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

A concerning conundrum has appeared in the 21 st 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 21 st 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.