“The best gift I ever gave my dad”

Gift recommendations for Father's Day with various unique and thoughtful options.

Write a book View in browser For the dad who “doesn’t want anything” Illustration: Dana Davis; Photo: Katie Quinn If you have a dad in your life who insists he doesn’t need anything, here’s our advice: Try something unexpected that gets your whole f

June 6, 2024 2:30 PM

nytdirect@nytimes.com

“The best gift I ever gave my dad”

Gift recommendations for Father's Day with various unique and thoughtful options.

<html><head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta content="IE=edge"><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1"><style type="text/css">  </style><style type="text/css">  </style></head><body><div style="color:transparent; visibility:hidden; opacity:0; font-size:0px; border:0; max-height:1px; width:1px; margin:0px; padding:0px; border-width:0px!important; display:none!important; line-height:0px!important"><img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="https://nl.nytimes.com/q/OTRgteo20gt5NTMkeVVfSg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoRK-NPVcDbnl0QgpmVI0qYmb-I0wUUhVlbXVsaXN0MDJAb3V0bG9vay5jb21YBAAAAAM~" alt=""></div><div style="display:none; font-size:1px; color:#fff; line-height:1px; max-height:0; max-width:0; opacity:0; overflow:hidden">Write a book</div><div><table width="100%" align="left" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" style="margin:0"><tbody><tr><td id="EMAIL_CONTAINER" align="left" width="100%"><div style="margin:0 auto; max-width:600px; width:100%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="height:15px"></td></tr><tr><td width="100%" align="right" style="padding:15px 0 5px; text-align:right; width:100%; font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12px"><a href="#" title="View in browser" style="color:#666; text-decoration:none; line-height:18px">View in browser</a></td></tr><tr><td style="height:5px"></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="border-top:0 solid transparent"></td></tr><tr><td><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline"><img src="https://static01.nyt.com/email-images/wirecutter/20230920_Header_The%20Recommendation_Mobile.png" alt="The Recommendation" style="width:100%"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:0 solid transparent"></td></tr><tr><td style="height:20px"></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0; font-size:0; border-top:9px solid #000"><h1 style="color:#000; font:700 46px/42px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; margin:2px 0 12.5px 0; letter-spacing:-.6px"><span>For the dad who “doesn’t want anything”</span></h1></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td><a href="#"><img width="600" height="300" class="css-1jxjpzi" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/06/06/smarter-living/wcd-pic-storyworth/wcd-pic-storyworth-jumbo.jpg" alt="A green hardcover book titled "A Collection of Life Stories" on a brown table. The picture is surrounded by a purple and beige frame. " style="width:100%; height:auto; display:block; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:5px"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="css-dz4dhe" width="100%" align="right" style="text-align:right; width:100%; padding-bottom:10px; line-height:14px"><span style="margin:0; font:11px/11px Helvetica,'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif; color:#888; letter-spacing:.01em">Illustration: Dana Davis; Photo: Katie Quinn</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span>If you have a dad in your life who insists he doesn’t need anything, here’s our advice: Try something unexpected that gets your whole family talking. One idea? Last Father’s Day, newsletters editor Brittney Ho and her sisters splurged on one of </span><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline">Wirecutter’s favorite smart bird feeders</a><span>—a cheery, yellow house with a built-in camera that captures high-res footage of its visitors. A year later, her family group chat is still popping off with snapshots of first-time visitors and old regulars alike.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span>If you prefer a less avian route, take a page out of social video manager Katie Quinn’s book. Last year, she gifted her dad a way to compile his memories into a hardcover book using Storyworth, an online service beloved by several Wirecutter staffers.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span>Here’s how it works: For a year, your giftee will receive weekly writing prompts, encouraging them to share personal stories. “I absolutely loved curating my own questions for my dad,” writes Katie. “What was his mother like when he was a child? (Harried but always finding the humor in things.) How did he get his first job? (He worked as a paperboy and to this day, he’s incredibly punctual.)” At the end of the year, all of the writings are compiled into a hardcover book, complete with photos, headlines, and a customized cover.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span>If you’re still stumped, we’ll walk you through a few more of our favorite gifts for dads below.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:700">A touching gift for the dad in your life→</a></p><table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="css-1ux4czy" style="padding-bottom:15px"></td></tr><tr><td style="border-top:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding-bottom:15px"></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span style="font-style:italic">We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. </span><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; font-style:italic; font-weight:700">Learn more ›</a></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><br></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0; font-size:0; border-top:2px solid #000"><h1 style="color:#000; font:700 32px/36px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; margin:0 0 12.5px 0; letter-spacing:-.9px"><span>More for the family</span></h1></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-top:15px"></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0; padding-bottom:30px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="css-w9msz2" valign="top" style="vertical-align:top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="120" align="right"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="vertical-align:top; padding:0 0 0 20px"><a href="#" style="text-decoration:none; display:block"><img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/06/06/smarter-living/wcd-pic-aura-ode/wcd-pic-aura-ode-moth.jpg" alt="An Aura Carver digital photo frame displaying a photo of a dog in a field of flowers. " class="css-1oqy46o" width="120" style="display:block; width:120px"></a></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="#" style="text-decoration:none; display:block"><h3 class="css-1h3m7z8" style="color:#000; margin:0; padding:0 0 7px; font:700 20px/25px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif">Our favorite digital photo frame will sprinkle your life with serendipitous joy</h3><p style="color:#333; font:17px/22.5px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; margin:0">“Every time you walk by or glance over, you’re greeted with a memory — delightful, tender, joyous, riotous, or even wistful.”</p></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0; padding-bottom:30px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="css-w9msz2" valign="top" style="vertical-align:top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="120" align="right"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="vertical-align:top; padding:0 0 0 20px"><a href="#" style="text-decoration:none; display:block"><img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/06/06/smarter-living/wcd-pic-melon-baller/wcd-pic-melon-baller-moth.jpg" alt="A person scooping out balls of watermelon from a watermelon. The small watermelon balls are placed in a small light blue bowl to the right." class="css-1oqy46o" width="120" style="display:block; width:120px"></a></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="#" style="text-decoration:none; display:block"><h3 class="css-1h3m7z8" style="color:#000; margin:0; padding:0 0 7px; font:700 20px/25px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif">A melon baller can spark afternoons of fun</h3><p style="color:#333; font:17px/22.5px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; margin:0">More versatile than its name suggests, a melon baller is great for everything from portioning out cookies to whipping up mini meatballs to, of course, preparing fruit.</p></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="padding:0; padding-bottom:30px"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="css-w9msz2" valign="top" style="vertical-align:top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="120" align="right"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" style="vertical-align:top; padding:0 0 0 20px"><a href="#" style="text-decoration:none; display:block"><img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/06/06/smarter-living/wcd-pic-sushi-go/wcd-pic-sushi-go-moth.jpg" alt="The Sushi Go! card game, showing the tin box and a stack of cards." class="css-1oqy46o" width="120" style="display:block; width:120px"></a></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="#" style="text-decoration:none; display:block"><h3 class="css-1h3m7z8" style="color:#000; margin:0; padding:0 0 7px; font:700 20px/25px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif">A cute, sushi-themed card game</h3><p style="color:#333; font:17px/22.5px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; margin:0">This fast-paced card game is simple enough for kids to master yet tricky enough for adults to enjoy.</p></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="height:15px"></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0; font-size:0; border-top:2px solid #000"><h1 style="color:#000; font:700 32px/36px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; margin:0 0 12.5px 0; letter-spacing:-.9px"><span>Plus: The best Father’s Day gifts under $50</span></h1></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td><a href="#"><img width="600" height="300" class="css-1jxjpzi" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/06/06/smarter-living/wcd-pic-cheap-fathers-day/wcd-pic-cheap-fathers-day-jumbo.jpg" alt="Cheap Father's Day gifts include a Topo Designs Dopp Kit, cards, Moji lanter, and more." style="width:100%; height:auto; display:block; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:5px"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="css-dz4dhe" width="100%" align="right" style="text-align:right; width:100%; padding-bottom:10px; line-height:14px"><span style="margin:0; font:11px/11px Helvetica,'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif; color:#888; letter-spacing:.01em">Photo: Marki Williams</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span>We’ve picked out a bunch of cool, inexpensive gifts for dads of all types, including a nifty wine opener, a little lamp with a hundred uses, and a pocket-sized power bank.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:700">26 great doodads for Dad→</a><br><br></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:0; font-size:0; border-top:2px solid #000"><h1 style="color:#000; font:700 32px/36px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; margin:0 0 12.5px 0; letter-spacing:-.9px"><span>One last thing: Sign up for NYT Well’s 5-Day Friendship Challenge</span></h1></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td><a href="#"><img width="600" height="338" class="css-1jxjpzi" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2024/07/03/well/03WELL-FRIENDSHIP-CHALLENGE-banner/03WELL-FRIENDSHIP-CHALLENGE-banner-jumbo.jpg" alt="An illustration of two people sitting and facing one another on a grassy field. They are engaged in a conversation. The sky is pink and orange. " style="width:100%; height:auto; display:block; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:5px"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="css-dz4dhe" width="100%" align="right" style="text-align:right; width:100%; padding-bottom:10px; line-height:14px"><span style="margin:0; font:11px/11px Helvetica,'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif; color:#888; letter-spacing:.01em">Anna Parini</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span>One more idea to foster closeness: Our colleagues at NYT Well have crafted a five-day challenge that will help bring you closer to the people you value. Starting June 10, they’ll send you one quick, simple, and evidence-based strategy a day to help you strengthen your friendships and feel more connected to your social circle.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:700">Sign up here→</a></p><table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="css-1ux4czy" style="padding-bottom:15px"></td></tr><tr><td style="border-top:1px solid #dcdcdc; padding-bottom:15px"></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span style="font-style:italic">Thanks for reading.</span></p><p style="font:400 16px/24px Helvetica,"Helvetica Neue",Arial,sans-serif; color:#333; margin:0 0 15px"><span style="font-style:italic">You can reach the Wirecutter newsletters team at </span><a href="#" class="css-sdwaa1" style="color:#286ed0; text-decoration:underline; font-style:italic">[email protected]</a><span style="font-style:italic">. 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