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 worldwide. 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 Jim Gaffigan is best known for his legendary riffs on bacon, manatees, and McDonald’s. He expresses all the joys and horrors of life with five young children. In his audiobook, he talks about his experiences with 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”). This title is a great book that is packed with the best dad jokes and heartwarming hilarity.
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 parents out there. Will it get the little one to sleep? Hit play to find out.
Beloved British comedian and absolute icon Stephen Fry follows in the exasperated footsteps of Samuel L. Jackson, giving voice to the long-suffering father. The indifferent child of the latter will not eat in this hilarious follow-up to Adam Mansbach’s international bestseller, Go the F--k to Sleep. Is it a children’s book? Not really, and it is not considered to be child friendly, due to its language. Dads will love it, though as the expletive-laden pleas for a disinterested toddler to eat, just eat, anything are deeply relatable for most parents. Hilarious and oh-so-prescient, You Have to F--king Eat is a real and hilarious listen from start to finish.
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 — voices 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. Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son has long been a must on any dad’s reading list, and this audiobook adaptation brings it to a whole new level. This title is the perfect addition for storytelling lovers and it is one of the best Father themed books out there.
Billy Crystal is 65, and he’s not happy about it. With his trademark wit and heart, he outlines the absurdities and challenges of growing old, from insomnia to memory loss to leaving dinners with half of your meal on your shirt. He also looks back at the most powerful and memorable moments of his long and storied life. He talks about entertaining his relatives as a kid on Long Island, New York, his years doing stand-up in the Village, 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. If you have or know a dad who sees himself as a history buff or a non-fiction nerd, this is the listen for them. The Things They Carried is the perfect listen for fathers looking to dive into deep and emotional historical tales.
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 following 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 half a century, Shatner and Nimoy saw each other through personal and professional highs and lows. Do you know a dad who loves Star Trek? He’ll love Leonard. After all, everyone loves 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,” never has minced words, and when Justin moved back home, he began to record all the ridiculous things his dad said to him. Anecdotal books don’t come much more hilarious and heartwarming than this fantastic listen. One of the great books of recent times, Sh-t My Dad Says is endearing and entertaining in all the right ways. Maybe dad will pick up a few pointers on the philosophical front. Is that a good thing? Time will tell.
In nine stories that move between nouveau riche Los Angeles and the working-class 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 nation’s capital, the heroes of White Man’s Problems struggle to navigate the challenges that accompany marriage, family, success, failure, growing up, and getting older. A wide range of voices lend their skills to the narration of these true stories; an impactful listen from start to finish. This audiobook presents gritty storytelling at its finest.
The Essex whaleship was an event as mythic in the 19th century as the sinking of the Titanic was in the 20th century. 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, disease, and ultimately turning to drastic measures in the fight for survival. This title is certainly not a children’s bedtime story, but history rarely pays attention to the whims of those who follow along. In the Heart of the Sea tells a spectacular story, making it one of the best choices for dads.
Are you a dad who loves to golf, or someone looking to get into the much loved sport? James Patterson’s incredible Miracle at St Andrews sits pretty as an excellent option for dads whether they are experienced golfers or not. The third book in the Travis McKinley series sees the veteran champion miss a seemingly simple putt to win a championship. That is just the beginning of it all. McKinley gets whisked off on a journey of rediscovery that takes him back to his roots and beyond. There is a charm to the storytelling that will appeal to fathers of all shapes and sizes.
No, it isn’t a quote from Predator, but another audio masterpiece from the impressive mind of horror icon Stephen King. If It Bleeds is Stephen King at his finest, a collection of tales that take the listener on the usual train of terror that King has perfected over his long career. There is no shortage of humour sprinkled throughout all the horror, and there is something about King’s storytelling expertise that will always appeal to dads around the world. If you’re looking to get your dad back into horror books, look no further than Stephen King’s If It Bleeds audiobook.
Narrated by Dion Graham, Black Leopard, Red Wolf is the first book in the Dark Star trilogy (Marlon James), and what a rip-roaring start it is. Black Leopard, Red Wolf follows the famous trope of ‘lone wolf’ finds himself forced to work as part of a team, but there is enough intricacy here to make the book stand out and then some. There are lessons, too, and every good dad loves an excellent book that hands out a piece of advice or two. Whether you are a father figure or not, Black Leopard, Red Wolf is a fantastic listen from start to finish. You might want to get books two and three as well.
Where else to finish than with the ultimate dad franchise? Fathers have been compelling their children to get into all things Star Wars for decades, and the continual development of the famous franchise means this isn’t going to end any time soon. Star Wars: Brotherhood is another bullet in the chamber of the prequel narrative, as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker learn to work together as Jedi Knights. There is plenty more to it than that, but we’ll leave that for you to discover. The perfect choice for any dad with a Star Wars obsession, Star Wars: Brotherhood (narrated by Jonathan Davis) is a fabulous listen.
