Books for Guys
Guys I know have been totally obsessing over Pierce Brown’s The Red Rising Series. It makes sense. Science fiction. Concise writing with packed words that quicken the pace. Roman and Greek themes doused in science that play expertly to the male fantasy - blowing shit up, death & violence, beautiful women. Meaningful, non-preachy messages. Man cannot be freed by the same injustice that enslaved him.
Brown’s stories transport your mind through time, across the globe, and into the universe. Yet, they’re still relatable. It doesn’t matter if the main character is in 3034 on Mars in the outer depths of the solar system, he wants something (needs something) and feels like your brother.
Most importantly, Brown’s characters drive the story. They inspire and demonstrate the power of the human spirit. Guys are portrayed authentically, with depth and complexity. They’re unapologetically masculine. Cool. Strong. Useful. Needed. And realistically flawed. They defy stereotypes. They feel real.
Brown’s books also have good romance. The kind where the person the character is attracted to is totally into them. Makes them feel like they’re all they need. They’re not billionaires. Not 10’s. There’s no erotica.
Guys who are hesitant readers should start with this series. For all the reasons above, but also because it’ll make you fall in love with reading.
Then give these a try (the ones in bold are my highest recommendations):
SCIFI/FANTASY FICTION
The Red Rising series by Pierce Brown (in its entirety).
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
REAL LIFE ADVENTURE / SURVIVAL STORIES
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Lone Survivor by Marcus luttrell (with Patrick Robinson)
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Last Train to Memphis by Peter Guralnick
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
REALISTIC & HISTORIC FICTIONDemon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (The audiobook for this one. Actor Charlie Thursten is as genius as the author.)
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow
Himself by Jess Kidd
One Summer by Bill Bryson
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Promising Young Man by Elias Axel (obviously)
Reality Boy by A.S. King
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
NON-FICTION BOOKS ABOUT GUY ISSUES
Getting Naked: Five Steps to Finding the Love of Your Life (While Fully Clothes & Totally Sober) by Harlan Cohen.
Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
The Dangerous Book For Boys by Hal Iggulden
How to Be a Gentleman by John Bridges (keep this in the bathroom to read and re-read… really the whole series of Gentleman books.)
Of Boys and Men by Richard V. Reeves
