Essential Reading Material: How To Be A Universal Man

A true Universal Man isn’t just stylish and capable. He’s curious, cultured, and well-read.
In this post, I am going to be recommending 5 pieces of essential reading material, both fiction and non-fiction, that I believe will sharpen your mind and deepen your character. That’s right, I believe fiction is just as important as non-fiction.
At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to all of these books. Using these affiliate links helps support the blog.

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin

Essential Reading: Fiction

1. The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway
   This brief but profound novella about resilience, dignity, and struggle will give you more in it’s short length than any self-help book. In it, Hemingway’s prose teaches the power of simplicity and quiet strength. It is a perfect book for any man to start with in his journey of improvement.
2. Siddhartha – Hermann Hesse
   This beautifully written exploration of self-discovery and awakening is a perfect book for a man seeking wisdom beyond material success. This is a great second book to tuck into and explore your own mind.
3. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
   For those ready for a challenge, this epic journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise will test your intellectual fortitude and literary endurance. A true masterpiece of it’s era, Dante’s insights into human nature and morality stand the test of time. Keep an open mind when going through it’s pages, and be sure to take time to reflect on each canto. This is not a book to rush.

Essential Reading: Non-Fiction

1. Meditations – Marcus Aurelius
   Practical, timeless Stoic wisdom from the last of the 5 Great Roman Emperors, Marcus Aurelius. Acting as a manual for resilience and discipline, this book reads interesting, as it wasn’t intended to ever be read at all. Instead this is like taking a peek inside The Emperor’s Journal… in fact that is exactly what you are doing.
2. Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill
   A classic manual on wealth-building, mindset, and personal success. Hill’s principles helped countless individuals achieve financial and personal prosperity, and his ideas are still valuable today.

Final Thoughts

Becoming a Universal Man starts with building a curious and resilient mind.
Choose a place to start, and let these books sharpen your thinking and elevate your life.

Buy These Books

Using these affiliate links helps support the blog.
Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill