Close Modal

The Tired Dad.

100 Reflections on Showing Up for What Matters Most

Author Jon Gustin
Hardcover (Paper-over-Board, no jacket)
$26.00 US
5"W x 7-1/2"H | 12 oz | 24 per carton
On sale May 05, 2026 | 256 Pages | 9780593980460

100 doses of wisdom for all the tired dads out there. You aren’t alone in pursuing what matters most: showing up for your family.

“This book isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about showing up, even when you’re running on fumes. Because in the chaos, there’s meaning.”—Raashaun Casey, aka DJ Envy, co-host of The Breakfast Club

If you’re a tired dad, that means that you’re a good dad. Parenting is some of the hardest work you’ll do. Jon Gustin—writer, content creator, and father of two—has lived this, and he knows one thing with certainty: The effort you put in will outlast you. It becomes legacy.

In The Tired Dad, Gustin encourages dads (and, really, all parents) to keep showing up. This isn’t a parenting manual; it’s a companion for the trenches and a reminder that presence is a discipline and ordinary moments matter more than you think. In one hundred brief reflections, short enough to read with your morning coffee and lasting enough to shape you into the man you want to be, Gustin offers the kind of steady wisdom that tired dads crave: simple truths that hold up under pressure.

You’re doing a good job, Dad. Keep showing up. It matters.
“Jon Gustin reminds us that the greatest power a parent has comes from the traits you’ve challenged and developed in yourself.”—Josh Brolin, actor and author of From Under the Truck

“This book isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about showing up, even when you’re running on fumes. Because in the chaos, there’s meaning.”—Raashaun Casey, aka DJ Envy, co-host of The Breakfast Club

“Every reflection in The Tired Dad. is a reminder that fatherhood is worth every sleepless night.”—Jim Gaffigan, comedian and author of Dad Is Fat

The Tired Dad. is a reminder that you’re not alone in this tiring yet beautiful journey. Sometimes it can be challenging, but it’s worth every second. This book is a North Star to any dad striving to become the best version of himself.”—Shay Mooney, singer-songwriter of Dan + Shay

“You will find yourself—your struggles, your triumphs, your doubts, your fears, and your joys—in the pages of these reflections. Oftentimes, for us, the most important thing we need to hear is that we are not alone.”—Jon Fogel, creator of the Whole Parent Academy and author of Punishment-Free Parenting

“In a world that can make dads feel like they need to carry the weight of the world alone, The Tired Dad. is a refreshing antidote. Every modern dad needs this book on their nightstand, in their conversations with one another, and in their hearts as they walk through the beautiful and exhausting role of fatherhood. Gustin is not just helping dads feel seen. He is redefining what modern fatherhood looks like, and we are all better for it.”—Libby Ward, author of Honest Motherhood

“Gustin’s message both tugs at my heartstrings and helps me put into perspective who I want to be as a father. For any father who is actively dealing with the addictions and distractions of life in the twenty-first century, this book centers what is actually important and gives us courage to take steps to be a dad who uses ‘tired’ as a badge of honor.”—Zachary Watson, coach, content creator, educator

“Gustin understands what most parenting advice misses: that you can be doing everything you’re supposed to do and still feel like you’re barely surviving. The Tired Dad. meets parents in that reality without trying to fix it or add one more thing to the list. In my work helping parents understand their nervous systems and regulate past burnout, I see this every day. Gustin sees this, too, and his reflections offer something more valuable than solutions. They offer validation.”—Dr. Brooke Weinstein, nervous system regulation expert and founder and CEO of Thrive Like a Parent

“There are endless books marketed to parents but so few that speak directly to dads and the real, lived experience of fatherhood. The Tired Dad. does just that. It’s honest, tender, and deeply human. Gustin doesn’t tell you how to fix or perform fatherhood; he invites you to show up fully in it. This book is the conversation that so many dads have been missing.”—Alyssa Blask Campbell, MEd, New York Times bestselling author, researcher, and emotional development expert
Jon Gustin is the founder and owner of The Tired Dad LLC, where he has amassed more than two million followers for his portrayal of life as an ordinary father and the lessons he’s learned. Gustin is also the co-host (along with his wife, Jessica) of The Tired Dad & Tired Mom Podcast. View titles by Jon Gustin

About

100 doses of wisdom for all the tired dads out there. You aren’t alone in pursuing what matters most: showing up for your family.

“This book isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about showing up, even when you’re running on fumes. Because in the chaos, there’s meaning.”—Raashaun Casey, aka DJ Envy, co-host of The Breakfast Club

If you’re a tired dad, that means that you’re a good dad. Parenting is some of the hardest work you’ll do. Jon Gustin—writer, content creator, and father of two—has lived this, and he knows one thing with certainty: The effort you put in will outlast you. It becomes legacy.

In The Tired Dad, Gustin encourages dads (and, really, all parents) to keep showing up. This isn’t a parenting manual; it’s a companion for the trenches and a reminder that presence is a discipline and ordinary moments matter more than you think. In one hundred brief reflections, short enough to read with your morning coffee and lasting enough to shape you into the man you want to be, Gustin offers the kind of steady wisdom that tired dads crave: simple truths that hold up under pressure.

You’re doing a good job, Dad. Keep showing up. It matters.

Praise

“Jon Gustin reminds us that the greatest power a parent has comes from the traits you’ve challenged and developed in yourself.”—Josh Brolin, actor and author of From Under the Truck

“This book isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about showing up, even when you’re running on fumes. Because in the chaos, there’s meaning.”—Raashaun Casey, aka DJ Envy, co-host of The Breakfast Club

“Every reflection in The Tired Dad. is a reminder that fatherhood is worth every sleepless night.”—Jim Gaffigan, comedian and author of Dad Is Fat

The Tired Dad. is a reminder that you’re not alone in this tiring yet beautiful journey. Sometimes it can be challenging, but it’s worth every second. This book is a North Star to any dad striving to become the best version of himself.”—Shay Mooney, singer-songwriter of Dan + Shay

“You will find yourself—your struggles, your triumphs, your doubts, your fears, and your joys—in the pages of these reflections. Oftentimes, for us, the most important thing we need to hear is that we are not alone.”—Jon Fogel, creator of the Whole Parent Academy and author of Punishment-Free Parenting

“In a world that can make dads feel like they need to carry the weight of the world alone, The Tired Dad. is a refreshing antidote. Every modern dad needs this book on their nightstand, in their conversations with one another, and in their hearts as they walk through the beautiful and exhausting role of fatherhood. Gustin is not just helping dads feel seen. He is redefining what modern fatherhood looks like, and we are all better for it.”—Libby Ward, author of Honest Motherhood

“Gustin’s message both tugs at my heartstrings and helps me put into perspective who I want to be as a father. For any father who is actively dealing with the addictions and distractions of life in the twenty-first century, this book centers what is actually important and gives us courage to take steps to be a dad who uses ‘tired’ as a badge of honor.”—Zachary Watson, coach, content creator, educator

“Gustin understands what most parenting advice misses: that you can be doing everything you’re supposed to do and still feel like you’re barely surviving. The Tired Dad. meets parents in that reality without trying to fix it or add one more thing to the list. In my work helping parents understand their nervous systems and regulate past burnout, I see this every day. Gustin sees this, too, and his reflections offer something more valuable than solutions. They offer validation.”—Dr. Brooke Weinstein, nervous system regulation expert and founder and CEO of Thrive Like a Parent

“There are endless books marketed to parents but so few that speak directly to dads and the real, lived experience of fatherhood. The Tired Dad. does just that. It’s honest, tender, and deeply human. Gustin doesn’t tell you how to fix or perform fatherhood; he invites you to show up fully in it. This book is the conversation that so many dads have been missing.”—Alyssa Blask Campbell, MEd, New York Times bestselling author, researcher, and emotional development expert

Author

Jon Gustin is the founder and owner of The Tired Dad LLC, where he has amassed more than two million followers for his portrayal of life as an ordinary father and the lessons he’s learned. Gustin is also the co-host (along with his wife, Jessica) of The Tired Dad & Tired Mom Podcast. View titles by Jon Gustin