The Best Books to Give for Father’s Day

For history buffs and war fans alike, The Unvanquished introduces the vital shadow war that raged during the Civil War. This is the epic story of Lincoln's special forces, the Jessie Scouts, who hunted John Singleton Mosby's Confederate Rangers from the middle of 1863 to the end of the war at Appomattox. 

They engaged in raids, spy missions, and other special operations that likely changed the war's direction in 1864, particularly through their victory in the Appomattox Campaign. They also took on France and Mexico in a proxy-war that eventually led to many of their disappearances. 

This is a very immersive experience that describe previously unpublished firsthand accounts of the Jessie Scouts' battles. While introducing readers to important characters, O'Donnell also brings to light the ballot fraud, election interference, and attempts at destabilization that were fraught at the time, as well as the Secret Service and Mosby’s Rangers' plans to kidnap Abraham Lincoln in order to maintain the South’s independence. 

The 24th book in the Dave Robicheaux series, Clete is a gripping and violent account of a man's dangerous experience with the cartel. Those who are familiar with the series know Dave Robicheaux, the main protagonist. In this book, Dave's long-time friend Clete Purcel, a PI, ex New Orleans PD member, and war veteran, left his car at the local car wash only to return to find it ransacked by some thugs from the drug trade. 

What the thugs don't know is that his grandniece died of a fentanyl overdose; and he's taken this attack personally. But just as he starts to follow the culprits, Clara Bow, a woman with a dark past, hires him to trail her scheming ex-husband and a series of violent deaths instead. It all leads back to a heavily tattooed man who seems to lurk around every corner. 

At the same time Clete begins experiencing lifelike hallucinations and questioning Clara's true motives, he and Dave get word of a dangerous substance with potentially fatal effects floating around; the thugs who destroyed Clete's car may be wrapped up in something far worse than he thought. 

The Lincoln Miracle is an atmospheric chronicle of Abraham Lincoln's astonishing nomination to lead the Republican Party in 1860's presidential election. Ed Achorn's story begins on Saturday, May 12, 1860, in the midst of a tense political climate. Achorn explains that after years of political failure, Lincoln's quiet strategy made for the most consequential political story in American history. 

Acclaimed WWII historian James Holland paints a picture of a dramatic victory for the underdogs against incredible odds. In February, 1944, a ragtag group of British clerks, drivers, muleteers, and other base troops, as well as a few dogged Yorkshiremen and a few tank crews, were victorious over some of the finest infantry of the Japanese army on their march towards India. Known as the Battle of the Admin Box, the 15-day period turned the battle for Burma. 

The Blues Brothers is a comprehensive overview of the epic friendship between John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, the golden era of improv, and of course, a behind-the-scenes look at how the film was made, scene by scene. 

Based on original research and dozens of interviews from director John Landis, producer Bob Weiss, Aykroyd himself, and others, this book illuminates the childhoods of Belushi and Aykroyd, their contributions to the modern comedic revolution, and the nitty-gritty of the film masterpiece. 

Filled with themed prompts designed to trigger memories, this “fill-in journal and family keepsake” includes sections on everything from childhood and friends to big events, jobs, and much more, all with plenty of space for grandfathers to pass on their life story in a form that families will want to share for generations to come. 

Designed so that it can be used in many different ways, Stories from Grandpa gives opportunities for the older generation to connect with the younger, even among families who are often separated by distance, and makes an ideal gift for Father’s Day. 

On the other hand, maybe you’d like your special Father’s Day gift to go the other way. Jeff Bogle’s unique journal is filled with prompts to help kids – or anyone who has ever been a kid – show how much their dads mean to them. 

“It is almost like a gratitude journal for dads and their kids,” writes Art Eddy, host of the Art of Fatherhood podcast. “You can really create strong bonds with your kids with this book.” With 100 thoughtful prompts, this book is a perfect way to say, “I love you, Dad.” 

Then again, you can split the difference with this journal designed to inspire reflection and connection through open-ended questions for Dad that are tailored to any age or family structure. 

It’s a book that will help families explore questions both playful and profound and the sort of thoughtful gift that “lets any kind of father know that he’s truly loved and valued, and that his life story matters” (Liz Gumbinner, co-host of Spawned Parenting Podcast). 

What are dads known for? Well, lots of things, naturally, but the thing they’re best known for might just be corny jokes. In fact, this style of joke is so inextricably bound up with fatherhood that they’re literally synonymous. 

So, whether you’re getting a gift for a new father who is just coming into his bad joke telling days, or an old hand who thinks he’s heard ‘em all, this indispensable guide to the best (and worst) dad jokes around is perfect to provide further fodder for all those perilous puns. 

There’s a joke meme that occasionally makes the rounds suggesting that, by a certain age, a man has to choose between becoming interested in military history or really invested in smoking meats. 

For those dads who chose the former path, there’s this “gripping” (New York Times Book Review) account of the life of Daniel Ellsberg, the man who, in 1971, released the Pentagon Papers, which showcased the depths of the deceptions that had been involved in the Vietnam War. “Sheinkin has done again what he does so well,” raves Publishers Weekly, “condense mountains of research into a concise, accessible and riveting account of history.” 

For those dads who opt for the “smoking meat” option, on the other hand, there may be no more perfect gift than this “super introduction to smoking great food” (Jack Waiboer, Founder of the Carolina Pit Masters Barbecue Cooking School). 

Filled with more than 75 recipes (including Foolproof Baby Back Ribs), this “ultimate beginner’s guide” gives every would-be pit master all the tools he (or she) needs to smoke up some of the best barbecue around. The five “First Smoke” recipes are a perfect place for even a novice barbecue chef to get started and will have the neighbors coming over to ask about that delicious smell in no time! 

No matter where you live, there might be outdoor adventure waiting just outside your own back door, and all you need to find it is this “well-organized resource” (Library Journal) that will guide you to some of the best campsites and other outdoor accommodations in all 50 states! 

From national parks to hidden gems, this journey through more than 300 of America’s best campsites and outdoor destinations is the perfect gift for the outdoor enthusiast in your life this Father’s Day! 

Of course, once you’re out there in the great outdoors, things suddenly get a lot more complicated. There’s no electricity, and there may not even be a phone signal. What do you do when something goes wrong? You’ll hope that you have one of these handy Outdoor School books from the Odd Dot team. 

Made of durable Tyvek material, these handy guides are waterproof, tear-proof, and pocket-sized, and filled with helpful survival tips for the outdoor enthusiast, from how to identify poisonous plants to guides for pitching a tent and starting a fire. 

With 103 confirmed kills, Chuck Mawhinney is the most lethal sniper in Marine Corps history. This notoriety led him to begin training others in long distance shooting, but his story remained untold until it was put together by his friend Jim Lindsay into this “astonishing and gripping history of one of the most lethal snipers in US military history” (Nicholas Irving, U.S. Army special operations sniper and New York Times bestselling author). 

If there’s one thing dads famously love almost as much as corny jokes it’s odd facts, and there are plenty of unexpected facts in this “clever and curious” book (Publishers Weekly). Writing with “admirable clarity, authority, and wisdom” (Kirkus Reviews), Carl Sagan Award-winning author Bill Hammack (aka The Engineer Guy) brings to life a history of just about everything humans have ever built, from ancient stone arches to the modern soda can. 

Yale psychology professor Woo-Kyoung Ahn introduced a course simply called “Thinking” that helped to show students how their own biases and other “thinking problems” affected their everyday lives. 

The result was one of the university’s most popular courses and now, in this “heady volume” (Publishers Weekly) that is nonetheless written accessibly, she brings “evidence-based advice that has real potential to improve lives” (Science) outside the classroom and into the hands of anyone – including your dad this Father’s Day.