Throughout the history of literature, certain topics have always held a particular appeal for men. Many favorites explicitly deal with masculinity and fatherhood, while others are just interesting reads that are especially relatable for men. If you’re a man who likes to read, or a man who wants to be the kind of man that reads, it’s time to start a bucket list of books to read before you die.
If you’re lost with where to start reading, it’s best to check out the most beloved books to read by men. This list contains Nobel and Pulitzer prize winners, and touches upon a wide variety of genres; from entertaining reads to those that deal with the deeper meaning of life.
The Best Books for Men
Reading is one of the most beneficial habits you can pick up, but with a lot of excellent books being published every year, it’s kind of hard to pick a starting point.
Depending on genre, book-length, motivation, and intention, every man’s reading journey will rarely start off the same way, but this diverse list of 25 books offers a great starting point.
Fiction Books for Men
If you’re the type of guy that enjoys exercising their imagination, or want to read as a form of temporary escape from real life, then here’s a few books to keep you company.
1. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
For men looking to understand the meaning of being human, with horror on the side.
The book that basically invented the science fiction genre was written by an 18-year-old woman on a challenge to write a ghost story. Victor Frankenstein goes too far in his scientific pursuits and the triumph he so longs for backfires on him in the end. Though a horror story, this book goes into detail about ego, pride, and ultimately, what it means to be human.
2. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
For men who’ve started their journey in fatherhood.
Post-apocalyptic fiction rarely focuses on the dramatic, opting instead to highlight the violence and difficulties of living in a world where society and technology have collapsed. This book follows a father and son’s journey through a wasted America, as they overcome starvation, cannibals, and depression. This is a gut-punching read about fatherhood, morality, and survival.
3. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
For the men showing signs of the march of time.
Men are just as prone as women to obsess over their looks, and no one proves this better than Dorian Gray, who sells his soul in exchange for staying young and beautiful. Predictably, everything goes pear-shaped. Hedonism, vanity, and selfishness are the key ideas in this book, and they show how the temporary bliss of such vices obscure real-life consequences.
4. Men Without Women by Ernest Hemingway
For men who have been recently dumped, or are just confused about women in general.
Detailing classic Hemingway subjects of love, women, war, drinking, and more war, this collection of short stories ultimately proves the fragility of hardcore masculinity and the dangers of lacking the feminine touch in a man’s life.
5. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
For men who want to learn about the senselessness of war.
This book is a bitter and morbidly hilarious story of fading innocence, desensitization, and the foolishness of war. Written by Kurt Vonnegut, who personally witnessed the firebombing of Dresden while being held as a prisoner of war, this book exhibits levels of realism that’ll leave you frustrated about the violent tendencies of humanity.
6. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
For the men struggling with masculinity and being their own boss.
On the surface, this a tale endorsing the use of male rage, but in reality, it explores the deeper meanings of masculinity and existentialism. The narrator’s fight with Tyler is, in truth, a fight with himself, the inner struggles that men face, and the violent worldview imposed on them by society.
7. The Stranger by Albert Camus
For men who are spiritually exhausted.
This novel serves as Camus’s critique on a world characterized by alienation and spiritual exhaustion, and explores the “nakedness of man faced with the absurd.” It probes man’s problems with existentialism and the inability to find the meaning of life in an inherently chaotic universe.
8. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
For men who want to better understand themselves.
This book explores a man’s relationship with nature and the truths he discovers about himself. Detailing Crusoe’s adventures while cast away on a desert island, the story provides insights to the thoughts, emotions, and growth that men can undergo when challenged.
9. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
For men looking to get in touch with their inner kid.
Everything we imagine about pirates basically came from this book, from the “X” that marks the spot, to peg legs and parrots. This swashbuckling tale is the quintessential example of an adventure that every boy dreams of.
10. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
For men who are dog lovers.
Written in the perspective of Buck, a domesticated dog-turned-pack leader to a group of sled dogs, this is a tale of absolute survival. London explores the primal connection between man and dog, and the tenacity and sheer will brought about by living in the harsh cold of Alaska.
11. Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
For men who love reading comics or graphic novels.
Some people call it a comic; I call it a graphic novel, and thus justify its place on this list. In Watchmen, Moore strips away the glamour of superhero stories and replaces it with the harshness of reality. Set during the cold war, a group of masked heroes deal with politics, ego, betrayal, and the morality of their actions.
12. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
For men looking for an introspective (and a little eerie) read.
Joseph Conrad tackles the age-old issues of race, colonialism, culture, and society as a whole. In this telling tale, the “savages” of Africa are compared to the “civilized” people of London. Do people of different racial and cultural backgrounds differ that much? Or is it societal prejudice that drives the hate into our hearts?
13. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
For men who ponder the morality of man.
The book paints a picture of a future, ultra-violent society where the state has absolute control. Though it’s hard to get past its violent content, the book tackles the fundamental human characteristic of choice. Indeed, the freedom of choice separates us from machines, and we can freely choose what’s good or evil. In particular, Burgess explores the question of whether moral depravity is better than forced morality.
14. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
For young men coming of age.
The harshness of teenage life will always resonate with anyone who’s lived it, and Salinger perfectly captures the cynicism, jadedness, and rebellion that most teens struggle to overcome. This is a book that yells “I get you!” to young men, and extends an opportunity for introspection to those of a more advanced age.
Nonfiction Books for Men
If you’re a guy who’s more into philosophical debates, finance, and other real-life concerns, then the books below are great starting points to your reading journey.
15. The Republic by Plato
For men who are philosophers at heart.
A definitive work of philosophy and political theory, Plato’s Republic tackles the definition of justice and the ideal structure of governance. In it, Plato and other philosophers discuss on whether the just man is happier than the unjust man, the immortality of the soul, and the role of philosophers in society.
16. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
For the financially-focused man.
This book is a definitive work on personal finance. In it, Kiyosaki talks about growing up with two dads, their differing outlooks on finance and wealth, and how their thinking shaped the lives they led. This book destroys the myth of needing a high income to live a comfortable life, and details the difference of working for money versus having your money work for you.
17. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
For adventurous and outdoorsy men.
Krakauer tells a harrowing tale of survival when an unexpected storm forces them to find safety on the world’s tallest mountain. The realism of Krakauer’s guilt-driven narrative of surviving the harshness of Everest makes for a chilling read. Part adventure, part history, this book is an unforgettable ride.
18. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
For men who want to be successful.
After nearly three decades as a bestseller, Covey’s ideas and principles are still as effective as they were back then. Covey talks about living your life with purpose, while also providing you with the tools to do so. The 7 habits have been used by numerous leaders, businessmen, and ordinary folk to transform their lives into something extraordinary.
19. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
For men currently facing a challenge they need to conquer.
War has changed so much since Sun Tzu first wrote this book, but its principles and teachings still remain sound and continue to influence people all over the world. From military leaders to businessmen, this book serves as inspiration for conquering the enemy (whether physical or metaphorical) and achieving victory.
20. Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose
For men who serve in the military.
Stephen Ambrose tells the incredible story of Easy Company, who stormed Normandy and pursued Hitler into his Eagle’s Nest retreat. Detailing how they trained, starved, and died, this is a gritty tale of brotherhood and camaraderie in the midst of war.
21. Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
For men who are interested in technology.
Elizabeth Holmes branded herself as the female Steve Jobs and founded a medical tech startup called Theranos at only 19 years old. The company was insanely popular, quickly gaining value at nearly $10 billion dollars, with Holmes appearing on the covers of Forbes and Fortune as the darling of Silicon Valley. There’s only one problem: Theranos’ technology didn’t work, despite all of Holmes’s claims.
It’s a cautionary tale to any business-minded person on the importance of ethics in business and a focus on fair business practices over personal legacy. The book itself is a thrilling read about a story so ridiculous, it almost feels like satire rather than from real life.
22. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
For men who are foodies.
Known for his cooking skills, biting sarcasm, and legendary adventures around the world, Bourdain has always been a rock star of the culinary world. He’s immortalized himself as a top-tier chef who constantly pushed the boundaries of cooking, and turning it into an art form.
His book both functions as a memoir and and in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at restaurant industry, going so far as to say that chefs without a masochistic and irrational dedication to cooking are not fit for a restaurant kitchen.
23. A Man and His Car by Matt Hranek
For men who are car enthusiasts.
Men have always been great lovers of machines. From collecting rare cars to customizing race machines, it’s safe to say that cars are a thriving interest for men. It’s become a hobby, a sport, and a business for most.
In his book, Hranek celebrates men and their love of cars in all their forms. He features prominent members of the car culture and their prized possessions, from Ralph Lauren’s 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Cabriolet to Steve McQueen’s 1956 Jaguar XKSS.
24. Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
For men who are business-minded.
In business, negotiating poorly could limit your growth, whether as an individual or as a company. It can cost you an important deal, or leave you with the short end of the stick.
Voss draws on his experience as a former FBI negotiator to teach you the skills of negotiation for everyday life, or situations that matter the most. This book is a practical guide to becoming more persuasive in your personal and professional life.
25. Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant
For men who are, or want to be leaders.
Being a non-conformist is certainly risky. You might get shunned or land in conflict with other people. As a result, a lot of people find it hard to speak out with their own ideas, and fail to manage their fears and doubts. But a lot of evidence also suggest how non-conformists are the most successful people.
Drawing from real-life examples, Grant provides insights on how to recognize a good idea, speak out without being hushed, and initiate change and improvements without letting fear and doubts rule you. The book is all about rejecting conformity and changing the status quo for the better.
What’s the Deal with Reading?
As a kid, I was often labeled as the oddball in the group. Adults just couldn’t understand why a kid would prefer flipping pages rather than playing sports or tussling with other kids. I was just a normal kid who came from a normal background, so adults and fellow kids would often ask me, “What’s with you and reading?”
In my culture, reading was viewed as an exclusive hobby for the well-to-do, smart people, and girls. While boys were expected to run around being rowdy, girls were meant to study up inside the house.
But this kind of thinking only contributed to the decay of education among boys, which caused other problems in turn, especially in behavior. As they grew up, rowdy became bullish, and education was seen as something unnecessary. People (a majority of whom were boys) would drop out in high school to look for jobs.
See, if these boys were only encouraged to read more and so educate themselves more, maybe they’d have fought for going to college, or tried to reach higher goals and a more fulfilled life. Who knows what heights they could be reaching now?
If you’re one of those kids who got discouraged from reading, I hope this list will help you out in your long-delayed reading journey. It’s never too late to start!
Do you have your own list of must-read books for men? Share them in the comments below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
