"I don't mind more sexuality and foul language - not very big problems, in the grand scheme of things (and yes, this is speaking as the parent of a young child). They need to decrease the violence though. "
Fiction for Men -- Need Your Recommendations!
Howdy fellas,
Jeremy from AoM here. We're assembling a master list of fiction recommendations for men. We already have a good list goin, but are looking for even more. Thanks!
Jeremy
jeremy@artofmanliness.com
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by LShieldes on
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You are going to have to expand on what you mean by drivel. I for one find a lot of the "classics" of fiction literature to be beyond boring and a waste of paper, making them drivel to me. While I enjoy reading things such as Lee Child, Jim Butcher, Robert Ludlum and on to such female authors like JK Rollings and Suzanne Collins.
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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Anderberg on -
Well it's really in the eye of beholder, but anything that carries no further value than mindless entertainment. Doesn't have to be classics at all.. I think many Baldacci novels could be on the list, Dan Brown even, etc.
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Then I would start over and get rid of using the notion of "drivel" or "mindless entertainment" and just ask what fiction the men here prefer.
The way you ask your question will inherently keep some from answering, will skew the answers to one side which will leave out some great stuff for men like me.
Fiction is entertainment. While you might think something is drivel or mindless, others eat it up and enjoy it. And if it is in the eye of the beholder like you claim, that notion has no place in this discussion.
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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Anderberg on
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Either way, I'd love to hear some of your recommendations. Thanks!
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5 authors listed above, look up the major series or collective works by each.
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Permalink Reply by C.C. Dolph on
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If we're going to be relativists about values, then we might as well throw out notions of becoming 'better' men too.
I would still like to say that some books are just plain crap no matter who you are or what you like, and if you like crap books then there's just something plain wrong with you.
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Of course, there's always the "who's to say?" argument, which I could not really answer without adopting some bizarre metaphysics.
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Permalink Reply by Sam I. on -
I agree, I believe there are some works of fiction that, while entertaining, are purely for entertainment value. They're not bad, they're just meant to be a throw away thrill ride.To me, I think of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels, they're exciting and well written, but not exactly thought provoking.
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It doesn't have to be thought provoking to make you a better man. The simple act of having "lived" out the issues of another person can broaden your own perspectives.
While I will never be stuck on an island with mutated zombie dinosaurs, reading through, I can take little lessons on when people choose wisely and poorly. I can learn from the littlest thing and use it later.
I can also "meet" people who normally I wouldn't get the chance to meet. I spend time wit them, I see how they interact with others and the world. And if some day I do come across someone similar, I have at least a very rudimentary cataloged experience to use.
ALl that really matters is that you are reading these things, that you can take in some of the interactions. If you can't stand the author, why punish yourself to finish the story to gain this just because some other jerkweed thinks it is "crap" or "drivel". This is fiction, it is fake, it is made up, get some enjoyment out of what you are spending your time on.
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Permalink Reply by Sam I. on
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Good point. We're constantly effected by everything we experience, something Buddhism hints at strongly when they talk about the impermanence of self.
Also, there are no mutant zombie dinosaurs in your neighborhood? We can't seem to get rid of the darn things around here.
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