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Some dads dispense wisdom. Others dispense unsolicited advice on how you’re ruining your life by using the wrong motor oil in your car. Justin Halpern’s dad? He dispenses unfiltered, profanity-laced, and wildly entertaining one-liners that somehow manage to be both crude and insightful.
Sht My Dad Says is the hilarious book born from the wildly popular Twitter account of the same name. Halpern proves that sometimes the best comedy comes from a grumpy, no-nonsense father who has zero patience for stupidity—especially his son’s.
Here is my Sht My Dad Says book review:
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Sht My Dad Says Book Summary
At 28, Justin Halpern found himself moving back in with his parents after a breakup. Rather than wallowing in self-pity, he started chronicling the unfiltered and expletive-filled wisdom of his father, Sam Halpern. What started as a Twitter account quickly blew up, leading to a book deal, and eventually a TV sitcom.
The book expands on Halpern’s original Twitter posts, providing context to his father’s gems of wisdom. Whether it’s blunt life advice, brutally honest assessments of his son’s choices, or his takes on modern society, Sam Halpern’s words are pure comedic gold. While the book’s focus is unfiltered humor, there are warm moments of father-son bonding.
At its core, Sht My Dad Says isn’t just a collection of jokes—it’s a tribute to the bond between a father and son. Sometimes love sounds a lot like an expletive-ridden rant.
Who is Justin Halpern?
Justin Halpern is a writer and humorist who stumbled into literary fame by doing what most people try to avoid: airing their family’s unfiltered commentary on the internet. His Twitter account, @shitmydadsays, became an overnight sensation, leading to a bestselling book and even a short-lived TV adaptation starring William Shatner (yes, really). Before his dad’s foul-mouthed musings made him famous, Halpern worked as a writer (Maxim magazine) and editor in Hollywood.
Here’s Halpern’s famous Twitter account, the inspiration behind the book. The feed has remained largely unchanged since 2012:
or follow Halpern’s current account here:
Justin Halpern (@justin_halpern) / X
Halpern released 2 other books:
I Suck at Girls (published in 2012) and More Sh*t My Dad Says (published in 2013)
Now onto the rating! $h!t My Dad Says Book Review:
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 1/5
I have never read a book with so much swearing. If this is really how Justin Halpern’s dad talks, then he delivers an impressive, volume and frequency of profanity. Throw in plenty of sexual references and other adult themes, and you’ve got a book that is as crudely hilarious, but definitely not wholesome.
That said, there are a few genuinely wholesome moments—like Halpern’s dad unexpectedly falling in love with a dog, tipping wait staff with surprising generosity and delivering well-timed hugs and ‘I love yous’ when his son needs them most.
Hilarity Score: 5/5
Halpern’s profanity-laced tirades aren’t for everyone. But unless you’re completely humorless (or morally opposed to swearing), you’ll probably find yourself laughing out loud at least once—if not repeatedly. In other words, Sh*t My Dad Says is funny.
I considered sharing a few quotes from the book, particularly from Halpern’s dad. But after a thorough search, I realized there are very few excerpts that aren’t drowning in profanity. And since I have a self-imposed, holier-than-thou policy against posting too much swearing on my site (because, you know, I’m classy like that) I decided against it.
Luckily, if you want a taste of the book’s best lines, Halpern’s original Twitter account has you covered. Most of the gems from the book came from there anyway:
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 4/5
Highly awesome. Obviously, I found the book hilarious. But I also appreciated the essay-style format and the quick, snack-sized quips that made for effortless reading. No need to immerse myself in a dense, multi-character plot—sometimes, I just want something easy and fun. And Sh!t My Dad Says delivered.
Things I liked:
- Hilarious
- Easy to read. Chapters cover one anecdote, followed by several quotes from “Dad” (originally captured as Tweets.)
- Rough exterior and persona. Warm, loving Dad on the inside.
Things I didn’t like:
- One of those where I love the book for what it is, but I can’t recommend it to my grandma, pastor, etc.
- I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the relentless verbal beatdowns Halpern endured, even if they were just his dad’s “schtick.” In a small way, it was a little sad. But then I’d hit a hilarious quip and move on, because, well… comedy.
Conclusion: Sh#t My Dad Says Book Review
I remember hearing about Sht My Dad Says* years ago. I also vaguely recall watching the (short-lived) TV series of the same name. But I finally picked up the book (e-book from my library) and tore through it in two days. What I found was more than just a collection of profane quips—it’s a surprisingly touching look at the relationship between a father and son. (But mostly, the profane quips.)
If you’ve ever had a parent who loves to tell it like it is (whether you asked for their opinion or not), you’ll feel right at home with this book. I just can’t recommend reading it out loud at the next family gathering.
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.
