Best books for dads on Father's Day. Image: Penguin
It is a cliché that dads are the hardest members of a family to buy gifts for – a cliché because it is usually true.
So, from gardening to football, gender equality to fantasy and history, we've come up with some book suggestions to make shopping a little bit easier this Father's Day.
Plus, if you already know what your dad loves then check out these gift guides too:
In this Sunday Times bestseller, a priest investigates a vicar’s untimely death in a post-apocalyptic future that feels eerily like the past. It follows Christopher Fairfax, a man of the cloth who arrives in a remote Exmoor village to conduct the funeral of his predecessor. But when a mysterious figure appears at the ceremony, it grows clear that the priest's death may not have been an accident after all. Harris is masterful in cranking up the tension, page by page.
Would you run seven ultra-marathons in seven days, for a friend? What about over 100 miles in 24 hours? Those are the lengths that former Leeds Rhinos player-turned-England defence coach Kevin Sinfield has gone to fundraising to fight motor neuron disease, the terminal illness that ended the career of his best friend and teammate Rob Burrows. In this extraordinary, bestselling new memoir from Sinfield, readers get closer to a hero both on and off the rugby pitch, one who captured the hearts of the nation – and an OBE in the Queen's Birthday honours – while raising over £7 million for MND. Written with humour and warmth, this is a perfect read to inspire dad.
James Patterson – one of America's most prolific authors – may be best known for his spine-chilling thrillers (including the Alex Cross series), but he's no slouch when it comes to history, either. The Kennedy Curse is told with all the edge-of-the-seat intrigue of any of his thrillers, as it details the story of America's most famous political dynasty – few families in public life have been blighted by more dark accidents, sex scandals and alcohol abuse. In this book, he reveals the tragedies and scandals that continue to befall America's most famous dynasty.
A woman wakes up the morning after she has witnessed her son committing a deadly crime that will ruin his life; but it’s yesterday, the day before the murder. Somewhere in the past there are answers, reasons why, and she has one chance to stop it. This time-warped, mind-bending thriller caused quite a stir when it first came out, with everyone from Lisa Jewell to Ian Rankin praising it for its clever plot device and even cleverer twists. The perfect read for any thriller-loving, page-turning dad.
Gladwell tells the story of how an idea that began between the world wars on an Alabama airbase – to make air bombing so accurate that it would eliminate the need for ground combat – was ultimately put to the test. The process eventually led to one of the bloodiest and most controversial strategic bombing campaigns of the Second World War, and raises Gladwell’s questions: “What happens when technology and best intentions collide in the heat of war? And what is the price of progress?” A captivating read whose questions reverberate just as strongly now as they do looking backward.
The Booker Prize-winning author of A Brief History of Seven Killings returns with another multi-layered novel that follows Tracker, a gruff and elusive hunter, known for his superhuman ability to sniff out trouble at the slightest whiff. When he's charged with finding a missing child, he teams up with a group of hunters all on the same mission. As they travel through mist-covered swamps, enchanted jungles, infested rivers and other mind-bending landscapes, they encounter all manner of sublime creatures, from bush fairies to antiwitches, dirt mermaids to vampires, ghosts, slavers and trolls.
The Garden Jungle Dave Goulson (2019)
The multi-million-copy bestselling historian and author turns his hand to writing the first ever authorised biography of the SAS. In the summer of 1941, Winston Churchill personally gives permission to a bored and eccentric young army officer to recruit the toughest and brightest soldiers he can find to form the most celebrated and mysterious military organisation in the world. MacIntyre dives into SAS secret files, unseen footage and exclusive interviews with its founding members and it makes for a thoroughly entertaining and interesting read. Plus, it’s now a hit BBC drama starring Dominic West, Alfie Allen and Jack O’Connell, which is perfect family viewing.
For storied chef Yotam Ottolenghi, cooking is about four words: “abundance, bounty, freshness and surprise”. And Simple is a manual for anyone who's poor on time but rich in ambition – a recipe book in which no dish requires more than 10 ingredients. This is the perfect gift for any father who likes to eat and cook. From Zucchini and Ciabatta Fritatta to Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder with Mint and Cumin, this book offers a way into the celebrated cook's genius for gorgeous food – with an added focus on simplicity.
Anne Tyler is the queen of pulling drama from undramatic lives. Few characters are less remarkable than Micah Mortimer. A computer technician, he plots out his days through a fastidious routine - until something remarkable happens. Firstly, a teenager shows up at his door claiming to be his son, then his girlfriend tells him she's been evicted and wants to move in. World upended, he must learn to navigate a new normal in this artfully rendered portrait of a man's inner world in all its complexities. It is sophisticated, subtle, hilarious and, at times, heartbreaking – and one of Anne Tyler's best.
The Times declared that no historical fiction novel was "more witty, insightful or original” than this book the year it was published – and it’s now sold over three million copies worldwide. A celebrated and beloved Count is marched through the doors of the elegant Hotel Metropol, but not to his normal room. Deemed an unrepentant aristocrat, he is sentenced to house arrest in the attic while Russia undergoes dangerous upheaval. What follows is his gradual understanding that life without luxury can sometimes be the richest of all – it’s moving, uplifting and wise, a fantastic feet-up-on-the-sofa read for your dad.
This is a book about women, by a woman, for anyone who cares about the lives of women – which should be everyone. We all know women are paid less, do more unpaid labour at home and queue longer for the loos, but did you know that the average smartphone (5.5 inches long) is too big for most women’s hands? Or the fact that women are nearly 50% more likely to be seriously hurt in a car crash because cars are designed around the body of ‘Reference Man’? These are just some of the seemingly endless nuggets presented in this perception-shattering analysis of the facts that fall between the cracks when we talk about gender.
Author Marc Morris brings to life an era racked by chaos and rebirth: as Britain leaves the Roman Empire society begins to crumble. Drawing on a vast array of research and history, Morris delves deeply in the history, both local and across the country, to illuminate the centuries across which the foundations of the nation as we now know it were laid. History-loving dads the land over will love this.
Crouch's second memoir is full of pithy observations that make him a special breed of ex-pro. It is so astute, so funny, so lovably self-effacing, that it has catapulted the 6'7” beanpole of the box into one of England's most beloved footballers – no longer for his feet; now for his mind. It's one of the sports books that every football fan should have on their shelf.
This is a long, hard look at the often unspoken legacy of the British empire and what is means for British politics, society and mood today. For Sanghera, our imperial past is everywhere: from how we think and act, to our NHS, and even our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He uses this book as a chance to shine a light on areas that are left unexplored and unexplained in our history. It’s an engaging and fascinating exploration of our nation’s past and how we can inform our own future.
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