Best Parenting Books for Fathers: 5 Compared

Fatherhood comes with no manual, but the best parenting books for fathers come close. This list compares five titles on author, pages and publisher, and ranks them by the Shelf Score.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The New Dad's Playbook	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	The New Father	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Parenting by Paul David Tripp	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	You Have What It Takes	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
5	How to Lead Your Family	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

The New Dad's Playbook

Benjamin Watson·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 208-page game plan for new dads; veteran fathers should skip it.

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Pros

• Written for men joining Team Dad.
• 208 pages by Benjamin Watson, father of five.
• Published by Baker Books.

Cons

• No reading age is stated.
• No grade level is stated.
• The sports framing suits some readers only.

2

The New Father

Armin A. Brott·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 336-page month-by-month first-year guide; non-new dads should skip it.

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Pros

• Month-by-month overview of the first year.
• 336 pages by Armin A. Brott, book 1 of 3.
• Published by Abbeville Press.

Cons

• No reading age is stated.
• No grade level is stated.
• The length suits reference, not one sitting.

3

Parenting by Paul David Tripp

Paul David Tripp·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

14 gospel principles with study questions; non-faith readers should skip it.

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Pros

• 14 gospel principles that shape parenting.
• 240 pages, now with study questions.
• By Paul David Tripp, published by Crossway.

Cons

• No reading age is stated.
• No grade level is stated.
• The gospel framing suits some readers only.

4

You Have What It Takes

John Eldredge·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 64-page guide by John Eldredge; long-read fans should skip it.

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Pros

• Written by John Eldredge, a counselor and father of three.
• 64 pages, a short read.
• Published by Thomas Nelson.

Cons

• No reading age is stated.
• No grade level is stated.
• At 64 pages it is the shortest here.

5

How to Lead Your Family

Joel R. Beeke·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An 80-page biblical roadmap for men; non-faith readers should skip it.

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Pros

• A biblical roadmap for men.
• 80 pages by Joel R. Beeke.
• Published by Reformation.

Cons

• No reading age is stated.
• No grade level is stated.
• At 80 pages it is brief.

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Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 20 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. None of the five states a reading age, so the scores rest on fit, contents and value. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best parenting books for fathers

Match the season of fatherhood

The five cover different seasons: The New Father is a month-by-month guide to the first year at 336 pages, The New Dad’s Playbook is the game plan for new dads by a father of five, and the other three are short guides on leading a family with faith. Our best parenting books for infants list covers the earliest days in more depth.

Pick the length you will finish

Lengths run from 64 to 336 pages: You Have What It Takes at 64 pages and How to Lead Your Family at 80 pages suit a busy week, Parenting at 240 pages and The New Dad’s Playbook at 208 pages suit a month, and The New Father at 336 pages suits a year of reference. Browse the self-improvement shelf for more growth-focused reads.

Faith-based or practical

Three of the five are faith-based: Parenting by Paul David Tripp with 14 gospel principles and study questions, How to Lead Your Family by Joel R. Beeke with a biblical roadmap, and You Have What It Takes by John Eldredge. The other two are practical: The New Dad’s Playbook and The New Father, the latter from the author of the million-selling Expectant Father.

Before you buy

• Check the length: from 64 to 336 pages across the five.
• Check the angle: faith-based principles or practical first-year guidance.
• Check the season: first-year guides versus ongoing leadership guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book is best for a new dad?

The New Dad’s Playbook by Benjamin Watson: 208 pages, written for men joining Team Dad, from a Super Bowl champion and father of five.

Which covers the first year?

The New Father by Armin A. Brott: 336 pages with a month-by-month overview of the baby’s first year, book 1 of 3.

Which is the shortest?

You Have What It Takes by John Eldredge at 64 pages, published by Thomas Nelson.

Which has study questions?

Parenting by Paul David Tripp: 240 pages, 14 gospel principles, now with study questions, published by Crossway.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe New Dad's Playbook

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Related lists

See every self-improvement list and all nonfiction lists.

More lists: parenting books for girl dads, parenting books for grandparents and parenting books for infants.