Reviews for Dad brain : the new science of fatherhood and how it shapes men's lives
Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
The emerging science revealing the physical and psychological changes caused by fatherhood. Psychologist Saxbe, making use of her own research as well as interviews and the research of others, presents a compelling and entertaining case that becoming a father makes more of a difference, in ways both positive and sometimes negative, on a man than might have been suspected. The physical changes wrought by fatherhood have been far less studied than those brought on by motherhood, and those studies have often been on subjects who are “WEIRD” (“Westernized, educated participants from industrialized, rich, democratic countries”), but Saxbe also brings in some fascinating research about hunter-gatherer and pastoral societies in Africa. And she makes sure to reveal the limits of some of the studies she mentions and which ones should be taken with a grain of salt. Some of the most intriguing results she presents have to do with changes in the brains and other physiology of men who are involved parents, both before and after their partners give birth, which reflect in some ways the changes mothers experience but differ in others. For fathers, where most changes take place after the birth of the baby rather than before as in mothers, a stew of hormonal changes, including an average 25% drop in testosterone for men after they become fathers, lead to both “an adaptive trade-off leading to nurturing rather than mating” (a phenomenon also notable in many other animals) and “an increased risk of depression.” Saxbe also addresses the wider challenges fathers face, whether that means dealing with inadequate paternity leave, adopting children, or dealing with separation from children for a wide range of reasons. Her work should prove enlightening for dads, their partners, their children, and anyone interested in the role of parenthood in society. A sympathetic and sensible look at contemporary paternity. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Publishers Weekly
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Psychologist Saxbe debuts with a compassionate examination of how fatherhood changes men’s minds and bodies. Noting that active fathers are rare in the animal kingdom, where the males of only 5% to 10% of mammal species take part in caring for their young, Saxbe theorizes that involved dads are a crucial part of humanity’s success. New fathers can experience hormonal shifts leading to perinatal depression, a phenomenon that, though it’s lesser-known than women’s postpartum depression, is equally important to treat, according to the author. In addition to affecting men’s quality of life, depression and anxiety during their infant’s early days can impair bonding and children’s long-term well-being. Fatherhood impacts physical health, too: the “dad bod” can be traced to sleep disruptions, hormonal shifts, and mood changes. But fatherhood also leads to positive changes. For instance, when fathers regularly engage in physical play, their children are more likely to be confident and curious and to follow rules. The role of fatherhood has shifted in recent decades, meaning many of today’s dads may not have grown up with healthy models, Saxbe writes, but men who choose to challenge ingrained cultural stereotypes surrounding masculinity and care work are often rewarded with more meaningful lives. Smart and uplifting, this is a powerful resource for dads and dads-to-be. (June)
