Best Books For Men : 15 Top Books for Men to Read

Are you a man looking for the best books for men? Are you looking for books for self-improvement for men? Do you know of a man who can benefit from reading the best books for men? Are you interested in gifting a man in your life with a bestselling Pulitzer Prize award-winning book for men? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are in the right place.

Hi, my name is Sean Galla, a facilitator for men’s support groups, which can include book clubs and book reading sessions.  With the right books, it is possible to change any man’s life by boosting their self-esteem, educating them, and warding off negative thinking. In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about books every man should read and why they are essential to any modern man interested in self-improvement.

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Written by

Sean Galla

An experienced facilitator, community builder and Peer Support Specialist, Sean has been running men's groups for 10+ years. Read Sean's Full Author Bio.

Why Should Men Read Books?

According to statistics, the ratio of men to women when it comes to reading books is 1:2. This means that the number of women who read is twice that of men. Like women, men are capable of reading, and there are numerous books written for men in the market.

Best Books For Men

Here are some reminders of why men should read books.

Reading can make you smarter.

According to a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, men who read often have higher GPAs, greater knowledge and higher intelligence compared to people who do not read. Reading also ensures you remain sharp even as you age. Whether you read fiction or motivational books, it is one of the best ways to become sharper.

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Reading can improve memory.

When you read, you increase your brain’s neuronal current output, which creates new synapses in your brain, thus unlocking new areas of your memory. Scientists have discovered that people who read have lower levels of beta-amyloid, a protein found in the brain that helps develop Alzheimer’s. This is done by keeping the brain stimulated through reading.

Reading makes you interesting.

Reading books expands your way of thinking by leaving you with experiences you would never have if you do not read or travel. When you read, you have something to contribute to conversations because you become a knowledgeable person. This makes you more interesting to the people you interact with.

Reading can improve your conversation skills.

To be able to express yourself, one needs to use words. Reading exposes you to words, old and new that can be useful when you are having conversations.  Over time, the words you read become part of your vocabulary, making you better at conversations. Through reading, you become a better listener and a better speaker.

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Recommended List of Books Every Man Should Read

best classic books for men

The Stranger

By Albert Camus, the first book on the list is a Nobel Prize-winning novel that explores existentialism in ways that can only be done by a French writer. While it was written in 1942, the theme of the novel is still relevant in the modern-day. With only 159 pages to read, the book packs a strong message about life that every man should read.

Slaughterhouse-Five

By Kurt Vonnegut, this is one of his most famous novels that gives an account of a time when Dresden was bombed by allies, which is an event he was caught up in during his time as a German prisoner of war. Time-shifting has also been used in this tale, giving an insight into important events that shaped history.

The Great Gatsby

Considered one of America’s greatest literary pieces, this book by F-Scott-Fitzgerald is set among the elites in New York City in the roaring ‘20s. As one of the bestseller books, it embodies amazing metaphors, beautiful writing, and amazing lessons modern men can learn from reliving the past through this book.

Brave New World

This book portends changes in the rule of governments as the author takes a classical look at changes in technology that would later change the world. In this 1931 book by Aldous Huxley, he explores a future where babies are being born in laboratories, entertainment becomes formulaic than narrative, a stratified society, and where individuality will be frowned upon.

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1984 by George Orwell

This book is set in a dystopian future world of perpetual war and surveillance by the government. The protagonist uncovers a secret organization planning to destroy the state. He joins the course as they fight against Big Brother. While it was published in the 1940s, this book resonates with modern-day happenings now more than ever, and should thus be on every man’s bookshelf.

The Sun Also Rises

This was the first novel that captured Ernest Hemingway to success and worldwide fame. This is a semi-autobiographical must-read novel where the main character tries to heal from his physical and emotional world war wounds. If you are interested in taking a journey through Spain and France, this book is for you.

On The Road

This defining novel written by Jack Kerouac is fictional and semi-autobiographical that explores the lives of two friends who take a road trip across America as they explore different cultures involving poetry, jazz, drunken revelry, and drug use. Along their journey, these two search for what every man looks for; freedom, ambition, authenticity, and hope. It is a book every young man can resonate with as they draw a lifetime of lessons.

The Count of Monte Cristo

This is one of the best adventure novels to have ever been written. Written by Alexandre Dumas and set in France, this book’s enduring appeal has attracted millions of readers from all over the world since its publication in the 19th century. It tells a story about revenge, treasure, and love.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This novel by Harper Lee is an all-time classic for a good reason. It tells the story of two siblings who spend their days spying on their neighbors while riding their bikes and hanging with their friends. Things in their town become serious when a black man is accused of raping a white girl and Atticus, their widowed father, comes in defense of the black man. He has to help his children put things into perspective after they are thrust into this very adult world. The book is available on Amazon and is one of the best reads of the modern-day.

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

Written by Hunter S. Thompson, this is a book about friends who go on a round trip and indulge in drugs while in Las Vegas. This book is the definitive way of experiencing drugs vicariously through the lives of the characters.

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The Catcher In The Rye

This is an amazing piece of literature for any intelligent or sensitive teenager written by J.D. Salinger. It tells the tale of a young man who struggles with his sanity in a world where he is surrounded by ‘phonies.’ It has lessons that can help shape any high school student’s mind in the modern-day.

The Road By Cormac McCarthy

As one of the author’s best works, this novel follows a father and son’s life as they try to make their way through the post-apocalyptic United States. It is a gut-wrenching, violent book from one of the best American authors written when he was at the height of his literary journey.  

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Malcolm X is a controversial public figure who was part of the civil rights movement. In this non-fiction self-help book, the reader gets to see how complex Malcolm was as a man. The reader is taken on his journey of ignorance and despair to seek knowledge and find spiritual awakening. Malcolm’s emphasis on self-reliance and standing up for your rights are lessons that can resonate with every young man living in these turbulent social and political times.  

The Hobbit & The Lord Of The Rings

Comprising of four amazing books, the author seeks to tell one epic story through them all. Without a doubt, you have probably seen the movies, though great, the books are better. In this book, you will learn about friendship, dedication to a good course, loyalty, and many other virtues that can help shape your mind and life. J.R.R. Tolkien was one of the most imaginative authors in literature who created a completely new universe, complete with maps, new languages, and histories told in these books. This is what makes this series worth reading.

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Written by Dale Carnegie, This book was the blueprint for other award-winning authors. This book is ideal for any man interested in boosting their self-esteem. It teaches you how to communicate effectively, use digital tools for networking, and make yourself attractive while projecting your message in a way that is easy to understand.

Join a Book Club at Mensgroup

mens-group-refund-guarentee

If you are looking for inspiration and recommendations for the best Self Help, sci-fi or science fiction, motivational, fiction, and non-fiction books for men, Men’s Group is an online men’s support group that encourages book reading as part of Self-improvement. In this group, you meet like-minded men who guide you on the best books for men to read available on amazon and other sources, even as they offer timely advice on how to lead a more fulfilling, happier life.

*Sources:
1. What are the best life changing books?
2. What are the most read books?
3. What books do the rich read?
4. Why Do Men Read Less…on Average?
5. Does Reading Make You More Attractive? 3 Reasons Why Women Love Men Who Read