This book isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about showing up, even when you’re running on fumes. Because in the chaos, there’s meaning.

Every reflection in The Tired Dad. is a reminder that fatherhood is worth every sleepless night.

The Tired Dad. is a reminder that you’re not alone in this tiring yet beautiful journey. Sometimes it can be challenging, but it’s worth every second. This book is a North Star to any dad striving to become the best version of himself.

You will find yourself—your struggles, your triumphs, your doubts, your fears, and your joys—in the pages of these reflections. Oftentimes, for us, the most important thing we need to hear is that we are not alone.

In a world that can make dads feel like they need to carry the weight of the world alone, The Tired Dad. is a refreshing antidote. Every modern dad needs this book on their nightstand, in their conversations with one another, and in their hearts as they walk through the beautiful and exhausting role of fatherhood. Gustin is not just helping dads feel seen. He is redefining what modern fatherhood looks like, and we are all better for it.

Gustin’s message both tugs at my heartstrings and helps me put into perspective who I want to be as a father. For any father who is actively dealing with the addictions and distractions of life in the twenty-first century, this book centers what is actually important and gives us courage to take steps to be a dad who uses ‘tired’ as a badge of honor.

Gustin understands what most parenting advice misses: that you can be doing everything you’re supposed to do and still feel like you’re barely surviving. The Tired Dad. meets parents in that reality without trying to fix it or add one more thing to the list. In my work helping parents understand their nervous systems and regulate past burnout, I see this every day. Gustin sees this, too, and his reflections offer something more valuable than solutions. They offer validation.

There are endless books marketed to parents but so few that speak directly to dads and the real, lived experience of fatherhood. The Tired Dad. does just that. It’s honest, tender, and deeply human. Gustin doesn’t tell you how to fix or perform fatherhood; he invites you to show up fully in it. This book is the conversation that so many dads have been missing.

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The first rule of Fight Club is to be a good parent. In order to be a good or even a great parent (in my assessment) is to be willing to fight (challenge) your own habits and triggers. Jon Gustin understands intrinsically that parenting is a hell/heaven endeavor. It isn't for the weak, nor is it for the unnaturally proud. In his book, The Tired Dad, Jon reminds us that we are here to create a safe haven for our children and at the same time challenge them enough (in myriad ways) so that they will be self-sustaining when reaching adulthood. The truth is that at the same time we are challenging our own maturity during every second of that responsibility to our children -- not for the weak of heart.

Jon reminds us to put the warrior on, and not waste our time with egoic trivialities. He reminds us to soften, yet endure. And he reminds us that the greatest power of examples are those traits you've challenged and developed in yourself.

I appreciate this man so much for his courage to look in the mirror and prevail through his defects (we all have them) for the betterment of the next generation.

Sincerely,