7 Books to Give Dad for Father’s Day

THESE GREAT READS ARE PERFECT PICKS FOR HIS PRESSIE

DEAR DAD BY SAMUEL JOHNSON

Another beauty from the Love Your Sister hero, raising money for cancer research, this collection of letters written by notable Australians to their fathers should be at the top of every dad’s present pile. Funny, touching and heartwarming, these letters share regrets, secrets, memories and dreams from personalities including John Paul Young and Kathy Lette.

THE FATHER HOOD BY LUKE BENEDICTUS, JEREMY MACVEAN AND ANDREW MCUTCHEN

With interviews from celeb dads and stepdads such as Hugh Jackman and Osher Gunsberg, as well as parenting experts, this book celebrates modern fatherhood. It’s also an inspiring how-to guide for a new generation of fathers who are more hands-on than previous ones.

THE STRONG MAN BY GRANT EDWARDS

A frank and powerful memoir from Australia’s strongest man and one of our highest ranked police officers. Edwards writes with candour about the mental health challenges he faced as a result of his police work and career as a security advisor in East Timor and Afghanistan. An extraordinary tale about life before, and with, PTSD.

THE GAP BY BENJAMIN GILMOUR

Who better to tell the inside story of one overheated and stressful Sydney summer than a paramedic on the front line? In this hair-raising ride, Gilmour writes about the emergencies, time-pressured decisions and all manner of life-threatening situations. Despite the seriousness of the subject, there’s plenty of humour along the way.

I LOVE MY DAD

BECAUSE BY PETRA JAMES AND ALISSA DINALLO

This is a lovely interactive picture book for younger children to give and share with their dads. The pages should spark the kids’ imagination and it’s something they can return and add to over the months and years ahead. Even better, it’ll be a precious keepsake for the family to look back on in the future.

SURF BY DAY, JAM BY NIGHT BY ASH GRUNWALD

If the dad in your life loves his surf and music, then this one is definitely for him. The acclaimed Australian blues musician writes about the connection between his two great passions, taking to the road to interview the likes of Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Dave Rastovich, Pete Murray and Jack Johnson.

STATE OF FEAR BY TIM AYLIFFE

If a sharp, nail-biting thriller is more Dad’s style, then this homegrown novel from Ayliffe, ABC News’ managing editor of television and video, will have him hooked from the start. John Bailey is a war correspondent trying to live a quiet life, when the terrorist who kidnapped and tortured him years earlier returns with a deadly axe to grind.