Bodley Head Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How it Shapes Men's Lives | Hardcover

Discover the groundbreaking science behind how fatherhood fundamentally transforms men. Written by leading researcher Darby Saxbe, Dad Brain offers a captivating exploration of the profound changes occurring in men’s brains, biology, health, skills, and relationships when they become fathers.

This book challenges old stereotypes by revealing that men are biologically wired to participate actively in caregiving. Learn how investing time in parenthood unlocks crucial adaptations that lead to better parenting and personal fulfillment, illustrating that a good father is something you become through action.

• Examines how fathers’ brains shrink and testosterone levels drop following the birth of a child.
• Details hormonal changes in fathers previously thought to affect only women.
• Discusses the reality of paternal post-partum depression alongside evidence for better long-term health outcomes for involved fathers.
• Shows how a father's style of play contributes to their children's resilience.
• Reveals that dads who participate more in housework generally report higher levels of happiness.

Authored by Darby Saxbe, one of the world's foremost researchers on fatherhood, this book synthesizes deep research to debunk the myth that parenting does not come naturally to men.

• Author: Darby Saxbe
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Print Length: 304 pages
• Publication Date: June 11, 2026
• ISBN-10: 1847928803
• ISBN-13: 978-1847928801
• Dimensions: 162 x 242 x 30mm
• Weight: 500 g

Dad Brain is an essential read for any father seeking to understand the biological and relational shifts of parenthood, providing valuable, accessible science on what it means to be a modern dad.