Top 5 Books You Should Read to Become a Better Man

Books are a great source of knowledge. Everyone knows this! The problem for most people arrives when it’s time to actually sit down and read a book.

With so many options out there and so little time to read, how can you decide which books are worth your time and which ones don’t?

To address that issue, I compiled a list of 5 books that every man should read to change their mindset and elevate their character.

This is not an absolute list, but it is a stepping stone for any man looking for great gateway reads to start their self-improvement journey.

That said, let’s get right into it!

1. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

For those of you who have been reading my stuff for a while, I bet you knew this book was going to make its way into this list.

The fact of the matter is, this is one of my all-time favourites.

First and foremost, this is an absolute classic primer on stoicism.

Very briefly, stoicism is the ancient Greek philosophy of not giving a rat's ass about the things that aren’t worth it. In other words, stoicism teaches you how to be calm, cool, and collected when facing any kind of situation. It teaches that a man should keep his feelings under control at all times, not allowing them to overcome his natural ability to think reasonably.

Stoicism also reflects on a lot of other themes, such as the shortness of life and the coexistence of good and evil, so check out the article mentioned above and go read the recommended book!

What makes this book so great is that we are talking about the personal journal of a Roman emperor. How freakin’ cool is this? In this book, you will find his deepest thoughts and meditations, which you can then use to reflect and meditate upon.

2. The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi

Yep…Another one of my personal favorites.

Miyamoto Musashi was a samurai/ronin/martial arts master from the sixteenth century.

He went around Japan dueling other fighters and was never defeated. What made him special compared to other Japanese warriors of the same era was the fact that he dual-wielded his swords, something kind of uncommon at the time.

This book is composed of five small books each dedicated to an aspect of the Way of the Warrior, making it a very flowing read.

I really recommend that you read this fantastic book on Japanese philosophy. You won’t regret it.

3. Bushido — The Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobé

Speaking of The Way of the Warrior, I recommend that you give Bushido — The Soul of Japan a read.

Again, it’s a short book, making it an easy and pleasant read.

Why am I insisting on books about Japanese tradition? Have you ever been with a Japanese before? If you have, you know that they probably are the most polite and well-mannered people in the world. This comes from centuries of a very specific tradition built upon the principles of honor, decorum, and loyalty.

This is a great read that will allow you to reflect on what men could be VS what men are becoming in this modern world of easy things, low testosterone, weakness, and emasculation.

Plus, it will put you in a mindset of doing the right thing no matter what. On this note, if you read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, you will find many similarities between the teachings of Bushido and Stoicism. Have fun comparing the two ways of life and deciding how you can implement their teachings in your life to become a wholesome human being.

4. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This one is an absolute classic. You probably have already read it.

Still, it’s a must-include in a list like this, since this book is the basis for most of the other books about relationships and social interactions.

This book is not about influencing people in an evil genius kind of way. Rather, it’s about becoming more likable and attractive, making it so that people will collaborate with you towards common goals or win-win situations.

Since we live in societies, being able to create friendships and other types of relationships with others is crucial for our personal and professional success.

How to Win Friends and Influence People will provide you with all the tools you need to create better friendships through the use of psychology and real case studies.

Again, an absolute must-read! You must be able to speak to people effectively without being all jittery and weird. Give it a go!

5. Unshakeable by Tony Robbins

The complete title of this book is actually Unshakeable — Your Financial Freedom Playbook. By the title, you can guess that this whole book is about money.

WRONG!

Well, kind of wrong. The book is about money, but it’s also about life. It’s a book about investment psychology that you can apply to every area of your life, making it a great read for anyone who wants to become unshakeable in the face of storms.

This is why many celebrities, businessmen, and athletes have read the book in order to change their mindset. This book is all about having a winning mentality and staying strong when dealing with problems.

It’s a kind of stoicism applied to personal finances. A great read and one that will help you both with your investment strategy as well as with life in general.

The top 5 books I would recommend for any man starting a self-improvement journey are:

1. Meditations, Marcus Aurelius
2. The Book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi
3. Bushido — The Soul of Japan, Inazo Nitobé
4. How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie
5. Unshakeable, Tony Robbins

I enjoyed making this list, which means that in the future I will probably make another one composed of five more books to turn you into a warrior/superhero/high-value man. Stay tuned!