orangearrow Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 (edited) I'm looking for book recommendations for my husband. He reads constantly and/or listens to books on iPod while he's at work. He sometimes has his earphones in for nearly the full 8 hour day, so he really goes through audio books (and podcasts) and is hard for me to keep up with! I'm looking for any recommendations that are man-friendly. I, sometimes, will go on a chick-flick book reading whim and, in the lack of having anything else to put on his iPod, he will drudge through something horrid (for him) like Twilight or The Notebook (that nearly did him in!!)... and I really hate doing that to him!!! :) I recently heard there is a good series by Stephen King that is more of a mystery series than a horror series? Anyone maybe know what that series might be? Or any good mystery series (poor guy had to listen to some of the Stephanie Plum/Kinsey Milhone books - something more manly, please, lol!!) - or suspense - thriller - classics that I've overlooked - historical fiction - biographies - histories - sci fi/fantasty... Edited November 30, 2009 by orangearrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 It's old but very manly - Alistair MacLain wrote many manly books - Ice Station Zebra The Guns of Navarone Athabasca just to name a few (I think he wrote something like 80 books. Some of them were made into movies.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 The Gunslinger? It's more adventure than mystery. But not horror. What about The Green Mile? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiseOwlKnits Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Robin Cook, Michael Crichton, Jonathan Kellerman...any of those authors would be guy-friendly and all are mysteries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Robin Cook, Michael Crichton, Jonathan Kellerman...any of those authors would be guy-friendly and all are mysteries. I driven through a couple of states with Michael Crichton. Easy listening. Keeps your attention well enough, and minor lapses for road issues don't matter. MC lets you keep your mind on the road, while still keeping you from dosing off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 (edited) Dh is reading "Poland" by James Mitchener to me at the moment. I love that book, and finally managed to persuade him to read it. :shock: He's enjoying it too! This is a guy who doesn't believe in paper books and seems to believe he can learn everything he ever needs to know from Wikipedia and web comics. He only reads paper books if he's reading to me or the kids. James Clavell's books are quite manly. Dh read what is probably the girliest of them aloud, "Escape" and really enjoyed it. Rosie Edited November 30, 2009 by Rosie_0801 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett Sons of Fortune by Jeffrey Archer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 by Lee Child. I've gotten many people (men and women) hooked on this series. Not my usual fare, but it sucks you in. Also, Blindside, the book, is excellent, especially if your husband enjoys football. The Jason Bourne series (Bourne Identity, Bourne Conspiracy, to name a couple) by Robert Ludlum, but make sure the books are by Robert Ludlum, not just based on his series. Terri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Alan Furst writes excellent spy novels based on WWII. Many are set in Poland. I don't know if they are available on CD. I second The Green Mile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 The Jason Bourne series (Bourne Identity, Bourne Conspiracy, to name a couple) by Robert Ludlum, but make sure the books are by Robert Ludlum, not just based on his series. Terri :iagree: My dh just finished these. He's reading a Tom Clancy novel now, and seems to be enjoying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Band of Brothers, PAratroop Infantry, Brotherhood of Warriors, Clive Cussler books, Jeffrey Archer books, Dick Francis books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs.MacGyver Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Ditto on the Bourne series, and all of Mitchener's novels (our favorites are Hawaii, Texas, Alaska, and The Source) DH likes: Tom Clancy W.E.B. Griffen John Le Carre: If he likes Cold War Era British spy novels...these are excellent - especially his older books like Smiley's People; Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; Russia House .... there are tonz of these books. Also, when he was deployed, he read through the whole Harry Potter Series because my daughter asked him to read them....and he actually enjoyed them quite a bit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Steinbeck and Michener. They are both manly, and you can listen to them without being too embarrassed -- they do refer to things often not mentioned, but not as explicitly as books that are popular now. Leon Uris is another one, but his books tilt beyond the edge of what you might want to hear on tape at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series Pillars of the Earth Winterdance by Gary Paulsen James Herriot's books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Pillars of the Earth is a girl book if I ever read one. Plus, I didn't like it one bit. That's a lot of pages to say nothing, I tell you. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexandra Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 It is about the Civil War. Men love this book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Virginia Dawn Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Dh likes authors: Tom Clancy David McCullough James Herriot Patrick O'Brien Some others he's read: James Michener Louis L'Amor Clyde Cussler What about Rex Stout, Ellery Queen, Isaac Asimov (Foundation Trilogy), Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clark? He just finished End the Fed by Ron Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Pillars of the Earth is a girl book if I ever read one. Plus, I didn't like it one bit. That's a lot of pages to say nothing, I tell you. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forty-two Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Pillars of the Earth is a girl book if I ever read one. Plus, I didn't like it one bit. That's a lot of pages to say nothing, I tell you. ;)I agree, though I liked it :tongue_smilie:. If your dh is into sci-fi, my favorite author is Timothy Zahn; my dh likes him, too - not sure if he is "manly", but he certainly isn't girly :tongue_smilie:. Isaac Asimov is also wonderful - one of the first sci-fi authors I read (thanks to my dad :)). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise in Florida Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 History Patrick O'Brien series, Sharpe series (ex Sharpe's Rifles) by Bernard Cornwell Sci-fi Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and the sequels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNC Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series is popular. My husband liked the first one. http://www.amazon.com/Mitch-Rapp-chronological-order/lm/R1G22078MTN3QI/ref=cm_lmt_srch_f_1_rsrsrs0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangearrow Posted November 30, 2009 Author Share Posted November 30, 2009 (edited) Awesome - thanks for the great suggestions!! If your dh is into sci-fi, my favorite author is Timothy Zahn; my dh likes him, too - not sure if he is "manly", but he certainly isn't girly :tongue_smilie:. DH loves Sci-Fi & fantasy. I think he's read a couple by Zahn and liked them - off to check the book lists to see what books he's written! :) He'd read some of the Star Wars books, but I can't figure out what kind of order they're supposed to be in. And I'm totally anal about reading things in order, so... DH doesn't need blood-and-guts or war books for the books to be "manly", btw. I guess what I'm really looking for are books that are definitely not "girlie". :lol: I had Outlander checked out from the library and nearly put that on his iPod last week!!! I need more book suggestions to save him from that! LOL I've blindly chosen some real duds in the past. These suggestions are so helpful! LOL He's read several that are on the list, but there are some authors that I either have never heard of, or forgotten about! :) Edited November 30, 2009 by orangearrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 DH loved Last of the Mohicans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forty-two Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 A good sci-fi/political intrigue author is David Weber; his Honor Harrington series is excellent (and long, so it would last awhile ;)). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone by Martin Dugard 1776 by David McCollough Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy by Ian W. Toll The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu by Laurence Bergreen He might also like books by Terry Pratchett, if those are like his sense of humor... (I agree w/ lots of the previous suggestions. And, I didn't like The Pillars of the Earth either. :tongue_smilie:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series Yet another vote for the above. Also consider the Horatio Hornblower series by C. S. Forester. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historyfun Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Ditto to Stacia too. Mark Kurlansky's books are really interesting. Try Cod or Salt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 CS Foresters Hornblower books have already been mentioned ditto Patrick O'Brians Aubrey/Maturin series Bob Mayer writes contemporary man adventure books (usually military swashbucklers but also spy & a bit of sci-fi) which are loads of fun. He writes under his own name as well as Joe Dalton, Robert Doherty, Greg Donegan & Bob McGuire (he writes more girlie books with Jennifer Cruisie) Larry Niven's sci fi is some of my fave, esp the Ringworld series and the tales from the Known Space series. Frank Herbert's Dune series. Stanislaw Lem wrote some very cerebral, philosophical sci-fi and speculative fiction. Solaris, The Star Diaries, Cyberiad are all excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KidsHappen Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone by Martin Dugard 1776 by David McCollough Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy by Ian W. Toll The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson Marco Polo: From Venice to Xanadu by Laurence Bergreen He might also like books by Terry Pratchett, if those are like his sense of humor... (I agree w/ lots of the previous suggestions. And, I didn't like The Pillars of the Earth either. :tongue_smilie:) I must like manly books! I have read darn near every one of these. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Does he like British subjects? Nick Hornby is good There is a big 3 book biography of Winston Churchill that is the best biography that I've ever read (by a mile). The Last Lion by William Manchester. Michael Dobbs also is good "First among Equals" is the only title I can remember of his, but he has written several. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I must like manly books! I have read darn near every one of these. :) LOL. Me too. That's why I could recommend them/think they're ok for guys. My dh, my dad, & my fil have read & enjoyed quite a few of these after I recommended them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Vince Flynn series, I saw someone already mentioned his main character, Mitch Rapp. Lonesome Dove? It's l*o*n*g but you end up wishing it wouldn't end. As far as Stephen King, I just listened to "Under The Dome" -- the narrator was excellent, as was the writing. In Sci-Fi, the audio edition of "Ender's Game" is very well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 (edited) Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing ) According to these lists, I also prefer manly books and will be going back through to see what I'm missing. :) Here's a few more to add: The Long Walk: A True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz (this is seriously one of the best books I've ever read--if you like adventuring books, don't miss this one). http://www.amazon.com/Long-Walk-True-Story-Freedom/dp/1592289444/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259660335&sr=8-1 Endeavour The Story of Captain Cook's First Great Epic Voyage by Peter Aughton The Lost Men: The Harrowing Experience of Shackleton's Ross Sea Party Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sacks Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach (very interesting but not for the squeamish or those who have recently lost loved ones). The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University by Kevin Roose Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula LeGuin..although the middle novel isn't as manly as the other two Eragon, etc by Christopher Paolini The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer (warning: eugenics theme) My teen son just added The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Rick Yanckey to my reading pile. Edited December 1, 2009 by Pippen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Try Cod or Salt. Or The Potato: How the Humble Spud Rescued the Western World by Larry Zuckerman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 The Long Walk: A True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz (this is seriously one of the best books I've ever read--if you like adventuring books, don't miss this one). http://www.amazon.com/Long-Walk-True-Story-Freedom/dp/1592289444/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259660335&sr=8-1 Oh so true. This is a really amazing book, right up there with the Shackleton/Endurance story. It has everything--politics, intrigue, romance (just a touch), a great escape, an amazing story of survival, heartbreak, a Yeti (seriously!). Definitely something for everyone. Terri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 There are many, many skeptics about this story. They may be right. I hope not, but in any case--good book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runamuk Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 If he's a sci-fi guy, have him try Brandon Sanderson. He has 2 stand-alone novels and a trilogy out right now (he also wrote the 12th book in Robert Jordon's Wheel of Time series and did a great job on it). My husband usually reads W.E.B. Griffin and Tom Clancy, but picked up the trilogy and is enjoying very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I love fantasy/sci fi so here are the authors I like that men would definitely like: Asimov Lawrence Watt-Evans Dave Duncan Tad Williams Terry Goodkind Orson Scott Card George R.R. Martin Douglas Adams I also like spy-type/action books: Vince Flynn Harlan Coben And I have to stop because I'm supposed to be homeschooling right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 books my dh enjoys, mostly sci fi (I'll put an * in front of the ones that I like too): everything by Turtledove *Bio of a Space Tyrant series by Piers Anthony *everything by Isaac Asimov everything by Stephen Baxter *Ender series by Orson Scott Card (first book in series was the best) Riverworld series by Philip Jose Farmer (I can't stand it) *Belisarius series by Eric Flint and David Drake *1632 series by Eric Flint and assorted coauthors Forever series by Haldeman *Reality Dysfunction/Neutronium Alchemyst by Peter Hamilton *Paratwa Saga by Christopher Hinz *everything by James P. Hogan (only read the first 3 books in the Ganymede series though, he wrote the later books under protest) books by Gary Jennings everything by Neal Stephenson (be warned that he never really finishes any of his books) everything by Jack McDevitt *Intervention series by Julian May *Pliocene Saga by Julian May *everything by Larry Niven *Antares series by Michael McCollom *everything by H. Beam Piper everything by Charles Sheffield *everything by L. Neal Smith everything by Ian Slater everything by S.M. Stirling everything by Harry Turtledove everything by Timothy Zahn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangearrow Posted December 1, 2009 Author Share Posted December 1, 2009 Ooooh, more great suggestions! I've reserved a few of these from the library and I'm putting the rest in a Word Doc so I can check them off as he's read them! :) Thanks so much! He will thank you for saving him from having Pride & Prejudice slipped onto his iPod (for the 3rd time... heh). If he's a sci-fi guy, have him try Brandon Sanderson. He has 2 stand-alone novels and a trilogy out right now (he also wrote the 12th book in Robert Jordon's Wheel of Time series and did a great job on it). My husband usually reads W.E.B. Griffin and Tom Clancy, but picked up the trilogy and is enjoying very much. I LOVE Brandon Sanderson - Mistborn just might be my favorite series ever - it is wonderful!!!! DH has read everything he's written except Warbreaker (which I've read, but dh hasn't gotten to yet) and the WoT book (I started reading the series and knew dh would think they were too repetitive to read, so I haven't bothered. I might give him a synopsis and have him read Sanderson's book, though! LOL). We've both read George R.R. Martin's Ice & Fire books too and loved them - just waiting on George to finish that series!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I was going to post the exact same thread, so thanks! I'm reading through them and getting ideas for my dh. Nobody has yet suggested my dh's favourite series. The Bandy Papers by Donald Jack. Its a series of books, 7 in total. They start out in WWI and continue through to WWII. They're funny as heck, no blood and gore. *I* even love them! The first one is called, "Three Cheers For Me" http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Three-Cheers-Me-Volume-One-Donald-Jack/9780771043802-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527bandy+papers+donald+jack%2527 To give you an idea of the things that happen to poor Bandy, he's sent out to raid German trenches. His LT, tired of Bandy's refusal to drink, fills his canteen with rum. Bandy, completely smashed, kidnaps what he thinks is a German commander. Instead, its his own! Bandy then proceeds to whack him with his metal helmet each time the CO starts to come to, brings him back to the trenches, and is given a hero's welcome for rescuing the CO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 The Long Walk: A True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz (this is seriously one of the best books I've ever read--if you like adventuring books, don't miss this one).http://www.amazon.com/Long-Walk-True-Story-Freedom/dp/1592289444/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259660335&sr=8-1 I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. I have recommended it to more people. I'm surprised it isn't more well-known. Good recommendation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 Another one to add to the list (that I'm currently reading, lol): The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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