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I’ve always been a fan of Jim Gaffigan—because I’m a (slightly past) middle-aged male with impeccable taste in humor. His food obsession, dry wit, and knack for convincingly blaming his children for most of his problems speak directly to my dad sensibilities. And, if I’m being honest, I relate to being a little bit fat too. So naturally, Gaffigan’s book Dad Is Fat felt like it was written just for me.
Here is my Dad Is Fat book review:
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Dad Is Fat Book Summary
Dad Is Fat is Jim Gaffigan’s hilarious take on the chaos of parenting, inspired by his experience raising five kids in a tiny New York City apartment with his wife (and writing partner), Jeannie. When the book was released in 2013, their kids were 8, 6, 3, 1, and a brand-new baby—numbers that explain a lot about his sleep-deprived state.
With his signature self-deprecating humor, Gaffigan shares stories about mealtime battles, bedtime struggles, and the sheer exhaustion of being outnumbered by tiny humans. He pokes fun at modern parenting trends while embracing the messy realities of dad life. He also reflects on his own upbringing in a large Catholic family (six kids… Catholic).
For fans of Gaffigan’s stand-up, Dad Is Fat reads like a collection of dad-related bits from his routines, reworked and reshaped into book form.
Books by Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan
Jim Gaffigan may be the face of the jokes, but his wife, Jeannie, is the often-unsung writing partner to the famous comedian. (And sometimes the butt of his jokes – perhaps written by Jeannie herself?) Jeannie isn’t just his silent writing partner. She is also an author in her own right. Basically, if you enjoy Jim’s comedy, you have Jeannie to thank for keeping it all together.
Here are books written by this hilarious writing duo:
Dad Is Fat – (you are already reading about this one.)
Food: A Love Story – A deep, funny dive into Gaffigan’s well-documented love affair with food. From Hot Pockets to regional delicacies, he explores eating habits with his signature wit.
My Review: Food: A Love Story
When Life Gives You Pears: The Healing Power of Family, Faith, and Funny People (by Jeannie Gaffigan) – A heartfelt yet humorous memoir about Jeannie’s battle with a life-threatening brain tumor, highlighting the power of faith, family, and comedy in the face of crisis.
Now onto the rating! Dad Is Fat Book Review:
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 4.5/5
Jim Gaffigan is the king of clean comedy (though I’m not sure if that’s an official title, or one I made up just now.) He’ll toss in a swear here and there to remind you he’s still a normal human. But for the most part, his material is safe for nearly everyone — unless you happen to be Prudy McPantiesinabunch. Dad is Fat is about as wholesome as a humorous book for adults can get.
Hilarity Score: 5/5
Jim Gaffigan is always hilarious, and Dad Is Fat is no exception. From his deadpan delivery to his masterful use of sarcastic, self-deprecating humor, Gaffigan effortlessly turns the chaos of parenting into familiar comedic brilliance. Gaffigan has a way of making even the most mundane moments seem wildly entertaining, earning this book a perfect 5 for hilarity. Also a 5 to represent each of his 5 children.
Here are a few hilarious quips from Dad is Fat:
“I don’t know how I got so lucky to have Jeannie as a writing partner, lover, and friend, but I scored big. She has really ended up being a fantastic first wife.”
Jim Gaffigan, Dad is Fat
“Whoever came up with the term “terrible twos” must have felt very foolish after their kid turned three.”
Jim Gaffigan, Dad Is Fat
“Raising kids may be a thankless job with ridiculous hours, but at least the pay sucks.”
Jim Gaffigan, Dad is Fat
“Whenever one of my children says, ‘Goodnight, Daddy,’ I always think to myself, ‘You don’t mean that.”
Jim Gaffigan, Dad Is Fat
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 5/5
Perhaps I’m biased, but I love everything Jim Gaffigan does — this book included. Dad is Fat is a book I will definitely re-read… as soon as I can find it. I think I loaned it to another Gaffigan fan and they never returned it. If you have my book, please bring it back.
Things I liked:
- Dad jokes, except they are actually funny
- You can tell Jim Gaffigan loves his family dearly. Being the butt of his dry, sarcastic humor is the highest form of affection.
- Just give me anything by Jim Gaffigan
Things I didn’t like:
- The jokes can get a bit repetitive. Jim Gaffigan has 5 kids in a tiny apartment. Etc, etc, etc.
Conclusion: Dad Is Fat Book Review
If you’re a parent, Dad Is Fat will make you laugh, cry (probably both at the same time), and feel slightly better about your own parenting failures. If you’re not a parent, it’s a great way to confirm that your decision to stay child-free was the right one. Either way, Jim Gaffigan delivers exactly what you’d expect—self-deprecating humor and the occasional moment of sincerity buried under layers of sarcasm.
Is this a groundbreaking deep dive into the psychology of parenting? Absolutely not. Will it teach you how to get your toddler to eat something other than crackers and fruit snacks? Also no. But if you want to feel seen in your struggle or just enjoy watching someone else suffer for comedic effect, this book is worth your time.
Scott Johnson is a Midwestern humorist, author of Essays Out of Left Field, and the mind behind scottjohnsonauthor.com. He’s also a husband, dad of three, and Data Systems Administrator (whatever that is). Scott is on a mission to find and read all the funny books. He shares his thoughts on those books, author life, and other delightful randomness with his readers on his website.
