As we get older, something strange happens to our perception of our parents: We realize that they’re human beings. They’re more than just “Mom” and “Dad”—they have dreams and challenges that go far beyond their role as parents.
So with Father’s Day just around the corner, we wanted to suggest a handful of books that Dad might enjoy reading. A few are about parenting, yes, but a few will speak to the other parts of his identity, the parts that you might be seeing and appreciating for the first time.
When You Wonder, You’re Learning: Mister Rogers’ Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids
By Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski
When You Wonder, You’re Learning shows parents and educators the many ways they might follow in Mister Rogers’ footsteps, sharing his “tools for learning” with digital-age kids. With insights from thinkers, scientists, and teachers—many of whom worked with Rogers himself—the book is an essential exploration into how kids and their parents can excel at what Rogers taught best: being human. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most
By Greg McKeown
If your dad is a high achiever, he has probably been conditioned to believe that the path to success is paved with relentless work. That if we want to overachieve, we have to overexert, overthink, and overdo. That if we aren’t perpetually exhausted, we’re not doing enough. But bestselling author Greg McKeown is here to propose a better, healthier way forward, one in which it’s easier than ever to do the things that really matter. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Better Boys, Better Men: The New Masculinity That Creates Greater Courage and Emotional Resiliency
By Andrew Reiner
Rising rates of male unemployment, depression, and violence signal a pressing crisis for modern masculinity. In Better Boys, Better Men, cultural critic Andrew Reiner explains why the social norms around manhood are outdated and downright damaging, and he lays out a better, healthier vision for what it means to be a man. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
Your Turn: How to Be an Adult
By Julie Lythcott-Haims
Many of us have realized that being a grown-up isn’t easy—so how can we do it better? Julie Lythcott-Haims, a former Stanford dean and author of the perennial bestseller How to Raise an Adult, believes that being an adult is a process of slow improvement. It’s a matter of becoming more comfortable with uncertainty, and gaining the knowhow to keep going. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices
By Casper ter Kuile
Whether your dad is religious or not, the two of you can craft meaningful rituals that speak to your unique relationship. In this thought-provoking read, Harvard Divinity School Fellow Casper ter Kuile shows how these personalized rituals add joy and meaning to everyday experiences. View Our “Book Bite” Summary
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