# 7 Books Every Man Should Read  ## Introduction - The Importance of Reading - The importance of reading is emphasized, as it allows individuals to gain new information and access knowledge from others, with the phrase "leaders are readers" and the adage "the man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read" being referenced [(00:00:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=23s). - Reading is a daily habit, with time spent every morning and evening reading books, words, and thoughts from others who have gone before and have more knowledge on certain subjects [(00:00:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=46s). - A personal library is being rebuilt after giving away around 200 books, and seven books are being shared that are believed to be essential for every man to read [(00:01:08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=68s). - These seven books are not in any particular order and are a selection of favorites from a collection of around 100 books [(00:02:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=122s). ## Book Recommendation 1: As a Man Thinketh - The first book recommended is "[[As a Man Thinketh]]" by [[James Allen (author) | James Allen]], which emphasizes the importance of positive attitudes, thinking correctly, and putting positive inputs into one's mind [(00:02:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=158s). - The book "As a Man Thinketh" is a highly recommended and often gifted book, considered a foundation for personal development [(00:03:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=218s). - Viewers are encouraged to share their own book suggestions and ideas in the comments or on social media platforms such as [[Instagram]] or [[Twitter]] [(00:02:17)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=137s). - The first recommended book is "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen, which emphasizes the importance of thinking differently to create change in one's life and is a quick read that can be finished in an evening [(00:03:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=224s). ## Book Recommendation 2: The War of Art - The second book is "[[The War of Art (book) | The War of Art]]" by [[Steven Pressfield]], which focuses on overcoming the resistance that can hinder creativity and productivity, and is relevant to anyone who creates something, whether it's art, music, or a job [(00:04:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=262s). - The book "The War of Art" explains that resistance can manifest itself in various forms, such as procrastination, hurdles, obstacles, objections, and excuses, and that recognizing and understanding this resistance can help individuals prepare to battle it [(00:04:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=299s). ## Book Recommendation 3: Endurance - The third book is "[[Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage | Endurance]]" by [[Alfred Lansing]], which chronicles the true story of Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated expedition across [[Antarctica]] and the extreme physical and mental challenges his team faced [(00:06:14)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=374s). - The book "Endurance" was recommended before participating in the Spartan Agoge, a 60-hour endurance event, and served as a source of inspiration and motivation to persevere through difficult times [(00:06:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=390s). - The book "Endurance: Alfred Lansing" is a powerful read that reframes the way one thinks about difficulty, telling the story of Ernest Shackleton's adventures across Antarctica, and is recommended for those looking for something different from self-help books [(00:07:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=471s). ## Book Recommendation 4: Meditations - "[[Meditations]]" by [[Marcus Aurelius]] is a classic book that provides the source of [[Stoicism]], allowing readers to understand the philosophy and how to incorporate it into their lives to produce results, and is recommended for those who want to go beyond books like "The Obstacle is the Way" and "[[Ego Is the Enemy | Ego is the Enemy]]" [(00:08:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=501s). - Stoicism is often misunderstood and has a negative connotation, but it can help individuals become better men and produce better results in their lives [(00:09:33)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=573s). - Some of the greatest men in history have included "Meditations" in their personal libraries, and it is recommended for those who want to be great men [(00:10:03)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=603s). ## Book Recommendation 5: Manhood in the Making - "Manhood in the Making" by [[David Gilmour | David Gilmore]] is a valuable but challenging read that documents the author's research on how different cultures throughout history have understood masculinity, finding striking similarities in their views [(00:10:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=613s). - The book debunks the idea that masculinity is simply a social construct, instead supporting the idea that it is biological and innate, and introduces the concept of the three P's of masculinity [(00:11:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=689s). - Many societies believe a man's job is to protect, provide, and procreate, but an alternative to procreate is preside, which means leadership [(00:11:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=706s). - The book "Manhood in the Making" by David Gilmore explores cultural concepts of masculinity and is a detailed, well-researched, and fascinating read, although it may be harder to find [(00:12:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=751s). ## Book Recommendation 6: Wild at Heart - "[[Wild at Heart (book) | Wild at Heart]]" by [[John Eldredge | John Eldridge]] is a life-changing book that explores what it means to be a man, how men operate, and the importance of stepping into masculinity, with valuable information despite its Christian undertone [(00:12:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=764s). ## Bonus Book Recommendation: Man's Search for Meaning - "[[Man's Search for Meaning]]" by [[Viktor Frankl]], a [[The Holocaust | Holocaust]] survivor, is a bonus book recommendation that explores finding meaning and purpose in tragic times [(00:13:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=834s). ## Book Recommendation 7: Sovereignty - The book "Sovereignty: The Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Men" discusses the battle for men's hearts and minds, the need to reclaim sovereignty, and provides a battle plan guide for setting up the next 90 days of life, complementing "[[Wild at Heart (book) | Wild at Heart]]" [(00:14:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=863s). ## Reading for Comprehension and Application - Reading the seven recommended books should be done for comprehension, not just speed, to apply the knowledge and improve one's life [(00:15:59)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=959s). - It's suggested to learn speed reading strategies to get through the books quicker, but still prioritize comprehension [(00:16:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=997s). - To aid comprehension, it's recommended to ponder, think, and reflect on the material, and to recap and review each chapter and subchapter [(00:17:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=1020s). - Another strategy is to earmark and tab relevant pages, and highlight important segments, to easily revisit and review key information [(00:17:20)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=1040s). - After completing a book, it's suggested to go back and re-read only the tabbed and highlighted segments to reinforce comprehension and application [(00:18:21)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=1101s). ## Summary of Recommendations and Conclusion - The seven recommended books are: Sovereignty: The Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Men, [[Wild at Heart (book) | Wild at Heart]] by [[John Eldredge | John Eldridge]], Manhood in the Making by [[David Gilmour | David Gilmore]], [[Meditations]] by [[Marcus Aurelius]], [[Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage | Endurance]] by [[Alfred Lansing]], [[The War of Art (book) | The War of Art]] by [[Steven Pressfield]], and [[As a Man Thinketh]] by [[James Allen (author) | James Allen]] [(00:18:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=1136s). - The bonus book recommendation is "[[Man's Search for Meaning]]" by [[Viktor Frankl]], bringing the total number of book recommendations to eight. [(00:19:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=1167s) - A quote emphasizes the importance of reading, stating that a man who does not read has no advantage over a man who cannot read. [(00:19:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=1179s) - Reading good books, consuming good information, pondering, and applying it in life can make someone a better person. [(00:19:44)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=1184s) - Viewers are encouraged to share their book recommendations and suggestions in the comments section on [[YouTube]]. [(00:19:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=1194s) - To connect with the author, Ryan Michler, viewers can visit youtube.com/orderofman, [[Twitter]], or [[Instagram]], where his last name is spelled "michle". [(00:20:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=1200s) - The author expresses gratitude to his audience for being part of his journey and encourages them to take action to become the person they are meant to be. [(00:20:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laiP5B5hMy0&t=1222s)