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READING LIST


The right book at the right time can change everything.

These books aren’t hacks or hype.
They’re timeless, practical, and worth coming back to.

Each one supports a core pillar of Campfire Gentleman:
Family. Purpose. Growth. Health. Simplicity.

Reading isn’t about speed.
It’s about becoming someone better.

I keep it simple—10 books a year.
Not to finish more… but to live more.

Pick one.
Take your time.
Let it shape you.

Here are the books that matter.


Family


Lead with presence. Show up with strength.
You don’t need another pep talk—you need a plan. You want to lead your family well and stay grounded in your marriage, but life gets loud. Work pulls. Screens distract. And what matters most slips to the edges.

Strong families aren’t built on perfect days or big speeches. They’re built on small, steady choices—showing up, every day.

These books aren’t theory. They’re tools.
Use them.

Meaningful lives aren’t built someday.
They’re built now.


Habits of the Household
Justin Whitmel Earley

The Five Love Languages
Gary Chapman

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
John M. Gottman, PhD, and Nan Silver

The Tech-Wise Family
Andy Crouch

The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow


Purpose


Live with intention. Lead with meaning.
Most men know what matters—they just struggle to act on it. You want to lead, love well, and live with purpose, but life gets loud and the days slip by.

Purpose isn’t something you find.
It’s something you choose—every single day.

These books aren’t theory. They’re about taking action on what truly matters.

Read them.
Then go live it.


The War of Art
Steven Pressfield

Courage Is Calling
Ryan Holiday

The Second Mountain
David Brooks

Wild at Heart
John Eldredge

Way of the Peaceful Warrior
Dan Millman


Growth


Become the man you were meant to be.
Most men want to grow—they just don’t know how to grow in a way that actually matters. You don’t need more hustle. You need clarity, discipline, and direction.

Real growth isn’t about doing more.
It’s about becoming better—day by day.

Small, consistent actions.
Aligned with your values.
Rooted in who you want to be.

These books aren’t quick hacks.
They’re tools for real, lasting change.


Atomic Habits
James Clear

The Psychology of Money
Morgan Housel

Own Your Past, Change Your Future
Dr. John Delony

Chop Wood, Carry Water
Joshua Medcalf

The Earned Life
Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter


Health


Strength, longevity, and mental clarity.
Most men don’t just want to live long—they want to live well. Strong, sharp, and present. But modern life trades long-term health for short-term comfort, and it adds up fast—poor food, too much stress, not enough movement, and sleep that never really restores you.

Health isn’t about extremes.
It’s about building a body and mind that can carry the life you want.

These books aren’t quick fixes.
They’re practical, sustainable tools for energy, clarity, and strength that lasts.


How Not to Age
Michael Greger, MD, FACLM

Blue Zones
Dan Buettner

Built to Move
Kelly Starrett and Juliet Starrett

Chatter
Ethan Kross

Sleep Smarter
Shawn Stevenson


Simplicity


Cut the noise. Focus on what matters.
You know what’s important—the challenge is making space for it. Life gets loud, work pulls, and distractions pile up fast.

Simplicity isn’t about having less.
It’s about choosing better.

These books help you clear the clutter, protect your priorities, and live with real intention.


The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
RandJohn Mark Comer

The Nature Fix
Florence Williams

Digital Minimalism
Cal Newport

The Man Who Quit Money
Mark Sudeen

The 80/20 Principle
Richard Koch


However You Read, Just Keep Learning


I say “read,” but let’s be real—I haven’t cracked a physical book since college.

Reading’s always been tough for me. Maybe an eye issue, maybe dyslexia. Whatever the label, books were a struggle.

Then audiobooks came along.
Game changer.

That’s how I read now—and it counts.
So if reading slows you down, don’t sweat it. Hit play, turn pages, scroll an e-reader. Doesn’t matter.

What matters is that you learn something—
and let it shape you.