Best Civ to introduce someone to Civ 5

France or America, both UA's don't require any special effort to get passable use out of them, and the musketeer, minuteman and foreign legion are all on the standard melee line and pretty easy to use; they don't require any super early warring or specialist tactics.

Maya is a good shout also, though a heavily religion focused civ takes a few goes to get right, and, while not required by the civ, the whole ICS thing can be difficult and gets very user work heavy later on.

All these civs are set up for wide and a fair amount of war, so if they wanted an easy to use starter civ that's tall and peaceful, maybe Ethiopia? UB is for free with tradition or built really early anyways, UA requires no skill to use (in defence, as long as they actually do go tall), and the UU is on the standard melee line and will work well easily when they are defending.

Your Dad is 41? I have socks older than that!

Seriously though, if your Dad plays for enjoyment and likes wonders and shiny things, I would suggest Egypt.

They have such an advantage when it comes to building them, and if you take Tradition as an opener you get another kick along. And the wonders themselves provide plenty of benefits.

(Although you didn't ask I'd also suggest he picks a map type like small continents where he has a chance to be on an island by himself or with a few City States so he's not going to get immediately attacked).

thanks for all the advice guys!

also, Persian UA is the best + if you build Chichen Itza you get endless Golden Age.

Attila of the Huns.

With the BR and HA he gets to know war. Can't miss with these two and will over reach so one will get to know how to handle the economic aspect of Civ.

William, Netherlands. Very flexible. A UA that is happiness/lux based. A UB that is a very useful improvement. A UU that is a powerful sea raider. Very well rounded in both mid and late game play. A little slow out of the gate, but not bad.

Greece, Rome or America.