Men's Book Club

Once again, we're back with an unpopular opinion as we discuss the most important debate in the book-reading community: Is listening to an audiobook considered reading? Do we consider a book being listened to the same as a book being read? Does the fiction vs nonfiction part make a difference? 

Along with our opinions, we share some of our reading habits and how each of us differs in their approach to reading. Join us, and join the debate. We want to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram @mensbookclubpod

Frank and April Wheeler are stuck in a typical suburban lifestyle in Connecticut around the early 1960s. Their solution to escape the mundane? Travel to France and live out their dreams there. That decision brings peace and excitement, at first. However, little by little their dreams slowly get more and more unrealistic. 

In the midst of their realities, April and Frank fight and argue and make choices that end up unraveling their entire lives. This Richard Yates novel is about a young couple, but it could be any young couple, anywhere, at any time. Join us on this episode as we dive deep into the lives and heads of the Wheelers. 

Sadie and Sam are childhood friends that turn into co-owners of a successful video game company. Along with their friend Marx, the three of them embark on a tumultuous relationship filled with drama, agony and heartache, and death. 

We do a very deep dive into this book, and come out feeling confused (?), and perhaps a little disappointed (?), but mainly we come out hating Sadie. We list the pros and cons of this book and whether we think this new novel idea is worth the read. Also, is this book a YA novel or not? Listen into what might be our most comprehensive episode yet. 

Part 2

An epic about the American West and the pioneering spirit that drove men to settle in the farther corners of our country. This behemoth of a novel details the story of Augustus and Captain Call as they drive their cattle and crew from Southern Texas to Northern Montana. 

Along the way, the men and the crew find themselves on an adventure that for some ends well and for others ends in death. This story is not for the faint of heart and certainly not for anyone who can't appreciate the open plains, rocky mountains and desert of the American West. 

Join us on this two part episode as we unravel one of the best books we have read in a long time and what makes Larry McMurtry one of the best authors we have read in a long time. 

Part 1

An epic about the American West and the pioneering spirit that drove men to settle in the farther corners of our country. This behemoth of a novel details the story of Augustus and Captain Call as they drive their cattle and crew from Southern Texas to Northern Montana. 

Along the way, the men and the crew find themselves on an adventure that for some ends well and for others ends in death. This story is not for the faint of heart and certainly not for anyone who can't appreciate the open plains, rocky mountains and desert of the American West. 

Join us on this two part episode as we unravel one of the best books we have read in a long time and what makes Larry McMurtry one of the best authors we have read in a long time. 

Unpopular opinions incoming!!! We know, we know! Everyone loves these books but two different guys reading two different books came to the same conclusion about the same author.

We had to add these to the list. We had a lot to say about Fredrick Backman and his two popular novels; but in short, read something else! Find out why. 

Texas Ranger, Tom White, investigates a series of murders in Oklahoma's Osage tribe. Initially believed to be accidental, Tom White uncovers a conspiracy bigger than he thought involving mayors, the mob, the government and families of the tribe.

This David Gramm non-fiction book reads like a thriller as he writes about the targeting of an antier Native American Indian tribe and the attempt to control their oil resources and the wealth of the land they lived on. 

Join us as we try to keep our jaws closed on this episode!

In Stephen King's dystopian novel, the world has turned into one giant game show owned and controlled by Games Network. The only way to survive is to compete on the channel against others; and the winner gets a reward. The twist? The games are rigged and The Network stacks the odds against the participants. 

Enter Ben Richards. A Man so desperate to give his daughter and wife a better life, that he competes in the highly rated show "Running Man". There he must escape and not be captured. Getting captured means death and running pays. We explore the grim side of this dystopian society in this episode and talk about the likelihood of getting such a world now.

Either God is real, or he isn't. But one way or another, you need some help and one claiming to be God is there to help. The only ask is that everyone has to believe in him. 

Back again on our podcast is a book by Mitch Albom where a stranger joins a group of survivors after a boat capsizes in the middle of the ocean and is stranded without help. The stranger promises to help everyone; but only if they believe in him. The events are written by one of the survivors and is found on an abandoned lifeboat after it's found by a local policeman. 

The story is about fact versus fiction, faith, trust and most importantly how far humans would push their own truths to survive. 

On her way home, Susie Salmon is kidnapped and raped by her next door neighbor. And that's just chapter 1. The rest of the books follows the spirit of Susie as she watches her family and friends unravel and slowly try to pick themselves up following her death. All the while, Susie is trying to deal with the things she never said, the things she has never done and the words she wishes she can rain down on those around. 

We follow this journey of a young girl as she tries to make sense of her world after the most horrific event clouds her and those around her.