The problem with most lists of “great books every man should read” is that they are always very vague. what exactly qualifies a book as “excellent”? well, sure, we can all agree on the classics, the books that everyone needs to read before they die. a little faulkner and twain, tolstoy and melville, an epic poem by homer or two, and voila. You already know what to do. but if you’re talking about a man north of 40, you’re talking about a man who’s seen a few things, learned about life, and knows he needs to have more than just a copy of moby-dick on his shelves to show visitors that is interesting.
These are our suggestions for 40 books every man over 40 should take the time to read (or re-read) and then put them on his bookshelf for all the world to see. Trust us, you’ll be glad you did. And if you’re wondering how to complete this list before you hit 50, check out the amazing secrets of speed reading.
You are reading: Books for old men
$12; shop now at powell’s
this 1975 eyewitness account by norman mailer of the so-called “rumble in the jungle” in which heavyweight champion george foreman defended his title from the challenger muhammad ali, is packed with more drama than anything hollywood has given us. sports writing has never been so good. And if you’re in the market for a great type of read right now, check out this wonderfully candid essay by David Halberstam, titled “How to Find His True Purpose in Life.”
$15; buy now at target
Speaking of fights…. This novel by chuck palahniuk is a quick read, but it will make you seriously rethink all the priorities in your life. take a passage like this: “may it never be complete. may it never be content. may it never be perfect.” you don’t need to be in an underground fight club for that line to shake you to the core. And if you’re looking to up your own fitness game, check out the best way to stay fit for life.
$8; buy now in the thread
dave eggers‘s brilliant and often hilarious memoir is about being young and hopeful, but also dealing with terrible losses that come without warning and learning to accept responsibility. especially as you get older, you realize that your parents are going to die one day, and it’s going to be horrible. This one is on our list of books every man should read because he will help you get through it, in a way that no “how to” guide to grief and loss ever could. And for more on getting older, here are 40 Life-Changing Habits To Follow After 40.
$10; shop now at powell’s
The title makes it sound like a boring story, but this book is anything but. is a fascinating account of five centuries in which the Christian and Islamic worlds emerged in tandem and were often at odds with each other. is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the religious intolerance that still exists today. And for some quick historical facts, here are the 28 Most Enduring Myths in American History.
$12; shop now at barnes & noble
This novel, by wallace stegner, is perfect for anyone who has been in a long-term relationship or has found that most of their social time is spent with others. couples. a great reminder that marriage is a marathon, not a sprint. for more thoughts on that, here are the 7 ways to make your marriage last forever.
$11; buy now on amazon
a children’s book, for sure. but we think it deserves a place on the list of books every man should read. reread it as an adult and you’ll get nuances you never knew were there. is this a book about how all forms of government are brutality and treason, and decency will not save you, and even if you are a decent person, you might manage to survive but only at a terrible cost? you tell us.
$9; buy now at target
The symbolism of the Great Gatsby can completely change depending on when you read it. in your 20s, it’s all about symbolism and the disintegration of the American dream. but if you reread it at 40, you might connect with longing for gatsby on a much more personal level. read this classic again and see how it speaks to you today. And for more masculine classics, here are the 37 movies every man over 40 should be able to cite.
$11; buy now on amazon
You don’t need to have served in the military to be moved by this story of the men of easy company, a parachute infantry company during World War II. It’s got male bonding and guys jumping out of planes to kill hitler. do you really need more?
$13; buy now at Barnes & Noble
is the mountain. everest of literary novels. you don’t finish it because it’s nice, you do it because it’s a challenge. (1079 pages!) and most are footnotes. having this on your shelf is a way of saying “I tried and I will keep trying, because I will finally get over this bad boy.”
$15; buy now on amazon
A fascinating look at how the human mind works and how we managed to create everything from the written word to the wheel. it’s on every man’s list of books to read because it might also inspire his own invention that will change his life. And if you’re looking for a little mental pick-me-up, consider 70 Genius Tricks to Instant Happiness.
$9; buy now at target
a truly extraordinary science fiction novel that barely feels like science fiction. In the year 2044, the world is in a bad place thanks to global warming and an energy crisis, so everyone is distracted by a fictional virtual world. sounds familiar? Read this before the movie version of steven spielberg comes out this year. And speaking of dystopian futures… be sure to read up on the best way you can help save the planet.
$16; buy now in the thread
We could go on and on about how this book is more important than ever, especially in an online world where grammar is a constant doom, but then we’re reminded that one of the biggest lessons of strunk and blank is omitting unnecessary words. so we’ll just say this: this book is good.
$10; shop now at powell’s
studs terkel, one of our country’s best historians, spoke to 100 men and women about their jobs and how they made them feel. It is not only fascinating to read about the lives of waitresses, gravediggers, accountants and prostitutes. It will make you reflect on your own work and how it reflects your personal identity. And if you’re looking for a career boost, here are the 6 secret weapons to turn the job you have into the one you want.
from $10; buy now on amazon
See Also: Most Recommended Premarital Counseling Books | BetterHelp
if you think charlie brown and his “friends” are just for kids, you’re kidding yourself. these stories of loneliness, failure, and relentless optimism (despite the lack of evidence to back it up) ring truer with age. When Charlie insists that childhood should be the hard time, “then when you grow up, all your troubles will be over,” you’ll be laughing harder than you have since, well, you were a kid. And for more cultural coverage, here are 20 crazy facts that will blow your mind.
$5; shop now at barnes & noble
there are two moments to read this timeless jack london. when you’re a kid, and a book written from a dog’s point of view seems unbelievably amazing. and at age 40, when a book written from the point of view of a dog who endures unfathomable hardship and continues to persevere will be an unexpected source of inspiration.
$10; buy now at target
everyone loves this book when we’re young, because hunter s. Thompson’s “nonfiction” story of nonstop debauchery and drug abuse is just plain funny. but read it again at 40 and see if you don’t see something relevant and painfully true there. “In a closed society where everyone is guilty, the only crime is getting caught,” he writes. “In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity.” we miss you, hunter.
$14; shop now at barnes & noble
Not the best kurt vonnegut novel, but as you get older, and his “best” works like Slaughterhouse Five and Breakfast of Champions start to feel all too familiar, this will be the one to watch. it stays. your ribs “there’s only one rule that I know of, babies: god [damn], you have to be nice.” amen, kurt!
$18; buy now in the thread
The three books in this series by douglas adams should be on every man’s list of books, but this one in particular should never leave your library. you realize what is important in life. like never leaving home without a towel. forgot that rule? it might be time to give this book another read.
$9; shop now at powell’s
It’s not what you think, sorry. This 1965 novel, which the New Yorker calls “the best American novel he’s ever heard of,” is the life story of a poor Missouri farmer who grows up to be a college professor with very complicated relationships with his wife, daughter , and the ambitions of his own life. it has a lot to do with the disappointments and adjustments we make in middle age.
$12; buy now on amazon
This is the book recommended by the character of matt damon in the 1997 film good will hunting. “If you want to read a real history book,” she told her therapist, “read Howard Zinn’s History of a Small Town in the United States. That book will kick your ass.” . We could not agree more. This is a book with all the violence and horror of America at its worst, the parts that are (yet) untold in high school.
$25; buy now at strandae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
ernest hemingway‘s classic memoir of his youth and bankruptcy in paris during the 1920s. why is it worth rereading at 40? because it reminds us that we should never give up on idealism.
$7; shop now at powell’s
Not a fan of love stories? this one can make you change your mind. Helen Simonson‘s novel about a retired army major dealing with the death of his brother and his unexpected friendship and eventual romance with a Pakistani merchant is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. For those of us who need a little technological help to find that love, here are the best dating apps if you are over 40.
$8; buy now on amazon
a true story from writer bill bryson about his attempts to hike the appalachian trail (in his mid-40s) with an old friend. It’s not just about conquering nature, but about the need (especially as we age) to feel alive and connected to the outside world.
$26; shop now at barnes & noble
No, we’re not kidding. the joy of cooking. there’s a reason it’s been around since 1931. it’s a staple that belongs in every man’s kitchen.
$8; buy now in the thread
In this novel by william kent krueger, a middle-aged narrator reflects on his childhood in the fictional city of new bremen and the murders that rocked his small community. but this is not a mere murder mystery. If you’ve ever struggled with faith, Ordinary Grace is packed with insights into how intelligent, rational people reconcile faith with reason.
$29; buy now on amazon
forget true determination, this trio of cormac mccarthy novels, including all the pretty horses, crossroads, and plain towns, is the only epic cowboy and frontier story jacket you need on your shelf. is a saga that will remind you never to take the easy road.
$10; shop now at powell’s
Why did some societies continue to prosper while others faded away? That is the question of this compelling read, which is an essential guide to global history.
See Also: 10 Best Book Lights for Reading in Bed (2022)
from $10 (per title); shop now at barnes & noble
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, these books, with titles such as Master and Commander, HMS Surprise, and Desolate Island, are a 20-novel meditation on the nature, practice, and perils of friendship. the atlantic recently argued that these books would be fodder for the next game of thrones.
$20; buy now on amazon
In general, we are against any book that calls its reader a “fool” before even opening the cover. but in this case, we can accept that we need help. It’s especially useful in your 40s, when your parents are getting older and you realize that it will soon be your responsibility to take care of them.
$7; shop now at powell’s
If you’ve forgotten what it feels like to get excited about baseball, you should check out this true account of the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1950s. It’s not just about the team, it’s about a sportswriter who grew up near the baseball field. ebbets and experienced firsthand all the triumph and anguish of loving one of the greatest moments in sports history.
$19; shop now at barnes & noble
A Russian aristocrat is stripped of his wealth and forced to live in a luxury hotel for thirty years, but this time as one of the waiters. an incredible story that sometimes feels like a perfect allegory for growing old.
$10; buy now on amazon
You read it in high school, but have you read it again recently? You may find a few paragraphs in george orwell‘s dystopian masterpiece that look eerily familiar in today’s world.
$15; buy now at target
This 80-year bible of interpersonal relationships is more relevant today than ever. packed with simple tips on how to gain social influence the right way, by talking to people instead of talking to them. do you remember listening? make other people feel valued and listened to? consider this your refresher course.
from $12 (per title); shop now at barnes & noble
You’ve probably read at least one of these four books in college (the john updike series includes rabbit, run, rabbit redux, rabbit is rich, and rabbit at rest), but you can’t really I understand this brilliant tale of middle-aged manhood until you hit 40.
$6; shop now at powell’s
A children’s book about a giant squid with ten arms? Why would an adult need that in her personal collection? because sometimes you need to be reminded that life is about chasing your dreams, not just your responsibilities.
$8; buy now in the thread
If the morning news scares you, are we headed for global annihilation yet? It sure feels like it: neil gaiman and terry pratchett‘s comedic story may be the best tonic. Sure, it’s about the end of the world, but it finds humor in our collective fears of large-scale mortality.
$18; buy now on amazon
This 1968 memoir from writer/pianist/actor oscar levant has some of the best jokes and answers you didn’t know you needed, like this one attributed to dorothy parker, who answered questions from an editor about why he hadn’t finished a manuscript with “too [expletive] busy and vice versa”. And for bigger burns, here are the 30 Cleverest Put-Downs Delivered.
$6; shop now at barnes & noble
A collection of Lebanese fables may not sound like a John Grisham novel, but believe us, this classic by the late Kahlil Gibran is worth it. timeless advice on everything from marriage and friendship to freedom and self-knowledge.
$5; buy now in the thread
How can a book from 1955 possibly encompass so much about our modern age, in which most of us stare at our phones and are slaves to our jobs? this nonfiction book by writer anne morrow lindbergh, about her attempts to escape all the time-saving gadgets and over-commitments that take her away from what’s important, seems like it might have been written today. And if you feel like a slave to technology these days, check out 11 easy ways to conquer your smartphone addiction.
$21; buy now at target
Who knew that a 304-page non-fiction book about barefoot runners in Mexico (among other places) could be so emotional? this could be the book that makes you want to jump out of your chair and get your middle-aged body moving again. And if you feel ready to hit the ground running, too, start slow and eventually you’ll be ready for the 4 essential steps to running a perfect race.
for more amazing tips to live smarter, look better and feel younger, follow us on facebook now!
See Also: Mary Stewart – Book Series In Order