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26 Books to Give the World's Best Dad on Father's Day

From inspirational memoirs to riveting non-fiction.

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Temi Oyeyola

Picking out a gift for your dad or partner, especially on Father's Day, can be tricky. You don't want to get anything too generic and every year he claims he only wants a card. So, if he's a reader, we have a simple solution: get dad a new book. And while it may be difficult to pinpoint his favorite genre, we've got you covered. There's a book for every type of father—including dads-to-be.

History buff dads (and we know there are more than a few out there), will enjoy Erik Larson's latest riveting WWII-set work, or a true crime thriller that involves Harper Lee. First-timers can study up on fatherhood during the pregnancy stage with the non-fiction book Be Prepared. We've also included inspiring and funny memoirs, as well as personalized storybooks to read aloud to sons, daughters, and babies.

With all these books catered to dad, you're bound to find the right story for the special man in your life. And, bonus: You can buy any of these last-minute, and he won't even realize you procrastinated.

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Miracle at St. Andrews: A Novel by James Patterson & Peter de Jonge
Now 50% off

This novel is an obvious pick for dads who are happiest out on the green. Miracle at St. Andrews follows one man's journey back to the birthplace of golf with the intention of finding the secret to the game. Unlike James Patterson's thriller fare, Miracle at St. Andrews is more inspiring than it is nail-biting.

2 of 26
For Dad to Read to His Baby
My Dad Loves Me by Marianna Richmond

This heartwarming picture book is the perfect pick for dad to read to his young kids, as it illustrates all the ways a father can show love.

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Perfect to Read to Kids
Your Baby's First Word Will Be DADA by Jimmy Fallon
Now 12% off

Father of two and The Tonight Show host, Jimmy Fallon, wrote this hilarious picture book about all dads' efforts to make sure their kids' first word is "DADA." 

4 of 26
Honest Self-Help
Everything Is F*cked by Mark Manson
Now 50% off

After his bestselling debut, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Manson returns with yet another blunt, but honest worldview that your dad will love. This time, he tackles how to remain hopeful, even when it seems that society  is falling apart. 

5 of 26
Vacationland: True Stories from Painful Beaches by John Hodgman
Now 52% off

Get Vacationland for the dad that loves to laugh—because he'll be doing a lot of that while reading this unusual memoir. John Hodgman is known for his appearances on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, his podcast, and humorous other books. Ostensibly about his family's move from Massachusetts to Maine (whose state slogan is Vacationland), Hodgman also offers insights on middle age, mustaches, fatherhood, "weird dad hobbies," Stephen King, rock 'n' roll, and more.

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Dad Jokes
Now 22% off

Does your dad frequently crack himself up? Keep his "dad joke" jar full with this book, which is teeming with them. You may groan at the jokes—but he'll be thrilled. 

7 of 26
Every Tool's a Hammer by Adam Savage
Now 11% off

The handyman dad will love this book. Star of the Discovery Channel's Mythbusters, Adam Savage, challenges readers to take a deeper look at what inspires them when it comes to "making and molding, building and breaking" offering his own tips and tricks along the way about his favorite techniques and tools.

8 of 26
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Now 60% off

The comedian and Daily Show host gets candid about his childhood struggles, as he grew up in apartheid South Africa to a white father and Black mother. His existence was a crime but somehow, with the help of his mom, he became a man that brings joy to so many.

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Funny Pick
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
Now 22% off

In this Pulitzer Prize winning humorous nonfiction book, a troubled nearly 50-year-old novelist sets out on a trip around the world after receiving a wedding invitation from his ex of nine years.

10 of 26
Best Seat in the House: 18 Golden Lessons from a Father to His Son by Jack Nicklaus II

Jack Nicklaus II grew up with one of the best golfers in the world for a dad. In this book, Nicklaus II shares the lessons that he learned from his father, who managed to balance being a golf champ and a family man. Throughout the book, Nicklaus II emphasizes that his father always made him feel treasured, and that made all the difference. This is an especially great pick for fathers-to-be and golf lovers. 

11 of 26
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
Now 48% off

If your father loves fantasy, this book is for him. One of the most celebrated novels of 2019—and likened to the "African Game of Thrones"—James combines mythology and history through a story of a skilled mercenary who's sent to track down a missing child.

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Hair Love by Matthew Cherry
Now 62% off

Hair Love is a lovely choice for dads looking to read to their daughters. Inspired by an Academy Award-winning short film, Hair Love follows a father learning to do his daughter's hair for the first time. Heartwarming and critically acclaimed, Hair Love is on its way to becoming an HBO Max TV show, centered on the book's Young family. 

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Best Personalized Book
Super Dad Personalized Book

This custom book turns dad into the superhero. Simply send the Etsy vendor a pic of him and tell him the book is from the kids.

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The Mamba Mentality: How I Play by Kobe Bryant

In the wake of his 2016 retirement, the late L.A. Lakers NBA star—who had four daughters of his own—shared the secret to his famed "Mamba mentality" and how he excelled at the game of basketball. 

15 of 26
If He's a New Dad
Be Prepared by Gary Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden

If the guy in your life has a baby on the way and is a soon-to-be first time dad, Be Prepared serves as a helpful handbook and survival manual for those early days of fatherhood.

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Funny Read
Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan

In this honest and funny autobiography, comedian Jim Gaffigan gets real about living the life of a parent who's unexpectedly outnumbered by his five kids.

17 of 26
The Adventures of Barry & Joe by Adam Reid
Now 33% off

This is for the dad who just happens to love comic books, politics, and the endearing friendship between former president Barack Obama and current president Joe Biden. Described as "both graphic and novel," it follows the fictional adventures of the POTUS and VP as time-traveling superheroes who fight to save America's future.

18 of 26
Great for a Father and Son
A Lucky Man by Jamel Brinkley
Now 57% off

In a critical look a masculinity, this National Book Award finalist features nine unique stories of fathers and sons who are piecing together their relationships.

19 of 26
Life Is a Party by David Burtka

The father of two—Burtka shares twins with actor Neil Patrick Harris—uses his Cordon Bleu-trained expertise to share 16 party themes and countless delicious recipes, making this celeb cookbook the perfect gift for a dad that loves to entertain.

20 of 26
For the History Buff
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson

Known for writing comprehensive history books so vivid they read like fiction, Erik Larson turned his attention toward one of history's most prominent figures in his latest: Winston Churchill. The Splendid and the Vile focuses on the first year of Germany's air raids against the U.K. during WWII. The book is a multi-faceted look at bravery and resilience, displayed by government officials and ordinary English citizens alike. In our review, we called it an "enthralling page turner" for a reason. 

21 of 26
Great Book About Fatherhood
Pops by Michael Chabon
Now 66% off

Writer Michael Chabon delves into the mysteries of fatherhood through a series of seven personal essays, one being a celebrated 2016 GQ piece about him accompanying his then 13-year-old son to Paris Men's Fashion Week. 

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For the History Buff
The Forgotten 500 by Gregory A. Freeman
Now 22% off

In a never-before-told true story about World War II, author Gregory A. Freeman details the full account of how the OSS went out on a mission to recover 500 American airmen trapped in the enemy territory of Yugoslavia.

23 of 26
A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
Now 47% off

And if he can't get enough of World War II? Treat him to the female's perspective, with the entrancing biography of socialite Virginia Hall, an Allied spy who spurred on the French Resistance.

24 of 26
Funny Father-Son Read
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
Now 36% off

Born from musings he originally shared on Twitter, in this memoir Justin Halpern collected the most out-of-the box hilarious quotes his grumpy, vulgar–but wise—father said to him when he moved back home at the age of 28. 

25 of 26
Furious Hours by Casey Cep
Now 42% off

Named by book editors as one of the most anticipated May novels, Cep dives deep into the mystery surrounding writer Harper Lee's only nonfiction work, perfect for the dad that can't resist true crime. 

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Lake of the Ozarks by Bill Geist
Now 8% off

Written by broadcast journalist Bill Geist, the correspondent reminisces on his teenage summers in the 1960s spent at the idyllic vacation hot-spot, the Lake of the Ozarks.

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