Daily Dad, Ryan Holiday, 2023
In Daily Dad, Ryan Holiday provides daily meditations on fatherhood, drawing from Stoic philosophy and his own experiences as a parent. The book covers teaching children to question things, showing courage (it only takes 20 seconds of bravery—it’s not as bad as you imagine), accepting mortality (everyone will die—wife, children, etc.—so rejoice every day they’re still here), and the importance of loving their mother as the best thing you can do for your children.
Top 3 Learnings:
The best thing you can do for your children is love their mother. Your career doesn’t matter to your children—they want to earn things themselves, not profit from you. Time is not given, it is made. Parental work is like watching a sand mandala—constantly swept away and restarted. Scold less. At the end of the day, you won’t think you should have fought more for them to follow all the rules—you don’t need an opinion about everything.
Questions to ask children: What good did you do today? Who were you kind to? Creative and original is more important than “smart.” Don’t train them on school knowledge, but reward creative insights. Teach them to question things. It only takes 20 seconds of courage—it’s not as bad as you imagine. Everyone will die—wife, children, etc.—so rejoice every day they’re still here.
Parental work requires acceptance of impermanence. Parental work is like watching a sand mandala—constantly swept away and restarted. Time is not given, it is made. The best thing you can do for your children is love their mother. Your career doesn’t matter to them—they want to earn things themselves.
Why and when to read it:
Read this when you’re a parent or about to become one, and want daily reminders about what matters in fatherhood. It’s especially valuable for fathers seeking philosophical grounding and practical wisdom for raising children. The book provides daily meditations that help maintain perspective on what’s truly important, making it perfect for busy parents who want to stay connected to their values and be present for their children.