Books for Men

This episode of Books for Men features another edition of “From the Vault.” It's a short essay from an Instagram series I wrote called “Pop-up Writing.” The pieces lived for only 24 hours on my Instagram story. It was fun and unbridled. This one deserved an official home. I think you’ll agree. Listen for more! (Original pub date: July 11, 2021.) If you enjoyed this episode, please consider support...

This episode of Books for Men features Page Fright by Harry Bruce. A fun read about the fetishes and foibles of famous writers. The book will remind you of the many (often conflicting) ways writers write. Where to write? When to write? What tools to use? How fast to write? Alcohol? Good luck charms? And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consi...

This episode of Books for Men is a short recap of all the episodes from May '23. There was (1) nonfiction book, (1) work of fiction, and (1) edition of From the Vault. I also share some big updates for BooksforMen.org, like full episode transcripts, new tabs, etc. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast. Any of the three things below will help provide a...

This episode of Books for Men features The Godfather by Mario Puzo. An epic novel about a 1940s Italian crime family spearheaded by Vito Corleone. It documents the succession of the family business to his son Michael. It's an examination of power, influence, honor, family, and “making it” as an immigrant. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast. Any of...

This episode of Books for Men features an edition of “From the Vault”—a segment where I share an episode from my previous podcast, It's Not What It Seems . This is a great chat I had with Tyler Cowen, author of Stubborn Attachments , The Complacent Class , Talent , and many more. Listen for more! (Original publish date: 11/11/18.)  If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcas...

This episode of Books for Men features How to Tell a Story by Aristotle. A new translation (by Philip Freeman) of Poetics —Aristotle’s classic surviving text on the art of storytelling. Maybe the most important work ever written on the subject matter. Quite simply, what makes one story better than another story? Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast....

This episode of Books for Men is a short recap of all the episodes from April '23. It was a full month—(2) book episodes, (1) Bad Advice episode, and (1) From the Vault episode. All super solid. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast. Any of the three things below will help provide awareness for the initiative—inspiring (more) men to read and bringing...

This episode of Books for Men features an edition of “From the Vault”—a new segment where I share an episode from my previous podcast, It's Not What It Seems. This is an audio article that rethinks competition and offers a subtle nuance that might help you. It's equal parts challenging and inspirational. Listen for more! (Original publish date: 11/15/18. Read it here .) If you enjoyed this episode...

This episode of Books for Men features The Son by Philipp Meyer. An epic historical fiction novel about the rise of a Texas oil dynasty that spans from 1836 to the 2010s. It's a story of power, family, self-discovery, and perhaps most importantly, the brutal past that birthed America. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast. Any of the three things belo...

This episode of Books for Men features another edition of Bad Advice which speaks to a well-trodden (oft-given) piece of advice to "work on your weakness" or “improve in areas you’re not so great.” In general, I think (most of the time) the exact opposite is probably better advice. Ooh, dicey, but hear me out. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast. An...

This episode of Books for Men features Is This Anything? by Jerry Seinfeld. A book that comprises the comedian's best material (self-selected) over five decades—70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and 10s. Pretty cool. It's a love letter to the lifelong commitment to process, craft, and comedy. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast. Any of the three things below will...

This episode of Books for Men is a short recap of all the episodes from March '23. It was a fun month—we shared some great books and added a brand new segment called "From the Vault." Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast. Any of the three things below will help provide awareness for the initiative—inspiring (more) men to read and bringing together me...

This episode of Books for Men features an edition of “From the Vault”—a new segment where I share an episode from my previous podcast, It's Not What It Seems. This is a great chat I had with Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism , a book featured on the pod earlier this month. So much gold here. Listen for more! (Original publish date: 10/7/18.)  If you enjoyed this episode, please consider support...

This episode of Books for Men features Heat 2 by Michael Mann & Meg Gardiner. A novel sequel to one of the greatest crime movies of all time. Pretty unique. I think it's safe to say that if you like the movie, you'll like the novel. It doesn't violate the film—it deepens it. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider showing your support for the podcast. Any of the three things...

This episode of Books for Men features another edition of “Bad Advice”—a new segment where I debunk advice that (I think) is given far too often. This edition speaks to all those "shortcuts" people are hawking. Do you really need it to be easier and faster? Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider showing your support for the podcast. Any of the three things below will help to...

This episode of Books for Men features Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. A book about doing less but better. What are the truly essential things in your life? Do those. Remove the rest. Full stop. (Not easy, but doable.) Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider showing your support for the podcast. Any of the three things below will help to provide...

This episode of Books for Men is a short recap of all the books and authors we covered in February '23. It also shares a key update on The Books for Men Newsletter. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider showing your support for the podcast. Any of the three things below will help to provide awareness for the initiative—inspiring (more) men to read and bringing together men...

This episode of Books for Men features Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami. It's about an aspiring young female writer who falls for an older woman and then mysteriously goes missing on Greek Island while on vacation with her. Line for line, nobody hits harder than Murakami. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider showing your support for the podcast. Any of the three thing...

This episode of Books for Men features another edition of “Bad Advice”—a new segment where I debunk advice that I think is given far too often. This edition speaks to the advice that "you must go to college." Should you, though? Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider showing your support for the podcast. Any of the three things below will help to provide awareness for the in...

This episode of Books for Men features The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene. An entertaining, engaging yet well-researched tome about our innate human tendencies, and what to do about them. This is a reread, for sure. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider showing your support for the podcast. Any of the three things below will help to provide awareness for the initiati...

This episode of Books for Men is a short recap of all the books and authors we covered in January '23. It also shares a little theory (I believe) about creativity. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider showing your support for the podcast. Any of the three things below will help to provide awareness for the initiative—inspiring (more) men to read and bringing together men w...

This episode of Books for Men features The Thief by Fuminori Nakamura. It's a novel about a skilled Japanese pickpocket who must answer for a job he did years prior. Can you escape fate? Or is it inevitable? The story is bleak, subtle, and outright chilling. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider showing your support for the podcast. Any of the three things below will help t...

This episode of Books for Men features Scenes from My Life by Michael K. Williams with Jon Sternfeld. It's a memoir from the actor who played some of modern TV's greatest roles—Omar Little ( The Wire ), Chalky White ( Boardwalk Empire ), and Freddy Knight ( The Night Of .) It's a tragic and touching portrait of an artist's life. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider showing...

This episode of Books for Men introduces “Bad Advice”—a new segment where I debunk advice that I think is given far too often. This edition speaks to the foundation of crappy advice. Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider showing your support for the podcast. Any of the three things below will help to provide awareness for the initiative—inspiring (more) men to read and brin...

This episode of Books for Men is a short recap of all the books and authors we covered in December '22. It also shares a little about the power of influences (in one's life or art.) Listen for more! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider showing your support for the podcast. Any of the three things below will help to provide awareness for the initiative—inspiring (more) men to read and bring...