When Jim Hild discovered he was about to become a father, he went looking for advice on how to be the best possible Dad. While he found plenty of excellent parenting books, the only books Hild found on fatherhood were thick, academic tomes written by "experts" who had never raised children of their own.

"Be a Dad " is Hild's response to this lack of focus on fathers. Based on his own experiences from the birth of his children to their toddler years, Hild's straightforward, humorous discussion of "Dadhood" guides men through the commitment they've made to their children, their partners,...