Five Books Every Man Should Read

And why I read...

Brothers, no "live" with Harp today. And for good reason. This week I was invited to open the SBC, as BetterMan showed out [it was an incredible convention this year]. Thus I’ve made a week of it, flying my family to Orlando for a few days. As you read this, I am at Mario World, kart-racing with my boys.

But I did not want to leave you with nothing. So I am going super practical.

I want you to read more. You need to read more. Roughly 40% of American adults will not read a single book this year. Among those who do read, most will finish only one to three books. Even more striking, less than 20% of adults account for the vast majority of books consumed in America.

And then there are women. The average American woman reads approximately 14 books per year, exponentially more than the average man.

Brothers, we can do better. We must do better. Reading is not merely a hobby; it is training. It is discipleship. It is how we best connect with the "great cloud of witnesses" [Heb. 12:1], and it is the best way for young men to learn to "prophesy and see visions…" [Acts 2:17]. Essentially, reading is borrowing wisdom from those who have gone before us. A man who refuses to read is confined to his own experiences, mistakes, and blind spots. But a man who reads stands on the shoulders of giants.

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Five Reasons I Read

1. Because reading is the most cost-effective and least destructive way to satisfy my curiosity.

There is no cheaper way to spend an afternoon with a theologian, a president, a missionary, a scientist, or a warrior. For the price of a meal, I can access a lifetime of wisdom.

2. Because a well-read man is a dangerous creature.

Reading is dangerous to ignorance, foolishness, and deception. Reading sharpens discernment, expands perspective, and equips a man to think clearly in a confused age.

3. Because it keeps me humble.

Every book reminds me that my “original” thoughts usually aren’t very original. Others have wrestled with these questions before me. Reading teaches me to listen before I speak and learn before I lead.

4. Because books transcend time.

As C.S. Lewis observed, every age has its blind spots. Reading old books allows us to escape the tyranny of the present moment. It is like sitting down for a conversation with the finest minds of centuries past.

5. Because reading aloud to my children is a gift that will last a lifetime.

Long after they forget the plot, they’ll remember the voice. They’ll remember sitting on the couch, turning pages, laughing at stories, and learning together. Some of my favorite moments as a father have happened with a book open in my lap and my children gathered around me.

Read widely. Read deeply. Read old books. Read with a pencil. Read with your children.

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Someone you know needs the wild rumpus? Pull the trigger. Sharing is caring

Five Types of Books Every Man Should Read Every Year

1. Read one book that makes God bigger.

Most of our problems begin with a small view of God. Read something that expands your vision of His holiness, sovereignty, power, wisdom, and grace. When God becomes bigger, everything else shrinks into its proper perspective.

2. Read one book that makes you holier.

Not merely informed, but transformed. Read a book that exposes sin, cultivates discipline, and challenges you to pursue Christlikeness. Knowledge puffs up; holiness builds up.

3. Read one book that teaches perseverance.

Whether it’s a biography, a missionary story, or a work on endurance, spend time with men who finished well. Faithfulness is rarely glamorous, but it is always worth it.

4. Read one book that defines manhood.

Our culture cannot tell us what a man is because it no longer knows. God’s Word can. Read books that help you understand your calling as a husband, father, worker, leader, and disciple of Jesus.

5. Read one book that teaches leadership.

Every man leads someone. A family. A team. A ministry. A friend. Leadership is stewardship, and stewardship requires growth. Read books that strengthen your character, sharpen your judgment, and deepen your influence.

Five books. Five categories. And five years from now, you’ll be a different man.

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Five Books Every Man Should Read

1. The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul

Read it slowly. Read it prayerfully. It will deepen your worship and put your fears, worries, and ambitions into perspective.

2. Thoughts for Young Men by J.C. Ryle

Written more than a century ago, yet remarkably relevant. Ryle speaks directly to the temptations, distractions, and opportunities facing young men. Every young man should read it. Every older man should revisit it.

3. My Glorious Brothers by Howard Fast

The story of the Maccabees is ultimately a story of loyalty, sacrifice, conviction, and brotherhood. It reminds us that no man accomplishes anything significant alone.

4. Three Kings by Gene Edwards

Leadership is not first about authority; it is about character. Through the lives of Saul, David, and Absalom, Edwards explores power, humility, suffering, and the cost of leadership.

5. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

A masterpiece of endurance, friendship, courage, and duty. The older I get, the more I appreciate stories of men who simply refuse to quit. Perseverance may be one of the most underrated virtues in modern life.

This summer, get into a good book. Turn off the television. Put down the phone. Trade a few minutes of scrolling for a few pages of wisdom. You’ll be better for it.

For the King,

— Harp

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