Hi Reader,

In case you missed it, I am currently rebranding both my broad book blog, The Literary Lifestyle, and my niche book club, The Rory Gilmore Book Club, into a single, combined brand: Friday Night Readers. It will be fully inspired by the books on Gilmore Girls and related topics, like the cozy Stars Hollow aesthetic.

It's a slight pivot with a far greater focus for my most engaged readers who love Gilmore Girls. More to come soon.

In the meantime, Father's Day is this weekend, and if you're looking for a last-minute bookish gift for the Luke, Richard, or even Christopher in your life, I've got you covered.

Book gifts are common with Rory and her father figures. Christopher (eventually) gifted her the Compact Oxford English Dictionary, and she and Richard frequently exchange book gifts. I can't help but think of A Mencken Chrestomathy.

Here, the best books for men to read is always one of my most popular topics with readers. Keep scrolling for my 2025 list.

Sponsored by: 1440​ News. Without Motives. That’s 1440 Over 4 million readers rely on our 5-minute newsletter for a clear, fact-based view of the world. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you unbiased news on politics, global events, business, and culture. Free of charge and free of bias. Sign Up For Free!

​

I continue to refine my list over time, incorporating my recommendations, my husband's recommendations, readers' suggestions, market research, and additional data.

I'm going to keep it simple today. Here's my 2025 list, broken down by category. I placed a * next to the ones my husband read and loved:

Classic Literature for Men (all on the Gilmore Girls reading list)

• ​The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger*
• ​The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• ​The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
• ​The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Dystopian and Science Fiction

• ​Dune by Frank Herbert
• ​The Martian by Andy Weir
• ​The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Historical Fiction

• ​Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan (very popular with our readers; I loved it too.)
• ​A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (one of my all-time faves)
• ​The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
• ​The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

Non-Fiction Biographies and Memoirs By or About Men

• ​Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow*
• ​Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey (one of the best and most entertaining audiobooks to which I've ever listened; great for a summer road trip)
• ​Shoe Dog by Phil Knight*

Non-Fiction Narrative: History, Sports, and True Crime

• ​The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
• ​The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (on the Gilmore Girls reading list)
• ​Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Self-Help: Business, Psychology, and Self-Improvement

• ​Atomic Habits by James Clear*
• ​The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell* (my husband's favorite book)
• ​The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People by Steven Covey
• ​How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• ​Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Thrillers and Mysteries

• ​The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
• ​Jack Reacher series by Lee Child
• ​The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

Remember, it's a good day to read a book.

-Jules