As I did in my book, I wanted to make a list of books that I've read that I think my readers may like. However, I wanted to add a couple of things to my website. First, I wanted to make the list more extensive, adding more books and authors that I have enjoyed over the years. My other goal is, I admit, a bit selfish. I wanted to solicit recommendations from my readers. Please email me at oldguyrules@gmail.com with your favorite books and why you liked them so much. As recommendations come in, I'll put my favorites from my readers up on the website so we can all "share the wealth." I want to build a community of readers through my books and this site so we can pass this on to each other and the "youngun's" and get everyone more excited about reading, which is fast becoming a lost art, at least in the traditional sense. If you are so inclined, I highly recommend the Amazon Kindle as a reading tool. You can change the font, download books for less, and it's one of the easiest ways to read a book in the world. It's a little money, but if you read books like I do, the Kindle is a great value.
If you’ve been paying attention, Old Guys, you know by now that this is the greatest book ever written…PERIOD. I’ve read it seven times and will continue to read it every year for the rest of my life; it’s that good. It’s about the Battle of Thermopylae, upon which the movie 300 is based. The movie is actually based on a graphic comic book. This book is the real deal. I have actually emailed Stephen Pressfield, and both times he took the time to email me back personally. Mr. Pressfield, if you by some chance read this book, I am bowing in your direction as I write this chanting, “We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!” Sir, you are the MAN when it comes to historical fiction. I’ve read ‘em all, Last of the Amazons, Virtues of War, Tides of War, and anything by Pressfield is a guaranteed home run, Old Guys. You HAVE to read this book.
2. Legend by David Gemmell.
Perhaps the greatest fictional character ever created, in my mind, would be Druss the Legend. In this book and subsequent novels, David Gemmell portrays a warrior like no other, a man who gobbles up life in great chunks and spits fire and brimstone as he wields a giant ax called Snaga. This book was written by Gemmell as an allegory, symbolizing his own struggle with cancer, which he beat. When you meet Druss the Legend, you will never again think of heroes the same way.
3. The Prey Series by John Sandford.
If you have a weak constitution and don’t like blood or the seedy underbelly of the serial killer, best to look away now. Those of you who are still with me, Sandford is the master of this genre. His character, Detective Lucas Davenport, is one of the all-time great characters, and even though he’s evolved considerably over the course of the series (17 books so far), he just gets better with age. My financial planner’s wife, Missy Lafond, put me onto this guy, and I was hooked immediately. He’s from Minnesota, like Missy, and the books are set in that state, for the most part, and Missy tells me that the descriptions and the names of the towns are not only real, they are dead-on accurate. Mr. Sandford, I salute you. I mark time until your next book comes out. When it does, I will have bought it and read it within days.
4. Bernard Cornwell’s Trilogy on King Arthur.
Much like David Gemmell does with Troy, Cornwell takes a familiar legend and infuses it with his own brand of storytelling to create a masterpiece trilogy. I love the way he humanizes the characters while maintaining their legend, and the accuracy of his research is incredible. Cornwell is another one of those authors who is such a great writer that I read just about anything he publishes. His books on the Saxon Chronicles (The Last Kingdom, The Pale Horseman, Lords of the North, and Sword Song), set during the 9th century, are magnificent.
5. Anything by Phillip Gulley.
If you’ve never read a Gulley book, you’re in for a treat. He is a truly gifted storyteller. A minister in a small
6. David Gemmell’s
Gemmell is a stud. An English writer, like Cornwell, he can turn a phrase with the best of them. His treatment of this story, as I previously mentioned, is inspired. He makes Hector and Achilles come alive more than any story I’ve read about the Odyssey, including the original. The peripheral characters are superbly assimilated into the story, and Gemmell is truly a master story teller. When I learned of his death recently, I was deeply saddened that such a great writer had left us right after I discovered his work. Wherever you are, Mr. Gemmell, salutations to a life well-lived. Your stories brought joy to millions of people, including yours truly.
7. Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher. Mr. Crutcher is the greatest young adult writer ever...period. I know this will elicit arguments from many people, and that's OK. I'm just saying that for my money, NOBODY beats Crutcher. I mean nobody. The first book I read by him was Stotan. It was a great book. It was about swimmers, and overcoming pain, and about controversial problems that I hadn't seen in many books, certainly not in this genre. I was hooked. And as good as Stotan was, Whale Talk is even better. It's about a young man, the Tao Jones (how cool is that?), who is an amazing athlete and an even better person. He decides to start a swim team to piss off the powers that be at his school and in the community, and he assembles a band of misfits that you just won't believe. The book has it all: dysfunction, violence, warmth, family, villains, and heroes, but mostly it has underdogs and misfits overcoming their problems and working together to do the right thing by themselves and others. Read every book you can by Crutcher. I have. He's a master, and one of the truly great authors who is just as good a person.
8. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.
This is a delightful story set in the south about a girl who runs away and is befriended by three black sisters who are beekeepers. The experiences she has and the difficulties they face together are both comical and touching to the core. I have also listened to this one on tape, and the actress, Jenna Lamia, who reads the story as the young girl simply dead-on nails the voices and the narration. You’ll love the book in either medium.
9. Biography of Chuck Yeager.
This guy is one of the true heroes of this or any time. You’ll marvel at the things he has survived and overcome in his life, and he is absolutely fearless. I was captivated by the entire book, from when Yeager first learned to fly to when he broke the sound barrier. He’s one man I wish I could have met in my life. My buddy Gary Krasno put me onto this book, the best biography I’ve ever read, and I’ve read hundreds of them.
9A. Lucky Man (autobiography of Michael J. Fox).
I’ve always been a fan of Mr. Fox, but when he became an advocate for Parkinson’s Disease after he was diagnosed with it, I became even more of a fan. He is brutally forthcoming about his own experiences with the disease in this book, and his honesty was both fascinating and refreshing. I was amazed to learn how long he acted after he was diagnosed, and his courage in the face of a debilitating disease has been remarkable. This is one of the best biographies you will ever read, and it will inspire a feeling of both admiration of Fox and gratitude for your own health.
10. Memnon by Scott Oden.
Scott is a relatively new author, but you wouldn’t know it by his writing. This work of historical fiction about Memnon of Rhodes is beautifully written, and Scott Oden writes with a style that captures the age perfectly. I would also check out Men of Bronze by Oden, another great book. I have corresponded by email with Scott, and even though he is an
11. Dawn of Empire and Empire Rising by Sam Barone.
Sam worked in computers for many years before retiring and becoming a writer. Judging by his first two books, I wish he would have started writing much earlier. Set in 3157 B.C., the books are a fictionalized account of the Bronze Age and the raising of cities in ancient Mesopotamia, a chaotic time where bandits reigned supreme and cities were sitting ducks for vandalism and plunder. Sam Barone’s books are about a city that decides not to merely stand by and take it anymore, so they hire a former barbarian named Eskkar to lead the defense of the city. He faces political pressures, prejudice, desertion, treachery, and just about every other obstacle, but in doing so he discovers resources within himself that he never imagined existed. His Herculean effort to fortify and protect the city culminates in a beautifully portrayed final battle with the barbarians at the end of the first book. Sam is a tremendous storyteller, and his direct writing style is both effective and highly entertaining. And he’s another truly good guy, as I have corresponded with him as well.
12. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
I teach this book to my freshmen; I have probably read it 25 times, and every year I find something new to like about the book. It’s the only book Harper Lee ever published, which is a shame, but perhaps she thought she could never write a book better than this one. Chances are you read this in high school, but if you haven’t, give it a try. It’s a terrific look at prejudice through the eyes of kids and adults in the South during the 1930’s that holds up beautifully even today.
13. The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.
I began teaching Kite Runner this year, and I read Hosseini’s next book, A Thousand Splendid Suns, because I liked the first one so much. These were the first books I had read with origins in the
14. Daddy by Danielle Steele.
I realize that my ultra-manly image could take a serious hit here, but I am secure enough in my manhood to admit that I have read a number of Danielle Steele books and liked all of them, some more than others, but she is a gifted writer and tells a great story. I’ll bet you’re wondering how in the world I ever started reading Danielle Steele books. That’s an interesting story. My son was born in the month of May in 1988, so his mother took a few weeks off work to stay home with him until I went on summer break from teaching school. When she went back to work, it was just the little guy and yours truly. Josh took many naps throughout the day, leaving the big guy with not much to do in a small apartment. I had already read all of my books, but my wife at the time had a big box of Danielle Steele books. I fought the urge, but ultimately I could NOT stay out of that box, and I began reading one of her books. That summer, I finished the entire box, probably 20 Danielle Steele novels, but Daddy ended up being my favorite because I identified with the main character after my own marriage broke up and I became a single father a number of years later. Furthermore, truth be told, I’ve always had a bit of a crush on Danielle Steele. Of course, the fact that she’s beautiful, classy, gifted, and extremely wealthy has nothing to do with that.
15. The Firm by John Grisham.
Grisham is a literary god, a man among boys in many respects. An incredible storyteller, Grisham creates suspense like no one, and he does it in The Firm masterfully. I’ve read everything Grisham has written and will continue to do so. I also have to say that I like his style. I heard him say on 60 Minutes that he only shaves once a week. I’m a three-shave-a-week man myself, but if you Old Guys buy enough of these books, I’m going to pattern much of my life after Grisham’s, most notably the shaving and the multimillionaire parts.
16. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown.
I know, I know; many people will say that The DaVinci Code is better, and I loved it as well, but if I’m being perfectly honest here with all my Old Guys, I liked Angels and Demons better. The books are very similar, but Angels and Demons was so fast-paced and suspenseful, that I had to give it a slight edge over Brown’s more famous work. I always thought Mr. Brown was unfairly criticized for the books because he never made the statement that these are true stories and that everything in them is fact. They are works of FICTION, and people need to remember that when they read them. The research he and his wife did for the books must have been exhaustive, and Brown’s writing consistently challenges your mind to keep up, but it’s fascinating stuff. I’ve read several other books of his, and as my kids say in class, “It’s all good.” Perhaps the best gift I’ve ever received from one of my students was a limited edition of The DaVinci Code that had pictures of the art to which he alluded in the novel. Way cool.
17. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
First published in 1937, this book is still the standard for how to treat people. I read this book over 10 years ago, but I still use many of the principles in my life today. It is a guide for how to treat people in life, and it is a book written around the Golden Rule. I think this book should be added to every single high school curriculum. A problem I have with many high school curricula is that they fail to address morals and ethics, but I understand how school districts’ hands are tied in this respect. I like to tell the kids that if I were King for a Day, I’d make some serious changes in education in this nation. But that’s for another time in another book.
18. The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale.
Mr. Peale is a master on the subject, and he discusses it in a direct, no-nonsense book that is a must read for anyone who wants the best out of life. When I talked about attitude earlier in the book, the attitude I want you to possess every day in your life is clearly evident in this book. It’s also an old book, but it’s worth the effort to find it and read it.
19. With Malice Toward None: A Life of Abraham Lincoln by Stephen B. Oates.
Bill Leighly put me onto this biography of Lincoln, and it is tremendous. Mr. Oates looks at Lincoln’s entire life, including his crushing poverty as a child, his time as a lawyer in Illinois, his early political failures, and his rise to becoming one of the greatest presidents in history. After reading this book, I am convinced that Lincoln, with all he faced, is the greatest president in history. If you read this book, I think you will as well.
20. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand.
I know many of you have probably seen the movie, but the book is even better. The story of Seabiscuit is one of the truly inspirational stories in the history of sports, and Laura Hillenbrand does a fantastic job of both researching the story and bringing it to life. Hillenbrand’s own story of overcoming a debilitating illness to write the book is incredible in its own right, and makes her accomplishment that much more extraordinary.
Note: The preceding titles are from my book The Old Guy Rules. Following are additional titles that are not in the book. These books are in no particular order; I love them all.
21. The Blind Side by Michael Lewis.
This book is the fascinating story of Michael Oher, who was taken in by a wealthy couple, the Touhy's, and raised as their own. He went on to become an All-American left tackle at the University of Mississippi and a first-round draft pick in the NFL. His situation before being taken in by the Touhy family was about as dire as it gets, but he overcame incredible odds to become a success story.
22. My Losing Season by Pat Conroy.
Pat Conroy has always been one of my favorite authors, but when I found this book at a Goodwill in Batavia that tells the true story of his senior year of college at The Citadel, I had to read it, and I'm so glad I did. Conroy brings the humor, insight, and sensibility to nonfiction that are included in books like The Lords of Discipline, Prince of Tides, and The Great Santini. If you've never read a Pat Conroy book, do yourself a favor and get one as soon as possible. He's a master.
23. Aces High by Bill Yenne.
This is an incredible account of the two highest scoring fighter pilots of World War II, Dick Bong and Tommy McGuire. The book takes the reader from their childhood and upbringing to their incredible feats in their P-38 Lightning planes in the South Pacific theater facing Japanese fighter pilots during the war. These guys, and men like them, were true heroes of American history, and Bill Yenne does an excellent job of telling their respective stories.
24. The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson.
This is one of those books that just grabs you by the throat immediately and hurls you headlong into an emotional blender. The book addresses many personal issues, not the least of which is personal morality and the premium we all put on outward appearance. The book is at times touching, haunting, horrifying, and repulsive, yet I dare you to look away. I challenge you to read the first chapter of this book and then try to walk away from it. You have no chance...all the better for you. Bravo to Mr. Davidson for writing an incredible story with his first published novel.
25. The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I happened upon a review of this book in a newspaper, completely by chance; it looked like an interesting concept, so I thought I'd give it a try. HOLY COW!!! What a terrific book! The Help is about black maids in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's and some of the abuses and humiliations to which they were subjected while working for white families. The book is told from three perspectives: Aibileen, a patient, religious, kind, loving woman in her 50's who is overworked and underappreciated but who also maintains a wonderful attitude in spite of tragedy in her own life; Minnie, another maid, Aibileen's best friend, who is defiant, stubborn, courageous, and loyal; and Skeeter, a white woman who has the idea of telling their story anonymously in a book by secretly interviewing each of the maids about their experiences working for white families through the years. Their stories are at different times touching, chilling, reprehensible, shocking, but never dull. The author, Kathryn Stockett, went to the University of Alabama, home of the finest college football team in the land, and she writes from personal experience as she was raised by a black maid in Jackson, MS. I loved this book, my wife loved this book, and I'm guessing anyone who reads it will love this book.
26. Black Light by Stephen Hunter. A big shout out goes to Sue Middelton, the Glenbard North Librarian who put me onto James Lee Burke. She now has me started on Stephen Hunter, and all I can say after reading two of his books is WOW!!! Just like Druss the Legend is one of my all-time favorite characters, so too is Bob Lee Swagger, the Marine sniper and man's man portrayed in Hunter's incredible books. Black Light has Swagger looking into the murder of his father, Earl Swagger, who was gunned down when Bob was nine years old by a couple of white trash thieves whom Swagger had met in an Arkansas field many years ago. However, Swagger finds out that there's much more to the story than what was set down in the original police report. He uses his sniper skills to go after the people who were gunning for his father, and now, for him. What transpires is riveting. Even if you're not into warfare and guns, you'll still love this story, and anyone who was in the Marines will worship the book.
27. Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter. This book flashes back to Swagger's time in Vietnam, where he was such a proficient sniper that he was known as "Bob the Nailer." He struck fear into his enemies and was relentless in carrying out his duty to the Marines. Several of his encounters are presented in the book, and they will literally have you holding your breath. Swagger, at times cold-blooded and machine-like, also battles his own demons as he fights his dark side. He also comes up against the most proficient of the Russian sniper, a cold-blooded killer just like him who has been commissioned by his government to terminate Swagger, and their personal battle is truly great reading. I dare you to read Black Light without then reading Time to Hunt. I'll wager you can't do it. If you can, Old Guys, you are a better man (or woman) than I.
28. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. My friend Mike Roethler told me about this book when we were riding to an all-day seminar together earlier this year, and I loved it. It's fascinating study of what makes superachievers able to reach such dizzying heights. Gladwell identifies factors that contribute to the success of people like Bill Gates, including being born at just the right time for certain economic or technological conditions that allow people to take advantage of them. I've also read Blink and The Tipping Point by Gladwell, and I'd recommend them as well. Blink is about how important decisions are made in the blink of an eye, and the best decision makers are people who can filter out the unimportant variables and focus on what really counts. The Tipping Point is about how certain factors are the difference between success and failure. I can tell that Mr. Gladwell is an exceedingly intelligent man by reading his books, and he seems to see things differently than most people do.
29. Pale Horse Coming by Stephen Hunter. Sue Midelton handed me this book one morning at school; it was 670 pages in paperback, and I read it in about four days. I couldn't put it down. If you've read my book, Earl Swagger is pretty much the ultimate Old Guy. He is the man all of us, deep down, want to be but know we can't. I know he's a fictional character, but if I could come back as anyone, I'd come back as Earl Swagger. This might be my favorite Swagger novel yet, and that's really saying something. Earl Swagger's friend Sam Vincent finds himself accused of murder in an isolated little town in the bowels of Mississippi where law is meted out by the local Sheriff, his reprobate deputies, and a prison system that is as corrupt as any in history. Earl successfully breaks Sam out of the Sheriff's clutches, but is captured himself during the escape and taken to the black prison in Thebes, where he is brutalized beyond comprehension and forced into an existence that would have killed most men a dozen times over. He somehow escapes with the help of the one of the convicts, and after he heals, he recruits seven of the best gunmen who ever lived (all based on real-life gun-wielding legends) back to Thebes to take the place down, literally. What follows is retribution and heroism in its purest form, and I loved seeing these old gunfighters and legendary war heroes go back with Earl to right a wrong and take down the bad guys. Absolutely one of the best books I've ever read, which I seem to be saying about every single Stephen Hunter book I read. Mr. Hunter, if you ever read this, you are an incredible writer, and I worship the ground you walk on. If you ever want to to sit in a bar and talk about your books, I'll buy every round, and that's a promise.
Currently Reading:
Havana by Stephen Hunter
The 47th Samurai by Stephen Hunter
Favorite Authors
Whenever the following authors come out with a new book, I get it ASAP and read it. These are my favorites, authors who never seem to have a bad book and never let me down. They are:
Stephen Pressfield
David Gemmell (deceased)
Bernard Cornwell
Chris Crutcher
James Lee Burke
John Sandford (see above)
Scott Oden
Phillip Gulley (see above)
Pat Conroy
Dan Brown
*Send me your author recommendations as well, and I'll post as many as I can.
Should you wish to order one of the above books, I've put together a little presentation for you. Of course, if you order one by going through this presentation or any of the above links, I get a little piece of the action, and like my buddy Kras, I love people who put money in my pocket:). Enjoy!