Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives

A groundbreaking exploration of the science and significance of fatherhood that shows great dads are made, not born.

Co-presented with KALW

Over the last decade, we’ve learned more about the transformative power of parenthood—biologically, psychologically, and socially—than ever before. But while the experience of motherhood has attracted well-deserved attention, fatherhood has remained overlooked and, often, misunderstood.

Now, in Dad Brain, field-leading psychologist Darby Saxbe, PhD, explains how becoming a father changes men, from their bodies and brain architecture to their hormones and sense of purpose. Inspired by her relationship with her dad, Saxbe has studied fathers and families for over twenty years. In her first book, she takes readers behind the scenes of her new research and around the world, from hunter-gatherers in the Congo to contemporary suburban dads, and into her pioneering studies of how parenthood shapes men’s brains and lives. For fans of science-based storytelling that is also irreverent, funny, and personal, Dad Brain offers an illuminating, empowering, and optimistic new understanding of fatherhood that will become a must-read for every parent. In conversation with KALW's Ben Trefny. FREE

Darby Saxbe, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Southern California. She has published over eighty scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and secured more than $3 million in grant funding for her research. She earned awards from the American Psychological Association and the Society for Research in Child Development and was a Fulbright fellow. Dr. Saxbe has written for outlets such as the New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, and Scientific American, and consulted on bestselling books, including Eve Rodsky’sFair Play. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from UCLA and her BA in English and psychology from Yale University.

Ben Trefny is the Executive Producer of KALW and has worked with KALW since 2003. As Executive News Editor and then News Director, Trefny helped KALW's news department win numerous regional and national awards for long- and short-form journalism. His work is currently focused on creating original live events, programming, and building partnerships with like-minded organizations. He currently serves on the Journalism and Media Ethics Council at Santa Clara University's Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. He's a board member with the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and served that organization as president for four years. He lives with my wife near San Francisco's Ocean Beach and spends as much time as he can outside.