Recs & Resources
Below are the books and podcasts I found especially helpful when I became a father after 40. The selection contains affiliate links, so if you buy any of the books, I’ll earn some coffee money — at no extra cost to you — which will help fuel future episodes of the podcast.
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The Art of Making Memories
A thoughtful guide to how intentional moments can be crafted into lasting memories and help older dads create meaningful experiences with their kids.
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Big Magic
A creative, empowering guide that encourages older dads to embrace curiosity and pursue passion projects, showing that parenting and personal creativity can coexist.
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The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read
A compassionate, psychology-driven book that can help older dads break negative cycles and build emotionally rich relationships with their children.
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Cribsheet
An evidence-based manual for new parents, offering clear advice on baby care and parenting — perfect for older dads who appreciate research-backed solutions.
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The Dad Whisperer
Expert advice on communication and relationship-building, giving dads the tools to navigate the complexities of fatherhood with emotional intelligence.
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The Daily Dad
Bite-sized, wisdom-filled reflections that help career-driven fathers integrate Stoic philosophy into everyday parenting.
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Expecting Better
A data-driven, no-nonsense guide to pregnancy that helps older dads make informed decisions based on evidence rather than fear or tradition.
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Fourth Trimester Podcast
Expert advice and personal stories to guide new parents through the first few months after birth — great for dads trying to navigate early fatherhood.
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The Gardener and the Carpenter
A science-backed guide that encourages older dads to let go of control and embrace a nurturing, open-ended approach to parenting.
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Good Inside
A practical and empathetic approach to discipline that can help older dads replace control-based parenting with connection-driven guidance.
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The Happiness Curve
Valuable insights for older dads, showing that midlife’s challenges are temporary and part of a natural cycle that leads to increased happiness in later years.
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The Joy of Missing Out
A refreshing counterpoint to hustle culture, offering older dads a thoughtful approach to simplifying life and finding joy in saying "no" to overcommitment.
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A Life's Work
A brutally honest account of early motherhood that can help fathers over 40 better understand the identity shifts and emotional upheaval their partners experience.
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The Whole-Brain Child
A neuroscience-based guide that gives logical, actionable strategies to help dads foster emotional intelligence in their children.
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Wintering
A thoughtful meditation on resilience and rest, offering older fathers reassurance that parenthood — like life — has seasons that require patience and adaptation.