100 Books Every Man Should Read
There are a lot of books out there. But some are more worth your time to read than others. In this list, I’m sharing with you the top 100 books every man should read at least once in his life. I’ve read every single one of these books myself, but instead of giving you a boring synopsis of the book (which you can read on Amazon), I’m sharing why the book matters to me, and why it should matter to you. Not all of these books are pleasure reads (although some are). But all of them are guaranteed to make their mark on any thoughtful reader, and teach us all a little something about manliness.
#1 Beowulf
This book is so great and so fundamental that it was a chief inspiration for “The Lord of the Rings.” Every man should have a copy of this book lining his bookshelf. Along with an epic fantasy sword. If there’s no room for the sword, the book should be enough. Beowulf is also a great example of courage and facing your demons. So, bonuses for that.
#2 The Picture of Dorian Gray
What better book for artists than a book about art. The relationship between life and art is the central theme in this book. Perhaps this is not a question everyone will have to face. But there is also an epic moral question at the heart of this book. So why not take a deep dive into the wild mind of Oscar Wilde? This book is one of my personal favorites, and a huge inspiration to any creative.
#3 Pride and Prejudice
A classic for a reason, Pride and Prejudice is a great book thanks to its timeless love story. For those of us less in tune with our feminine sides, it is also a great opportunity to get an inside look into what women really want.
#4-11 Harry Potter
I know. Some of you probably already want to kill me. “Harry Potter isn’t literature!” you are shouting. I get it. But come on. It’s an epic story of good and evil, facing your fears, and ultimately overcoming death. It has everything an epic story needs to have. So I’m putting it on the list (like it or not). My favorite book in the series is probably the sixth one, although The Prisoner of Azkaban is the best one in the series, technically speaking. And yes. I’m a Gryffindor. I’m not including a link to this book because you know where to find it (hint: it’s downstairs in your bookshelf).
#12 Roughing it By Mark Twain
Before Mark Twain was critically acclaimed as a writer, he was just another guy traveling the world trying to figure it all out. The Mark Twain of Roughing It is down to earth, impressionable, and often easily discouraged. He’s also got wanderlust like you wouldn’t believe. Experience the great American West, all the way to Hawaii, as if you were seeing it for the first time in this epic adventure.
#13 Hamlet by Shakespeare
Really any play by Shakespeare will do, but Hamlet is perhaps the most famous. And nobody really knows why. From a technical standpoint, it’s not a very impressive play. And yet…it just works. Read it for yourself and decide what makes this a timeless masterpiece.
A sometimes confusing, tragic story about a man who can’t use his manhood the way it was intended to be used (it was injured in the war) who loves a woman who can’t love him properly, and a bunch of bullfights. Yeah. That pretty much sums it up.
In all seriousness, however, there’s a reason this book ranks highest even among Hemingway’s novels, and it perfectly encapsulates everything that makes his novels great.
However, there’s one novel of his I like even better, and that is below.
#15 A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway
This book is too powerful to give any spoilers away for it – I unfortunately had it spoiled for me before I ever got the chance to read it. If you haven’t looked up anything about the plot yet, don’t. Read it without knowing anything about it. Truly the best of Hemingway’s books.
#16 The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald
Another of the great American novels, and perhaps THE Great American Novel, The Great Gatsby shows that love and happiness can’t be bought or bartered for. Oh, and the American Dream isn’t really a thing, either, according to this story. Read it and you’ll see what I mean.
#17-18 The Iliad and the Odyssey By Homer
Love books about war, adventure, and saving a beautiful princess? Then you’ll love these books. Wether you end up rooting for Hector, Achilles or that Odysseus fellow, everybody’s got a horse in the race. But only one of these guys makes it home. Of course, these tales have had unparalleled influence on western literature. Nuff’ said.
#19 The Sagas of the Icelanders
When it comes to epics, those Icelanders sure know what they are doing! If you didn’t know, the Icelanders were almost solely responsible for retaining the great history of the Vikings. What’s more, like Beowulf, the Sagas inspired not only Tolkien’s work, but also his writing style – with a bias for language that expressed action. So take a romp through the Viking Era on one of these many, great adventures!
#20 Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky
Often required reading these days, Crime and Punishment is a worthwhile read for any man who finds himself contemplating doing a very, very bad thing. Read this book and you’ll think twice before doing it. All jokes aside, it’s an incredibly gripping psychological thriller written by the man who many claim to be the greatest storyteller of all.
#21 On the Road by Jack Kerouac
One of the most interestingly written books I’ve ever read, On the Road has got soul. If you’ve ever found yourself wanting to go on a road trip (if you’re a millennial or younger, that’s pretty much required), check this book out. It’s the ultimate road trip novel, and harkens back to a simpler time in American History.
#22 The Confessions of Augustine
Ambition. Success. Redemption. Legacy. The story of Augustine, written in his own words, is timeless, and one of the most widely read books in history.
#23 Elements of Style by Strunk and White
Every writer should read this book once a year (I’m overdue). Every man should read this book at least once in his life. Writing clearly is a sign of maturity and respect, so even if you don’t have to write a lot, when you do have to, you’ll want to impress. This book will help you do just that!
#24 Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Written by one of my favorite authors, Never Let Me Go is about how precious life is, and how painfully short it is, too. It’s also about clones. Not the Clone Wars kind, though.
#25 The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
It’s not often that a Nobel Prize winning author takes a dip into writing fantasy literature. The results is a unique reading experience unlike any other.
(That’s me below, meeting Kazuo Ishiguro).
Crazy, apocalyptic and prophetic, Flannery O’Connor’s Wiseblood sums up her strange vision of the world and lays the groundwork for the rest of her critically acclaimed writings.
#19 A Good Man is Hard to Find And Other stories by Flannery O’Connor
Arguably the height of O’Connor’s fantastic writings, A Good Man shows the world she created in full glory – as dark and strange as that glory is, at times. In each story, characters have life changing experiences that teach them something about themselves and the truth that they had been unable to see before. You could even say they are religious experiences. Although all the stories in this collection are worth the read, the titular one is the most thrilling.
#27 The Violent Bear it Away by Flannery O’Connor
Flannery O’Connor’s greatest novel critically juxtaposes violence with redemption – set against the strange backdrop of her gothic, modern, Southern United States.
#28 The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway
Another great book by Hemingway, and one of the very books that inspired my love for the written word, this story is about a manly quest to obtain an epic fish. Only, it’s not really the fish they are after.
#29 The Nick Adams Stories by Hemingway
I like this collection of stories from Hemingway because of how intimate they are, and how simple. Less grandiose than his other works, the Nick Adams stories really grab the essence of Hemingway’s work, and largely focuses on the goings on in the life of a very young man.
#30 The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Lewis dives into the common pitfalls men face as they progress through life and reach maturity. This book really causes you to stop and think about your own life and the things that might be leading you astray from your goals.
#31 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Although not technically speaking the greatest work of fiction ever created, this book has lived in the hearts of so many that it deserves a spot on this list. Also, since this is a list predominately for men, the sacrificial act made by Aslan in this book is a great example of masculine love. I know he’s a lion, but it still counts.
#32 The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
Imagine what purgatory is like. Hard to do so, right? Does a bus come to mind, at all? This book is all about purgatory and life after death. Oddly enough it makes for an incredibly fun take on a very serious topic.
#33 1984 by George Orwell
Ask yourself, are you a sheep, or do you think for yourself? To what lengths are you willing to go to keep your individuality? These are the questions 1984 asks us to painfully consider.
A truly amazing book – it’s filled with heart wrenching moments and is written in an incredibly realistic way. Especially when you look at the world around you today. Then it seems suddenly even more realistic. shudders
#34 Animal Farm by George Orwell
Life of farm animals as they struggle to form a society. It’s a thinly veiled critique of Communism. You know it’s going to be a good read.
#35 The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The out of place, loner teenager trope is so overdone now that it’s cliche. But that wasn’t the case when Salinger wrote The Catcher in the Rye. Sometimes it’s easy for us to get so caught up in the world of adulting that we forget about some of those more important things nobody had to tell us to think about when we were kids. Essentially, Salinger’s hero, Holden, wants to be the person who reminds people of what’s important before it’s too late.
“Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be.” – The Catcher in the Rye.
#36 Franny and Zooey by JD Salinger
Salinger was a really odd guy, and lived a life of reclusion following his incredible fame from The Catcher. He didn’t publish a whole lot after that book, either. But one of the few books he did publish was about the mythical Glass family he invented – Franny and Zooey. It’s a book ultimately about young creative people trying to find meaning in the world, and an inspiring read simply because of Franny’s realization that she needs to do what she needs to do simply because she’s the one meant to do it.
#37 Nine Stories by JD Salinger
A concise collection of impeccably written stories by Salinger. My favorite is “For Esme – with Love and Squalor” about a young soldier who needs a little bit of love to heal his war wounds.
#38 The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne
Want to know what life was like in Puritan America? A lot of the issues that plague the little society found in The Scarlet Letter can still be found today – like judging people unfairly, and hypocrisy. Sometimes, it’s not the bad guy who is really the bad guy, and it’s not the white knight who is really the white knight.
#39 Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Taking place in Iceland, my favorite part of this book is the Icelandic guide tasked with leading a few daring explorers on a journey to the center of the earth. It’s also nothing like the movie version.
#40 Romance of the Three Kingdoms – the Shakespeare of Chinese Literature
It’s been a while since I’ve read this one, but I remember absolutely loving it. The main hero of this story is such an epic character – epic enough to rival some of the best from western literature. The version I read was translated by Moss Roberts.
#41 Silence by Shusaku Endo
Silence tells the story of Portuguese missionaries who travel to Japan during a time of terrible persecution of Catholics.
Silence has themes anyone can relate to – especially those such as dealing with hardships, crisis of faith, doubting yourself, and feeling abandoned by everyone, even God.
#42 Deep River by Shusaku Endo
A group of misfits who have each been through something awful head to India to find healing in the River Ganges. Only, what they find there is not the kind of enlightenment they expected.
#43 Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Who doesn’t want to be best buds with English Lords and Ladies? Brideshead tells the story of a young man who begins a lifelong relationship with a noble family in Merry Old England.
Charles, the protagonist, comes alive for the first time, it seems, when meeting the eccentric family – and it spurs a crisis of identity and faith in him.
#44-45 The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings by Tolkien
The father of modern fantasy spent two whole decades developing the world in which Frodo would one day be destined to traipse before he ever even began writing about the One Ring. The depth and hard work Tolkien put into his fantasy world paid off – no one can compare to the universe he manufactured.
Apart from its literary merits, The Lord of the Rings is a tale of courage, and overcoming adversity. It also shows us that although all we may want is to stay home in the comforts of what we know and love, real life is waiting for us on the road.
#46-52 The Witcher
The Witcher series is not equal to Tolkien in any way, but it does have its own well-crafted world and a fantastic set of characters.
Why it makes the list:
Simply because Garalt and Yennefer are fantastic characters. Garalt is a great representation of the masculine virtues, and Yennefer works as a great counterbalance. The best scenes are whenever they are together.
Note* it can be tricky figuring out how to read The Witcher in Chronological order. Here’s a guide to do it.
#53 Dracula by Bram Stoker
A harrowing tale of good vs. evil. The scenes described herein still make me cringe. Also, Bram Stoker stole Oscar Wilde’s love, so there’s that.
#54 Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
In the same way Tolkien has influenced every work of fantasy that came after him, Sherlock Holmes has influenced the world of sleuthing like none other. Basically every detective ever to follow has been a rehashing of Sherlock Holmes.
Why it makes the list:
Because Sherlock Holmes is the picture of a gentleman. Well versed in many areas, a renaissance man, and cruely calculating, we can learn a lot from his meticulous attention to detail.
#s 55-56 Lives by Plutarch
Plutarch literally wrote these stories so that others would be inspired by them to do great things. If you love the ancient world, epic stories, and crazy heroes, this one is for you. Included are such greats as Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great.
Plutarch’s Lives is divided into two volumes – one focusing on great and famous Greeks, one on the Romans.
#57 The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
This book is a super short read and I love short reads. Most books could probably be a lot shorter. However, a lot of info is packed into this little volume and it helps to read it once you have a pretty solid understanding of western history (particularly of the Greeks and the Romans as they are alluded to a lot in this book).
Although the book was written to a prince and concerns matters of state, I actually found it uncanny how many of the lessons imparted to the prince could be applied to just about any man.
#58 The Bible
An essential read for anybody looking to understand themselves, their creator, and western literature/culture better.
#59 The Constitution of the United States of America
Did you know that the Constitution of the United States is still important today? You aren’t alone if you didn’t. A lot of people don’t realize that this founding document dictates the form of our government. Take a read for yourself.
#60 A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
Less difficult to read than some of his books but still a challenge at times, Portrait, like the Picture of Dorian Gray, deals with themes of the relationship between life and art. Fun fact, the reading level of the book gets more challenging as titular character grows up. Kind of like Harry Potter.
#61 Cyrano De Burgerac by Edmund Rostand
Cyrano can’t get what he wants because he has an ugly nose. His love, Roxanne, loves him back, only doesn’t know it. Who can’t relate?
#62 Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra
An old man decides he wants to relive the glory day of Gallant Knights in Spain. Even odder, Sancho Panza decides to be his squire.
Notable moments: The Windmills.
#63 Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
It might seem odd to put a comic book in this list of books for men, but it really isn’t odd at all. Finally what men really want – a book with all pictures! I remember picking up these books and reading through them one day in college when I was stuck in my room sick. I couldn’t believe how relatable they were.
#64 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Writing way ahead of her time, Shelley asks the question “how far should science go in messing with human life”. The answer – only so far before it comes back to bite you in the rear.
#65 7 Story Mountain by Thomas Merton
A spiritual work written by a great writer of the 20th century – Thomas Merton describes his story from beatnik to monk in this epic story that brought the Christian Faith to the attention of a modern world.
#66 Martin Eden by Jack London
Usually when you think about Jack London you think about his books about dogs. But Martin Eden is a whole different sort of story. The unlearned, hard working Martin Eden meets a woman of the upperclass (she’s from somewhere in the Bay Area, I can’t remember exactly where). The rest of the book is about Martin trying to become a writer so he can be worthy of her. Something of a semi-autobiography, this book will knock your socks off (and possibly bring you to tears, depending on your disposition).
#67 Metamorphoses by Ovid
If you love myths, Ovid is the book for you. Ovid tells many of the fundamental Greek Myths through the lens of a Roman – all of these stories center on change.
#68 The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
Another story about change, the main character is a salesman who one day wakes up and finds himself transformed mysteriously into a giant cockroach. The meaning of this? Decide for yourself. Regardless, its a famous story and really makes you wonder if Gregor is all that different now that he’s a bug than he was when he was a distasteful human.
#69 The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
This book is similar to A Scarlet Letter in that it deals with the actual evil that is living a double life, and the problems that can occur when a man’s ambition outstrips him.
#70 The Republic by Plato
The “Allegory of the Cave” is one of the most powerful stories around, and shows the importance of education and enlightenment, and acts as an incredible foreshadowing for events to come. Like the characters in Plato’s Cave, many of us are stuck looking at shadows and reflections of the world on our phones. But by coming out into “the light” – reading, learning, traveling, going out into nature, experiencing friendship and the like – we are able to become enlightened.
#71 Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Howl is just your typical 20-something guy. Footloose and fancy free, an intolerable flirt, and –oh yeah – a magician. Ultimately, he learns to face his fears and become responsible. Not a bad message for young men today.
#72 The Alchemist by Paul Coelho
I don’t hear this book mentioned as frequently anymore, but it’s a great one. It’s all about finding your personal treasure, exploring your dreams, and achieving your goals. A definite must-read for any dreamer.
#73 The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
Big character reveals – where you realize something about a character you thought you knew all along – are extremely hard to pull off. And the English Patient does it wonderfully. Don’t watch the movie, though, until after you’ve read the book. The movie doesn’t do it so well.
#74 The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
A really, really scary book that will “haunt” you for long after you’ve read it. Pun intended.
#75 Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
A compelling story not only about a woman’s journey into adulthood but one that asks a question about the importance of external beauty vs internal virtue, and the very necessity of primacy in the latter.
#76 Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl
What meaning does life have when everything you have, even your dignity, is taken away from you? The answer – it has the meaning you give it.
#77 Lord of the Flies by William Golding
When you throw a bunch of boys alone on an island and task them with survival on their own, it’s not a picnic. Things get ugly, fast. Although this book shows the darkness of human nature, it also shows our need for salvation – if all that we have is what we’ve got, things would be even worse than they are. In reality, human nature is not all ugly (though it has its ugly parts, undeniably so). In fact, a real life Lord of the Flies scenario played out in the sixties, and ended up just fine.
#78 The Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Another book about getting lost in the wilderness, this one ends a little happier than the previous book on this list. As it so happens, the hatchet, given to the hero of our story by his mother, is the very thing providence wields to save him. If he had not been given that hatchet, things would’ve ended very badly for him. It’s because of this book that I always carry a hatchet with me when I go on outdoor adventures.
#79 The Sea and Poison by Shusaku Endo
Since we are on the topic, let’s chat about another book that explores man’s capacity for evil. This one is another book by my literary icon, Shusaku Endo, and it’s a fictionalized account of the real life event where Japanese scientists perform experiments on living American prisoners of war. Basically the story dives into each of the scientist’s pasts explaining how it was that they got to the point where they would actually be willing to do something so heinous. You won’t find this book on a lot of lists, so you’re welcome for me pointing you in its direction.
#80 St. Francis of Assisi by G.K. Chesterton
It’s not very often that you have a literary legend write a book on one of the most loved saints of all time. This book offers a powerful and lasting view into St. Francis’s life, written with such compelling prose as may never be matched in a story about this saint again.
#81 Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton
Now a major television show on the BBC, Father Brown is one of the most loved stories about a Catholic Clergyman of all time. It also serves as a way to show the rather rationality and openness of the Catholic Faith – something that is highly underrepresented in any story – through Father Brown.
#82 Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
You aren’t going to live forever. Youth is passing. These are hard realities for young people to face, and few books depict them more vividly than Tuck Everlasting.
#83 The Samurai’s Tale by Erik C. Haugaard
In a world where you can only attain status by birth, the Samurai’s Tale shows what the virtues of hard work and perseverance can help you attain.
#84 – Wild at Heart by John Eldredge
Truly a book every man should read at least once in his life – what if everything that people tell you about being a man isn’t true? Money, fame, career – the trappings of modern manhood are not what you were made for. Instead, you were made for adventure.
#85 – Winter Tales by Karen Blixen (AKA Isaac Dinesen)
It’s hard enough to write really well in one language. But what is remarkable to me about this collection of stories is that Blixen was able to write it deftly in English and in her native Danish. My favorite story is the opening one, about a young man who wanders away from his wife, discouraged, lonely, and feeling a failure despite tremendous success. Imposter syndrome, anyone? It’s a feeling many of us men have to deal with daily in our lives.
#86 Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi
Books on self mastery belong on any list of 100 books every man should read. Self mastery is the theme of this book. And after all, isn’t that what we’re all after?
#87 The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Murakami
Although rife with a lot of awkward sex scenes, the story itself is entirely enticing. The author creates such an incredible world and incredible story that he is unable to really complete it. But maybe that’s the point.
#88 The Moviegoer by Walker Percy
Bored, successful Binx tries to find meaning in life in order to fight back the malaise.
#89 The Day of the Locust by Nathanial West
Another tremendous, apocalyptic view of then contemporary American society – the dream of fame and success is swallowed up and spit out by the reality of a dark present, and a foreshadowing of an even darker future.
#90 The Once and Future King
Every man should read the Arthurian Legends – they tell stories of chivalry, bravery, betrayal and overcoming adversity. It’s also a hugely impactful theme over the rest of literature.
#91 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
As it so happens, there is one knight even greater than King Arthur and Lancelot. That knight’s name is none other than Sir Gawain. His sense of honor, chivalry and nobility in the face of danger are things every man should aspire to. Also, it’s another work to inspire Tolkien, and the link above is to his translation of the epic quest.
#92 The Giver
#93 Walt Disney the Triumph of an American Imagination by Neal Gabler
Walt Disney, despite what you might think from modern Disney Princess movies, was one hell of a dude. He was a sportsman, a businessman, and a revolutionary mind. It took incredible grit to build the empire he built, and he built it simply to do the work he wanted to do.
#94 George Washington: the Wonder of the Age by John Rhodehamel
In the words of Machiaveli, one aught to ponder on great people in order to become great. And among all people in history, none have loomed as large as Washington. The Father of the most powerful country in history, and the ultimate and first American Gentleman, every man can learn from this iconic figure.
#95 How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This book is considered a must by many – learn how to be a social butterfly by the progenitor of self help books.
#96 Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Jaques Philipe
This book is one of those books you should read every so often just to keep yourself grounded. It sure helped me during a difficult time in my life, and I think it would help you realize that sometimes you really just need to take a leap of faith.
#97 For Men Only by Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn
If more men read this book, there would be less frustrated women out there. This book guides you through the many pitfalls you are likely to fall into (being a man) in regards to your wife, and how to avoid them. Highly recommend.
#98 Dante’s Inferno by Dante
The original fantasy work, walk with Dante through a fiery hell filled with famous people you probably will recognize. I didn’t read the follow up works to this as they were less interesting.
#99 The Quest for Shakespeare by Joseph Pearce
What if everything you thought you knew about Shakespeare was a lie? Joseph Pearce challenges what we thought we knew about the world’s most famous writer and helps draw a more convincing, likely picture.
#100 On Writing by Stephen King
A book any writer should read but also a good read in general, Stephen King compiles a story that brings you into one of the most prolific and successful writers of our time, and leaves some unforgettable advice for honing your craft – whether that be writing or something else entirely.
#101 He Runs with Lions by Joseph Anderson
So as not to have an internet mob come after me for including my own book in this list, I’m adding it as an extra. He Runs with Lions is really about a young man finding meaning and love, and it’s a story that was inspired by all the other stories on this list. So give it a read!
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