The Top 10 Books Every Man Should Read
As a man, society often values you based on how useful you are. Whether that’s right or wrong is up for debate. One way to frame it, however, is by how much you can contribute to the people and community around you.
In a world of information overload, it’s hard to know where to put your attention and who to actually listen to. Below, we’ve listed some of our favourite books and must-reads for men who want to be useful.
The Obstacle Is The Way
The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday is a modern guide to turning challenges into opportunities for growth. Inspired by Stoic philosophy, especially the teachings of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, the book emphasizes the idea that obstacles are not roadblocks but pathways to success. Holiday divides his message into three core principles: perception, action, and will. By changing how we see difficulties, taking purposeful action, and maintaining inner strength, we can transform adversity into advantage. Through historical examples and practical wisdom, Holiday shows that embracing challenges leads to resilience, discipline, and ultimately, personal and professional success.
48 Laws Of Power
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene is a strategic guide to understanding and mastering power dynamics in social, professional, and political life. Drawing from historical examples of leaders, rulers, and thinkers, Greene distills 3,000 years of wisdom into 48 concise “laws” that teach readers how to gain influence, protect themselves from manipulation, and navigate complex human interactions. Each law is supported by stories from figures like Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Napoleon. While controversial for its unapologetic approach to power, the book offers valuable insights into ambition, strategy, and self-awareness, making it a timeless manual for personal empowerment.
Outliers
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell explores the hidden factors that contribute to exceptional achievement. Rather than focusing solely on talent or intelligence, Gladwell examines how opportunity, timing, culture, and hard work shape success. He introduces concepts like the “10,000-Hour Rule,” suggesting that mastery comes from extensive, deliberate practice, and highlights how upbringing and environment create advantages. Using real-life examples—from The Beatles to Bill Gates—Gladwell shows that success is not just individual effort but the result of circumstance and community. Outliers challenges the myth of self-made success, revealing the powerful influence of context in shaping greatness.
The Talent Code
The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle explores how talent is developed through deep practice, motivation, and master coaching. Coyle argues that greatness isn’t born but built through consistent effort and the right environment. He introduces the concept of myelin, a substance that insulates neural pathways, strengthening skills through repetition. By studying “talent hotbeds” around the world—from music schools to sports academies—Coyle reveals how focused practice and effective coaching ignite potential. The book emphasizes the power of passion, persistence, and deliberate training over natural ability, showing that anyone can unlock high performance with the right mindset and learning approach.
Never Eat Alone
Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi is a powerful guide to building meaningful relationships for personal and professional success. Ferrazzi emphasizes that genuine networking is not about collecting contacts but about creating authentic connections through generosity, trust, and mutual support. He shares practical strategies for connecting with others—such as reaching out, following up, and offering help before asking for it. Drawing on his own experiences, Ferrazzi shows how collaboration and kindness open doors to opportunities. The book highlights the importance of community, communication, and consistent relationship-building as the foundation for long-term achievement in both business and life.
Extreme Ownership
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin is a leadership book based on lessons learned from their experiences as U.S. Navy SEALs. The authors emphasize the principle that true leaders take full responsibility for everything in their team’s performance—no excuses, no blame. Through powerful combat stories and real-world business applications, they illustrate how accountability, discipline, and clear communication drive success. Key concepts include “Cover and Move,” “Decentralized Command,” and “Prioritize and Execute.” Extreme Ownership teaches that leadership is about humility, decisiveness, and empowering others, showing that success begins with taking ownership of every challenge and outcome.
Tools Of Titans
Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss is a collection of insights, habits, and strategies from world-class performers in business, sports, health, and creativity. Drawn from interviews on Ferriss’s podcast, the book distills practical advice from successful figures like Tony Robbins, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Naval Ravikant. It’s divided into three sections—Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise—each offering actionable tools to improve mindset, productivity, and overall well-being. Ferriss highlights common themes among high achievers, such as morning routines, meditation, fitness, and continuous learning. Tools of Titans serves as a practical playbook for personal growth, success, and living a more intentional, high-performing life.
Mindset
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck explores how our beliefs about intelligence and ability shape success. Dweck introduces two core mindsets: the fixed mindset, which views talent as innate and unchangeable, and the growth mindset, which sees abilities as developed through effort, learning, and perseverance. Through research and real-life examples, she shows how adopting a growth mindset leads to greater achievement in school, work, relationships, and personal growth. Dweck emphasizes that embracing challenges, learning from criticism, and persisting through setbacks are key to realizing potential. Mindset offers a transformative perspective on learning, motivation, and success.
True Style
True Style: The History and Principles of Classic Menswear by G. Bruce Boyer is a sophisticated exploration of timeless men’s fashion. Boyer, a respected menswear historian and writer, delves into the evolution of classic style, examining garments like suits, shirts, ties, and shoes with both expertise and wit. He emphasizes that true style is about individuality, confidence, and understanding tradition rather than blindly following trends. Through cultural insights and historical context, Boyer reveals how elegance comes from restraint, quality, and personal expression. True Style is both a celebration of classic menswear and a guide to dressing with authenticity and taste.
Atomic Habits
Atomic Habits by James Clear is a practical guide to building good habits, breaking bad ones, and mastering the small behaviors that lead to remarkable results. Clear explains that lasting change comes from tiny, consistent improvements—what he calls “atomic habits.” He introduces a four-step model: cue, craving, response, and reward, showing how to reshape habits through environment design and identity-based thinking. Using scientific research and real-world examples, Clear demonstrates that success is not about motivation but about systems that make progress inevitable. Atomic Habits empowers readers to create meaningful change by focusing on small actions that compound over time.
The Richest Man In Babylon
The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason is a classic guide to personal finance and wealth-building, presented through parables set in ancient Babylon. Using simple, timeless stories, Clason teaches principles such as living below your means, saving a portion of income, investing wisely, and seeking knowledgeable advice. The book emphasizes discipline, patience, and consistency as keys to financial success. Through memorable characters and practical lessons, readers learn that wealth is built gradually by applying sound money management strategies. Clason’s work remains relevant today, offering foundational wisdom for achieving financial security, independence, and long-term prosperity.