In recent years men s attitudes to fatherhood have changed dramatically. But only now are we learning how profoundly fatherhood changes men s brains and biology and the effects these changes have on their health, skills, relationships and sense of purpose. In Dad Brain, one of the world s leading researchers of fatherhood, Darby Saxbe, provides a captivating account of this new science, revealing that:
Fathers brains shrink and their testosterone drops
Fathers undergo a host of hormonal changes once thought only to affect women
Fathers can suffer post-partum depression but enjoy better long-term health
Fathers style of play makes their kids more resilient
Dads who do more housework are generally happier
Above all, Dad Brain shows that these are all crucial adaptations that enable better parenting but they only come online when fathers invest time into parenthood: the more they do, the more they change for the better.
Ultimately it shows a good father is not something you are, it is something you become.
