The Life of Dad

The Making of a Modern Father

By: Dr Anna Machin

Narrated by: Rose Akroyd, Luke Thompson

Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

The story of fatherhood and what it means to be a father today, based on a decade-long study of new and expectant fathers.

Becoming a father is one of most common but also one of the most profoundly life-altering experiences a man can have. It is up there with puberty, falling in love and experiencing your first loss. Fifty years ago a father’s role was assumed to be clear: he went to work; he provided the paycheque; and he acted as a disciplinarian when he got home. But today a father’s role is much more fluid and complex.

Dr Anna Machin has spent the past decade working with new and expectant fathers, studying the experiences of fathers and the questions fathers have: ‘Will fatherhood change me?’ ‘How do other men fulfil the role?’ ‘How can I help my child grow into a healthy, happy adult?’

In The Life of Dad, Dr Machin draws on her research and the latest findings in genetics, neuroscience and psychology to tell the story of fatherhood. She will show the extraordinary physiological changes a man undergoes when he becomes a father, investigate how a man’s genes can influence what sort of father he will be, and show how a dad makes a unique contribution to his child’s life, helping to foster independence of mind and spirit. Throughout the book, listeners will encounter the voices of real dads, expectant and established, as well as fascinating insights into fatherhood from across the globe.

The Life of Dad throws out the old stereotypes of fatherhood in an entertaining and informative journey through the role of dad - helping you decide what sort of father you want to be.

©2018 Dr. Anna Machin. All rights reserved (P)2018 Simon & Schuster, UK. All Rights Reserved.

Critic reviews

"A tour-de-force exploration of the forgotten half of the parenthood business. Essential reading for every expectant dad...and mum." (Robin Dunbar, professor of evolutionary psychology, University of Oxford)

LIFTS YOUR SPIRIT AND CONFIDENCE AS A DAD. GREAT!

YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE LEARNING ! GO DAD! WE BELIEVE IN YOU.

Great read on the role of fatherhood

I really enjoyed this book. It takes a "nerdy" approach to explaining the importance and impact of fatherhood. (I mean nerdy in a positive way, it has excellent details.) I am a first time father and this book helped me (as well as my wife) understand many aspects of parenthood and how fathers have just as much instinct and skills in parenthood as mothers. I found the studies referenced in the book were facinating and very enlightening. I also found it encouraging, supportive, and understanding.

the importance of dads

equal parts evolutionary bio, evolutionary psych, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and other sciences this layperson missed. thoroughly researched and well-told story of dad's important role in the family and, thus, society. expertly written and perfectly narrated audio edition.

Rarely you hear dads being portrayed so positively

It's packed with information and unique perspectives. "Dad is an integral part of the parenting team"

Data and insights dating back 500m years not just current society influences.

Back with broad sources of data challenging current beliefs that do not appear to have same amount of supporting data of the importance of dads in children upbringing.

USA, I am a dad, Grandfathe & a great grandfather

You've tricked my expectation of your examination report of what is a father or what it means to be a father. I thought, but this book seems about something else.