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 is a fascinating look into the dynamics of a Hollywood family. A gorgeous and thoughtful listen, it is a great choice for any dad.
