12 of the best book gifts for men in 2023

Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I’d Known Earlier by Kevin Kelly

Excellent Advice for Living is one of the best book gifts for men who… love self-improvement books.

Written by Kevin Kelly – co-founder of Wired, author, and technology thinker – this new self-improvement book is a five-star compilation of easy-to-read, wise, and practical snippets of wisdom for living well.

The idea for Excellent Advice for Living started on Kevin’s 68th birthday, when he began to write down for his young adult children what he wished he’d known earlier about life. The book is perfect for quiet browsing before beginning the day or while winding down for bed.

The Kaufmann Mercantile Guide by Sebastian Kaufmann and Alexandra Redgrave

The Kaufmann Mercantile Guide is one of the best book gifts for men who… want to learn how to chop wood and care for cast iron.

This wonderful coffee table book is an enticing visual guide to mastering the delights so many of us wish we knew, from shucking oysters to starting a fire. With a few evenings of restful browsing through its pages, the reader will soon feel that bit more accomplished.

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

The Covenant of Water is one of the best book gifts for him if… he loves literary fiction (and award-winning long books).

Found at the top of bestseller lists everywhere this year, The Covenant of Water is Abraham Verghese’s long-awaited new novel about love, faith, and medicine, published fourteen years after one of my all-time favourite books, Cutting for Stone.

Set against the historical progress of India from 1900 through to the 1970s, The Covenant of Water is a big, multi-generational book about the whole spectrum of life, including both joy and sadness. It’s absolutely one of the best fiction books of 2023.

The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes

The Year of the Locust is a perfect book gift for men who… love stories of badass super spies like Jason Bourne and escaping into fast-paced books, especially suspense thrillers.

A decade after his gripping bestseller I Am Pilgrim, Terry Hayes’s new novel has been a long (very long) time coming.

Released in November 2023, The Year of the Locust is worth the wait – although if you’d rather stay away from violence, maybe give this one a miss. For CIA operative Kane, there are no boundaries. But some missions are much more dangerous than others.

Kinfolk Wilderness by John Burns

Kinfolk Wilderness is the perfect book gift for… adventurous folks who love wild nature and gorgeous photography.

Produced by Kinfolk, a publisher known for delving into home, style, and culture via their wonderfully well-made books and magazines, Kinfolk Wilderness is stunning. This travel book is perfect to show off on a coffee table and keep turning to for inspiration, complete with wanderlust-inspiring photos and maps.

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

Killers of the Flower Moon is one of the best book gifts for… readers who love gripping non-fiction books with film adaptations.

Now a major movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio, this haunting true-life mystery about one of the biggest conspiracies in American history is also one of the best non-fiction books of all time.

After oil was discovered beneath the land of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe. Then, one by one, the family began to perish in mysterious circumstances, alongside those who dared to investigate. David Grann’s gripping retelling is non-fiction at its finest.

Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwarzenegger

Be Useful is one of the best books to give guys who… love motivational reads written by inspiring people.

A personal development book written by the world’s greatest bodybuilder, highest-paid movie star, and former Governor of California should be incredible. Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life absolutely is.

This inspiring book brings together seven rules to bring you to your true purpose in life, starting with “1. Have a clear vision” and closing with “7. Break your mirrors”. Although the book is concise at 257 pages, it’s brimming with life-changing insights.

The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng

The House of Doors is one of the best book gifts for… men who love reading the latest literary fiction.

Tan Twan Eng’s writing is stunning. In his latest (and Booker Prize longlisted) novel, we arrive in Penang in 1921, where Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert, a lawyer and war veteran, receive an unexpected visitor: Robert’s old friend, the famed writer “Willie” Somerset Maugham, along with his secretary Gerald.

The story that unfolds is both mesmerizingly written and incredibly insightful into the complicated nature of love and what we hide from our loved ones, the world, and ourselves.

The Daily Dad: 366 Meditations on Parenting, Love, and Raising Great Kids by Ryan Holiday

The Daily Dad is the perfect book gift for fathers who… love philosophy, especially the Stoic wisdom of thinkers such as Marcus Aurelius.

You might recognize Ryan Holiday’s name from his popular modern guides to Stoic philosophy including Ego is the Enemy and The Obstacle is the Way.

Ryan’s latest release for 2023, The Daily Dad, is packed with daily reminders of Stoic wisdom and meditations on parenting, love, and raising great kids.

The Hobbit: Illustrated by the Author by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit: Illustrated by the Author is the perfect book gift for… fans of Tolkien who will appreciate just how beautiful this new edition for 2023 is.

There are plenty of stunning books for fans of Tolkien to enjoy, but this new edition published by William Morrow for 2023 is one of the best – and one of the most beautiful books of the year.

Complete with stunning full-color illustrations by J.R.R. Tolkien, it’s a wonderfully thoughtful gift for anyone who adores Middle-earth.

Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia MD with Bill Gifford

Outlive is a perfect book gift for men who are… health-conscious, science-minded, and want to get their body and mind in the best shape for longevity.

As one of the most popular non-fiction books for 2023, Outlive is leading longevity expert Peter Attia’s groundbreaking manifesto on living better – and longer.

Like Peter’s popular podcast, this book will challenge conventional medical thinking and reveal a new approach to health. Learn how to prevent chronic disease and extend healthspan, not just lifespan.

The Perfect Loaf by Maurizio Leo

The Perfect Loaf is one of the best book gift ideas for foodies who… have always wanted to achieve the perfect sourdough loaf in their kitchen.

This recommendation doesn’t exactly flow seamlessly after mentioning Peter Attia’s guide to longevity, but it’s excellent nonetheless. (And why live longer if you can’t enjoy good bread every so often?)

I believe that mastering the art of bread is akin to a superpower. To achieve this status, whether you’re currently a newbie or expert, The Perfect Loaf is your bible. (It’s rated 4.7+ on Goodreads for a reason.)

Under Maurizio Leo’s tuition, you’ll learn to store a sourdough starter long-term, avoid common “bread fails”, and review both basic advice and pro tips for creating the best loaf every time.