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Review Article | | Peer-Reviewed

A Man Is Known by His Library (or the Manifold Attractions of a Man Who Reads)

Joseph Kohm III,  Lynne Marie Kohm*
Published in World Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication (Volume 1, Issue 1)
Received: 15 September 2026     Accepted: 27 September 2026     Published: 20 October 2026
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Abstract

A concerning conundrum has appeared in the 21st century regarding men and reading. Men today are not reading. Or at least they are reading less. This essay examines this phenomenon of decline of men and reading in a 21st century context. It bookends a discussion of this singularity with a playful but solicitous discussion of male characters created in the literature of Jane Austen, but uses the popularity of the novels of Jack Carr to offer some solutions. Section I sets forth current demographics on men and reading, works to explain those facts, and tenders a history of the publishing industry that attempts to uncover a perspective of the current state of the topic. Section II then considers what exactly male readers are reading, if anything, and why. Tracing the masculinity factor in literature, this section explores what may be missing in modern literature and why that may be the case. Then Section III applies that analysis to what librarians are saying that men and women of sustainable reading character can do to build their own personal or family library to influence generations to come. Is a man truly known by his library? Or it may be that all is needed to acquire the manifold attractions of a man who reads is a good book in a comfortable library.

Published in World Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication (Volume 1, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.wjjmc.20260101.12
Page(s) 6-17
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group
Previous article
Keywords

Men, Reading, Jane Austen, Jack Carr, Library, Libraries, Literature, Masculinity

1. Introduction
In Jane Austen’s beloved novel Pride and Prejudice the reader finds in the early scenes the heroine’s father, Mr. Bennet, in his private library.
[1]
There in his own reading room which also serves as his office, study, and personal retreat space, he is comfortably surrounded by his soothing and treasured books.
[1]
He is a man who reads.
[1]
Shortly thereafter the reader is exposed to the contrast of the two central heroes of the story - Mr. Bingley, who always finds something else to do besides reading,
[5]
having books “more than I ever look into;”
[1]
and Mr. Darcy, where he and his “delightful library” at his estate at Pemberley seem to be the archetypical models for a man worthy of female attention.
[1]
Or is he? And is a man truly known by his library? An able reader of Austen’s classic literature might glean her offered insight and instruction on what has become in contemporary life a serious and concerning conundrum of men and reading.
[6, 8]
Men today are not reading.
[9]
Or at least they are reading less.
[9]
This essay examines this phenomenon of decline of men and reading in a 21st century context.
Section I offers current demographics on men and reading, works to explain those facts, and tenders a history of the publishing industry that attempts to uncover a perspective of the current state of the topic. Section II then considers what exactly male readers are reading, if anything, and why. Tracing the masculinity factor in literature, this section explores what may be missing in modern literature and why that may be the case. Then Section III applies that analysis to what librarians are saying that men and women of sustainable reading character can do to build their own personal or family library to influence generations to come.
Men (and women) who read and surround themselves with books might just be the social influencers waiting right around the corner, and some are already attempting to carve out this niche. It may be that all that is needed is a good read in a formidable yet comforting library.
2. Demographics on Men and Reading
According to a recent study by the National Endowment for the Arts, roughly one in four men read a novel or short story in 2022, compared with fewer than half of all women.
[9]
This decline in reading appears to commence at an early age, as new evidence from surveys in the UK and the U.S. reveals trend data which corresponds with a reduction in the shares of 9-year-olds and 13-year-olds who now read for fun.
[9]
These are roughly the same ages most children receive a smartphone,
[10]
and are exposed to other media.
[11]
These reading facts seem to correlate a bit with those for adults, as according to this data fewer than half (48.5 percent) of all U.S. adults read a book of any type in the previous year of the survey study (which would have been 2021), compared with 52.7 percent of adults in 2017 and 54.6 percent in 2012, indicating that reading in general is in decline.
[9]
Importantly, the declines seem to be experienced more proportionately by men, as there exists nearly a 20-point spread in the percentages of men and women who read fiction in 2012.
[12]
That year, 54.6 percent of women were estimated to have done so, compared with 35.1 percent of men.
[9]
Statistics, particularly regarding male readership, have only continued their decline in the following years.
[9, 12, 13]
Why this proportionate separation between men and women? Several possible explanations present themselves. First, women now dominate the publishing industry.
[14, 16]
Research reveals that women comprise 74% of the U.S. publishing workforce,
[15]
and hold over 80% of marketing, publicity, and literary agent roles.
[15]
Additional accomplishments are included in scholarly publishing, where 76% of employees are women.
[15]
And “more women are taking on executive publisher roles in major media houses.”
[15]
In fairness, men used to dominate the book industry, and the current era may simply be in a prolonged period of overcorrection.
[15, 16]
It would also be hasty to attribute causation of male decline in readership to its correlation with the rise of women taking over the industry, but there is good reason to at least speculate on causation. For example, in an industry like publishing, diversity can be a strength: if only women sit in publishing meetings trying to decide what their readers want to read, how can they truly know what men want to read? If there are no men in that room to represent male taste, a decline in male readership would be a natural result from the products of this homogeneity: what women think men want to read and what men actually want to read may not be the same thing.
Another point of consideration is the publishing industry’s self-imposed marketing limitations uniquely affecting male readers. Of the men who do read fiction, they most frequently read from the so-called “thriller” genre.
[17, 18]
But that tag is limiting, as even a cursory reading of the major authors tagged as thriller writers shows. The works of John Grisham,
[19-21]
Lee Child,
[22-24]
Jack Carr, and Tom Clancy,
[25]
(to name only a few) are certainly thrilling reads, but they are much more than that as well. For example, Clancy’s Patriot Games is a thrilling Cold War spy story pitting legendary American everyman hero Jack Ryan against a radical Irish Republican Army (IRA) offshoot in the mid-1980s.
[25]
But that spy game plot merely forwards Clancy’s more profound effort to contrast lay Catholic family man Jack Ryan and IRA terrorist Sean Miller.
[25]
Miller also claims the Catholic tag but embodies its antithesis values, particularly through his efforts to murder families (the Ryans and others) to forward a Marxist political agenda.
[25]
Clancy makes clear which life is to be more desired, and the male reader in particular may be left deeply affected by the real value Ryan has discovered at home as opposed to the shallow brokenness Miller is left with in the end.
[25]
That effect on a reader is a quintessentially literary one, far transcending the mere “page-turner” marketing of the Thriller genre—yet Patriot Games generally can only be found in the Thriller sections of bookstores, rather than the Literary Fiction sections.
[26, 27]
In contrast to bookstore-style promotion, libraries have always served as cultural icons, the popularity of which is somewhat of a sign post for the intellectual development of a society, and one that used to be shared by men and women alike.
[28]
Regardless of how the internet may change available knowledge,
[29]
public libraries, while providing access to technology and other resources,
[29]
will always be focused on books.
[30]
Even in a time when libraries are experiencing transformational change, in both methodology and principles, the library as an institution sets the pace for the broader context of reading.
[31]
Libraries do not have to promote books by genre, but rather by author, simply fiction versus non-fiction.
[32]
Examining the current state of the art of reading is important for a flourishing society.
“Even if many factors—such as competing options for one’s leisure time, including participation in social media, and/or addiction to one’s phone and the many addictive applications and content they provide—have conspired to erode the percentage of all adults who read novels or stories, what accounts for the seemingly chronic depression of fiction-reading rates among men?”
[12]
It is also imperative to consider the data regarding how well boys read, in addition to how often they read, and “ask whether and how formal instruction from elementary school through middle and high school, and (if applicable) all the way through higher education, are affecting their leisure reading behavior as adults.”
[12]
Apart from educational, school, and family influences, “it will be print and online publishers, libraries, literary arts organizations and programs—and, above all, writers—who have the best chance of boosting men’s reading rates.”
[12]
These concerns lead directly into the masculinity factor in literature, what are men willing to read, and what makes men choose to read.
3. The Masculinity Factor in Literature
The male author of this piece offers a personal testimony: simply put, amongst men, it has become unpopular to read fiction. Reading fiction is seen as a feminine activity and a waste of time with no practical benefit.
[4]
Amongst modern male culture, men are expected to read nonfiction with the goal of improving themselves in some way.
[33]
In their minds, it may to be that there is no point to reading a story that didn’t really happen. There are obvious contradictions in this worldview (for example, men do not apply this to watching movies or television, as they happily binge away on the latest fictional Netflix or HBO series).
[35]
But these concerns are merely described to remove any illusions from the reader of this article: male culture has seemed to turn against literary pursuits outside of nonfiction.
Therefore, we must now analyze why the male reading culture has retrograded so far from the artistic pursuits they used to dominate and ask if there are any signs of change on the horizon.
There can be no doubt that the rise of technology and its worst excesses have contributed to the decline of reading amongst men in particular.
[10, 12]
These factors seem to place men at a disadvantage in reading from an early age.
[36-44]
They particularly seem to inoculate men to the treasures achieved through determined reading.
Furthermore, men may view the world of fiction as almost entirely lacking any elements that appeal to their masculinity, which may be attributed to female dominance of the publishing industry: their voices and tastes are simply not represented there. And because they view the fiction section of the library as almost entirely void of anything masculine, a quality which they may associate with utility,
[45]
they may collectively conclude that anything in that section of the library is frivolous.
[34]
These facts live seemingly in contradiction with other artistic mediums; for example, men to not apply this conclusion to the latest Marvel film or hit streaming series. But this seeming contradiction should be alleviated in the reader’s mind by remembering the male focus on utility: time and effort is money, and men instinctively know that it only takes little effort and only two hours to watch an Avengers film, but it takes much longer to read a book.
[46, 47]
The book then, in the male mind, had better be worth the time and effort investment. And because of all the factors we have already discussed, most modern fiction seems to fail this cost-benefit analysis in the modern male brain.
Any lover of classic fiction knows that one of its greatest benefits to the reader experiencing the world from the perspective of different people. Legendary author and literary scholar C. S. Lewis wrote,
““But in reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself. Like the night sky in the Greek poem, I see with a myriad eyes, but it is still I who see. Here, as in worship, in love, in moral action, and in knowing, I transcend myself; and am never more myself than when I do.”
[48]
And to the credit of those women now dominating the publishing industry, a few have allowed this effect to guide them in laboring to know what many men want to read.
[49]
This effort allows for the hopeful signs of reading and libraries once again becoming masculine and fashionable to the male sex.
One example is Emily Bestler, editor at Simon & Schuster with her own imprint, Emily Bestler Books,
[49]
seemingly leaning into an author who is leading men out of the darkness and back to the Promised Land C. S. Lewis described. In the mid-2010s, Bestler discovered and invested in an aspiring male fiction author who had recently retired from the America military and sought to make writing his post-military career.
[50]
That writer is former Navy SEAL Jack Carr, and his first work Bestler gambled on was 2018’s The Terminal List.
[52]
It became a runaway bestseller, launching a series of eight books and counting, nearly all following its hero, ex-SEAL James Reece and his exploits avenging his family and continuing to defend his country.
[51, 53-58]
The series is so successful that it has spawned spinoffs written by Carr and a successful Amazon Prime television series.
[59, 60]
What explains this success? At the very least, Carr’s stories represent traditionally masculine tastes and come very publicly from a traditionally masculine author.
[61, 62]
The Terminal List universe is not couched merely in a veneer of masculinity but is driven forward by traditionally masculine virtues: a father’s love for his family, yearning for justice, and brotherhood amongst warriors, to name a few.
[52]
Men find these qualities relatable in any medium,
[63]
and thus a James Reece story cannot be considered a waste of time when those male readers feel his thirst for justice for his family and his love for those he shared hardship with in war.
[34]
Most importantly, it seems that each of these broad masculine values and experiences transcend time, place, and culture, which means, when expressed in fiction, that fictional work is a fundamentally literary experience. Carr is not just a writer of page-turners—he is an artist. Yet as an artist he seems to be forced by the publishing industry to form-fit his literary expression into a narrow marketing field: the Thriller genre.
In addition to this, male readers seem to also know instinctively that not all men understand these things, which is where Carr personally comes in. It would be one thing for a career author or academic to write these stories—it’s another for an actual former Navy SEAL to, at least in the interpretive psyche of a modern male reader. Simply put, in their minds, he knows what he’s talking about: he has full credibility, and is trustworthy. That makes the investment worthwhile—he and his work pass the cost-benefit analysis. As evidence of this, popular ESPN host Pat McAfee recently hosted Carr on his afternoon show,
[64]
and in his introduction, he made sure to caveat that even though Carr’s stories didn’t happen in real life, they are nonetheless worth reading. Why would McAcfee feel the need to add that caveat? Likely because he innately understands the cost-benefit analysis we have described and which men may instinctively incorporate into their artistic consumption.
The final component to Carr’s unique success seems to be his expertly tailored marketing of that traditional masculinity and its expression in the stories. Emily Bestler Books clearly understands and bolsters this: as at the time of writing, Jack Carr has 459,000 followers on Instagram
[65]
and 267,000 followers on X.
[66]
These are not numbers comparable with elite influencers, but considering the narrowness of the marketing lane for the Thriller genre and that Carr’s primary product is within a generally unpopular medium, it is significant.
[9]
On his accounts, particularly his Instagram (possibly because the platform is visually-driven), the user may find all sorts of traditionally masculine content intricately interwoven with his literary product: one reel might be about the various fiction that inspired Carr’s work,
[65]
while the next will be about historically significant weapons.
[65]
Another post will be an anniversary of the birth or death of a famous writer,
[65]
while another will be a post about Carr’s latest trip to a gun range.
[65]
And woven in are videos and pictures from Carr’s personal library, taking up a whole wing of his family’s home in Utah.
[65]
The feed can be viewed essentially as a masterclass in niche marketing by connecting to broadly shared values in the dominant mediums of our day.
[67]
And at least one of the combined effects on the user may be that personal libraries can be both masculine and quite sophisticated. All of this is aside from Carr’s appearances on other globally-popular new media productions, like The Joe Rogan Experience (also a male-centric audience).
[68-71]
One of the primary takeaways from any engagement with Jack Carr’s books and media is that, in order to be a successful and masculine man in today’s world, curated regular reading must be an integral part of a man’s life, and a personal library reflects that. If Mr. Darcy or Mr. Bennet were alive in 2026, their masculinity expressed in their libraries might indeed look a lot like Carr and his library.
[72]
This phenomenon may offer hope for the restoration of male readership and bolster the suggestion that our society may be in a period of overcorrection: male literary engagement was not just a product of male domination of the literary industry, but is an expression of masculinity transcending history, and will survive until such a time as men and women are finally equally represented in the publishing industry. The path to doing so may lie in the local library, or as in Carr’s case, in one’s private library.
4. Building Your Generational Library: Solving Men and Reading
Mr. Darcy reminds readers of the magic of reading, and how it may be contained, reflected, and communicated by one’s library when he emphatically states, “I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these.”
[1]
A person’s library reflects his or her knowledge, interests, and character, and it implies that the books one owns provide insight into his or her mind and personality.
[73]
A library can also reveal a person’s tastes and preferences, as the types of books one collects may indicate his or her values, interests, and intellectual pursuits.
[74]
Historically libraries have been symbols of wealth and education,
[75]
as Jane Austen is humorously working to convey.
[1]
Indeed, Winston Churchill noted that “nothing makes a man more reverent than a library,” highlighting the respect and humility that comes from engaging with literature.
[76]
Pulitzer Prize novelist Geraldine Brooks stated, “To know a man’s library is, in some measure, to know his mind,” reinforcing the notion that libraries are windows into a person’s thoughts and beliefs.
[77]
If a man is truly known by his library, the size and content of that library can serve as a reflection of that individual’s mind and character, illustrating the profound connection between reading and personal identity.
[78]
This then leads to the importance of creating a personal library. “A personal library is more than a collection of books: it is a door to knowledge and personal development.”
[79]
The next generation benefits from this strategy. “A two-year study found that having just one library at home improved children's academic achievement, language development, thinking and performance.”
[79]
Building this personal library requires a serious inventory of what the owner currently possesses, organizing that collection, then building that library, filling in the gaps by adding books that prepare the owner to understand missing corners of knowledge.
[79]
Organizing that library is the next key. "Carefully organizing your books is a great way to ensure you get the most out of your library…When you find a book easily, you will give or lend it to a friend.”
[79]
“Creating a personal library doesn't just mean buying physical books. Explore a variety of formats including e-books, audiobooks and digital resources. Embrace the convenience and accessibility provided by digital platforms while enjoying the physical book experience. Use public resources: Public libraries are rich sources of information and education. Take advantage of their comprehensive collections, credit policies and resources beyond your budget. Public libraries foster a sense of community and provide opportunities to connect with like-minded people through book clubs and events.”
[79, 80]
The power of a personal library can be truly transformative. “A personal library is more than a physical or digital collection; It fosters a love of learning, encourages intellectual curiosity, and provides constant inspiration.”
[79]
Curating one’s own personal collection creates a personal intellectual hub that allows the library owner to seek knowledge, and deepen understanding.”
[79]
Again, building a personal library reflects one’s identity.
“A personal library is more than just a collection of books—it is a reflection of your personality, values, and intellectual pursuits. It’s a space where your passions come alive, and your identity finds expression in the stories, knowledge, and wisdom housed within. Building a personal library that truly represents who you are involves thoughtful curation, creativity, and an understanding of what inspires you.”
[81]
Public libraries can aid this process by making the personal library owner’s reading better.
[82]
While reading preferences are shaped by many differing demographics, such as ethnicity, religion, race, and culture, gender and age are by far the most influential factors.
[82]
And “no matter the medium, people appreciate being able to see themselves in the protagonists of their favorite stories and tend to gravitate toward these types of protagonists.”
[82]
Furthermore, when a reader can relate to a character, the reading is a much more engaging experience, “so communities with certain shared experiences will see increased popularity among books with protagonists who also share this experience.”
[82]
These principles, when applied, can alter not just the library owner’s experience, but the experiences of generations to follow. Engaging young people with reading fosters “lifelong, joyful readers. While each person constructs a unique reading identity and finds ways to sustain their reading habits, we can identify some commonalities in behaviors and attitudes across backgrounds and age groups.”
[78, 82]
Indeed, “True preferences come from wide reading. Sampling from many types of books increases students’ knowledge of what’s available and gives readers a better chance of finding topics and voices that resonate with them.”
[83]
Concerns over male readership can be addressed from childhood. From reading about trains,
[84]
to male friendships,
[85, 87]
to sports,
[86]
boys can and should learn to enjoy reading from an early age. Audio libraries can also work to spur the imagination, and explore new adventures.
[88]
Furthermore, collectible books such as Folios and treasured editions can appeal to men in unique ways as well.
[89]
A personal library can be a haven for personal growth, or a showcase of intellectual pursuits, but in any case it will certainly enhance its owner’s reading.
Transcending mere book collection, building a personal library is a timeless endeavor that is about curating a sanctuary of knowledge, inspiration, and imagination.
[90, 91]
A man’s personal library becomes a living entity that grows and evolves with him, “encapsulating the stories and knowledge that shape” his unique narrative.
[90]
5. Conclusion
Men in Jane Austen’s time were readers, a fact that is reflected in her work. Through her portrayals and characterizations of Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Bennet,
[1]
Colonel Brandon and John Willoughby,
[2]
Captain Benwick,
[3]
even Edward Ferrars
[2]
and Mr. Collins (though a bit less desirable as readers),
[1]
Austen conveyed that a man is known by his library and what he reads.
This essay has worked to offer insight on the contemporary library and the perplexing world of men and reading. While Mr. Bennet sequesters himself from his world of women in his beloved library,
[1]
he seems to use his literary surroundings as an educational comfort as well as a much-needed escape. He is a man who reads, as is Mr. Darcy, and men who read can be very attractive. After all, a man is known by his library.
[7]
Author Contributions
Joseph Kohm III: Conceptualization, Investigation, Resources, Visualization, Writing – original draft
Lynne Marie Kohm: Data curation, Methodology, Project administration, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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    III, J. K., Kohm, L. M. (2026). A Man Is Known by His Library (or the Manifold Attractions of a Man Who Reads). World Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication, 1(1), 6-17. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjjmc.20260101.12

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    III, J. K.; Kohm, L. M. A Man Is Known by His Library (or the Manifold Attractions of a Man Who Reads). World J. Journalism Mass Commun. 2026, 1(1), 6-17. doi: 10.11648/j.wjjmc.20260101.12

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    III JK, Kohm LM. A Man Is Known by His Library (or the Manifold Attractions of a Man Who Reads). World J Journalism Mass Commun. 2026;1(1):6-17. doi: 10.11648/j.wjjmc.20260101.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.wjjmc.20260101.12,
  author = {Joseph Kohm III and Lynne Marie Kohm},
  title = {A Man Is Known by His Library (or the Manifold Attractions of a Man Who Reads)},
  journal = {World Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {6-17},
  doi = {10.11648/j.wjjmc.20260101.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjjmc.20260101.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjjmc.20260101.12},
  abstract = {A concerning conundrum has appeared in the 21st century regarding men and reading. Men today are not reading. Or at least they are reading less. This essay examines this phenomenon of decline of men and reading in a 21st century context. It bookends a discussion of this singularity with a playful but solicitous discussion of male characters created in the literature of Jane Austen, but uses the popularity of the novels of Jack Carr to offer some solutions. Section I sets forth current demographics on men and reading, works to explain those facts, and tenders a history of the publishing industry that attempts to uncover a perspective of the current state of the topic. Section II then considers what exactly male readers are reading, if anything, and why. Tracing the masculinity factor in literature, this section explores what may be missing in modern literature and why that may be the case. Then Section III applies that analysis to what librarians are saying that men and women of sustainable reading character can do to build their own personal or family library to influence generations to come. Is a man truly known by his library? Or it may be that all is needed to acquire the manifold attractions of a man who reads is a good book in a comfortable library.},
 year = {2026}
}

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  • TY  - JOUR
T1  - A Man Is Known by His Library (or the Manifold Attractions of a Man Who Reads)
AU  - Joseph Kohm III
AU  - Lynne Marie Kohm
Y1  - 2026/10/20
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N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjjmc.20260101.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.wjjmc.20260101.12
T2  - World Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication
JF  - World Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication
JO  - World Journal of Journalism and Mass Communication
SP  - 6
EP  - 17
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjjmc.20260101.12
AB  - A concerning conundrum has appeared in the 21st century regarding men and reading. Men today are not reading. Or at least they are reading less. This essay examines this phenomenon of decline of men and reading in a 21st century context. It bookends a discussion of this singularity with a playful but solicitous discussion of male characters created in the literature of Jane Austen, but uses the popularity of the novels of Jack Carr to offer some solutions. Section I sets forth current demographics on men and reading, works to explain those facts, and tenders a history of the publishing industry that attempts to uncover a perspective of the current state of the topic. Section II then considers what exactly male readers are reading, if anything, and why. Tracing the masculinity factor in literature, this section explores what may be missing in modern literature and why that may be the case. Then Section III applies that analysis to what librarians are saying that men and women of sustainable reading character can do to build their own personal or family library to influence generations to come. Is a man truly known by his library? Or it may be that all is needed to acquire the manifold attractions of a man who reads is a good book in a comfortable library.
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
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