Comments on: 50 Best Books for Boys and Young Men

By: RJay

RJay — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:12:42 +0000

I read “My Side of the Mountain” three or four times! Great book. I think I could read it again today and I’m 52 years old.

By: Karel Warner

Karel Warner — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 07:26:18 +0000

i love the tarzan book its great babe xx]

By: Jim Hutchings

Jim Hutchings — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:19:12 +0000

I agree with the Louis Lamour post, the “Last of the Breed” is an amazing story of the adventure/survival type for any teenage boy. Also, Lamour’s shourt stories are excellent in the way that he truthfully protrays life in many aspects. Mainly, because he lived through many of the settings. “Education of a Wandering Man” is a great book for anyone to read that really had a hard time in school because he shows that not everything you learn in life is learned in school (as society would have you think, nowadays). Life is out there for learning, enjoy it.

By: Robert Litwack

Robert Litwack — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:40:27 +0000

I would say that some of my favorites would be:
White Fang by Jack London.
The Earthsea Triology by LeGuin.
Later it became anything by Dean Koonts, Cussler and L’amour.

By: Tasha

Tasha — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:46:56 +0000

Wonderful mix of modern and classic books for boys. I look forward to turning to it when my 12-year-old is looking for his next read.

By: John

John — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:26:41 +0000

The Space Trilogy by CS Lewis is awesome and has good Christian meaning.
-Out of the Silent Planet
-Perelandra
-That Hideous Strength

By: Norm

Norm — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:10:42 +0000

I’ve read most of these as a child, a lot of others that aren’t on the list, but we all have different influences.

I’m really surprised that The Hatchet was on the list. I thought that was the biggest waste of 48hrs I’ve ever had. Then again I was forced to put down The Hobbit and read it in grade 7. The thought that a 13 year old kid didn’t know how to survive by himself irritated me. I’d been spending weekends up in the woods behind my house since I was 10 and building fires since I was 7. The fact that it took him a week to figure out that you had to put the spear into the water first is what really got me though. It’s like the kid never took a science class or observed the world around him. And yes, 15 years later I still hold this resentment. The book irritated me that much.

By: Martin

Martin — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:05:25 +0000

For Boys who love Baseball you have to try any books by Matt Christopher like the Home Run King.

If you like Hardy Boys you may like the Tom Swift books.

By: Dave Altman

Dave Altman — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:36:24 +0000

I didn’t see this one listed, but “Nick of Time” by Ted Bell is a very new book that was written to inspire adventure in young boys. My 11 year old son and myself really enjoyed the book. It is a good page turner.

By: John W.

John W. — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:33:11 +0000

I have to say that I love seeing the books that I loved as a kid on this list. The Chronicles of Narnia were my favorite. I’ve probably read them each at least five times. James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were two that I loved also. Roald Dahl had such a way with writing that made me feel like I was actually in the story. I wish young men would pick up books again and read. I think if those of who want to live as true men mentor the next generation to be real men, the future will be a good deal brighter.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:12:18 +0000

I always got a kick out of the Encyclopedia Brown Series. Good young detective books and a little more readable than The Hardy Boys for younger kids.

By: JB

JB — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:58:07 +0000

The first edition of the Boy Scouts Manual is available for free from Project Gutenberg here: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/29558

By: Michael Bruce

Michael Bruce — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:36:32 +0000

Hatchet and Ender’s Game are absolutely essential too so thanks for including them. Really, any Gary Paulsen books are excellent. And the Adventures of Doctor Doolittle will rock the socks off any boy, or person in general. The book, so vastly different in setting and quality, completely puts the movie to shame and doesn’t have a bunch of annoying innuendos and tawdry humor.

By: Michael Bruce

Michael Bruce — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:31:13 +0000

Hatchet and Ender’s Game are absolutely essential too so thanks for including them.

By: Michael Bruce

Michael Bruce — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:29:59 +0000

Martian Chronicles is number one. Maniac McGee is number two (even better for younger boys). And though its not fiction I really like 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens which really inspired me, taught me a lot and entertained me.