Daddy Cool

by Ben Tanzer (Editor), Ryan W. Bradley (Contributor), Mark R. Brand (Contributor)

Being a dad doesn't mean you have to be a square. No one proves that more than the writers in Daddy Cool. Edited by Ben Tanzer, this anthology features over twenty dads writing for and about kids. This book is unlike any other, a treasure to share with the whole family, and to span your child's entire life.

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 2013

About the author

Emmy-award winner Ben Tanzer's acclaimed work includes the short story collection UPSTATE, the science fiction novel Orphans and the essay collections Lost in Space and Be Cool. His recent novel The Missing was released in March 2024 by 7.13 Books and was a Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year finalist in the category of Traditional Fiction and his new book After Hours: Scorsese, Grief and the Grammar of Cinema, which Kirkus Reviews calls "A heartfelt if overstuffed tribute to the author’s father and the ameliorative power of art," was released by Ig Publishing in May 2025. Ben is also the host of the long running podcast This Podcast Will Change Your Life and lives in Chicago with his family.

Reviews

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

First class anthology put together by a first class guy, Ben Tanzer. For fathers and sons (and the women who love them) everywhere.

[Jason Fisk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit that I have a story in this anthology. That being said, I was blown away by the writings from the other authors. It is a fun read.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool, daddy. Top shelf collection of dad/kid stories. My only reservation is that Myles ans Ben Tanzer named their geek "Frederick". Outrageous! I think I will perform an experiment on them and make them have green, mad scientist hair and warts. And I will become muscular and cool before going to a geeky school for geeks. Let's see how they like that.

[Ben]

Very daddy. And awfully cool. It changed my life.

[Sean Beaudoin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you don't own one, you are very likely a poor parent.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title says it all. Stories about kids by dad writers. Solid throughout, and particularly good are the stories by J.A. Tyler (written with his son), Tom Williams, C.L. Bledsoe, Joe Peterson, Jason Fisk and Robert Duffer. Plus there's a story by this Anderson dude which is halfway decent.