In today’s world, the art of long-form reading seems to have lost a bit of its luster. Most of the time we’re consumed with 140-character tweets, text emoji’s or quick skimmable headlines. Even though the bookstores are becoming a thing of the past, great literature still exists and can be very helpful in making you a better man. In honor of World Book Day, we’ve highlighted a few of our own favorite page-turners, some of which we consider required reading; covering everything from business and dating, to la cultura and self-improvement. So fire up the Amazon account and add a few of these classics to the cart!
The Art of War
It’s hard to believe that a book written hundreds of years ago could still be relevant to a guy’s reading list. But The Art of War has messages that work just as well today as they did in ancient China. This Sun Tzu classic has been translated into countless languages and is commonly referenced by business leaders around the world.
Why You Should Read It: If you want to learn essentials about negotiating, rising in the corporate ranks and taking calculated risks, this is a must-read!
Modern Romance
Aziz Ansari’s Modern Romance first hit the presses last year and it’s already received a ton of praise from comedians, as well as (interestingly enough) sociologists and pop culture aficionados. We’re recommending it because it puts a great spin on dating and love in 2016. Aziz co-authored the book with an NYU professor and together they interviewed hundreds of millennials on topics like online hookups, social media and texting through a first date.
Why You Should Read It: Love and romance have always been tricky territory for men to understand, especially in today’s hyperconnected world. If you’re single and want some deep insights on 21st century love, give this Romance a try.
100 Years of Solitude
We all know how important family is in Latino culture and if you’re looking for a shining example in Kindle form, there’s no better choice than 100 Years of Solitude. Gabriel Garcia Marquez was universally heralded for this book, which helped initiate the literary Latin American Boom of the late 1960’s. This 417-page fictional epic covers seven generations of Buendía’s and the ups-and-downs that bind them together. 100 Years offers a tasty slice of culture too, and will undoubtedly get you hooked on Garcia Marquez’s brilliant works.
Why You Should Read It: Marquez work illustrates that ego can be a persons downfall, no one can go it alone and the benefits of solidarity and helping others in need. All lessons a man should learn at some point in his life. No?
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The Alchemist
One of the more recent publications to make the list, Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist caused a sensation when it was released in 1988. Though it’s classified as fiction, this easy read really works as a thematic self-help piece. It tells the tale of a shepherd who journeys to Egypt in search of treasure and offers some nice spiritual touches, if you’re looking to broaden your philosophical palette.
Why You Should Read It: While it may be considered fiction, it may also be considered chicken soup for the soul. And we could all use a little soul food.
This Is How You Lose Her
The sophomore collection of short stories comes from perhaps the greatest Latino author of his generation – Mr. Junot Diaz. This Is How You Lose Her features Diaz continuing protagonist Yunior. A series of nine interconnected stories that deal with men’s infidelity in romantic relationships. Díaz describes the book as being “a tale about a young man’s struggle to overcome his cultural training and inner habits in order to create lasting relationships.”
Why You Should Read It: No secret that machismo can still be an issue in the Latino community, this may very well help you overcome your inner habits and create some lasting relationships of your own.
LLERO may receive a portion of revenue if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. The links are independently placed and do not influence editorial content.