Da Shop’s New Guide to Books for Fathers

We’re always on the hunt for books that celebrate the experience of fatherhood and the many roles that fathers play in our lives. With Father’s Day right around the corner, we’re taking the opportunity to create the ultimate go-to reading list for dads (and for loved ones looking for that perfect Father’s Day gift). From a thrilling sci-fi trilogy by a beloved local author to a national award-winning meditation on basketball and success, our books at Da Shop reflect the wide spectrum of dads’ interests.

In the spirit of embracing the many faces of fatherhood, we’ve assembled a diverse collection of titles, all of which we hope will speak to many different dads.

SEE ALSO: 2024 HONOLULU Book Awards

Photo: Courtesy of Da Shop: Books + Curiosities

Father Time: A Natural History of Men and Babies

by Sarah Blaffer Hrdy

Profound in its insights, Father Time is an anthropological take on the biological and cultural transformations of fatherhood over time. In this new “natural” history, preeminent evolutionary anthropologist Sarah Blaffer Hrdy begins from a place of questions before dismantling everything we might think we know about male nurturing. At the heart of the work, however, is the fundamental question of what it means to be a man. Father Time is an intensively researched book that doesn’t sacrifice engagement or intrigue.

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The Noble Hustle: Poker, Beef Jerky, and Death

by Colson Whitehead

Widely regarded for his two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning titles The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, Colson Whitehead dazzles in this less familiar work that’s no less impactful. In this book of nonfiction, Whitehead recounts his experience accepting an assignment to play at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas—without ever having played in a casino tournament before. It’s an intriguing premise that evokes the joy, heartbreak and nuance of poker culture, all conveyed in Whitehead’s singular prose.

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Sunset, Water City

by Chris McKinney

Sunset, Water City is the final book in the acclaimed sci-fi noir series by local literary sensation Chris McKinney. Set in a future of underwater cities of artificially extended lifespans and a wealth gap that hits a little too close to home, Sunset, Water City powerfully concludes the beloved series while opening up new questions for readers. There’s so much to love about this book, but we gravitate toward Ascalon, daughter of the nameless antihero, who embarks upon an unforgettable journey to save humanity.

SEE ALSO: Honolulu Noir Exposes the Dark Side of the City

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What My Father and I Don’t Talk About: Sixteen Writers Break the Silence

edited by Michele Filgate

This book celebrates the many ways to be a father. A follow-up to the viral sensation What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About, this collection of essays features reflections from 16 notable writers, each one intending to break the silence on the vital connection between a child and their father. Ranging from humorous and playful to deeply moving, the essays found here are ultimately honest examinations of a central parental relationship. A necessary read for fathers and those who have been fathered.

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There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension

by Hanif Abdurraqib

Longlisted for the National Book Award and named a best book of the year by The New York Times Book Review, Time and NPR, Abdurraquib’s There’s Always This Year is a sensational work of nonfiction. Basketball is at the heart of his ruminations, from which animates explorations on history, family, place, and belonging. And while his reflections are keen and gripping, it is the musicality of the poet’s voice that keeps us reading and thinking long after the close of the book.

Da Shop: Books + Curiosities, 3565 Harding Ave., open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., (808) 421-9460, dashophnl.com, @dashophnl