Dad Brain by Darby Saxbe

A groundbreaking exploration of how fatherhood transforms men’s brains, bodies, health, skills and relationships

A groundbreaking exploration of how fatherhood transforms men’s brains, bodies, health, skills and relationships, drawing on one of the world’s only longitudinal studies of men’s brains as they become fathers. Revelations include-

. Fathers’ brains shrink and their testosterone drops
. Fathers undergo a host of hormonal changes once thought only to affect women
. Fathers can suffer post-partum depression but enjoy better long-term health
. Fathers make for better managers and their style of play makes their kids more resilient
. In the West fathers typically get less sleep than mothers, but mothers get worse sleep than fathers
. Dads who do more housework are generally happier
. A majority of women prefer ‘dad bods’

About the Author: Darby Saxbe is a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Southern California who has conducted one of the world’s only longitudinal studies on men’s brains as they become fathers. A former Fulbright fellow, she has published over eighty scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, written for the New York Times and Scientific American and has earned awards from the American Psychological Association and the Society for Research in Child Development.

11 Jun 2026
 

Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How it Shapes Men’s Lives by Darby Saxbe ISBN 9781847928818