Father’s Day 2016 is Sunday, June 19! We think a book makes the perfect gift for your favorite father figure, and our suggestions include brand-new history, science, finance, and thriller selections — perfect for reclining in a La-Z-Boy or hanging out in a hammock. (Want more book ideas, both fiction and nonfiction? Check out our Summer 2016 Book Preview.)

Book Gifts for Dad

The Bad-Ass Librarians of TimbuktuThe Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: And Their Race to Save the World’s Most Precious Manuscripts
Author: Joshua Hammer
Ignore the awful title, because the true story behind it is actually pretty cool. This is the story of Abdel Kader Haidara, a government archivist and historian from Timbuktu who spent the 1980s traveling across the Sahara Desert and Niger River hunting down tens of thousands of ancient Islamic and secular manuscripts to preserve. In 2012, Al Qaeda militants from Africa occupied Timbuktu and the surrounding region, and as part of their harsh regime, they threatened to destroy the libraries and archives full of historical documents. Haidara and his brave collaborators organized a resistance effort to smuggle 350,000 volumes out of Timbuktu to safety. Any book-loving dad who feels queasy when thinking about the Library of Alexandria will get chills reading about this real-life literary heist.

 

 

 

Blood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm XBlood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X
Authors: Randy Roberts, Johnny Smith
I’m probably signing myself up for a Dad Lecture by admitting this, but I had no idea that recently deceased boxer Muhammad Ali and activist Malcolm X actually were friends! It’s true, though: in 1962, Malcolm X decided that Cassius Clay (as he was then known) was an ideal way to spread the word about the Nation of Islam. They quickly became pals, although the friendship was kept secret to avoid risking Clay’s boxing career, and Clay became a radical reformer in his private life. Malcolm X transformed Clay into Muhammad Ali, a symbol of black pride and independence. But when Malcolm X was kicked out of the Nation of Islam for criticizing its leader, Ali dumped Malcolm X. It was the death of this “fatal friendship” that ultimately contributed to Malcolm’s 1965 assassination. Dads who love sports, history, and politics (or all three!) will find this an engrossing and timely read.

 

 

 

Chain of TitleChain of Title: How Three Ordinary Americans Uncovered Wall Street’s Great Foreclosure Fraud
Author: David Dayen
Here’s the side of the Great Recession that The Big Short didn’t cover. Lisa Epstein, Michael Redman, and Lynn Szymoniak were ordinary American citizens — and home foreclosure victims. While trying to understand what had happened, they studied their mortgage documents closely. They uncovered the deceit and manipulation behind the documents and decided to build a nationwide movement to expose the truth. The resulting scandal was huge, describing how “foreclosure fraud” evicted millions of families from their homes based on false evidence by mortgage companies that had no legal right to foreclose. This fascinating, suspenseful story is more of a page-turner than any book about money has a right to be. Perfect for the penny-pinching dad or any dad who has non-ironically referred to “The Man” keeping him down.

 

 

 

the-geneThe Gene: An Intimate History
Author: Siddhartha Mukherjee
If this surprisingly readable book about the history of genetics had been around when I was in high school, maybe I would have gotten better grades! Pulitzer Prize-winning author Siddartha Mukherjee approaches the science of genetics from a personal angle: the multi-generational strain of mental illness that runs through his family, and which might someday affect him or his children. From ancient Greek thinkers speculating about the origin of life to Mendel’s seminal but unappreciated-in-his-own-time pea plants, genetics was pretty much completely misunderstood until the last century, and the history of how we went from wild speculation to dazzling feats of understanding and manipulation is enthralling. It’s genetics that even an English major can understand!

 

 

 

Grunt by Mary RoachGrunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War
Author: Mary Roach
It’s been a couple of years since Mary Roach’s last wacky-science book (2014’s Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal) and I’m ready for more. Grunt takes on the science of military life from a soldier’s point of view, from uniform design to healthcare logistics and the love-hate relationship with military food. From paintball courses to acting studios, Roach seeks out the obscure and absurd to learn more about a soldier’s life, with plenty of fun facts and corny jokes along the way. Just be ready for a deluge of gross-out fun facts, and avoid discussing the book at meals.

 

 

 

 

Jefferson's America: The President, the Purchase, and the Explorers Who Transformed a Nation Jefferson’s America: The President, the Purchase, and the Explorers Who Transformed a Nation
Author: Julie M. Fenster
What dad doesn’t love a long, in-depth history book? This is the story of President Jefferson’s bid for America’s westward expansion, back when Britain, France, and Spain all wanted a piece of the land west of the Mississippi. We all know about the Lewis & Clark expedition, but they were just one team of many, including lesser-known names like William Dunbar, George Hunter, Thomas Freeman, Peter Custis, and Zebulon Pike. But personal tensions among the explorers as well as political scuffles with other nations threatened the mission’s success and put the U.S. at risk of losing its lands in the West. History-loving dads will dive deep into this one.

 

 

 

 

Security by Gina Wohlsdorf Security: A Novel
Author: Gina Wohlsdorf
Looking for a suspenseful page-turner? This new thriller is full of puzzles and twists. Manderley Resort is a luxurious new resort on the California coast… but someone wants to keep the ultra-high-end hotel from ever opening. The staff are all being spied on — and, one by one, murdered. What the heck is going on here? With a hearty helping of classic locked-room mystery and a dash of gothic romance, this clever and intricately plotted novel is sure to delight the suspense-loving dad.

 

 

 

 

 

Smugglers CoveSmuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki
Authors: Martin Cate, Rebecca Cate
Last but not least, cocktails! Sip an umbrella drink while you learn about the misunderstood history of tiki mania, from its early Depression-era origins to its association with Old Hollywood stars and scandals, and how some of the most famous tiki cocktails were invented and popularized. Plus, you’ll get over 100 tasty cocktail recipes, including retro favorites and modern tiki twists, as well as bar-stocking advice and tips on how to throw a tiki party. Cool dads will be just a little bit cooler with this handy bar guide at their home bar.

 

 

 

More book gift ideas for Father’s Day 2016:

Stephanie Perry
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