39 Fantastic Father's Day Books to Gift Dad This Year

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Sunday, June 19, is Father's Day this year, and it's never too early to start thinking about what to gift the father figures in your life. While Dad can be hard to shop for, just about any type of father will appreciate a new book to read. So we've rounded up 34 of the best books for Father's Day that are sure to help you wrap a little something special for the dad (or dads) in your life. Pair it with a fun Father's Day pun on a card, maybe breakfast in bed or brunch, and plan a day of whatever it might be that will make Dad smile (here are a few ideas for the great outdoors, just in case that's his thing!). From everything from board books for dads of little ones to sports stories and laugh-out-loud memoirs of fatherhood, these books are sure to draw a smile from the fathers in your life.

Kitchen Confidential Updated Edition: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (P.S.)

Perfect for: The dad who adored No Reservations

Anthony Bourdain's best-selling memoir remains one of the most riveting looks into chef culture, and is also a fantastic tale of eating and cooking around the world.

What I Love about Dad Fill in the Love Book

Perfect for: The sentimental dad

This keepsake journal provides plenty of thoughtful prompts for sharing exactly what makes your father so special. He'll cherish it for years to come.

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

Perfect for: American history buffs

In this memoir, America's 44th president gives us an inside look at his origin story, one that could only be possible in America.

Swing and a Hit: Nine Innings of What Baseball Taught Me

Perfect for: The baseball fanatic

This brand-new book finds all-star Yankee Paul O'Neill sharing lessons learned from his 15+ years playing professional baseball. He includes stories about some of the biggest names in Major League Baseball.

Billy Summers

Perfect for: Stephen King die-hards

Stephen King's latest best-seller is a thrill ride about a trained sniper hired for one last job. The unexpectedly emotional journey finds will have him turning the pages to find out what happens next.

The Lincoln Lawyer

Perfect for: The legal thriller fan

With a new series based on Connelly's fast-paced novel now out on Netflix, it's time for a read (or re-read) of this legal thriller. The new show is based on the second book in the series, The Brass Verdict.

Run, Rose, Run: A Novel

Perfect for: The page-turner

If he's a fan of James Patterson and Dolly Parton (and, really, who isn't?), he'll love this new novel by the surprise duo.

A Little Book About My Awesome Dad: Fill in The Blank Book

Perfect for: The sentimental dad

Kids will love filling in the blanks and drawing pictures for his special day. At 34 pages, it wont' be overwhelming for little kids to complete.

Finding Joy in the Empty Nest

Perfect for: The empty-nester

Help him discover purpose and passion in the next phase of life with this book. Author Jim Burns combines his personal experience with research and interviews with other empty-nesters to guide parents through this transition time.

What We'll Build: Plans for Our Together Future

Perfect for: dads of young children who cuddle up for a good read at bedtime

Fans of Oliver Jeffers's Here We Are (a favorite in our house) will love this companion book about a father and daughter who set out to plan their future together: forging memories, a home, and lots of love in a world we build with our hands and our hearts.

No Pain, No Gaines: The Good Stuff Doesn't Come Easy

Perfect for: dads who never fail to remind you about the power of community and faith

The much-anticipated second book from Magnolia's Chip Gaines (the first being Captain Gaines) takes readers into the hard, sweaty work of launching Magnolia Network...and building another kind of network—of people, hope, and community—with lessons and stories straight from Chip's life.

The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz

Perfect for: the WWII/history buff

First published in early 2020, The Splendid and the Vile is a must-read hit that keeps readers hooked with the story of how Winston Churchill, who took over the reigns of Britain on the very day Hitler invaded Holland and Belgium, taught the British people “the art of being fearless" during an unrelenting war.

Darth Vader and Son

Perfect for: Star Wars fans (of course!) and dads who love a bedtime book guaranteed to give them a laugh

An instant win with dads of any age, this children's book imagines Darth Vader as just another dad (imagine the famous line "Luke, I'm your father" in an exasperated tone after the 125th reminder that no, you can't eat ice cream before bed, and you get the idea). This hilarious and endearing story will have new dads and old laughing along (and there's a Vader's Little Princess version, too!).

To Me, He Was Just Dad: Stories of Growing Up with Famous Fathers

Perfect for: dads who love cultural icons and behind-the-scenes stories

The editors behind dad site Fatherly compiled this collection of famous father figures—think anyone from John Wayne and John Lennon to Bruce Lee, Christopher Reeve, and Miles Davis—and stories of their lives not in the limelight, but as Dad. Forty first-person narratives reveal a very different side of the public figures you only think you know for a refreshing, moving take on fatherhood.

Dirt: Adventures in Lyon as a Chef in Training, Father, and Sleuth Looking for the Secret of French Cooking

Perfect for: the dad who can't miss an episode of Top Chef and loves to travel

A beautifully written memoir about author Bill Buford's life in France, Dirt explores what it takes to become a master at French cooking. Along the way, Bill, his wife, and their three-year-old twin sons move to the gastronomic capital of France...and adventures ensue!

Because of You, Dad

Perfect for: dads of little ones

Written by best-selling author Kobi Yamada, Because of You, Dad is the sweet story of a father's care, guidance, and love in a book that celebrates of all the ways the world is better because of him.

Father-ish: Laugh-Out-Loud Tales from a Dad Trying Not to Ruin His Kids' Lives

Perfect for: the dad who likes humor and memoirs with a dash of wisdom on the side

Author Clint Edwards might look like he has his this parenting thing nailed, but just out of view is the truth: everything's a mess, and he's doing his best. This relatable essay collection talks about all the things that parenthood brings with the title (and the joy): unexpected fails, awkward conversations, and well-intentioned little white lies. Because at the end of the day, whether you're a new-parent-to-be or a dad to six rambunctious bundles of energy and opinions, we're all just doing our best.

Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last

Perfect for: history buffs with a taste for Southern heritage

This instant bestseller follows the story of Julian Van Winkle III, the caretaker of the most coveted Kentucky Bourbon whiskey in the world, who fought with everything he had to protect his family's heritage. This is the story of the greatest whiskey in the world—and the hardest to find. Author Wright Thompson follows along as Julian undertakes his mission, learning first-hand lessons from Julian that he applies to his own life—just as he and his wife consider the birth of their first child.

Hair Love

Perfect for: dads who save the (hair)day every time

Academy Award-winning director and former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry and New York Times bestselling illustrator Vashti Harrison team up for this adorable children's book to tell the story of a dad who gives his daughter a special hair style in this touching tribute to self-confidence and the love between fathers and daughters.

Greenlights

Perfect for: the movie-buff dad who likes to grapple with life's big questions

In his acclaimed memoir, actor Matthew McConaughey explores what he dubs "catching greenlights": the emotional result of knowing how to deal with life’s challenges in order to enjoy success. In the actor's own words: "This is fifty years of my sights and seens, felts and figured-outs, cools and shamefuls. Graces, truths, and beauties of brutality. Getting away withs, getting caughts, and getting wets while trying to dance between the raindrops. Hopefully, it’s medicine that tastes good, a couple of aspirin instead of the infirmary, a spaceship to Mars without needing your pilot’s license, going to church without having to be born again, and laughing through the tears. It’s a love letter. To life."

24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid

Perfect for: sports fans and dads who love a feel-good story

Widely regarded as the greatest all-around player in baseball history because of his unparalleled hitting, defense and baserunning, legendary player Willie Mays shares inspirations and influences that he credits with guiding him on and off the field in his inspirational memoir. Twenty-four chapters tell the story of a man who values family and community, charitable causes (especially involving children), and a philosophy that encourages hope, hard work, and the pursuit of your dreams.

My Dad Is Amazing!

Perfect for: the young dads in your life

With colorful illustrations and laugh-out-loud words, dads of little ones will have a joy-filled time reading this board book again and again as they celebrate what makes their dad the coolest one around.

Dad's Maybe Book

Perfect for: veterans and dads who love poignant stories

For 15 years, National Book Award–winning novelist Tim O’Brien set out to give his sons what he wished his own father had given to him: a written-down account of the stories he wished he knew of his dad's life. O'Brien wrote to his sons as if they were adults, imagining what they might want to hear from him after he'd passed. The memoir flows from soccer games and warfare to alcoholism, history lessons, and bittersweet bedtime stories—but it always circles back to a father’s enduring love for his sons.

Kindness and Wonder: Why Mister Rogers Matters Now More Than Ever

Perfect for: the dad who's always preaching (rightly) that kindness matters

For more than 30 years, Fred Rogers brought his trademark affection and caring into American homes. Kindness and Wonder follows the history of the show, elaborating on the life lessons and insights that Rogers preached—what it means to be good, open-hearted, thoughtful, curious, and compassionate—characteristics dads around the world espouse every day.

Made for Me

Perfect for: dads of little ones

This adorably illustrated board book is filled with tender illustrations and words that highlight the special bond between a father and his child, from first words to first steps.

Rust

Perfect for: dads who are fans of memoirs of grit, small-town America, and hope

The Rust Belt of the U.S. is stirring the setting for Eliese Colette Goldbach's memoir of her journey to make peace with the steel town where she grew up (and left and returned to) and the people she loves who live there. In doing so, she illuminates those who feel unseen and forgotten in middle America—and the hope they nurture amid steel and flames.

Shaking the Gates of Hell: A Search for Family and Truth in the Wake of the Civil Rights Revolution

Perfect for: dads who are history fans and seek out stories of faith, family, and indelible moments in American history

John Archibald is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist who grew up in Alabama during the turbulent 1960s. Everything he learned about life is "refracted through the stained glass of the Southern church. It had everything to do with people. And fairness. And compassion," he writes. In Shaking the Gates of Hell, Archibald explores his father's legacy as a preacher during the civil rights movement and the "conspiracy of silence" his father faced in the South and in the church, chronicling a reckoning of faith, family, kindness, and the past.

How to Surprise a Dad

Perfect for: dads of mischievous little ones

If your children are anything like mine, they're always searching for a new way to surprise their dad—and they're in luck! This adorable children's book has tips, tricks, and hints for pulling off the best surprise-worthy moments sure to get Dad like never before.

American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI

Perfect for: dads who love a good crime show and can't get enough of Sherlock Holmes

American Sherlock tells the true story of the birth of the modern system of criminal investigation. In 1993, Edward Oscar Heinrich was America's first forensic scientist. He was known as the American Sherlock Holmes, with an almost supernatural knack for spotting clues and discovering answers. Heinrich spearheaded the invention of numerous forensic tools that police still use today, changing the course of American criminal investigations forever.

Let Love Have the Last Word: A Memoir

Perfect for: dads who like their memoirs to dig deep and spill some truths

Common—a Grammy Award–, Academy Award–, and Golden Globe–winning musician, actor, and activist—opens his heart in Let Love Have the Last Word, exploring a range of topics, from faith and family to trauma and abuse, with tremendous candor, all the while expressing his core belief: that love and mindfulness, through our actions and words, can help us to heal our hearts and our communities.

The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History

Perfect for: dads who can't get enough of the Dunder Mifflin gang

If your dad can't stop quoting the Office, this is the book for him! In it, the show's very own creators, writers, and actors tell never-before-shared histories, behind-the-scenes memories, and true inside tales behind the entire show with in-depth research and exclusive interviews Office fans are sure to love.

Why a Daughter Needs a Dad

Perfect for: dads of little ones

Daughter and father animals from across the world explore the many ways their fathers help them grow through the special bonds they share. Sweet illustrations highlight the rhymes as lions, moose, bears, elephants, and more celebrate the tender relationship between dad and daughter.

See America: A Celebration of Our National Parks & Treasured Sites

Perfect for: dads who love to get out into nature and explore

Twenty-sixteen was the centennial anniversary of the National Parks Service, and to celebrate, the National Parks Conservation Association partnered with the Creative Action Network to reimagine WPA travel posters. Artists from all over the world created this new collection of "See America" posters with 75 national parks and monuments across all 50 states, making it a perfect gift for the park-loving dad in your life.

Every Tool's a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It

Perfect for: dads who love to work with their hands (or watch other people do the same!)

Adam Savage, the star of Discovery Channel’s dad-favorite Mythbusters show, shares his rules for creativity, inspiration, follow through, and success. What follows is a how-to book for being creative, with Adam's 40-plus years of building, making, breaking, and mending, as a guide alongside stories and tips from other makers and builders, too.

Pops: Fatherhood in Pieces

Perfect for: dads who are constantly reading the opinion section and support you no matter what

In 2016, best-selling author Michael Chabon wrote an article that ran in GQ about accompanying his 13-year-old son to Paris for Men’s Fashion Week. While Michael looked on (more than a little bored and admittedly perplexed), his son relished the chance to finally be in his element among fashion's elites. What developed afterward was Michaels's growing respect for his son’s passions. Pops is the collection that arose from this experience, a rumination on fatherhood and mysteries and magic it contains.

Your Baby's First Word Will Be DADA

Perfect for: dads of little ones

With animals ranging from cows to sheep to ducks helping along the way, Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon sets off on a determined quest to ensure his daughter's first word will be "dada."

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World

Perfect for: dads who love an inspiring read and a fresh, powerful perspective

Make Your Bed is based on a Navy SEAL's 2014 University of Texas at Austin graduation speech and is packed with powerful life lessons that start from a simple premise: If you want to change the world, start by making your bed. At the graduation ceremony, McRaven shared 10 principles he gleaned from his Navy Seal training that he later put to practice when overcoming challenges not only in his Naval career, but also in his life. The speech went viral, with more than 10 million views online. Here, the admiral expands on the speech in a book filled with humility, optimism, wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement.

Dad Is Fat

Perfect for: fans of laugh-out-loud humor

In Dad Is Fat, comedian Jim Gaffigan explores his journey from "that weird uncle who lives in an apartment by himself" to a tired dad tweeting viral quips about parenthood. Those tweets turned into this: a book of hilarious takes on everything from big families ("I always assumed my father had six children so he could have a sufficient lawn crew") to changing diapers ("like the Hurt Locker but much more dangerous"). Dad is Fat is a hilarious look at parenting for any dad who needs a laugh.

The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf

Perfect for: sports fans and dads who like an inspiring story steeped in history

While Dad may have seen the movie, the story of Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon, whose passion for golf broke social barriers and made the game accessible to everyone, is still highly recommended. For author Mark Frost, Francis and Harry are everything right about sports and sportsmen: They were gentlemen, champions, teachers, leaders, and—not unlike some dads we know—quiet heroes.

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