roy Dotrice, who won a Guinness World Record for performing the most character voices for one audiobook. Treat dad to an audio experience that’ll take him to a medieval world full of drama, war, and mythical creatures.