> Skip to content

Article  •  17 August 2016

 

How it works: The Dad review

“…a book to be read by all fathers, both rookies and veterans, and anyone who wishes to understand the inner workings of the dad mind.”

Stu Lipshaw is dad to baby boy, Marcus, who continues to amaze him more and more by the day. Stu works in the publishing team at Penguin, so gets to read a wide range of fantastic books on a daily basis, and was part of the winning team at the NZ Pub Quiz Championship in 2015 - a title he bears with pride!

Click here to meet the rest of our Penguin Dad Panel and find the perfect book for your dad, as reviewed by ours!

 

Book review - How It Works: The Dad by Jason Hazely & Joel Morris

This is a book to be read by all fathers, both rookies and veterans, and by anyone who wishes to understand the inner workings of the dad mind.

The first few months of fatherhood are a blur of unrivalled joy, complete surprise and irrational concern. There’s so much new information to absorb, and your world changes in so many ways that it can be hard to process. From that first triumphant moment when your child is born, there’s instantly more noise, less sleep and free time almost disappears entirely as you find yourself spending hour upon hour staring at this thing you’ve created and wondering/anticipating/worrying what it might do next.

While antenatal classes teach you about the birthing process, how to change a nappy and give you a general idea of the dos and don’ts during the first few months, no one ever provides the subtle but significant advice that new fathers really need. At first you don’t notice it, but in time you realise that being a dad and doing dad things is now an unavoidable part of your identity.

That’s where the Ladybird Book for Adults comes in. In the space of just over 50 pages, How It Works: The Dad outlines what it means to be a father by using a series of simple examples that serve as both a preparatory tool for younger dads and a safe space of understanding for those who are more experienced.

Covering a vast range of topics, from communication to aspirational comparisons with the world of bees, this book provides a rare glimpse into the everyday reality of ‘The Dad’. There is humour to be found within these pages, although there are serious undertones — let’s be clear: there is nothing funny about a vasectomy.

Click here to see more Penguin Dad Panel reviews.

 

More books like this for your Dad:

 

Feature Title

How it Works: The Dad
From THE PHENOMENON OF 2015 comes a new nugget of wisdom in the record breaking Ladybirds for Grown Ups series
Read more

More features

See all
Article
Staff recommendations: Books we've been loving

Want to know what books the Penguin NZ team have been reading and loving recently? Read on for our recommendations!

Article
5 of the hottest YA books right now (2025)

Check out some of the hottest YA books in stores now, from epic romantasy to sweet, unexpected romance.

Article
Best historical fiction books to read in 2025

From tales of Ancient Greece to epics set in the Second World War, these are the historical novels at the top of our reading piles this year.

Article
How to save money on groceries: 6 innovative budget tips

Food shopping on a budget? These tips from Money-Saving Meal Plans With Chelsea will help you spend less on food.

Article
Mother's Day Memories: Penguin Authors

For Mother's Day 2025 we're celebrating the power of books to bring us closer.

Article
Mother's Day Memories: Penguin Staff

For Mother's Day 2025 we're celebrating the power of books to bring us closer.

Article
Win mum her favourite books this Mother’s Day!

Let us know below which three of our fantastic Mother’s Day books mum would love, and we’ll send them to you in time for Mother’s Day!

Article
Our Favourite Film & TV Tie-Ins for 2025

Read on for some of the Film and TV tie-ins we're most excited about at the moment!

Article
Real Readers Review: Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

A star-crossed lovers romance that spans a millennia, what do readers really think about The Favourites?

Article
Pick a Patterson

Find your next thrill with these new James Patterson books!

Article
DK Catalogue 2025

Knowledge is adventure.

Article
Penguin's 2025 Bingo

Play the new Penguin Bingo with us. How long will it take you to get bingo?

Looking for more articles?

See all articles