Books To Read in Your 20s: Male Edition

t seems like these days, the literature scene is mostly focused towards the ladies. While this is in no way a bad thing, it’s no less important to be well-read as a man than it is to be well-read as a woman. For a man, being well-read in your twenties allows you to develop a healthy, productive mindset that will help you take on what life throws at you. It can also just be a fun time — reading doesn’t always have to be for school or self-improvement.

In this post, we’ll provide book recommendations in the following categories that we think you’ll enjoy as a man in your twenties, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a man to enjoy these titles. These recommendations are great for any reader.

• Philosophy and Mindset - Books to improve your productivity and knowledge
• Must-read Classics - Books that are highly regarded in the literature community
• Fun and Easy Reads - The perfect leisure-reads for your downtime

Essential Philosophy and Mindset Books

These highly recommended books provide valuable perspectives on life, mindset, ethics, success, and building healthy habits.

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

This book summarizes the laws that the powerful people have used throughout history in order to gain their power. In doing so, Greene helps us understand how to accumulate power ourselves and use it in small ways every day to improve our lives. This book helps us understand that success in our day-to-day lives is more than just hard work, it involves strategy and quick thinking. This award-winning book is an extremely valuable read for any man looking to make a name for himself.

Buy The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene >>

Atomic Habits by James Clear

In this #1 New York Times Bestseller, James Clear teaches us how to make small changes every day in order to form new habits that will vastly improve our lives over time. Our goals can seem overwhelming in the big picture, but Clear breaks things down into small, achievable steps that will accumulate over time to produce big results. The bad habits that we unintentionally develop are our biggest problems because they endlessly repeat and make things worse. Eliminating these habits and replacing them with healthy ones will open you to new possibilities.

Buy Atomic Habits by James Clear >>

Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins

The David Goggins lifestyle is not for everyone, his lifestyle of “toughness” exceeds what many deem reasonable, but his book offers valuable insights into persistence and diligence. David Goggins’ life was difficult, but he overcame it all by learning to master his mind, and rising above pain to accomplish impressive feats. This book can offer great insights into how you can overcome pain and foster a more productive mindset.

Buy Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins >>

Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes

Leviathan is a work of political philosophy in response to the English Civil War, commenting on the effects of violence and chaos on people and authority. This work can come off as outdated or pessimistic to some, and you might not agree with all the ideas Hobbes presents, but it is an essential work that is considered one of the most influential works of political philosophy ever. Hobbes argues that people are inherently selfish and driven by self-interest so they must be controlled by authority. As a well-read man, it’s wise to become familiar with ideas you both agree and disagree with.

Buy Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes >>

The Republic by Plato

The Republic is Plato’s most influential work and a philosophy essential. Fun fact, this is actually a collection of Socrates’ ideas transcribed and elaborated on by Plato. Socrates didn’t write anything down, so Plato took up the pen for him. The main focus of The Republic is justice and happiness. Plato asks whether someone who is moral and kind is happier than someone who is unethical and unjust. Any man looking to expand his understanding of life, ethics, and philosophy should give this a read.

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The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince is basically a guide to obtaining political power, but the philosophical ideas it introduces can be applied in all of our lives. Niccolo Machiavelli famously introduces one of the biggest philosophical conundrums: do the ends justify the means? Giving this a read can give any man a better understanding of modern politics in terms of ethics and morality.

Buy The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli >>

Must-Read Classics

As someone seeking to be well-read, there are some books that are so impactful on modern-day culture that not giving them a read could be seen as crazy. To avoid getting scolded by other readers, make sure to check out these titles.

The Iliad by Homer

The Iliad is one of the greatest epic poems of all time. It takes place during the Trojan War and tells the epic, tragic, and extremely nuanced story of Achilles, Patroclus, Hector, and other of Greek Mythology’s most iconic figures. If you have an appreciation for mythology, history, or even fantasy and action, Homer’s works like The Iliad and The Odyssey are essential reads.

Buy The Iliad by Homer >>

1984 by George Orwell

If you’ve ever heard the term “Orwellian,” this is what was being referred to. George Orwell illustrates a chilling prediction for the future of humanity that is draped in war, propaganda, political division, and dictatorship. The novel is a chilling, disturbing masterpiece that warns us what can happen when we give the people in charge too much power. If you enjoy dystopian fiction, George Orwell is king.

Buy 1984 by George Orwell >>

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Speaking of dystopian fiction, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is another one of the best. Mimicking the past, Bradbury illustrates a bleak future where people known as “firemen” burn all books in order to control the flow of information. This novel shows the dangers of being misinformed in an ever-changing world.

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Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse-Five is a great anti-war science fiction novel that focuses on the firebombing of Dresden in 1945. Vonnegut is a veteran, allowing him to illustrate postwar trauma in a haunting and intriguing way. The story follows Billy Pilgrim as he travels through time, meets aliens, and much more. Pilgrim’s journey is meant to reflect our personal journey to find meaning by confronting our biggest fears and insecurities.

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The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by one of the most essential American authors ever. The novel uses a family’s migration to California during the Great Depression to illustrate a complex picture of politics, division, perseverance, and the indomitable human spirit.

Buy The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck >>

Easy and Fun Reads

Sometimes when we read, our goal is to improve ourselves or some other ulterior motive, but in order to make reading into a hobby that you enjoy, you need to pick up books that you genuinely like, even if they aren’t the most advanced or well-renowned. Take a look at our picks for easy and fun reads.

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

Fight Club is a great read for anyone, especially a developing man. The novel follows two men as they construct a secret fight club where everyday guys can enter into bloody bare-knuckle fights in order to vent their pent-up anger. This is a novel full of real, practical themes and charmingly morbid dark humor, making it a fun and valuable read for anyone.

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The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders is one of the pioneers of the modern-day young adult genre. It’s an easy read, but that in no way takes away from the message that it has to tell. The story follows Ponyboy and his brothers Sodapop and Darry as they face off against the Socs, a gang that enjoys nothing more than beating up on ‘greasers’ like Ponyboy and his brothers. This is an enduring classic that is definitely worth your time. The themes explore friendship, masculinity, and finding your place in the world.

Buy The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton >>

Big Fish by Daniel Wallace

Big Fish is a fun, goofy, complex, and touching story that follows a son and his eccentric father. After William Bloom’s father Edward Bloom dies, William seeks to piece together the truth of his father’s life with nothing but crazy stories and myths to go off of. This is one of my personal favorite books, I even met Daniel Wallace in person! The way the story blurs the line between what is truth and what is fiction is genius and enjoyable to the very last word.

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Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Hatchet is by far one of the best and most famous young adult novels ever. The story follows a boy who must survive and fend for himself on a deserted island after a plane crash. He has nothing except the clothes on his back and his mother’s hatchet to keep himself alive until he can get help. The language of this book is very accessible, making it an easy read but still delivering a suspenseful story. 

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The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Tolkien's works like The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings are more works of literature that are among the best. That being said, The Lord of The Rings series can grow pretty complicated and convoluted. If you’re looking for a fun, classic easy-read then The Hobbit is much better in that department. The story of Bilbo is written in a charming, unique, and whimsical style that will put a smile on your face.

Buy The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien >>

Those Are Our Choices For The Male Edition Of Books To Read In Your 20s!

Your 20s are the years of your life between childhood and true adulthood. You are coming into your complete identity, but your brain is still in the final stages of development. These are the times to gain the knowledge that will shape who you will be for the rest of your life. You can gain this knowledge through school, new experiences, and reading of course.

As a man, you’ll want to read books that are not only enjoyable to you, but also convey valuable messages about mindset, ethics, and masculinity. A well-read man is someone who understands himself and the world around him enough to make a change in it. So never stop reading!