I don’t think most of us realize how dull we have become. The American man now spends six hours and fifty-nine minutes daily in front of a screen. Of that time, two hours and sixteen minutes are wasted on social media apps. 

Welcome to Generation Zombie. 

While I’m sure there is some value in limited social media usage, I’m surprised to see how many guys use these platforms as their primary source of continued education. TikTok and Instagram are environments designed to entertain and trigger dopamine–they are certainly not developed to increase your IQ.

Instead of pissing away 16 hours of your week on the cheap high of social media, why not take that time to invest in becoming a more intelligent, more capable, more interesting, more successful man? Just grab a book!

Non-Fiction books that I would recommend to any man

Endurance
by Alfred Lansing 

The unbelievable true story of Ernest Shackleton’s doomed voyage to the South Pole in 1914. When his ship gets crushed by ice, Shackleton and his crew of 27 men attempt an 850-mile journey toward civilization on the frozen Atlantic. 

This story of survival, courage, and perseverance will inspire and challenge you. You will not want to put this book down.

Ordinary Men
by Christopher R. Browning 

I’m going to be honest. This book is really hard to stomach. Ordinary Men is the true story of a German Police Battalion that is responsible for killing tens of thousands of Jews during WWII. What makes the story fascinating is the fact that the group did not necessarily subscribe to the evil ideology of the Nazis–they were just regular working-class men who were following their orders.

I recommend this book because it highlights how fragile society is–where most individuals will compromise their values to conform to groupthink. It’s a truly scary revelation. 

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
by Edmund Morris

The more I read about Teddy Roosevelt, the more I admire him. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and considered one of the greatest biographies of our time, this 816-page book details Roosevelt’s eccentric and adventurous life from childhood up to his presidency.  

Roosevelt’s determination, charisma, fearlessness, and sense of adventure will inspire any man to push outside of their comfort zone.

Wild at Heart
by John Eldredge

This is one of the only books that I constantly buy extra copies of to give away. Eldredge is a compelling writer who creates a great case for men to embrace their dangerous, adventurous side. 

This book is sure to stir up some aspect of the suppressed wild man in you. 

Think And Grow Rich
by Napoleon Hill

I love this book. I’ve probably read it 7 or 8 times. Hill interviews some of his era’s industry titans, examining their mindsets and presenting patterns of success. I see this book as more of a manual for developing a positive attitude than a money book, but the mindset is where it all starts, and this book presents great ideas and frameworks on that topic.

This book will teach you how to think like Thomas Edison, Andrew Carnegie, and Henry Ford. I highly recommend it.

Man’s Search for Meaning
by Viktor E. Frankl

This book is the memoir of Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, who survived years in Auschwitz concentration camp. Through his heart-wrenching stories of life inside the camp, Frankl presents the idea that we cannot avoid suffering, but we can decide what meaning to attach to it and what purpose we move forward with.

This book is a must-read.  

The Power of Positive Thinking
by Norman Vincent Peale

This book shares some similarities with Think And Grow Rich, but has its own unique charm. Norman Vincent Peale is a pastor, so he highlights many scriptures that deal with mindset. It’s a great book for anyone who struggles with pessimism or habitual negative thoughts. 

No More Mr. Nice Guy
by Robert A. Glover

This book messed me up for months. “Nice Guy Syndrome” is the behavior of pleasing others while neglecting one’s own needs. Glover describes these men as having deep brokenness and dark sides that affect their lives in every way. I grew up as a nice guy in the church, where a disproportionate amount of nice guys congregate.

If you feel that too often, you have to “put on” niceness, or a smile, or “take one for the team”, this book is for you. 

Can’t Hurt Me
by David Goggins

David Goggins might be the craziest human being alive. A former Navy Seal, Goggins has spent most of his adult life doing incredibly hard physical competitions. Ultra-races, world records for pull-ups, and more. He is the king of discipline and mental fortitude, much of which was forged by a heart-breaking childhood which he details in the book.

Warning: this book contains thousands of f-bombs, if that kind of thing bothers you, there is a clean version of the book available as well.  

The Obstacle is the Way
by Ryan Holiday

In The Obstacle is the Way, Ryan Holiday tells many great stories about men and women who turned adversity into advantage, or trials into triumph. He connects many of these stories to stoic ideas. 

Thou Shall Prosper
by Rabbi Daniel Lapin

This is a great book about money and business. Rabbi Lapin shares valuable insights on the way Jewish people succeed with money. 

The Comfort Crisis
by Michael Easter

Our culture is addicted to comfort. Why do we avoid hard things? Michael Easter’s compelling book is filled with great stories, interesting studies, and a call to action for men to begin embracing discomfort and reclaiming their lives. 

This book will inspire you to do a bunch of crazy fitness challenges. Have fun!

Atomic Habits
by James Clear

This book changed my life. Most people struggle to create new habits, Clear makes it easy by challenging you to just do 1% of the habit each day. This gets the habit started. The rest will follow. It works.

This book helped me to start so many good habits, I started the Last Men Habit Challenge to share the success with you guys.