34 Books for Every Type of Dad this Father's Day

Whether you're celebrating Dad, Step-Dad, Grandad, Uncles, or any of the other wonderful role models in your life, this Father's Day let us help you find the perfect gift for the people who mean so much to you!

For the dads who read with their children

How to Train a Dad by Sally Barns

If you are reading this manual then you have decided to take on one of life's most difficult challenges ...? Training a dad.? We'll start with the basics, like tea parties and bear hugs. Soon you'll unlock trickier features, like dad jokes.(But be careful - some of these features are hard to switch off!)

Dads and Dogs by Mick Elliot

Dads and Dogs is a romp of a picture book featuring lots of different dads of with all their different dogs. A joyful celebration of togetherness, and the all the fun, chaos, mischief and laughter that dad's best friend brings to the family.

My Dad Thinks He's Funny by Katrina Germein

My dad doesn't like babysitting. He says no one should sit on babies. My dad doesn't eat seafood. He says there's something fishy about it. My dad doesn't lie in bed. He says you should always tell the truth. My dad thinks he's funny.

What Do You Call Your Dad? by Ashleigh Barton

In every country around the world are dads - some short, some tall. Though they go by different names, we love them one and all. A heartfelt and charming book that celebrates the many different ways we say dad.

Grandpa's Guide to Happiness by Andrew Daddo

My grandpa says the funniest things. He says the happiest days are the busiest days, and there's usually a stack of things to do.It's always fun spending time with Grandpa -- fixing things in the shed, doing some gardening, fishing at the pier or telling jokes in the backyard.

For the dads who likes sport

Frosty by Mark Winterbottom

The incredible true story of the boy from Blacktown who became a Bathurst king. Mark Winterbottom's story is unlike any other in motorsport. It's not about privilege or million-dollar sponsors - it's the tale of a working-class kid with a dream so big it defied the odds. He might have won the bike that secured his start, but there was nothing lucky about Winterbottom's career.

The 100 Funniest Moments in Cricket by Dan Liebke

A glorious jaunt down the wicket of Australian cricket's funniest moments. From Alex Price's on-field karaoke session to Rob Quiney's resurrection of a dead seagull and Shane Watson's formidably funny front pad, these are the moments of physical slapstick and verbal repartee that make Australian cricket unique. Some moments are instant classics while some take decades to pay off and, naturally, some involve players getting hit in the nuts.

Pissants by Brandon Jack

Fangs, Stick, Squidman and Noodles speak in a cryptic code of inside jokes and WhatsApp exchanges, chained to each other by their place on the outskirts of the team. Together, these characters present a jaw-dropping snapshot of life within the chaotic world of a professional sports club. The psychotic rituals. The dementing cliches. The adulation. The pressure. The broken staff. The despair. The life-saving friendships. The flatlining sexual encounters. The towering egos. A brutally hilarious, unhinged and at times surprisingly moving insider’s glimpse into one anonymous footy club – and what might happen behind the headlines, off the field and out of sight.

Golf: Stroke by Stroke by Brian Crowell

Learn the game and perfect your technique with this guide to golf for beginners. Golf is a popular hobby sport, but if you've never picked up a club before, it's hard to know where to begin. Geared for the absolute beginner, Golf Stroke by Stroke is a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to head to the golf course with confidence.

For the dads who like music

No Secrets: An Oz-Rock memoir of music and mayhem by Graham Bidstrup

Imagine stepping into a packed Australian pub in the mid-1970s and the late 1980s - the heyday of the pub-rock music scene - where the air was thick with the unmistakable scent of beer, sweat and pot, and the atmosphere was electrifying. Australian pubs were then the epicentre of a musical revolution soundtracked by a heady mix of growling guitars, thumping bass, pounding drums and adoring fans. This golden era gave birth to some of the country's most iconic and beloved rock music - and Graham 'Buzz' Bidstrup was at the heart of it all.

Live Forever: The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Oasis by John Robb

Think Oasis was just Britpop and brawls? Think again. In this, the definitive book on Britain's biggest band, John Robb peels back the layers of Manchester's best known musical export, revealing a tale of ambition, ego, talent, and a whole lot of attitude. From the gritty pubs of Manchester to the dizzying heights of global stardom, this unauthorized biography is a rollercoaster ride through the Gallagher brothers' turbulent lives and the music that defined a generation.

The Science of Music: How Technology Has Shaped the Evolution of an Art Form by Andrew May

Music is shaped by the science of sound. How can music - an artform - have anything to do with science? Yet there are myriad ways in which the two are intertwined, from the basics of music theory and the design of instruments to hi-fi systems and how the brain processes music. Science writer Andrew May traces the surprising connections between science and music, from the theory of sound waves to the way musicians use mathematical algorithms to create music.

For the dads who like a thrilling read

I Catch Killers: The Life and Many Deaths of a Homicide Detective by Gary Jubelin

Serial killings, child abductions, organised crime hits and domestic murders. This is the memoir of a homicide detective. Gary Jubelin was one of Australia's most celebrated detectives, leading investigations into the disappearance of preschooler William Tyrrell, the serial killing of three Aboriginal children in Bowraville and the brutal gangland murder of Terry Falconer. "They tell you not to let a case get personal, but I think it has to. Each one has taken a piece out of me and added a piece, until there's only pieces."

Clown Town by Mick Herron

Old spies grow ridiculous, River. Old spies aren't much better than clowns. Or so David Cartwright used to say, but he forgot to add they can be dangerous too, especially if they've fallen on hard times - as Diana Taverner learns when the past lands on her desk. An operation carried out during the height of the Troubles laid bare the ugly side of state security, and those involved are threatening to expose details. But every threat hides an opportunity, and the would-be blackmailer is soon being used as Taverner's solution to a much newer problem.

The Wolf Who Cried Boy by Mark Mupotsa-Russell

Six-year-old Henry believes his life is a fairytale. He's a Star Prince, his mum is a Star Queen and they're hiding from Henry's father, the mysterious 'Wolf King'. When news arrives that his Grandma is gravely ill, Henry and his mum must take a road trip across the country and back into the Wolf King's orbit. Henry isn't afraid: he knows his magic powers will save them. But as the King draws ever closer, Henry's world starts to fall apart. Who is the real baddie in his life? Who can he trust? And why don't his powers seem to work?

The Ice Man: Confessions of Mafia Contract Killer by Philip Carlo

Richard "The Ice Man" Kuklinski led a double life beyond anything ever seen on The Sopranos, becoming one of the most notorious professional assassins in American history while hosting neighborhood barbecues in suburban New Jersey. For an additional price, he would make victims suffer; he conducted this sadistic business with cold-hearted intensity, never disappointing his customers. By his own estimate, he killed over two hundred men, taking enormous pride in his variety and ferocity of technique. Now, after 240 hours of face-to-face interviews with Kuklinski and his wife and daughters, author Philip Carlo tells his extraordinary story.

The Final Chapter by January Gilchrist

An exclusive writing retreat in the Blue Mountains, perched on the edge of a forest steeped in the horrors of Australia's worst serial killer - and no one knows just who is watching. Desley Barron is ready to prove her doubters, and herself, wrong about her flagging writing career. This reclusive house is the last place anyone will think to look for high-profile author Colette Halifax, which is perfect as she hides from a looming scandal. Meanwhile, Maia McKenzie has plans that don't involve writing at all. She's schemed to ensure the one person she wants to see is here - the man who almost killed her mother. All have a secret. All will do anything to keep it hidden. When a storm unleashes its fury and they're trapped, a body is left in the snow ... and any one of them could be next.

For the dads who like history

Blamey: The story of Australia's greatest general by Brent D. Taylor

From Gallipoli to Kokoda and beyond - the story of our greatest general and the power, politics and tragedy of command General Sir Thomas Blamey, Commander-in-Chief of Australian Military Forces during World War II, was our highest-ranking soldier, and arguably our most controversial. Blamey was an abrasive and shrewd commander, who could act both decisively and brutally, creating enemies within and outside the military. That reputation, encouraged in the years after the war by his rivals, has followed him ever since. Without glossing over Blamey's prickly character or the controversial incidents he was involved in, Brent Taylor challenges the popular view of Blamey as a testy, aloof man out of touch with, and disloyal to his troops.

Black Convicts: How slavery shaped Australia by Santilla Chingaipe

On the First Fleet of 1788, at least ten men of African descent were transported as convicts. By 1840 that number had risen to nearly 500. Among them was a man who became Australia's first bushranger, and another who became the ferryman whose name was given to Sydney's Blues Point. But although some of these lives were often documented and their likenesses depicted, their stories have been erased from history. Black Convicts recovers some of these fascinating stories, following the lives, conviction, transportation, and in some instances the fate of these people in exile, uncovering the complexities of Australian colonisation and changing the way we view Australian history.

Classical Mythology of the Constellations by Annette Giesecke

For the ancient Greeks and Romans, the Sun, Moon, and Earth were gods. The stars beyond our Solar System, however, represented heroes, animals, and monsters that the gods placed in the sky after their death. These include the great hunter Orion and the scorpion who killed him with its sting, the beautiful maiden Callisto who was turned into a bear (Ursa Major) by the goddess Hera, Perseus, the slayer of Medusa, and many more. In this beautifully designed work, stunningly illustrated by Jim Tierney, Giesecke tells the origin stories of the 48 constellations, first catalogued by the astronomer Ptolemy in the first century CE.

History's Strangest Deaths: A Half-Arsed History book by Riley Knight

Many people are supremely unimaginative in death, embracing the tired old cliché of dying peacefully in their sleep surrounded by loved ones. History's Strangest Deaths has tracked down those select few who have instead made their mark in the history books by exiting this world in thrillingly unconventional ways. From a classical Greek playwright killed by a tortoise dropping out of the sky to an ancient Chinese duke falling into a toilet; from a Viking raider bitten by a severed head to a lawyer shooting himself to prove a legal point; from two French kings killed by door frames to two British parliamentarians who were killed by turnips-there are countless amusing, farcical, absurd, and ultimately very strange deaths from across history.

Silk Silver Opium: The Trade with China that Changed History by Michael Pembroke

Much about China's modern relationship with the West is the product of its past inter-reactions, conflicts, victories and humiliations. The South China Sea was the place from where the ultimately destructive European sailing ships arrived. The Ryukyu Island chain was the place from where marauding Japanese pirates preyed mercilessly on China's east coast ports. Taiwan was where anti-Qing rebels established a stronghold in the seventeenth century. The story of imperial China's trading relationship with the West is a powerful tale, with clear implications for the future. Silk Silver Opium tells the dramatic story of trade between China and the West and how it changed the world.

For the dads who like to work on themselves

How Not to Become a Grumpy Old Bugger: A Bloke's Guide to Living a Better Life by Geoff Hutchison

As a talkback radio host, Geoff Hutchison has met many grumps. They are the unhappy husbands, the disengaged grandfathers and the angry 'letters to the editor' writers. They sneer at generational change, know exactly where that bloody apostrophe should go and gather in sad groups bemoaning the modern world. They are Grumpy Old Buggers. Geoff became determined not to turn into one himself upon retirement. What is it about ageing that tends to have this effect on Australian men, and what can be done to arrest that development? Consulting a wide range of experts and mining his own experience and that of the other men in his life, Geoff has discovered how we can all live a happier, healthier and less grumpy life.

Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results by James Clear

People think when you want to change your life, you need to think big. But world-renowned habits expert James Clear has discovered another way. He knows that real change comes from the compound effect of hundreds of small decisions. He calls them atomic habits. In this ground-breaking book, Clears reveals exactly how these minuscule changes can grow into such life-altering outcomes. He uncovers a handful of simple life hacks (the forgotten art of Habit Stacking, the unexpected power of the Two Minute Rule, or the trick to entering the Goldilocks Zone), and delves into cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience to explain why they matter.

Behind the Mask by Josh Piterman

How to be who you are, not what you do, from the Australian star of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables.
"Ultimately, I would like to help you step out from behind the masks you wear, the persona you have created. I want to give you the strategies and the confidence to understand and accept who you really are - because until you ditch the distractions and learn to love yourself as 'nobody', you will never truly love yourself as 'somebody'. You need to understand who you always were before you can realise who you might become."

The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life by Steven Bartlett

Strategy changes like the seasons. This is a book about something much more permanent. At the very heart of all the success and failure I've been exposed to - both my own entrepreneurial journey and through the thousands of interviews I've conducted on my podcast - are a set of principles that can stand the test of time, apply to any industry, and be used by anyone who is search of building something great or becoming someone great. These are the fundamental laws that will ensure excellence.

What's Your Dream? by Simon Squibb

What's my purpose? What do I really want? Do I have the power to make it happen? Simon Squibb is on a mission to change people's lives for the better. Here, he shares the hard-won life lessons from his years in the business world plus his own personal life, from facing homelessness as a teenager to selling a multi-million pound business, and now inspiring a new generation of budding entrepreneurs. Simon will empower readers to identify their own meaningful goals, to remove the barriers that stand in the way, and ultimately to build a richer life. Sometimes, it just takes one person to believe in you...

For the dads who like politics

Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit

Rebecca Solnit makes a radical case for hope as a commitment to act in a world whose future remains uncertain and unknowable. Drawing on her decades of activism and a wide reading of environmental, cultural, and political history, Solnit argues that radicals have a long, neglected history of transformative victories, that the positive consequences of our acts are not always immediately seen, directly knowable, or even measurable, and that pessimism and despair rest on an unwarranted confidence about what is going to happen next.

Abundance: How we build a better future by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson

In Abundance, veteran journalists Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson reveal the structural, economic and political forces that have led to the America, and much of the liberal world, of today: where scarcity and preservation drive the agenda, and we have forgotten how to deliver on big ideas. Decades of slashing immigration, off-shoring manufacture, preventing house-building and stalling ambitious infrastructure projects like high-speed rail means America has a shortage of workers, houses, innovative products and climate-change solutions. Here, the authors lay out the barriers to consequential action, and how we can overcome them to actively build a better, more abundant future.

One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad

As an immigrant, Omar El Akkad believed the West would be a place of freedom and justice for all. But in the past twenty years, reporting on the various Wars on Terror, Ferguson, climate change, Black Lives Matter protests and more, and watching the slaughter in Gaza, he has come to the conclusion that much of what the West promises is a lie. This powerful book is a chronicle of that painful realisation, a moral grappling with what it means - as a citizen of the US, as a father - to carve out some sense of possibility during these devastating times

A Few Rules for Predicting the Future by Octavia E Butler

'There's no single answer that will solve all our future problems. There's no magic bullet. Instead there are thousands of answers. You can be one of them if you choose to be'. Honest and wise advice from legendary writer and Afrofuturist pioneer, Octavia E. Butler - for anyone who wants to shape our future into something good.

What Trump's Second Term Means for Australia by Bruce Wolpe

Seeping into Australia from above and below, Trumpism has contaminated public debate, emboldened local political and religious extremists, diminished Australia's economy and international relations-and much more. Wolpe predicts America's democracy won't survive a second Trump term. The implications for Australia and for the world are shocking. He explains how Australia can draw on its strengths to protect its democracy, economy and society from Trumpism, and where Australia is vulnerable and needs to build guardrails. He warns Australia might also face an existential question about ties with its most important ally.

For the dads who like a laugh

Dad Jokes: Greatest of All Time

Instagram sensation @DadSaysJokes returns with another superb selection of hilariously cheesy jokes that will have your friends and family laughing and groaning in equal measure.

Two Doting Dads: The Quest for Free Time by Ashton Wicks and Matthew Johnson

Whatever they do and wherever they go, the children are there, casting a shadow over them and ruining their plans.
With the seemingly never-ending demands of parenthood - whether it is potty training, toddler tantrums, or a troop of monkeys attacking a babysitter (well, of course!) - something always stands in the way of a good time. Put simply, Matty and Ash can't catch a break.