Why Don't Men Read? Suggested Books for Men Written by Women

[@SpinstersLibrary]

This was a fascinating discussion of a topic that I think about a lot (and have discussed in videos before). It's so frustrating to see men miss out on some really fantastic literature because the author is female. Love how you structured this video by recommending authors based on ones male readers might be more familiar with. Incidentally, I've been meaning to ask you about something related to this discussion (as in, I'd like to interview you for a video if you're up for it) but haven't been able to find your email address. If you're interested, do get in touch with me via email (or let me know your email address).

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you very much Claudia. I would be very interested in talking with you about this subject (well really any book subject). My email is [e-mail]

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

The historians I read - basing it entirely on books I pulled for a recent video - seem to be female about 1/10th of the time. I don’t know if that’s because some of the books are older.

[@BookishTexan]

I don't think that the gender discrepancy in terms of readers and who readers are willing to read is as pronounced in history as it is in fiction.

[@1book1review]

Great video, I only read David Foster Wallace and Jennifer Egan, and that pairing is so well matched.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you Wiebke.

[@Josh-et4ki]

I appreciate the suggestions, but isn’t calling men that read certain authors “dude-bros” somewhat disparaging? As if they’re dumb and have low level thoughts because they read DFW or Brett Easton Ellis? Perhaps this sort of discourse is, in part, what keeps men away from the literature community and thus from reading more.

[@BookishTexan]

Considering that I said I read and liked most of these authors on the list I thought it was ok. But, I see your point thank you.

[@ajdc88]

didnt you know you're allowed to call guys 'dudebros' with no rhyme or reason, and everyone's supposed to laugh?

[@BookishTexan]

@@ajdc88 It’s my channel so I make the rules. You don’t have to laugh though.

[@MMjones6459]

Thought provoking, thanks. It did make me wonder about physical limitations. Males outnumber females as diagnosed dyslexic. "Some cognitive precursors to reading skill, such as oral language, emerge much earlier than reading instruction begins. Processing speed, another cognitive predictor of reading skill, shows a female advantage by age five"

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for sharing that information! That does suggest a physical limitation.

[@MargaretPinard]

Great pairings for an "if you like this, try that" setup. :) What about for people who don't like these men's men's books? 😆

[@BookishTexan]

@@MargaretPinard Don’t read them and read the women’s books instead. They’re great.🤓

[@MrRosebeing]

A couple of commas and the phrase "in general" wouldn't have gone amiss, but I'm beging pedantic. I have read, I read, and I will read.

[@BookishTexan]

@@MrRosebeing Good to know. I thought the “in general” was implied.

[@MrRosebeing]

@@BookishTexan As I said, I was being horribly, horrendously pedantic.

[@maewyn01]

Nice video. I've have also seen some video's by men talking about the problem that there are too many female writers. Unfortunatly there are also female Booktubers who are very proud to only read female authors. So I can't see women are doing better :S.

[@BookishTexan]

I haven't seen any female BookTubers who limit their reading to books by women (though it seems likely that there would be some). I do know of one woman who only talks about and promotes books by women

[@csd8204]

Wow! Great recommendations.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you.

[@bookofdust]

The last thing in the world I’d ever want to be is a “role model.” But I know that as a male who was a children’s librarian and an early childhood educator I was a rarity, and so that for boys leaning towards interest in books and reading, one of the few reinforcing images of a male doing that work and engaged in that activity. And I will say (reluctantly) as I don’t want to think about being drawn to “role models,” it was probably my fifth grade teacher who was a man and the only male elementary teacher I had who had the greatest impact on me as a reader (beyond my family of all women) and instilling a life long love of reading. Every day, usually after afternoon recess, he would read a chapter or two of novels aloud in class. I’ve had three different “pink collar” careers working with children, especially young children, in my life and I know it impacted especially the boys, and many of the self defined “daddy’s girls.” Getting competent and compassionate men involved in early childhood education, elementary education and children’s librarianship wouldn’t transform and suddenly make a world of male readers, but I do think it would start to help and make a noticeable impact. But I will also say what I said to every family who asked about helping to make their child a reader. Those that will make the biggest impact on the child are the parents, children need to see their parents and especially their father’s reading. Making time to read and valuing reading for pleasure. I wouldn’t be shocked if there was a study that conclusively showed that one of the biggest influences a boy had on becoming a reader, was if their father or primary male role model was a reader. I do enjoy the fact that you list BEE as a writer Dude Bro Lit guys are reading. And my understanding, at least of a decade ago, was that Chuck Palahniuk was a favorite Dude Bro Lit author too and that they are both Gay, and yet embraced by these guys. If men are reluctant to read female authors, I can only image that reading Gay male authors is quite unlikely as well.

[@TimeTravelReads]

@@bookofdust Thank you for being a role model, encouraging reading.

[@BookishTexan]

I agree with everything you say. Both my parents were readers -- my father history, my mother fiction -- and they influenced how much I read and what I read to this day. Unfortunately I never had a male teacher who had the kind of impact that you describe, but many female teachers who did. My sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Robins read books to us after recess as well and she often chose books like Johnny Tremaine and The Bronze Arrow that she knew appeal to the boys in our class.

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I’m not sure if she has a male parallel, but I would recommend Geek Love by Katherine Dunn to men who don’t think they would like a book written by a woman.

[@BookishTexan]

@@anotherbibliophilereads Thank you for the recommendation Greg.

[@FrankOdonnell-ej3hd]

Never been good at math but luckily have always enjoyed woman authors. I loved a visit from the goon squad. I remember American psycho created a minor uproar when it came out but after Norman mailer said it wasn’t as bad as people were saying I picked it up and was glad I did. I tried to read murakami’s 19Q4 a couple of times but wasn’t successful but may go back to it one day. And I think I’ve told u before about how much I loved blood meridian and the road but would have to put the border trilogy as a distant second to those two,⚛️

[@BookishTexan]

Thanks for your comment Frank. I did not know that about Mailer and American psycho.

[@alldbooks9165]

Super interesting video. I would watch more of these. I always love it when MSTSK gets a mention.

[@BookishTexan]

Thanks Doris.

[@myreadinglife8816]

Another nice reference list! You do a great job pulling these together.

[@BookishTexan]

Thanks Heidi.

[@jeffbowman1225]

I didn't get the memo either. Some women writers I think most men would like are Louise Penny, Julia Keller and Ann Cleeves. All good mystery/thriller writers.

[@BookishTexan]

Thanks for the great recommendations!

[@ArtBookshelfOdyssey]

⁠@@BookishTexan@jeffbowman1225 I’ve read Louise Penny and Ann Cleeves and they are great - especially Louise Penny!

[@BookishTexan]

@@ArtBookshelfOdyssey Thanks!

[@peterreed9566]

I have no issue reading books written by men or women but only if they are non fiction as I just loathe reading fiction.

[@BookishTexan]

@@peterreed9566 I do love good non-fiction.

[@dqan7372]

Should have been titled "Why Dude-bros Don't Read Literary Fiction by Minority Women" (if "that's really what we're really talking about here.") Fine suggestions, but your assumptions about men in general (are you not one yourself?!) are obnoxious.

[@BookishTexan]

@@dqan7372 What assumptions about men did I make?

[@ToReadersItMayConcern]

When getting my English degree, people always brought up jobs after I told them my major. For me, the work I could get out of the degree was secondary to my passion for it. You make a series of great points at the beginning in that regard. Funny, I wrote down a similar idea to this video in reaction to a BookTuber's brief mention of not having read many women authors: I wanted to parallel the male authors I read when younger and the female authors I later read who accomplish the same if not better. An important list, and glad we're thinking alike in this way. I'll try to remember to bring up your video if and when my own comes out.

[@BookishTexan]

I look forward to your video. No need to mention mine. I majored in history and taught high school. Like you I had a passion for the subject and a desire to share it so money wasn’t a big consideration for me.

[@ajdc88]

women read more than men, but the stuff they read most is no more intellectually challenging than a podcast. you ever read romance? it's like the script to a soap opera

[@BookishTexan]

@@ajdc88 I’m going to guess you’ve never actually read a modern romance novel.

[@MargaretPinard]

And I was today years old when I learned that American Psycho the MOVIE was directed by a woman! Dudebros, BEHOLD.

[@BookishTexan]

@@MargaretPinard indeed and the screen play for the Dude Bros other favorite movie, the Matrix, was written by trans women. Who knew Dude Bris were so open minded and accepting.

[@MargaretPinard]

@@BookishTexan 👏truly!

[@MargaretPinard]

@@BookishTexan that was actually a great movie--just rewatched recently, it stands up!

[@SleepyBookReader-666]

I think it's more biological at this point than anything else. There was a time when men would only read male writers... But now the world provide so many forms of visual entertainment from video games to graphic novels to of course, TV and movies that for most men that is more compelling. It's pretty compelling to women too, but just not quite as much.

[@SleepyBookReader-666]

That said, for me, this is a cool list to look at and try out some authors I have not gotten around to yet.

[@BookishTexan]

I hope that you find some books that you like.

[@BookishTexan]

If it has changed due to video games, graphic novels, etc. then I'm not sure I see it as being more biological that sociological, but you raise an good point.

[@myself2noone]

​​@@BookishTexanThen you should read more non-fiction. Because it almost certainly is. These gaps are greater in more gender equal nations. And show up at times of diamorphic divergence.

[@BookishTexan]

@@myself2noone Interesting about the gaps being bigger in more equal nations.

[@lucky_spyke]

Blah, I read plenty of women writers. These days gravitating towards Japanese and Korean authors. Try “Cursed Bunny” by Chung. Skipped the first two short stories because I found the subject matter nauseating. But the rest? Hoo wee, great writing and a riveting read.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for the recommendation.

[@pamelatarajcak5634]

For The Road I would pair the Earthseed duology by Octavia E. Butler.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for the recommendation.

[@eyesonindie]

One of my favorite passages from Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (Olga Tokarczuk): “It’s hard work talking to some people, most often males. I have a Theory about it. With age, many men come down with testosterone autism, the symptoms of which are a gradual decline in social intelligence and capacity for interpersonal communication, as well as a reduced ability to formulate thoughts. The Person beset by this Ailment becomes taciturn and appears to be lost in contemplation. He develops an interest in various Tools and machinery, and he’s drawn to the Second World War and the biographies of famous people, mainly politicians and villains. His capacity to read novels almost entirely vanishes; testosterone autism disturbs the character’s psychological understanding.” 😂😂😂 Present company excluded, obviously, as you are actually an expert in WWII and also a wonderful reader of novels.

[@BookishTexan]

I love that book and that is a great quote. I hope it isn't true and I suspect the reason has more to do with society than "testosterone autism" because if it is true I see a bleak future for myself.😁

[@eyesonindie]

@@BookishTexan 😂

[@ajdc88]

easily one of the worst/most transparent books i've ever read. like reading some freshman in college's attempt at revenge porn

[@BookishTexan]

@@ajdc88 That’s not what revenge porn is.

[@mediumjohnsilver]

For any reader that enjoyed Murakami’s _1Q84,_ about a world that is a sidestep from our own, I recommend Susanna Clarke’s _Piranesi._

[@BookishTexan]

I loved Piranesi!

[@Sachie465]

It must be difficult for women to write literary works that appeal to men. As a woman, it is inevitable that the vast majority of contemporary fiction that I find interesting is by women writers, and fortunately their numbers have been increasing over the years. If I had to recommend novels by a female author to men, it would be The Notebook, The Proof and The Third Lie by Agota Kristof.

[@BookishTexan]

I don’t think women need to change what or how they write. I think the change that is needed is a change in attitude on the part of men towards reading in general and toward reading books by women. Thank you for adding your book recommendation.

[@markhnk]

The statistics are the same in Germany as in the US, and I think they are universal. It's also interesting that, given the industry is dominated by women (which is natural if they also read more), we still have this weird imbalance, especially considering that so many of the published books are written by men. However, I don’t fully buy some of the typical reasons or solutions (if we even need them), which are also mentioned in this video. I doubt the romance genre has much to do with it, and I also don’t think using the typical lit bro authors (even though I like some of them) as the reference is the solution to anything. I know that the lit bro KZbin channels we’re both thinking of talk about these topics and the supposed “devilish femininity” of literature all the time, but I prefer to ignore that. Here’s what I observe: if I’m at readings or literary festivals (like I am now at the International Book Festival in Berlin), you mostly see women in the audience (with some men, many of whom are being dragged there by their girlfriends). As an aspiring writer, I also see mostly women in writing classes, with the typical 80/20 or 70/30 splits everywhere. Romance doesn’t play a role at these readings-we’re talking about general contemporary fiction. Books about the human condition. Why that is, I’m not sure, but I have at least two not-very-original ideas: one is early education and socialization (what’s available to read in pre-teen years; the romance genre doesn’t matter at that age; intellectual development during that time; and social peer pressure related to books: as a guy, do you get beaten up for reading a book?). And we men may not like it, but maybe it’s brain chemistry and intellectual capacity-not in a strictly binary way-so it’s this 80/20 split. Perhaps women can just empathize with characters on a deeper level that reading requires, as opposed to more visual types of storytelling, which may be more direct.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for the great comment. I don’t think we disagree about much. In the US I don’t think we have a problem with getting boys to read at a young age, but we seem to lose them along the way so that once they become young adults they stop reading. If, as many men claim, this is because the books being published are mostly by men then the problem is one of attitudes towards books by women. I recently read watched a video in which these assumptions were on full display (the men in the video essentially assumed every book by a woman was some sort of gushy romance about women’s feelings). I don’t think there is a huge difference in the actual capacity for empathy between men and women just a perceived difference between the value of compassion in men. (I’ve never been beaten up for reading a book)

[@BookishTexan]

@@markhnk The idea that men stop reading or aren't reading fiction because the majority of books being published now are books by women isn't my theory. It is the theory of others (mostly men) who blame the now female dominated publishing industry for the decline in men reading. In the US I believe it is true that the majority of books published are written by women. My video attempts (however poorly) to suggest how silly, if true, that is and to offer some examples of books written by women that are similar in theme and setting to those written by men that are popular among men. You can, of course, easily read male writers and male writers have, traditionally, been the ones whose books were taught in school and university. However, that is far less true over the last few decades in the US than it was before the 90s. The canon, thank goodness, has been under attack and new and more diverse writers are being taught and studied. This is of course part of the excuse some make for why men don't read anymore. My point is that this isnt the fault of diversity or publishing, but the fault of our society that encourages the falsehood that books written by women are not books that men can relate to and that in fact reading fiction isn't a "manly" thing to do. If the gender of the author had zero impact on men then there wouldn't still be women writers who attempted to hide or blur their gender by taking on masculine or potentially masculine pen names (see J.K. Rowling and the same author's mystery novels written under the pen name Robert Galbraith, the mystery writer P.D.James, or the fantasy novelist Robin Hobb, and even N.K. Jemison). This suggested that the "market" knows that men are less likely to read books published by women. I suspect that you haven't read the books by the women I suggested as parallels to the four male authors in this video. If you did you would know that I did not recommend them because they write like men but because they wrote books with similar settings, themes, or feel. These are not women who try to write like these four men or men in general. They each have their own unique voice and they are imitating no man. Finally as someone who has read almost all of Hemingway, Faulkner, McCarthy and who quickly tired of DFW and Murakami I can tell you from personal experience that when I believed (as I did in the past) the insane notion that books by women wouldn't "speak" to my experience as a man that my reading did in fact slow down and only it picked back up again when I started my booktube channel and was introduced to the works of so many brilliant women writers. It was only then that I realized exactly how stupid and bigoted I had been in terms of my reading. Perhaps I am drawing too much on my own experiences and the attitudes expressed by numerous men in videos about this issue that I have seen address this issue. I disagree that there is a "natural" explanation for the fact that fewer men read. It wasn't that long ago that most writers and readers were men. Many of them wrote passionate, compassionate works and men read them. Human nature didn't change in that short period of time.

[@BookishTexan]

@@markhnk I don't mind confrontational though I do feel like you are, at this point, arguing for argument's sake and shifting some of the stances you took in earlier comments. For example in your previous you said, "It feels a bit patronizing and simplifying when what you're basically doing is recommending female writers to male readers who "write like guys". But in your last you say, "While I already understood from your video that you don't imply those female writers write like men, your point still seems to stem from that typically male writing baseline." This kind of shift makes it difficult for me to pin down exactly what it is that you don't like about me choosing books by women that I think might be appealing to men who like the male authors I mention. I don't know where you are getting that I am going along with the "typical male writing baseline" when I never imply that these women's books are only worth reading because they are like those of the male authors. The point of the video is to get men who read those authors to branch out and realize that women write beautiful and interesting books that they will find interesting based on their previous reading taste. I am quite literally encouraging them to abandon the very "typical male writing baseline" you seem to say I have adopted. Based on your last it seems that you wanted me to only provide a list of books by women that men should read without mentioning books that men seem to prefer( I have other videos that do that). If so then you just have a problem with the structure of my video and not with the actual position that I express about books by women. Another example of you shifting your position regards whether or not men have "natural" reasons to stop reading. In your first comment you say, "And we men may not like it, but maybe it’s brain chemistry and intellectual capacity-not in a strictly binary way-so it’s this 80/20 split. Perhaps women can just empathize with characters on a deeper level that reading requires, as opposed to more visual types of storytelling, which may be more direct." Then in your last you say, "I also didn't mean to say that there are natural reasons for men to stop reading; my point was that there are natural reasons for people in general to stop reading at that specific time in early adulthood (which, statistically, of course, also includes men)." So which is it? Do you believe than men have a naturally different "brain capacity" that makes them prefer "more visual types of storytelling," that women "can just empathize with characters on a deeper level" or that there is no natural reason specific to men that might explain why they, more than women, seem to stop reading as they get older. You may in fact be right that women have always constituted more of the reading public than men, though I do not believe this was true as recently as the Victorian period, but something has to account for the decline in male readership that goes beyond your explanation that as all people grow up they become too busy to read. If theory were true then the decline in readership wouldn't be so skewed in terms of gender. I certainly don't know the answer to why men seem to have stopped reading and this video only contains my thoughts on what might be the cause and a possible solution that involves providing male readers who like books written by certain men with suggestions of books written by women that they might like based on those preferences.

[@BookishTexan]

@@markhnk I don't think there is a language issue since I am simply quoting you back to you. As far as why I feel that you are just being argumentative let me ask you to go back and read my first response to your first comment in which I pointed out that I thought we agreed on most things. You could have left it there but you chose to go on. Which is great. These kinds of discussions are why I make videos like this. But in my responses I will feel free to point out inconsistencies that I find in your arguments. Let me go through your latest in an attempt to highlight how little we disagree with each other and where I think you are just arguing inconsistently and for arguments sake. 1. I agree. Though I believe there was time (before our lives) when this may not have been true and it doesnt have to be for the premise that male readership is declining faster than female readership to be true. 2. I agree completely. 3. The information that I based my assertion that men are increasingly reading less than women is based on information from other videos that cite surveys. I should have cited those. I think there is more than anecdotal evidence that men don't read books by women which is why I mentioned the women authors who have adopted male pen names or hidden their names. This indicates that publishers know that men are less likely to buy books by women. 4. This is where you have changed your position. In the comment you made before your last you said, "I also didn't mean to say that there are natural reasons for men to stop reading..." and now you are saying you do believe there is a natural reason. Which is it? 5. I agree completely. 6. I agree we can disagree though again I'll point out that I offered evidence that isnt anecdotal. And I am not representing that theory as something that should be true. Quite the opposite in fact. 7. I think there is a growing difference between the number of men who read compared to the number of women who read and this video contains my opinion about why I think that is happening. 8. Again that is not what I am doing. I am recommending women writers based on similarities between books not between the way the books are written. If you have a problem with that then you must also have a problem with any book recommendations based on any person's reading tastes. 9. I did not do that. I gave examples of books that are popular with men and then examples of books written by women that I thought might interest men who liked the work of those male authors. 10. You are allowed to find it patronizing, but not to suggest or imply a motive, intent, or a bias that I do not have and is not present. We can agree to disagree (which is what I thought were were doing), but if you are going to argue a point you should be consistent and not continue to change your position from comment to comment. Continuing our discussion is completely up to you. If you leave another response, I will respond. That's what I do in the comment section of my videos.

[@markhnk]

@@BookishTexan Brian, I stopped reading this after two lines. Let me just say that with your last comments you pretty much were directly questioning my arguments, so what do you expect other than me trying to explain myself. I tried to wrap this up two comments ago. I'm done, unsubscribed, I don''t need that drama. Have a good day!

[@Johanna_reads]

I've seen some videos about this going around, but as soon as I saw there was one from you, I knew you were going to nail it! By the way, I felt the same exact way about The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Thanks for all these recommendations. Lost Children Archive sounds very appealing to me!

[@BookishTexan]

The Lost Children Archive is one of the best books I have read since joining booktube. That list is pretty long, but Luiselli's book is near the top. I hope you like it if you get the chance to read it.

[@NicolesBookishNook]

Such a great and unique perspective! ❤

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for watching.

[@reflectiverambling1148]

This might be the most unique approach to this conversation I've seen. I think there's also a lot of room for a conversation in addition to what we emphasize in school about the middle grade genre and offering young men transitional reads as that's one area I honestly do see VERY female dominated. WHich, isn't inherently a bad thing in the least. But it's also a time where other pressures about gender could shy a young man away because of those cliches. Also, expanding the middle grade genre offerings as it seems there is an insurgence of fantasy (not complaining!) Or something very modern-tragic-coping. THere's growing mystery/thriller, but where are the historical fictions? Even non-fiction. This effects both of those binary options. It makes me think of a reading bias I myself have as a woman that I was just speaking to someone- I am very VERY skeptical/suspicious to read anything leaning to mystery/thriller/horror by men because almost non-fail the way female characters are depicted or used as tools gets to me. which, ironically to me, hooks back into wanting more men to pick up work by women. Reading can be a tool of understanding. It helps you see thought processes that aren't your own. If more men took a chance on a good story, maybe subliminally they'll change their own preconceptions or the way they approach at least their ficitonal ladies. Hopefully those in their lives don't run into the same issues.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for watching and leaving an excellent comment. I agree that it might help boys remain readers if there were more middle grade books that were written for them, but I’m not sure they could ever effectively compete with video games so I’m not sure publishers like scholastic would be willing to take the risk. I wish I could think of a decent middle grade historical fiction to write. At the movement my wife and I are working on a mystery/detective novel. She is in charge of fleshing out the characters so I hope in that way we can avoid a poor portrayal of our female characters. I think reading is key to developing compassion and empathy so men and boys not reading as much as they used to is very troubling.

[@reflectiverambling1148]

@@BookishTexan For what it's worth, having listened to you speak about things I would have NO problem picking up a mystery/thriller by you even without your wife's input. (though ello' Mrs. BookishTexan!) You have developed that very key compassion probably in part of your broad reading.) I'm not sure, I think about things like war stories and how many kids get captivated by the thought of code /spy networks. Or sports history. explorers / frontier expeditions/ ocean voyages though hopefully with a little perspective in comparison to the modern myths of 'expansion'. I know when I was a young girl I can trace my love of both episepistolary style and historical fiction came from two lines of books written as young girls in various key time periods. I don't know what that type of equivalent could be for young men, but... I will say while it's urban-modern Jason Reynolds has just been mind blowing. Now, not being a preteen urban male I can't say for certain how one would connect but I feel like his work is honest and upfront making emotions a lot of kids are feeling and their situations come into focus in a safe way that allows them to process things that their circumstances make difficult.

[@obinnaiwudike7644]

Great books by strong serious Male authors Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein The way of kings by Brandon Sanderson Words of radiance by Brandon Sanderson The Terminal List series by Jack Carr 7 books currently I dont read women because I want to have fun and keep my masculine brain. Stop trying to make men read women and let them read what they like. 🤣

[@BookishTexan]

@@obinnaiwudike7644 Read what you like. But being afraid that you won’t keep your “masculine brain” if you read books by women doesn’t seem very masculine.

[@obinnaiwudike7644]

@@BookishTexan it is a joke bro. I just predominately ready male author cause its my preference.

[@BookishTexan]

@@obinnaiwudike7644 ah, I see. You’d be surprised how many serious comments I get that similar to your joking one.

[@obinnaiwudike7644]

@@BookishTexan hey , interpretation is on you not me bud

[@BookishTexan]

@@obinnaiwudike7644 I see. Then I think you’re a trolling moron.(it’s a joke)

[@ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

I love how you did the comparisons, really great! I have a video coming up in a few weeks where I reference Brett Easton Ellis and you may need to rap me on the knuckles and/or provide some insight. 😅

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you. I look forward to your video though I’m sure you don’t need input from me.

[@TimeTravelReads]

I don't have male parallels, but I have some books to suggest. The Valdamar books by Mercedes Lackey can appeal to any gender. There are some pretty cool men in those books. The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik has two male main characters. It has plenty of military history for nerds. The Making of the Presidency by the fabulous Lindsay Chervinsky is about John Adams's presidency. It just came out so I've just started it but it's great so far. Anyone familiar with the dueling code in the musical Hamilton should know the woman historian who taught Lin that code. Joanne Freeman wrote a book called The Field of Blood. It's about masculine honor violence in the US Congress before the civil war. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison is a high court fantasy with a young male lead.

[@BookishTexan]

@@TimeTravelReads Thank you for all the great recommendations.

[@CharlieBrookReads]

I started this vid before brekkie then today happened… back to finish and write my comment. Such a great idea and thoughtful book suggestions ❤I loved My sister the serial killer. I want more books from the author though…I hope she’s bringing out a new one soon🤞

[@willieluncheonette5843]

get them to read Madame Bla Bla Blavatsky The Secret Doctrine That'll teach them.....lol

[@BookishTexan]

Weird

[@rosarioalves598]

Good ideas as usually and interesting examples of books by women. Anyway I think that in general men who are readers also read books by women. It seems that the thought that reading is not an useful occupation still affects more men. This is a very interesting topic to discuss.

[@BookishTexan]

@@rosarioalves598 Thank you. I know that most men with dedicated book channels read books by women, but it seems that isnt generally true. My hope was that by offering parallels to books by authors with a high male readership that a few of those readers might branch out more.

[@MustReadMore]

I started reading adult novels very early, in elementary school, so a lot of the novels that I was assigned in school seemed pretty tame and boring in comparison. I've often wondered that if perhaps boys - and girls, too - were introduced to books written by both men and women with more exciting plots and themes, if they were made to feel that they could handle genuinely adult themes, if more young people would wind up lifelong readers. I think a lot of boys come out of school feeling as if reading is a waste of time because they're made to read books that don't genuinely engage them, or that seem kind of childish compared to the tv and movies they watch and video games they play, and I think that's why so many young men only read so called "dude-bro" books by male authors, because they present the excitement and adult themes that weren't present in the books they were assigned in school. I feel that if boys were presented with books they're genuinely interested in, and if teachers could introduce them to the same themes and plots written by women, then that would go a long way towards getting young men to read books written by women in general. Later on, they'd be more naturally inclined to branch out into books written by women that aren't only about the "dude-bro" themes. (Of course, I realize that a lot of parents would go absolutely nuts over these kinds of books, which it seems to me to is mainly because they're too afraid to have any difficult conversations with their kids, but that's a whole other can of worms. I feel that school should partially be about preparing young people to deal with real adult life which is rarely ever like a squeaky-clean kids tv show, and that because our school's aren't really allowed to do this, young people come out unprepared to deal with real life) Thanks for another great video, and for giving my mind a good workout.

[@BookishTexan]

I regret using the term “dude bro” in this video. It is a pejorative term that dismisses the books I labeled and is snobbish. I meant to reach men who think those authors can’t possibly be equaled by women authors who may or may not qualify as “dude bros.” As for your comment I agree completely. I think schools should focus much more on giving kids books that engage them than on giving them books that fit lessons about a style of literature or that can be easily analyzed. For too long I think schools have taken the attitude that this is the one chance to introduce kids to the classics and to “literature” and in the process convinced kids they hate reading or it is a waste of time. We need to focus on getting them to love reading (though of course not all of them will become readers) and then let them find their way to classics etc.

[@MustReadMore]

@@BookishTexan I've never thought of "dude bro" that way, but you may be right. Personally, I've only ever thought of it in terms of a genre, like horror or mystery, because there do seem to be novels which share certain themes that could perhaps be an actual genre. There may be a better term for these types of novels, but it does seem to me that there is a certain type of fiction which some young men gravitate towards rather than others.

[@steventregilgas5016]

Hi I’ve been reading as long as I can remember and didn’t realise this was a thing I’ve read many female authors Barbara Kingsolver,Olga Tokarczuk the books of jacob is a great book Hanna Kent an Australian author is another one come on boys get into it 😊

[@BookishTexan]

@@steventregilgas5016 I think it may have always been a thing, but it seems to be getting more attention now. Or maybe that’s just Booktube. I will have to look into Hanna Kent’s work. Thank you for the recommendation.

[@mattjorgdbb]

I have read a lot of books by men and women. For fiction, I don't notice a lot if difference but I think women authors of non-fiction are often times more engaging. Not that there aren't engaging male non-fiction writers but it seems that non-fiction by women is more often engaging to me as a reader.

[@BookishTexan]

Once I got past my own prejudices I stopped seeing the differences between male and female writers (in terms of my perception of quality). I'm always looking for great nonfiction recommendations which female authors do you like?

[@mattjorgdbb]

@@BookishTexan If you haven't read any of Margaret Atwood's non-fiction, I would at least recommend Payback and she has a lot of great essays. Eve Ball's Indeh is excellent. Sara Tilghman Nalle wrote one of my favorite microhistories about the Inquisition called Mad for God. Alex Von Tunzelmann is a lot of fun to read although Red Heat doesn't shy away from even the most titillating Cold War rumors. Blood and Sand is a bit more tame but I love that one too.

[@BookishTexan]

@@mattjorgdbb Thank you very much for all the suggestions.

[@ReinReads]

A book I’ve recommend to Murakami fans, with some success, is Ice by Anna Kavan.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you for the recommendation.

[@jimlivengood3962]

I read some women writers. Donna Tartt is the best. Also Suzanne Arruda's Jade del Cameron adventure/mysteries set in 1920s Africa. Jane Austen, of course. Joanna Rose's "Little Miss Strange." Josephine Humphrey's "Rich in Love." A few of my favorites.

[@BookishTexan]

@@jimlivengood3962 Thank you very much for listing those authors.

[@TheMajesticLoaf1]

The reason I didn't get into reading for so long was because most book covers are just bad, I could make better covers in my highschool graphics design class.

[@BookishTexan]

That’s really interesting to me. I usually don’t even notice book covers.

[@GaryMartinDobbs]

I've always been a voracious reader, but it is interesting how more women read than men

[@BookishTexan]

I wonder if the men who remain avid readers are just the ones who are the most adventurous

[@tealorturquoise]

Great topic I like these if you like such and such, you'll like such and such videos. Very helpful.

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you very much. I have a hard time thinking of examples sometimes, but I like these videos when other people do them.

[@lilamusil4665]

Love this idea!

[@BookishTexan]

Thank you.