Introduction
If you’re a man reading this blog, I have one question for you- when was the last time you read a non-work related book in order to grow and improve yourself? If you’re a woman, I would like to ask you, when was the last time you saw a man passionately talking about a book that he read? These questions really make us reflect on how a gender neutral activity like reading has been promoted in women, but not for men. Considering the gap for recommendations of self help books for men, this book delves into some of the greatest books that men can read for personal growth and meaningful lessons in life.
Why aren’t more men into reading self help books?
There are a lot of preconceived notions about self help books in general, but more so by men. This can be tied to the stigma surrounding seeking “help” whether it be through personal advice or passive advice such as reading self-help books. Another misconception is that self help books are too vulnerable or emotional, which are two of the most controversial traits when it comes to a man’s emotional expression. Self-help books are usually categorised under leisure reading and are considered to be of no value by a lot of people. This further discourages men to read them mainly because they are considered to be tedious and time consuming. Hence, they often tend to gravitate towards active content like movies or podcasts which can give them quick insights in a lesser amount of depth. Lastly, self-help books have been perceived to be too general and many men are unaware of the fact that these books can address specific issues that might relate to them. Men have been encouraged to read books that promote masculinity in a way which renders them idealistic and perfect. However, in a realistic world, more and more men are realising the impact of these unrealistic pressures on their mental health. They are hence choosing to read and write self- help books that focus on the real-life challenges and societal pressures they face.
Best self help book recommendations for men
Here are some of the self help books that every man should read-
1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Amazon Rating: 4.7/5 Covey presents a principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems, promoting fairness, integrity, and human dignity.
2. Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity by Justin Baldoni
Amazon Rating: 4.8/5 Baldoni challenges traditional notions of masculinity, encouraging men to embrace vulnerability and authenticity. Amazon Link: Man Enough: Undefining My
3. Models: Attract Women Through Honesty by Mark Manson
Amazon Rating: 4.5/5 Overview: Manson emphasizes the importance of authenticity and self-improvement in building genuine relationships. Amazon Link: Models: Attract Women Through
4. Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins
Amazon Rating: 4.9/5 Goggins shares his journey from a troubled childhood to becoming a Navy SEAL and endurance athlete, highlighting the power of mental toughness. Amazon Link: Can't Hurt Me
5. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Amazon Rating: 4.6/5 Manson offers a counterintuitive approach to living a good life, suggesting that embracing challenges is more fulfilling than constant positivity. Amazon Link: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
6. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Amazon Rating: 4.8/5 Clear delves into the science of habits, providing practical strategies for forming good habits and breaking bad ones. Amazon Link: Atomic
7. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
Amazon Rating: 4.7/5 Tolle emphasizes living in the present moment as a path to happiness and enlightenment. Amazon Link: The Power of Now
8. No More Mr. Nice Guy by Robert A. Glover
Amazon Rating: 4.6/5 Glover addresses the "Nice Guy Syndrome," encouraging men to embrace their true selves and establish healthy boundaries. Amazon Link: No More Mr. Nice Guy
9. Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul by John Eldredge
Amazon Rating: 4.7/5 Eldredge explores the essence of masculine identity, urging men to reconnect with their adventurous spirit. Amazon Link: Wild at Heart
10. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Amazon Rating: 4.8/5 A collection of personal writings by the Roman Emperor, focusing on Stoic philosophy and self-discipline. Amazon Link: Meditations
11. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
Amazon Rating: 4.6/5 An ancient Chinese military treatise offering strategies that can be applied to personal development and leadership. Amazon Link: The Art of Waren
12. Feel Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal
Amazon Rating: 4.6 The book focuses on how we can do what matters the most to us, backed with productivity and a lot of scientific research. The core message of his book is- ‘The secret to productivity isn’t discipline, it’s joy’, which pretty much sums up what the book is about Amazon Link: Feel Good Productivity
13. How to be a Stoic: Using ancient philosophy to live a modern life by Massimo Pigliucci
Amazon Rating: 4.5 The book is a take to use philosophy and integrate the findings to a modern life. It is a good balance between stoic philosophy and modern life habits. There are a lot of learnings one can focus on like the things we can control and accept the ones we cannot. Amazon link: How to be a stoic
14. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Amazon Rating: 4.8 It is a seminal piece of work that has inspired generations of readers to shape their mindset toward success and abundance. It is just more than just financial guidance– it extends beyond the wealth creation. Amazon link: Think and Grow Rich
15. Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Amazon Rating: 4.6 It is a book for personal transformation and delivers a huge bunch of motivating and practical tools for change and development. Amazon link: Awaken The Giant Within
16. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Amazon Rating: 4.6 It is an amalgmation of psychology, neuroscience and sociology, featuring captivating stories, offering a foundational knowledge to apply in personal and professional arenas Amazon link: The Power Of Habit
17. Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spencer Johnson
Amazon Rating: 4.6 It tells you about one’s life’s circumstances and how to effectively deal with them. It prompts the reader to question, reflect and ultimately find their own purpose and path in the maze of life. Amazon link: Who Moved my Cheese?
18. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
Amazon Rating: 4.7 The book signifies acceptance of the beauty in our flaws, and focus on daily practicies and mindset shifts. The book acts as a valuable companion for anyone who is seeking to live without societal expectations and menaingful purpose. Amazon link: The Gifts of Imperfection
19. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Amazon rating: 4.7 It offers readers to understand the world of wealth, emphasizing mindset over specific tools and techniques. It is a must read for those who wants to be on a journey of financial independence. Amazon link: Rich Dad Poor Dad
20. Thinking Fast and Slow
Amazon rating: 4.6 The book is a must for those who wants to challenge their decision making and human rationality. The book highlights the foundations of cognitive psychology. Amazon link: Thinking Fast and Slow
Conclusion
Men have often been encouraged to read books that advise them about getting out of your comfort zone and doing the hard thing to achieve success. This instills a sense of toxic masculinity which turns into core beliefs and affects the way in which they interact with others and perceive the world. On the other hand, women are encouraged to read books about improving their relationships and fiction related books. The separation in the kind of books individuals read according to what is considered appropriate for their genders can lead to men not knowing how to maintain or improve relationships, while women lagging behind in practical tips to achieve success and grow their businesses. Ultimately, the kind of content we feed into our brains is extremely important because it determines the way in which we think, feel and behave. Hence, it is time. It’s time to change the way books are segregated into different categories according to gender roles. It’s time to stop promoting toxic masculinity. It’s time to encourage men to read books that acknowledge their feelings and teach them that it’s okay to express their emotions publicly. By changing the content we consume, it is possible to change the way society treats men and instead, try to make it a safer place for them to learn, grow, fail and then learn again!
