Fostering the love of good literature is one of the greatest gifts we can pass on to others and one of the best gifts my parents and uncles gave me. In the modern and digital age of instant gratification where we can easily waste hours scrolling YouTube shorts, TikToks, and reels, the idea of reading a book may seem very daunting, yet it’s one of the best ways to grow our knowledge, our focus, introduce us to new ideas, and a way to escape the mundane.

After reading Cadence McManimon’s articles titled “175+ Traditionalist Books for Your Kids You’ve Never Heard Of” and “ 25 Traditionalist Books to Read With Your Children,” I thought I would share some of my favorites that might appeal especially to men and boys, though many would entertain women just as much. A few (such as the Redwall books by Brian Jacques and the series Freddy The Pig, both personal favorites) I won’t add to my list as they were covered in the articles above.

With that said, here are my recommendations in no particular order. I won’t attempt at suggesting age ranges (unless obvious) and highly recommend that parents check all the books their children read first!

Books All Men and Boys Should Read

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien. This may be an obvious choice for everyone, but what would a booklist be without the greatest fantasy writer ever? Not only entertaining, the series features tales of fall and redemption and the meaning of friendship, among many other virtues.

2. Watership Down by Richard Adams. This classic book follows a group of rabbits across the English countryside as they search for a new home after being forced to leave their warren. Friendship and bravery are central themes throughout. That said, don’t let the rabbit characters fool you—this book also deals with heavy themes such as death and tyranny.

3. The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. A solid and fun read for young adults, these fantastical books include many examples of courage, overcoming self-doubt, and the search for redemption—not to mention dragons and quests!

4. Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas. Set in England around the turn of the 19th century, Thomas’ books are fun, interesting, and have mostly clean content. Some adult themes are mentioned but in a tasteful way (at least at the time of writing this article).

5. The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope. The Prisoner of Zenda is an engaging and fast-paced book about a man’s mistaken identity as the heir of a kingdom where he must balance his morals as he navigates the line between his impulses and what is best for the kingdom.

6. Irish Red (and many others) by Jim Kjelgaard. These books are almost all based in nature and focus on the relationship between men, boys, and their dogs. Kjelgaard dives into other stories here and there, but the man and his dog were my favorite growing up.

7. Brains Benton Mysteries by Charles Spain Verral. The original author wrote the first 6 books in this series, all of which were of immense fun for me when I was young! The later books I never read.

8. Amazon Adventure by Willard Price. Along with Price’s other adventure books, this book was extremely enjoyable when I read them as a young reader. Through this series, a dad and his two sons get caught up in all kinds of adventures in different parts of the world.

9. Joker One by Donavan Campbell. This story is the autobiography of a young marine who shows true leadership as he guides his men through the horrors of war in Iraq. This book is for a more mature audience, though tastefully done.

10. Father Brown by G.K. Chesterton. An unlikely crime-stopper, the quaint and unassuming priest Father Brown manages to solve mysteries even against criminal masterminds due to his years of service and insight into human nature.

11. The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis. Set on three different planets, Lewis explores an interesting take on the creation and fall of life on other planets before the protagonist faces the evil here on earth.

12. Ballad of the White Horse by G.K. Chesterton. This story follows the exploits of King Alfred the Great as he fought off the Norman invasion.

13. Beowolf translated by J.R.R. Tolkien. This Old English epic poem follows the adventures of a monster slayer in Denmark. It also gives a look at some of Tolkien’s inspirations for his own works later.

14. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (and other books) by Jules Verne. Verne’s books explore the fantastic and were the basis for many other movies and books in later years.

15. A Fine and Pleasant Misery (and other books) by Patrick McManus. McManus’ stories are full of humor surrounding outdoor adventures set during his childhood.

While each of these books and sagas were enjoyable in and of themselves, the values and examples of various virtues helped instill the desire for them in me. Having a book in hand is a wonderful experience, and I hope at least one of the ones I mentioned will bring you some enjoyment!

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