Dad Brain
The New Science of Fatherhood and How it Shapes Men's Lives
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected 11 Jun 2026
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- £12.99
Publisher Description
A groundbreaking exploration of how fatherhood transforms men’s brains, bodies, health, skills and relationships
In recent years men’s attitudes to fatherhood have changed dramatically. But only now are we learning how profoundly fatherhood changes men’s brains and biology – and the effects these changes have on their health, skills, relationships and sense of purpose.
In Dad Brain, one of the world’s leading researchers of fatherhood, Darby Saxbe, provides a captivating account of this new science, packed with insights into how different approaches to fatherhood affect not only men but the whole family. Among its many revelations are that:
• Fathers’ brains shrink and their testosterone drops
• Fathers undergo a host of hormonal changes once thought only to affect women
• Fathers can suffer post-partum depression but enjoy better long-term health
• Fathers make for better managers and their style of play makes their kids more resilient
• In the West fathers typically get less sleep than mothers, but mothers get worse sleep than fathers
• Dads who do more housework are generally happier
• A majority of women prefer ‘dad bods’
Above all, Dad Brain shows that men are wired to participate in care just as women are, but that many of these adaptations only come online when fathers invest time and practice into parenthood. The more they do, the more their brains and bodies change, the better they get at it. Ultimately it shows a good father is not something you are, it is something you become.
‘Entertaining and fascinating … a must-read’ Eve Rodsky
‘A wonderful book … from an accomplished scientist’ Antonio Damasio
‘Masterful, science-packed, offering unique and practical insights’ Daniel J. Siegel
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Psychologist Saxbe debuts with a compassionate examination of how fatherhood changes men's minds and bodies. Noting that active fathers are rare in the animal kingdom, where the males of only 5% to 10% of mammal species take part in caring for their young, Saxbe theorizes that involved dads are a crucial part of humanity's success. New fathers can experience hormonal shifts leading to perinatal depression, a phenomenon that, though it's lesser-known than women's postpartum depression, is equally important to treat, according to the author. In addition to affecting men's quality of life, depression and anxiety during their infant's early days can impair bonding and children's long-term well-being. Fatherhood impacts physical health, too: the "dad bod" can be traced to sleep disruptions, hormonal shifts, and mood changes. But fatherhood also leads to positive changes. For instance, when fathers regularly engage in physical play, their children are more likely to be confident and curious and to follow rules. The role of fatherhood has shifted in recent decades, meaning many of today's dads may not have grown up with healthy models, Saxbe writes, but men who choose to challenge ingrained cultural stereotypes surrounding masculinity and care work are often rewarded with more meaningful lives. Smart and uplifting, this is a powerful resource for dads and dads-to-be.
