Looking for the best books for dads? Whether you’re buying for Father’s Day, a birthday or simply searching for a brilliant gift for the father figure in your life, these are the books dads actually want to read.
From gripping thrillers and history books to literary fiction, science writing and conversation-starting non-fiction, this guide includes the best books for every kind of dad, including the dads who claim they don’t like to read.
Quick answer by dad type: For the dad who loves thrillers Try
Red Star Down ,
Kill Billionaire ,
The Devil’s Star or
The Burning Grounds for fast-paced stories packed with suspense, intrigue and unforgettable twists.
For the dad who loves history, politics and true stories The Fallen ,
Borrowed Land ,
We Were There ,
Year of the Rat and
Get In explore hidden histories, political turning points, modern Britain and the people caught at the centre of change.
For the dad obsessed with technology, AI and big ideas Gift
The Thinking Machine ,
The Technological Republic or
Sapiens: A Graphic History for smart, accessible reads about humanity, innovation and the future.
For the dad who says he ‘doesn’t read’ Short, gripping and highly addictive books like
A Short Stay in Hell and
Red Star Down are perfect for easing reluctant readers back into books.
For the outdoorsy dad Nature lovers will appreciate
The Genius of Trees , a fascinating exploration of forests, ecology and the hidden intelligence of the natural world.
For the dad who loves memoir and literary reflection Thoughtful, emotionally intelligent reads like
Leaving Home and
Departure(s) make excellent gifts for dads who enjoy memoir, memory, family and beautifully crafted writing.
Shop by his interests
For dads who love thought-provoking fiction
A haunting cult classic that asks impossibly big questions in just over 100 pages. After death, Soren Johansson finds himself trapped in an endless library where the only way out is to locate the book containing the exact story of his life. Strange, unsettling and deeply philosophical, this is the perfect gift for dads who love fiction that lingers long after the final page.
Read if you like : Jorge Luis Borges, Piranesi , The Good Place , cerebral sci-fi, literary horror.
Part revenge caper, part political satire, Kill Billionaire follows a group of unlikely allies taking on the ultra-rich in increasingly audacious ways. Darkly funny, provocative and packed with momentum, it’s the kind of high-concept thriller that feels both wildly entertaining and sharply relevant to the modern world.
Read if you like: Knives Out , Richard Osman, anti-establishment satire
David Szalay’s razor-sharp fiction explores ambition, desire and the complicated realities of modern life with precision and wit. Stylish, emotionally intelligent and impossible to look away from, Flesh is ideal for readers who love literary fiction that feels both intimate and expansive.
Read if you like: Rachel Cusk, Bret Easton Ellis, Succession , contemporary literary fiction.
For dads who love thrillers and crime novels
From D. B. John, author of Star of the North Red Star Down is a gripping international thriller with a sharp geopolitical edge. It combines high-stakes suspense with the tension of a world where diplomacy, intelligence and danger are never far apart. A brilliant gift for dads who like their thrillers smart, global and impossible to put down.
Read if you like: Robert Harris, Mick Herron, geopolitical thrillers, intelligent spy fiction.
A standout Harry Hole thriller from one of the world’s bestselling crime writers. When a young woman is found murdered with a red diamond in the shape of a five-pointed star hidden behind her eyelid, Harry Hole is drawn into a case full of menace, pace and psychological tension. Dark, addictive and expertly plotted, it’s ideal for dads who love classic Nordic noir. Now a major Netflix series so dad can read and watch.
Read if you like: Stieg Larsson, Henning Mankell, Scandi crime dramas, serial killer thrillers.
From award-winning crime writer Abir Mukherjee comes a richly atmospheric thriller full of sharp observation, period detail and mounting danger. Stylish, immersive and brilliantly paced, The Burning Grounds is a strong pick for dads who enjoy crime fiction with historical depth, vivid settings and a sense of moral complexity beneath the mystery.
Read if you like: C. J. Sansom, Robert Harris, historical crime fiction, intelligent thrillers.
For dads who love history, memoir and stories about the world
Kapka Kassabova turns her eye to the Scottish Highlands in this fierce, tender and beautifully written work of narrative non-fiction. Through encounters with the people and landscapes of the region, Borrowed Land explores history, ownership, displacement and the deep relationship between land, memory and identity. It’s a thoughtful, richly atmospheric gift for dads who love nature writing, history and books that reveal the hidden stories of place.
Read if you like: Robert Macfarlane, Cal Flyn, nature writing, literary travel non-fiction.
This compelling work of non-fiction shines a light on overlooked stories that helped shape modern Britain. Rich in research and storytelling, Lanre Bakare explores culture, identity and community in a way that feels both eye-opening and deeply human.
Read if you like: David Olusoga, Afua Hirsch, social and cultural history.
Louise Brangan uncovers a dark and little-known history with compassion, insight and gripping detail in this powerful work of non-fiction. Blending research, reportage and storytelling, The Fallen explores lives pushed to the margins and the systems that shaped them.
Read if you like: Patrick Radden Keefe, investigative journalism, narrative non-fiction.
In this deeply personal memoir, Mark Haddon reflects on family, identity, memory and what it means to leave home behind. Thoughtful, witty and emotionally resonant, it’s a beautifully observed work of non-fiction from one of Britain’s most distinctive writers.
Read if you like: Rory Stewart, reflective memoirs, intelligent personal non-fiction.
From Booker Prize-winning author Julian Barnes, Departure(s) is a characteristically elegant and playful meditation on endings, memory and the stories we tell about ourselves. Blending emotional intelligence with Barnes’s unmistakable wit and precision, it’s a sophisticated read for dads who appreciate literary fiction that is clever, moving and quietly surprising.
Read if you like: Ian McEwan, Penelope Lively, The Sense of an Ending , literary fiction about memory.
Set against the backdrop of wartime Rome, this richly atmospheric novel combines suspense, historical detail and emotional storytelling. Joseph O’Connor vividly brings the city to life, creating an immersive historical read filled with tension, courage and moral complexity.
Read if you like: Robert Harris, WWII fiction, literary historical novels.
An urgent and gripping investigation into modern extremism and online radicalisation. Through immersive reporting and sharp analysis, Harry Shukman explores the hidden networks and ideologies shaping contemporary politics.
Read if you like: Jon Ronson, contemporary politics, longform journalism.
For dads who love big ideas, science and technology
Clinical psychologist and professor Darby Saxbe explores the science of what fatherhood does to the brain, body and sense of self. Based on two decades of research and one of the only longitudinal studies of men’s brains as they become fathers, Dad Brain is fascinating, reassuring and genuinely useful — an ideal gift for new dads, expectant fathers and anyone interested in the psychology of parenthood.
Read if you like: accessible psychology, parenting nonfiction, popular science.
A provocative exploration of technology, power and the future of society from one of Silicon Valley’s most influential thinkers. Timely, ambitious and packed with big ideas, it’s a perfect read for dads who love debating where the world is heading next.
Read if you like: Yuval Noah Harari, books about AI, innovation and society.
Yuval Noah Harari’s bestselling ideas are brought vividly to life in graphic form, transforming complex ideas about human history into something accessible, visual and hugely entertaining. It’s an ideal choice for curious readers and dads who don’t usually pick up non-fiction.
Read if you like: Factfulness , documentary series, illustrated non-fiction.
Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund go behind the scenes of Labour’s reinvention and return to power under Keir Starmer. Packed with insider detail, sharp reporting and political drama, Get In is a compelling read for dads who follow Westminster, elections and the personalities shaping modern Britain.
Read if you like: Tim Shipman, Andrew Marr, political journalism, books about modern Britain.
A beautifully written celebration of trees and their extraordinary impact on the world around us. Blending science, history and nature writing, The Genius of Trees reveals the hidden intelligence and interconnectedness of the natural world.
Read if you like: Robert Macfarlane, Merlin Sheldrake, nature documentaries.
This sharp and accessible non-fiction title challenges what we think we know about genius, talent and success. Insightful and endlessly discussable, it explores the myths surrounding brilliance and why society is so fascinated by exceptional people.
Read if you like: Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, smart non-fiction.
An engrossing look at the people and breakthroughs shaping artificial intelligence and modern computing. Combining biography, technology and innovation, The Thinking Machine is essential reading for dads fascinated by AI and the future of tech.
Read if you like: Walter Isaacson, Chip War , books about AI.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number one dad book? What are the top ten books for men? What book should I get my dad? What to get a dad who’s hard to buy for? What are the best books for dads who don’t usually read? What are good books for new dads?
Books that explore fatherhood and identity make thoughtful gifts for new fathers. Dad Brain
Which books are best for dads who love history? 