The Daily Dad

366 Meditations on Parenting, Love, and Raising Great Kids.

Want to become a super parent? Look no further. 

This book will help each dad and mom face the daily challenges of raising great kids, and ultimately becoming the best parents they can be through lessons and wisdom from Socrates, Theodore Roosevelt, Bruce Springsteen, Queen Elizabeth II, Marcus Aurelius, Toni Morrison, and many more. 

“Becoming a parent is more than just a biological process – it’s a lifelong commitment to sacrifice, service, and most importantly, love. It’s a challenge to get up every day and put your kids first. You will experience moments of heroic compassion and humiliating failure, sometimes within the same day.” I couldn’t agree more with the author. 

Today the landscape of everyday things – including parenting – has changed drastically because our children are getting exposed to Social Media, Internet, Mobile, Tabs, and so on. The art of parenting and raising great kids has come a long way from the times of our grandparents – or even for that matter – our parents. However, “parents” have always been the same – worrying about their child’s schooling, their grades, their friend’s circle, and so on. Parents have also questioned, doubted, and wondered if they are doing enough and providing enough for their children. Your parents did it. You too are doing it. Even 50 years from now – nothing would have changed. 

Understandably, parenting can be hard. And that’s why we often need inspiration, perspective, and practical advice at every stage of our child’s life from the ones who have been there and done it. The author draws on his own experience as a father of two as well as lessons and wisdom from mothers and fathers, heroes and celebrities, ancient philosophy, and contemporary figures such as Socrates, Theodore Roosevelt, Bruce Springsteen, Queen Elizabeth II, Marcus Aurelius, Toni Morrison and many more in order to help each dad and mom face the daily challenges of parenting, and ultimately become the best father they can be. 

The Daily Dad by Ryan Holiday – provides 366 accessible meditations on fatherhood – is built around the concept of absorbing one definitive piece of advice one day at a time. Each meditation offers a memorable lesson on being the role model your child needs, rooted in timeless principles. Just pick up the book and start reading the page with the date you are presently living. It is the perfect book to start your mornings – so that you can dwell and think over the message of the day. This book is for anyone at every stage of their respective journey of becoming a parent which is a lifelong affair. 

Some excerpts from the book:

Jim Mattis – the former US Secretary of Defence, talks lovingly of a house filled with books, run by parents who encouraged their children not only to read them but to question and interact with them as well. He recalls, “They introduced us to a world of great ideas – not a fearful place, but a place to enjoy. 

In his book, Travels with Epicurus, the writer Daniel Klein recalls a formative moment: “I remember one long-ago evening, on an overcrowded train to Philadelphia, hearing a young woman moan to her mother, “God, I wish we were there already!” Her white-haired mother replied eloquently, “Darling, never wish away a minute of your life.” 

 The book is divided into 12 chapters, dedicated each for every month of the year – specifically focusing on different aspects of parenting: 

• January – Teach by Example (the only method that works) 
• February – Love Unconditionally (the only thing they really want) 
• March – Put your family first (Work, Family, Scene: Pick 2) 
• April – Master your emotions (Lessons in patience and self-control) 
• May – Character is fate (Lessons in right and wrong) 
• June – Don’t neglect yourself (Lessons in self-care) 
• July – Help them become who they are (Lessons in nurturing and discovery)
• August – Always be a fan (The greatest gift you can give them)
• September – Raise a leader (Lessons in learning and curiosity) 
• October – Struggle and emerge (how to raise their resilience) 
• November – Give thanks and build bonds (Lessons on gratitude) 
• December – Time flies (You could leave life right now)

Raising great children is not often easy. But trust me, it will be the most rewarding and important thing you’ll ever do. With this book, you can stand on the shoulders of the giants to see a little further through a series of collective learning — our species’ unique ability to share, preserve, and build upon knowledge over time. 

Article by: 

Vijayendra Darode:

Vijayendra is a Hong Kong-based self-confessed foodie and traveler, a part-time chef cooking mostly Italian for his wife and daughter, and a full-time dreamer. When he is not thinking about what to eat next or which new place to see – he is engrossed in reading books and writing technical documentation to make a living.  Follow him on Instagram: geek_on_gastronomic_gateaways