Whether they’re a birth parent, an adoptive parent, a father figure, or a dad-to-be, stepping into a fatherly role can feel daunting. Having others come alongside you, share stories and lend advice is a great way to remember you’re not alone in this new endeavour. Whether you’re a dad already, or becoming a father for the first time, these audiobooks are a great way to share with other dads, and learn their stories. No child and no parent is the same, but these books will offer insight, relief, tips and stories perfectly suited to dads and father figures.
Whether you’re looking to celebrate a new dad with the gift of an audiobook, you’re a proud dad searching for your next listen, or you’re about to become a father and need a little reassurance, these are the very best audiobooks for new dads, old dads, first-time dads, and and all types of fatherly figures.
Jim Gaffigan is an actor and comedian known worldwide for his jokes about everything from bacon to manatees, and he’s also the contemporary champion of dad stories. And with five kids, he certainly has a lot of them. Gaffigan narrates this riveting listen, sharing the silly, sweet, and gross things that happen in his household and what it’s like to be overrun by children in your own home. Gaffigan’s real-life experience and truly hilarious insights might make Dad Is Fat even more helpful than the standard parenting books for dads. It is heartwarming and hilarious all at the same time. Hit play for 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 Black 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 dads looking to make a change through their parenting. Combating stereotypes is a daily battle, and it is through fantastic non-fiction audiobooks like this one, 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 across the pond for so long that he has become synonymous with the latest in day-to-day America. No matter the origin of his cutting 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 across the pond, 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 are a dad who loves the insanity of history, Enemy of All Mankind is the perfect choice.
This audiobook is packed with parenting advice specifically for gay dads, whether they are about to welcome their first baby or parent 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 dad be the best. 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 the most important insights. Being the best parent you can be is one of the greatest accomplishments in life, so hit play on this helpful guide to find more confidence in your parenting skills.
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 realise 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. Fatherhood is an intense experience that can conjure up all manner of emotions and experiences. Michael Chabon’s excellent Pops does a great job of accentuating the parts that matter most.
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.
It is essential to recognise that not every dad 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. This title isn’t suitable for young audiences, but it is a tremendous listen.
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 turning his situation around. Hart narrates this heartfelt story with humour, detailing how he managed to beat the odds and believed in himself to become a notable success and a dedicated husband and father.
One of the most daunting tasks in parenting is the balancing act of having a career and raising a child. Working fathers are left to juggle the responsibility of being a hands-on parent while ensuring they remain productive and on task with work-life demands—no easy feat. If you or a dad you know need 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 fiction books 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 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 they may not know 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. Unspoken is one of the best books for fathers, and this audiobook adaptation is stunning.
No dad book list 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, 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 migrants 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 you know a dad who loves all things DIY, he’ll love listening to Mythbusters star Adam Savage. With more than 40 years of maker experience under his 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 can expect a dad joke or two in this lighthearted listen.
Many kids dream about what it would be like if their dad were a spy, but Stewart Copeland lived that dream. 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. My Dad the Spy is an exciting listen that any dad will love.
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.
Golf is a popular sport among dads. Although not all dads are fans of the sport, this golf-focused listen is a great book for dads. The third title in the Travis McKinley series is brilliantly narrated by Henry Leyva. The novel sees a veteran golfer miss an innocuous putt that sends him on an unforgettable journey through history and culture. McKinley learns a lot along the way. Many of the lessons are the sort that will resonate with experienced fathers and dads-to-be alike. Miracle at St. Andrews makes for an exciting listening experience that any dad won’t want to miss.
