Dad Up!: Long-Time Comedian. First-Time Father.

by Steve Patterson

From one of the country's most beloved comedians and host of CBC Radio's incredibly popular program The Debaters comes a funny, poignant, and at times unexpectedly wise look at what it means to be a dad in this day and age.

Steve Patterson has been thinking about dad-dom for quite a while. In Dad Up! he gives his all to be the best father possible to two young girls while imparting his hard-won wisdom and insights to readers everywhere.

The youngest of five boys growing up in an Irish Catholic household, Patterson mines his childhood for any sage advice he might have picked up from his own dad. He talks with candour about the difficulty he and his wife, Nancy, had conceiving, finding humour in their experiences with the fertility clinic's automated phone calls (which Patterson calls "RoboPimp") informing them when Nancy was ovulating. He chronicles the disappointment of failing to get pregnant, only to have the miracle conception take place in Regina during Grey Cup Week, under the guiding spirit of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and comedian Brent Butt (don't ask).

From that point on, Steve Patterson assumes full dad-mode, riffing on the biohazard that is changing a diaper, the absolute futility of stuffed animals, becoming a public breastfeeding warrior in the most unexpected of places, and how growing up a little boy in no way prepares you to being a father to little girls.

Most importantly, Dad Up! charts the awesome experience of watching tiny infants that you somehow had a hand in creating evolve into confident and crafty little people, and the lessons that they teach along the way.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Memoir, Humor

232 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2021

About the author

The host of CBC Radio’s The Debaters since 2007, Steve Patterson has become a household name, with more than 700,000 listeners tuning in each week. He has performed at several of the Just for Laughs prestigious televised galas, including one hosted by Steve Martin. Considered to be the highlight of the show by the audience and critics alike, Patterson’s performance prompted the legendary Martin to quip, “If I’d known he was going to be THAT good, I would have cancelled him.”

In addition to his stand-up comedy and radio work, Patterson has written for several publications, including the Globe and Mail, Irish Independent, London Free Press, Toronto Star, and Canadian Living. The Book of Letters I Didn’t Know Where to Send is his first book.

Reviews

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dad Up!: Long-Time Comedian. First Time Father is obviously about parenthood, but this from the point of view of fatherhood. Steve Patterson takes us through parts of his career as a comedian and, most importantly, about all we do not know about raising children until we bring one home. He discusses conception difficulties, all the while keeping the reader in stitches. What sets this book apart is his devotion to his wife and daughters. This is a refreshing look at parenting and it was a joy to read. Highly recommended.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny, highly relatable memoir about Canadian comedian Steve Patterson's experience with becoming a father later in life. There's so many parenthood books written from women's perspectives I really enjoyed this one from a man's. He goes into the struggles he and his wife experienced trying to get pregnant and the losses they went through. He also fully admits and admires how capable his wife is. A great read, especially for Father's day. Great on audio, read by the author with his spot-on comedic timing and one-liners.

Favorite quote:
"Revenge is a dish best served loud and out of tune."

[Grace Harbour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a comment. You don’t have to be a dad to laugh your heart out.

[As You Wish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet book for new parents who need a little humour in their day. I didn't laugh nearly as hard at this one as I did at , but maybe that's because I'm an old mom now and not a new one. Still had some very funny moments and the contrast between the way his dad raised him and the way he's raising his kids is startling without being mean-spirited (a rare find in comedy).

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly funny and touching memoir by a man’s journey into fatherhood. The book is also revealing in some surprising ways, broaching more sensitive topics like miscarriages with heartbreaking honesty and warmth. The stories that Steve shares from his youth about his dad, Slim, are funny and bring with it a strong sense of whimsical nostalgia.

[Virginia Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

Canadian comedian Steve Patterson reflects on his life as the father of two young girls, from fertility clinic to the biohazard that is changing a diaper to life with stuffies, while also looking at what he learned both from his father and from his children. A gentle, humourous look at parenting that would be enjoyed by anyone who has been there, done that.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read that was full of funny anecdotes. Certainly not a demanding book by any means, but also, it doesn’t leave the reader with a desperate desire to pick it up to keep going chapter to chapter. A good book for a coffee table or a bedside stand for a few mins before bed.

[Evan Grice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Book feels like it’d have the best affect with an expectant father, not someone who already has children.. so I really didn’t get much out of it. He has glimmers of insight here and there in the book, however he mainly talks on experiences that all dads have experienced without adding anything “new”. It’s an easy read and I’m sure it’d have been 3-4 stars if it was all new information, but it wasn’t. Long story short… if you’re going to be a dad: you’ll probably enjoy this, if you’re already a dad: pass. Also, I expected more humour out of this book because the writer is a comedian… but that wasn’t there from my perspective really.

[Thebruce1314 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy Steve Patterson - I’ve even seen The Debaters live! I expected this to be funnier, but it really is more of a mix of biography and parenting advice(?). His writing styles was really accessible, and I breezed through the book pretty quickly, but it wasn’t super memorable. It reads more like family memories to share with the kids in the future… even though some of those memories I’m not sure I’d want my kid to hear about. It was cute (minus the conception chapter), and very Canadian, which made me happy.

[AardvarkRead · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some parts were funny. I wanted to like this one. Mostly bad parenting advice from an absent father who is too "cool" to suck boogers out of his kids nose. Holds toxic petty/trivial parenting "wins" over his partner as that's all he has to cling to. There are moments of sound advice, and his good character does show through occasionally, but I was mostly annoyed the entire way through. Wouldn't recommend.

[Wordnerd_yyc · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one. It had me laughing out loud a couple times but I ultimately found the stories that were supposed to be foundational to his raising of his children to be mean or cruel on the part of his father. Wouldn't recommend.

[Alex Colvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5: A charming, breezy, collection of childhood and parenting stories. Most are fun. The book has some laugh-out-loud moments.

Books by stand-up comics tend to jump around a lot and have events in a curious order. This one is mostly clear and flows well.

The book has a good mix of solid, thoughtful advice. It also has some griping and whining about parenthood. The whining is understandable, but if it’s meant to be funny, it didn’t work for me.

[Ellisha Blackburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing. I wanted to like this book. I really like Steve Patterson. But his way of representing the ideal mother as selfless and endlessly giving reinforces stifling ideas of motherhood. Ugh. Not what we need.

[Marla Nayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Patterson is a comic. He is known for hosting The Debaters. This book is about, as indicated by the title, being a dad. He describes his experiences in a totally relatable way, and it is very amusing. A nice light read, just for fun.

[Bob Hathway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read through Steve's adaptation from self-absorbed arsehole (his word) to a full-on dad.

[Sky_Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is good, easy read. Some educational tips but the humor is kind of annoying. I got this book as a gift, happy i read it.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book about being a first time dad.

Patterson, a comedian talks about his life being the father of two girls.

3.5/5

[Yycdaisy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked his childhood memories, the dad stuff not so much.

[Kim Lenger]

HI for a guy about being a father

[Barrette Plett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and in the vein of Dave Barry. Episodic, but a little bit of an overall arc; can easily be read over many brief sittings.

[Richard Lehingrat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gotta hand it to Steve, he held off making a book loaded with new Dad cliches. ***

[Leanne Riegel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Canadians are so dang nice.

[Amanda McCracken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent quick read - I am a slow reader and finished this in a weekend. I laughed a lot!

Thank you

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Steve Patterson as a comedian. This book is funny and poignant.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Patterson came to PEi for a couple of shows today. I read half this book between the afternoon and evening show.

I love the honesty in this comedy. It is so real. Love Thai book.