If you’ve been following the show for even just a little while, you probably know how important reading is to Michael and Lauren. Reading is an essential hobby that furthers your personal and professional growth.
The cool thing about reading is that there’s always something for everyone. No matter your gender, age, or preference, there’s something out there that will captivate you and help you grow.
Michael has shared some of his favorite books for men over the years. These books are a catalyst for growth. Even reading for five minutes a day can change your mindset and therefore your life. That’s why today, we are sharing a roundup of books every man should read.
If you want to hear these recommendations from the man himself, Michael’s solo episode is available for you here:
[https://open.spotify.com/episode/1myc7kaiTYXBZxSz4eI8Yy?si=bdmSGXTVSo2-jqPqIxWqRw&nd=1&dlsi=19b943f2cda744e6]
17 Books Every Man Should Read
Today, we’ll be sharing some of the most influential books a man can read. These books span across several genres, and each one has wisdom worth learning.
Do Men Read Books?
Yes, of course men read books! In fact, Statista found in 2021 that 73% of surveyed American men had read a book in the past year. But, if you’re a man looking for somewhere to start, check out the books on this list below!
What Kind Of Books Do Men Read?
- History
- Fantasy
- Classics
- Science Fiction
- Philosophy
- Self-improvement
What Books Should Every Man Read?
Written by Peter F. Drucker, who is often regarded as the father of modern management, Managing Oneself: The Key to Success is a book that can teach you how to manage your personal life and become a more effective leader.
Have you ever felt like you’re great at managing others, but you struggle to manage yourself? Or, maybe you feel the opposite. Maybe you’re struggling with both managing yourself and managing others. Either way, this book has something in it for you! It will teach you to become your own CEO as well as show you how to be a better leader to others.
The goal of this book is to explore how stress affects every area of your life physical, emotional, cognitive, relational, and even spiritual.
But this book isn’t just about understanding stress; t’s also designed to help you nurture your resilience. You’ll learn several techniques to relax, let go of worry and anxiety, and manage your stress response. Along the way, you’ll be invited to reflect on the ways stress may be controlling your life and how you can take back control.
In the age of technology, phones, the Internet, and social media apps, it can be difficult to avoid distraction. Distraction can then quickly turn into dissociation. Many people can feel lost and addicted to their screens.
This book is all about conquering the distractions that are preventing you from living your best life. When you conquer your distractions, you are able to get into a state of Deep Work. Deep Work is defined as “professional activities performed in a state of distraction; free concentration that pushes your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create a new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.”
American Psycho follows Patrick Bateman, a narcissistic investment banker in New York City. By day, he is managing portfolios. By night, he is delving into a world of violent crime.
This is a comedy-horror novel published in 1991. It explores Bateman’s life, and pays particular attention to Bateman‘s obsession with status, perfection, material possessions, and violence. Through a satirical lens, the novel critiques the excesses of consumer culture and the emptiness of superficial success.
If you’re not familiar with the philosophy of Stoicism, you’re about to become familiar! Stoicism is a philosophy of life that focuses on mastering emotions, understanding what is within our control and what is not, and staying true to our values in order to live a good life.
Seneca, once the guiding hand of the Roman empire, derives his own personal philosophy from the ideals of Stoicism. We can learn so much from the stoics on how to live our best life.
Another great stoic was Marcus Aurelius, who was the Roman emperor from 161 to 180 A.D. Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations is a series of personal writings ranging from private notes to himself to philosophical insights offering a window into his practice of the principles of Stoicism.
Despite the fact that this book was written nearly 2000 years ago, it remains relevant today. Stoic philosophy has lessons we can all learn from.
If you enjoy short form podcasts, Michael also recommends The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday. This podcast takes a small aspect of Stoic philosophy to focus and reflect on every day. Each podcast is between 2-10 minutes.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a coming-of-age novel that examines the conflict between two rival teen gangs in Oklahoma. It follows 14 year-old Ponyboy Curtis, a working-class “Greaser” whose gang is constantly at odds with their rivals, the upper-middle-class gang, the “Socs.”
This novel explores themes of belonging, coming of age, family, and violence. There is also a heavy focus on class conflict.
The Let Them Theory is a fantastic book by Mel Robbins that outlines the life changing tool of “letting them.” This tool reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed, frustrated, or stressed in your day-to-day life.
In this book, you will learn that you cannot control anyone else, but you can control how you react to the things that happen around you. It’ll help you stop wasting time and energy and find freedom in letting things go.
If you want to learn more about this book before diving in, check out our Let Them book review! You can also find more about this theory in the Mel Robbins Him and Her show episode.
Man’s Search for Meaning is a book written in 1946 by Victor Frankl. This book chronicles his experience as a prisoner in different Nazi concentration camps during World War II.
The book also describes his psychotherapeutic method, which involves identifying a purpose for each person‘s life in one of three ways. You may find purpose in the completion of tasks, caring for another person, or discovering meaning by facing suffering with dignity.
Frankl found that those who survived the concentration camps with him had also found a purpose in life to feel positively about. In a world where many struggle with anxiety and depression, Frankl’s message is both grounding and inspiring.
Atomic Habits is one of Lauryn and Michael’s favorite books. This book has taught them so much about maximizing their time and upgrading their routines. Thanks to James Clear and his life-changing philosophy, we know how to habit stack to make the most of the time we have.
If you’re wondering what habit stacking is, check out this article or watch Lauryn’s solo episode of the show to learn more!
To Kill a Mockingbird was voted America’s #1 best-loved novel on PBS’s The Great American Read. It’s a Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece that examines honor and injustice in the deep South.
In this novel, a young girl named Scout Finch awakens to racism and prejudice in her small town during the Depression. As Scout and her brother Jem come of age, they witness the trial of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. The novel explores the justice system and how it can be corrupted.
The themes of this novel include empathy, compassion, morality, racial prejudice, and justice.
If you skipped the required reading in high school, you may have missed one of the great American classics The Great Gatsby. It follows a man named Nick Carraway as he interacts with the mysteriously wealthy Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is known for throwing lavish parties at his sprawling estate. When alone, Gatsby can be quite solemn as he stares longingly at a solitary green light across the water.
This novel explores the difference between new money and old money, and how some social lines are difficult to cross. As you read the novel, you will see how wealth can be a corrupting influence, causing the decay of morality and values. Additional themes include the power of nostalgia and the illusion of the American dream.
The Count of Monte Cristo is another classic novel that explores the themes of justice. This book follows Edmond Dantès’s pursuit of revenge against the people who betrayed him and caused him to be falsely imprisoned.
As the book unfolds, Edmond’s pursuit of revenge becomes intertwined with his love for Mercédès Herrera. Eventually, Edmuod develops a compassionate side. This novel showcases how a pursuit for revenge can turn into redemption.
How to Win Friends and Influence People is a self-help book that has stood the test of time. Written in 1936 by Dale Carnegie, over 30 million copies have been sold worldwide.
This book came to be in an interesting way. Dale Carnegie had been conducting education courses on business topics in New York since 1912. In 1934, Leon Shinkin took one of Dale Carnegie‘s 14 week courses on human relations. He was so enamored by what he learned that he was determined to turn the course into a book. He persuaded Carnegie to let a stenographer take notes from the course to be revised for publication. As a result, one of the most popular self-help books ever written was born.
A great classic by Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises is a quintessential novel of the Lost Generation. This book takes a look at the disillusionment and angst of the post World War I generation. The novel follows a group of expatriate Americans and Englishmen traveling through Europe as they look for a sense of purpose and connection.
This book explores the search for meaning, post war disillusionment, love and relationships, and themes of masculinity.
Bird by Bird by Ann Lamont begins with words of wisdom, passed down from Anne’s father, who was also a writer:
“30 years ago, my older brother, who was 10 years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table, close to tears, surrounded by binders, paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, and immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.’”
The book is filled with humor, honesty, and invaluable insights, reminding us that even the biggest tasks can be tackled one step at a time.
The Think and Grow Rich Action Guide by Napoleon Hill is a companion workbook to the best selling personal development book of all time. Napoleon Hill’s 1937 classic Think and Grow Rich can help you with financial situations, having meaningful relationships, and achieving your career aspirations.
This book has 13 proven principles that will give you the tools and confidence you need to advance your life. According to Napoleon Hill, the sky’s the limit, as long as you believe it.
If you’re looking to grow personally or professionally, books are the key!
It’s amazing what a book can do to change your mindset. Truly, books have taught us some of the most valuable life lessons we’ve learned. That’s why reading is so important to us & why Lauryn’s Goodreads has like, over a thousand books.
It’s easy to make reading a daily practice in your life, but it’s also easy to overlook it. That’s why Lauryn blocks off her calendar for time for the hobbies she wants to prioritize.
Reading is one of the most transformational habits you can have. So, what are you waiting for? Pick a book and let us know how you like it!