Best Books for Men

Table of Contents

It’s the gift giving season and some men (or people for that matter) can be hard to buy for. I have several on my list. I like to gift books and audiobooks for the people in my life. Find a bit of every one’s interests from armchair adventure to history and more. Here’s the best books for men.

Best Books for Adventure Loving Men

The Art of Betrayal: Life and Death in the British Secret Service by Gordon Corera

Fascinating account from the World Worlds all the way up to present times. Make a great listen for audiobook fans as well. You’ll be convinced that someone in your family might have been a spy.

Apollo 8: The Thrilling Story of the First Mission to the Moon by Jefferey Kluger

A must for the space enthusiasts, get all the details from the early days of the space agency from the people who made history. A riveting account that is great for road trips.

Endurance–Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing

Riveting account of how Shackleton and his Endurance drudged its way to Antartica. The rich details on the conditions on-and-off the boat add to this amazing story of survival.

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift

This classic is fanciful and imaginative ride suitable for all ages and makes a good listen for audiobook fans.

King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard

Head to an unexplored section of Africa in search of a missing person. Along the way, the party nearly dies of thirst and fights the warriors of the land, representing themselves as gods from the stars.

Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams

Readers climb up and down the South American mountains discovering the ancient trails of the Incas. A must read for anyone remotely considering a trip to Machu Picchu. And Adam’s guide through the adventureis as interesting as the trek.

The Log from the Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck

In a departure from his fiction, sail the Sea of Cortez, or the Gulf of California, on a scientific expedition with the author John Steinbeck. Follow along as the crew explores the rich marine life on water and the exotic Mexican ports on land. A must for sailors and mariners or those exploring Baja Mexico in the near future.

Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madina and Mecca by Sir Richard Francis Burton

Learn the details of the 1853 trip into Mecca and Medina as a forbidden non-Muslim. The author, an Englishman, uses disguises and a knowledge of the local languages to travel undetected in this fascinating account of Arabia.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

This book is a classic and defined the counter-culture of the 1960s. If you find yourself at a crossroads, pick it up and read it. Based on his life, Kerouac drives back-and-forth between the opposing energies of the East Coast and the West Coast of the U.S. with a troupe of unforgettable characters.

For Men that Love the National Parks

Creating the National Park Service: The Missing Years by Horace Albright

Learn about the history of the National Park Service from one of its founding fathers, Horace Albright. He and Stephen Mather were instrumental in the founding of the NPS and preserved many places in the early years. A must for NPS and National Park fans.

Prophets and Moguls, Rangers and Rogues, Bison and Bears: 100 Years of the National Park Service by Heather Hansen

Learn the history, the politics and the characters that built the legendary U.S. parks. An easy-to-read book packed with interesting facts and stories from the first 100 years of the National Park Service.

The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America by Douglas Brinkley

For serious student of the national parks, Brinkley offers over 800 pages of history. Learn about the complex president who shaped the National Parks—Theodore Roosevelt. It’s an engaging and thoughtful analysis from a history professor.

One Man’s Wilderness, 50th Anniversary Edition: An Alaskan Odyssey by Sam Keith & Richard Proenneke

Richard Proenneke set out to live his life in harmony with the Alaskan wilderness. During the summers of 1967 and 1968, he constructed a hand-made cabin fabricated with only hand tools. In this descriptive day-by-day account, get all the details of the process. A must read for those wanting to escape the hectic nature of present-day life.

Death in Yellowstone: Accidents and Foolhardiness in the First National Park by Lee Whittlesey

Get a detailed account of how to die in Yellowstone National Park. Should be required reading for volunteers and contract workers spending their first summer in the park. Through the seasons and over the years, learn about how the weather, the animals and the skirmishes can be deadly.

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson

Grab a walking stick and set out to walk from Georgia to Maine with your favorite bearded travel writer, Bill Bryson. A pair of middle-aged dad bods are pushed to the limits and packed down with junk food as they try to ford streams in the middle of the wilderness along the AT, or Appalachian Trail. Equal parts funny and informative and possibly Bryson’s best book.

More Books about the National Parks

For Men that love History and Biographies

AC/DC: The Savage Tale of the First Standards War by Tom McNichol

Learn everything about the first days of electricity, including some guelsome details about the first electric chairs in the U.S. Great background information for engineers and makes an interesting listen for audiobook fans.

Titan–The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow

Here’s everything you wanted to know about John D. Rockefeller, Sr. Who he was and how he built Standard Oil. A must for any Dad that works in the energy sector.

The Vagabonds: The Story of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison’s Ten-Year Road Trip by Jeff Guinn

Learn about 20th-century pioneers that paved the way for the Great American Road Trip. In Ford’s cars see how Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs traveled in the 1920s to explore the untamed portions of the U.S.

Theodore Roosevelt An American Force by Jeff Webb

For the Dad on the go, here’s an audiobook about Theodore Roosevelt. A pivotal president at the beginning of the 20th-century, Roosevelt preserved land and declared national monuments. He was also instrumental in breaking trusts and regulating the railroad industry. Don’t forget his Rough Riders.

For the Dad Who Reads Hemingway or Twain

A Moveable Feast: The Restored Edition by Ernest Hemingway

Take a walk through the 1920s Paris as Hemingway is coming into his own as a writer. Visit the bars and cafes where he worked and socialized with a who’s who of the Paris literary elite. It’s the life of a struggling writer in a cold Paris apartment with his first wife, Hadley.

Green Hills of Africa: The Hemingway Library Edition by Ernest Hemingway

Take an African safari with porters and canvas tents during the 1930s. Get the details from his guides as Hemingway and his group hunts for big game. Not for the gentle reader, this story includes some gruesome details.

The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories by Ernest Hemingway

Set in the shadow of Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro, Snows of Kilimanjaro, is the story of a man as he dies of gangrene. He and his wife bicker as what to do since they are stranded. It’s not a light and fluffy read though a must for Hemingway fans.

14 Books for Hemingway Readers

Life on the Mississippi (Illustrated Classic): 100th Anniversary Collection by Mark Twain

Samuel Clemens was a Mississippi riverboat pilot and the term Mark Twain is a measure of water depth. In this book, Twain details the life on the Mississippi River from the changing scenery to the characters on-board.

Roughing It by Mark Twain

Get a double scoop of western adventure as real-life Samuel Clemens (Twain’s legal name) follows his brother to the Nevada territory. As his brother works as the territory secretary in the 1860s, learn about day-to-day life of prospecting for silver and life out west from Twain.

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Find the best books for the men in your life in this shoppable list. It has books about adventure, both foreign and domestic. Grab a biography about a notable president or businessmen. Also find books about the National Parks from building cabins to the gruesome side of the parks. Books for men | Best Books for Dads | Gifts for Men #BooksforMen

Best Books for Dads