By: Steven Rushing

kculbertson 1 week, 4 days ago on Twitter

Best books for boys: http://artofmanliness.com/2009/11/15/50-best-books-for-boys-and-young-men/

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Pakitter 1 month, 3 weeks ago on Twitter

50 Best Books for Boys and Young Men | The Art of Manliness http://ff.im/-d7b4R

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MarceloMosmann 2 months ago on Twitter

http://bit.ly/4FN6iM Leitura: Os 50 Melhores Livros para Garotos Chego a salivar (!?) de vontade de ler todos eles.

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KimiArt 2 months, 2 weeks ago on Twitter

Here's a list of the 50 best books for boys and young men. I loved WATERSHIP DOWN. http://shrinkify.com/1for

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Brian 2 months, 2 weeks ago on Wordpress

Wow–someone else remembers The Great Brain series? Man, I hadn’t thought of those in AGES. LOVED ‘EM!

Without reading all the other comments, I have to add that I enjoyed the “Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators” series better than the Hardy Boys, and pretty much any of Heinlein’s “juveniles” are ones I still re-read over and over again today. ... See all content Hide content

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pcalvin 2 months, 2 weeks ago on Twitter

Great list of books for boys! Funny site.. http://is.gd/51WPD

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Edward 2 months, 2 weeks ago on Wordpress

A recent discovery, which I would recommend for both boys and girls, is Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons” series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallows_and_Amazons). There are 12 books in the series, written mostly in the 1930’s.

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Edwin 2 months, 2 weeks ago on Wordpress

100 comments already, but I can’t help but add “By the Great Horn Spoon!” I loved that book growing up. A young boy and his butler sneak off to California during the Gold Rush to find their treasure. I loved that book growing up.

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Elizabeth 2 months, 2 weeks ago on Wordpress

If you’re mentioning Heinlein, why not _Have Spacesuit, Will Travel_? A young man finds a way to get a spacesuit, and from there . . .

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Brian L 2 months, 2 weeks ago on Wordpress

For young men I would strongly recommend “The Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad.

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Friday News Roundup, November 20, 2009 | Daemon's Books 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

[...] Parents trying to get their boys to love reading will appreciate this list of "50 Best Books For Boys and Young Men." (Art of Manliness) [...]

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Holiday At The Sea » The Weekly Town Crier 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

[...] Browse as The Art of Manliness lists the 50 best books for boys and young men. [...]

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Baby Got Books » Excuses with a side order of links 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

[...] Back to the wholesome: 50 Best Books for Boys and Young Men [...]

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countrybooks 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Twitter

Great choices for the girls ( http://bit.ly/4sAbNT) and boys ( http://bit.ly/B9lgv) on your holiday shopping list.

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Jeff 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Is there a .pdf of these?

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Toughjakes 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

This list could use some diversity. Within the your parameters of “Western,” I would suggest authors such as Sherman Alexie (Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian), Walter Dean Myers (Monster), Gary Soto (Buried Onions), Markus Zusak (The Book Thief), and Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese).

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Angela W 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer. An 11 year old criminal mastermind, with a supporting cast of eccentrics and high tech fairies. Eoin Colfer and Louis Sacar are a tie for children authors with a sense of humor prize. All those years teaching elementary school sharpened Colfer’s ability to intertweave fart jokes into the plot. Also, Sideways School series by Sachar is good for the younger kids .

Percy Jackson and The Olympians series by Rick Riordan. This series is most often acclaimed as the book that turned a reluctant reader into an enthusiast.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart.. I love books about special or gifted children. Four kids go on to save the world from a dastardly villain.

Bone by Jeff Smith. Graphic novels are hugely popular. Cuteness, comedy, action and a greater social awareness all done in black and white. The entire series was 13 years in the making. A smashup of the Hobbit and Pogo.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. Introducing the Bart and Lisa Simpson of the fantasy world of mythological creatures. Happily a positive portrayal of an ADHD kid, his strengths and weaknesses with dire consequences from his impulsive actions. Contrasted with his more scaredy cat sister, who is more a cautious problem solver. ... See all content Hide content

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Mike M. 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Personally, I’d stay clear of the Hornblower novels until the kid hits his teens.

Anything written by Robert Heinlein between 1950 and 1958 is great – Citizen of the Galaxy is particularly good. Reserve Starship Troopers for the teenage years.

And I’m shocked that nobody has mentioned the Sherlock Holmes mysteries…and Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom stories .

Me? I grew up on E.E. Smith’s masterwork – the Lensman Series. ... See all content Hide content

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woddsare 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Twitter

http://bit.ly/4FN6iM Reading: 50 Best Books for Boys and Young Men

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What The ‘Best Books For Girls’ Can Teach Us About Bella | Ypulse 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

[...] Art of Manliness, the blog that inspired Flavorpill's Top Ten by posting a pretty fantastic list of 50 great reads for boys and young men (The Phantom Tollbooth! A Wrinkle in Time!) of their own. It's enough to make me want to raid my [...]

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chezjake 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Another vote for Patrick O’Brian’s The Golden Ocean, and for the Hornblower series.

For older boys, Kenneth Roberts’ Northwest Passage, a mostly factual but novelized account of a young man who joined Rogers’ Rangers during the French and Indian wars.

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BookCourtKids 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Twitter

This list for boys is pretty good too (and naturally, both lists are actually great for both boys and girls) http://bit.ly/3AS2f3

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Dan 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

What about Journey to the Center of the Earth, Around the World in 80 Days, 20,000 leagues under the sea? Jules Verne should be on this list.

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David 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

I second the suggestion for “The Call of the Wild”, a great book to get a boy started understanding our relationship with man’s best friend. Of course, man’s best friend is a whole topic on its own….

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Mack Hall 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

A SEPARATE PEACE — no. Well, maybe for Ian McKellen and that pouty-boy who made an emo mess of the new THE PRISONER.

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Jacob 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Great list. One I’d like to add is:

Tarzan of the Apes – Edgar Rice Burroughs.

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Cocodmonkey 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Twitter

If you have school age kids - 50 Best Books for Boys and Young Men to read - http://bit.ly/27cP3A

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Triphoppin 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Twitter

50 Best Books for Boys and Young Men: http://tinyurl.com/ybwqqpj (Via^ @artofmanliness)

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Andy 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

The Human Comedy by William Saroyan.

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Les Prouty 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Great book list. I also enjoyed The Old Man and the Boy.

http://www.amazon.com/Old-Man-Boy-Robert-Ruark/dp/080502669X

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RaincoastBooks 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Twitter

50 Best Books for Boys and Young Men by the @artofmanliness chaps: http://ow.ly/D5V5 ~ DW

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Steve Foxx 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

I’m really especially happy to see both “Hatchet” and “The Mummy, the Will and the Crypt” on this list. John Bellairs was one of my very favorite authors when I was young, and I’ve been meaning to pick those books up again for a re-read. I have fond memories of riding to the library to exchange one for the next as a way to enjoy my summers…

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Hearing Aids 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

This is a great list. I loved several of those books while growing up, and I think I may go back and reread some of them.

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Speedmaster 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Great list, thanks!!!

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Nick 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

A good list. Many of those are still some of my favorite books.

a few things I can think of to add:

His Dark Materials Trilogy- Philip Pullman

Redwall series- Brian Jacques

Last of the Mohicans- James Fenimore Cooper

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Steven 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

My favoirte childhood novels:

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

Paul Revere by Esther Forbes

And I loved The Shadow mystery novels by Maxwell Grant.

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Book List: The Art of Manliness « My list of Coolness Blog 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

[...] want to be, or maybe you have a little boy or man in your life…phew, anyway, here’s 50 Best books for Boys and Young Men mylistofcoolness @ 11:05 pm [filed under Book finds Leave a Comment [...]

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Jason E Maasch 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Hello, I belive that Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank should also be added to your already fine list of litiature, as it shows the comming of age for young and old in a post atomic age.

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Dillon 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

I also pored over the scholastic book order and spent not a little of my hard earned (no allowance at my house) pennies on books. In addition to reading skills, it helped my early math skills – how many books I could afford with so much money. I recall that the books were in the 25-60 cent range. (I’m in my early 50’s).

As a pre-teen, there was even a more exciting treasure trove – the school library. On one of the bottom shelves, in the middle of the back wall (see what an impression they left!) was a long set of books, nearly an entire shelf wide. The spines of the books placed in the correct order created a picture in dark blues and greens related to the genre, which was SUBMARINES!!! I read through that entire set – some twice – in less than a school year. So, of course, when my son was approaching that age, I went to the school library, then the local library, then the nearest city library looking for them. To no avail. Apparently, books go through cycles and some have relatively short life spans. And these books had lived their lives and it was over. I nearly cried (don’t tell anyone). Unfortunately, what I don’t remember is the name of the series, or even any of the titles. So finding them would be nearly impossible. Even though my son is now 18 (and, to my eternal frustration, one of those non-readers who nearly didn’t graduate from high school due to repeatedly failing – English, of course) I would love to have that set of books. For myself and my future grandsons (and/or granddaughters). ... See all content Hide content

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Glen 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

I haven’t read everyone’s comments, hopefully I am not the only one my two favorites.

1. King Solomon’s Mines – H. Rider Haggard

2. Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Defoe.

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Nicholas 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

A fantastic list. I would also recommend (particularly if a boy liked Watership Down) the Redwall series, which are lots of fun. For somewhat older boys, the James Herriot books, beginning with “All Creatures Great and Small,” are wonderful; by turns heartbreaking and hilarious, every chapter can stand on its own as a short story (while they do all fit into a cohesive plot arc). There’s some mild swearing (damn, hell, but rarely anything stronger) so some parents may want to consider that. I would also HIGHLY RECOMMEND (for teens––heck, for everyone!) a novel by Patrick O’Brien called “The Golden Ocean.” It is a standalone novel (you’re not committing to the Aubrey/Maturin series), but––like much of O’Brien––very-well researched; some of the characters are not historical, but many of the events are. A thrilling, brilliant book. ... See all content Hide content

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speedmaster 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Twitter

"50 Best Books for Boys and Young Men | The Art of Manliness" ( http://bit.ly/1lBva9 )

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SaraFist 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Reddit

After reading *Beauty's Punishment*, I never want to hear about ponyboys again, either.

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lando 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

i loved the hardy boys when i was growing up- used to have a whole shelf devoted to them. also fantastic call on my side of the mountain- i had completely forgotten about it. there is actually sequels that are pretty good if any one is interested.

Additions that I would suggest: Harry Potter, a great good versus evil story

also, Rocket boys by Homer H Hickam Jr, the story that inspired the movie “october sky”. its another coming of age story, but with home made rockets. what else do you need? ... See all content Hide content

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James 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Brett, I rushed through the list to make sure you listed King Arthur and His Knights. Good job!

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Nikki 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

I would recommend adding “Rascal” by Sterling North to the list. It’s a great story about a boy and his adventures with his pet raccoon. Excellent writing and beautiful pencil illustrations… and frankly, it just makes a kid want to get out and explore the world without any modern technology to tie him down.

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BlueRaja 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

I agree with Titus that this is a great list, but some of the books are…iffy. I’d say that nearly a third of the books on this list are already required for 9-15 year old boys to begin with (and for the record, I know LOTS of people who do not like The Hatchet, mostly because as suburban and urban boys they simply cannot relate). I am pleased to see Gaiman and some fantasy titles on the list.

Anyway, I recommend Koushun Takami’s “Battle Royale”. It’s not as accessible as “Lord of the Flies”, but it has a similar theme, a more detailed story, and in my opinion much better writing. It also inspired a hit movie, an anime, and a manga, all of which you can probably ask your Japanophillic kid’s friend about. ... See all content Hide content

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Jason Phillips 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Excellent list. How about: The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

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Nathan 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Pretty good list – very easy reading most of it.

What’s missing? The Fountainhead

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Ron 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Wordpress

Excellent list!

I would add “King Solomon’s Mines” by H. Rider Haggard. A classic treasure hunt and loyalty/friendship novel. Also “Nation” by Terry Pratchett.

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