Fathercraft

by Douglas Wilson

This book is not for every father. It's for craftsmen.

Good craftsmen love what they do but they're also aware of their need to improve. They're not insecure, they are eager to grow in their craft. They continually refine their tools and methods and even their tastes.

He is not asleep at the wheel of fatherhood. His sphere of influence goes much farther than the remote. He lives with his wife in understanding. He considers the needs of his kids and his wife and bleeds for them.

He wakes up early, he is up late with sick kids, his work blesses many, he sings loud, and he reads aloud long after dinner.

This book is for every father who wants to be a good dad.

Genres: Family

196 pages, Hardcover

Published August 18, 2026

About the author

I write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.

Reviews

[Ben Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Particularly helped by the personal examples shared by Wilson in this truth-packed, practical guide on Christian fatherhood.

[Caleb M. Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord, help me to be a good father, as You have been such a good Father to me.

[Jake Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immensely helpful and practical. Lots of gold to mine.

[Wesley Rinehart · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy listen to knock out in a day.

I appreciated the last word about our lack of ability to manufacture Gods grace in our children.

Some of the practical stuff was more helpful than others.

[Saolomon Mouacheupao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Say what you will, Wilson’s stuff on parenting is unmatched.

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has jumped to the top of my all time favorite dad books. His evenhanded and fairness with the differences between credo and paedo baptist views was remarkable and unique. Loved every word

[Zach Lewis · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I was excited for this one. I typically love Doug on parenting, but it feels like he phoned it in a bit here.

The hardcover book is beautiful, but its contents lack some soul and oomph. Felt hastily written and the wordcraft of Fathercraft isn’t great (which is rare for DW) as evidenced by multiple spelling mistakes in the editing.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the best books on Christian parenting you can find. Short and accessible, very tangible, in the weeds, and thoroughly grounded in the Law and Gospel. My wife and I began actively implementing Wilson’s teaching from the book as I read it.

[Elizabeth Fiedler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Warning: the advice on sleep training & the advice to not come comfort your baby when they’re crying in their crib is dangerous & neglectful. I know far too many kids who have been damaged by & are still recovering from this kind of advice their parents followed regarding sleep & letting the baby “cry it out.”

[Jordan Shirkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biblical fatherhood distilled to the core, with lots of examples tossed in. Short and sweet and an encouraging, helpful, convicting read for all dads trying to be good undershepherds of the Good Shepherd.

[Forrest Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I will find myself turning to again and again. Just great. I keep a short list of books that I will want to give to my sons as they get older. This will definitely be on that list.

[Isaiah Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic, in more than one sense of the word.

[Pepe E Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, pretty good. Doug is just so good on the family. Really helpful to think through practical matters of discipline more specifically as the kiddo gets older.