Father Figure

From Sesame Workshop senior fellow and digital-age parenting expert Jordan Shapiro, a thoughtful and long-overdue exploration on fatherhood and masculinity in the 21st century.

There are hundreds of books on parenting, and with good reason -- becoming a parent is scary, difficult, and life-changing. But when it comes to books about parenting identity, rather than the nuts and bolts of raising children, nearly all are about what it's like to be a mother. If you're looking for information about what it means to be a father, you'll find the bookstore shelves surprisingly bare.

Drawing on research in sociology, economics, psychology, cultural history, and the author's own experiences, FATHER-FIGURE sets out to fill that gap. It's an exploration of the psychology of fatherhood from an archetypal perspective (Think: Women Who Run With The Wolves for fathers) as well a cultural history of fatherhood that explains how we got to where we are. What are the paradoxes inherent in our current understanding of dads? Might it be time to rethink some of the current aspects of fatherhood?

Gender norms are changing, and old economic models are facing disruption. As a result, parenthood and family life are undergoing an existential transformation. And yet, the narratives and images of dads available to us are wholly inadequate for this transition. Victorian and Industrial Age tropes about fathers not only dominate the media, but also contour most people's lived experience. FATHER-FIGURE offers a badly-needed update to our collective understanding of fatherhood -- and masculinity in general -- that highlights what's essential about fatherhood while guiding us to an image of manliness reimagined for the modern world.

“"This pandemic has revealed a crisis in American caregiving. I hope Shapiro's fearless book kickstarts a woke dad revolution, because Goddess knows we need one."-- Anya Kamenetz, NPR correspondent and author of The Art of Screen Time”

"I'm excited about this, I want to be a feminist dad." --Maz Jobrani, Comedian, Pandemic Warrior (Peacock), Immigrant (Netflix)
"Utterly mindblowing." --New York Times
"Father Figure is the rare book brave enough to approach feminism from the point of view of the people least likely to identify as feminists -- straight dudes -- and makes a compelling case for why we should not only be allies, but also feminists ourselves."--Michael Ian Black, Comedian, Actor, Author
"A lucid and moving articulation of how patriarchy harms men. I'm going to buy it for every dad I know. We have needed a book like this so badly."--Melissa Febos, author of Girlhood, Abandon Me, and Whip Smart
"This book heralds a revolution. Young men, fathers, grandfathers, and pretty much anyone who cares about masculinity, families, and a healthy future for us all should buy this book. I loved Father Figure and have recommended it everywhere!"--Sonora Jha, author of How to Raise a Feminist Son
"This is the kind of foreplay that us modern women really are looking for." --Brandy Ferner, author of Adult Conversation
"This book redefines what it means to be a good father. It's for anyone who dreams of a world where dads are both strong and kind--a world where children of any gender can look up to the men in their lives."--Adam Grant, author of Think Again
"Father Figure is exactly the book that our family needed, and we imagine yours does too. Shapiro questions what the traditional 'dad' offers a modern household. He reminds us that feminism liberates everyone, not just women. And he offers supportive and profound suggestions for fathers. You can be a vital member of your family's journey without being a patriarchal tyrant."--Ben Lee and Ione Skye, musician, actress, partners, parents
"Holy smokes! This book is a revelation and a revolution. This is required reading for every person who is or will be a caregiver in their lifetime -- which is all of us. Father Figure is a brilliant mix of memoir, manifesto, and action. Shapiro offers us hope for a future where fatherhood is radically reimagined, and this is the road map to get us there."--Eve Rodsky, author of Fair Play
"It's about time someone addressed the role fathers play in raising feminist children, and Shapiro has nailed it. I am happy to add Father Figure to my bookshelf of essential parenting reads."--Jessica Lahey, author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation
"This pandemic has revealed a crisis in American caregiving. I hope Shapiro's fearless book kickstarts a woke dad revolution, because Goddess knows we need one."--Anya Kamenetz, NPR correspondent and author of The Art of Screen Time

Jordan Shapiro, PhD, is a world-renowned American thought leader. He's currently Senior Fellow for the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, and Nonresident Fellow in the Global Economic and Development program at the Brookings Institution. He teaches in Temple University's Intellectual Heritage Program, wrote a column for Forbes' on global education, digital play, and family life from 2012 to 2017, and is the author of The New Childhood. He lives in Philadelphia with his two sons.

Follow him on twitter: @jordosh

Visit his website:

From Sesame Workshop senior fellow and digital-age parenting expert Jordan Shapiro, a thoughtful and long-overdue exploration on fatherhood and masculinity in the 21st century. There are hundreds of books on parenting, and with good reason -- becoming a parent is scary, difficult, and life-changing. But when it comes to books about parenting identity, rather than the nuts and bolts of raising children, nearly all are about what it's like to be a mother. If you're looking for information about what it means to be a father, you'll find the bookstore shelves surprisingly bare.Drawing on research in sociology, economics, psychology, cultural history, and the author's own experiences, FATHER-FIGURE sets out to fill that gap. It's an exploration of the psychology of fatherhood from an archetypal perspective (Think: Women Who Run With The Wolves for fathers) as well a cultural history of fatherhood that explains how we got to where we are. What are the paradoxes inherent in our current understanding of dads? Might it be time to rethink some of the current aspects of fatherhood?Gender norms are changing, and old economic models are facing disruption. As a result, parenthood and family life are undergoing an existential transformation. And yet, the narratives and images of dads available to us are wholly inadequate for this transition. Victorian and Industrial Age tropes about fathers not only dominate the media, but also contour most people's lived experience. FATHER-FIGURE offers a badly-needed update to our collective understanding of fatherhood -- and masculinity in general -- that highlights what's essential about fatherhood while guiding us to an image of manliness reimagined for the modern world.

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