Hi there! First time posting in this thread. I am a 36 year old male who recently decided to ditch TikTok and read more. I haven’t read a book in years. I loved the Harry Potter series as a kid. I’m looking for something easy to read with a good story that is hard to put down. I recently listened to Project Hail Mary via audiobook but want to read something on paper. I like self help books, fantasy, sci fi and almost a little of every genre as long as it is a good story. Please keep it to things that are easy to read. Maybe youth books. I don’t want something too heavy. Maybe funny and light hearted.
Edit: I have listened to some Audio Books recently including Red Rising (didn’t really like it), Dungeon Crawler Carl (liked it) and Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (liked it)
by FreedomFr0mFear
19 Comments
Here are some you might like:
* Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper. This is in the public domain so free ebook copies can be legally found online, though that does not help with wanting something on paper. Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi is a modern book inspired by Little Fuzzy.
* Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson. Sci fi fantasy
* Red Rising by Pierce Brown
* We Are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker
* Plague Birds by Jason Sanford
* Dragon’s Egg by Robert L. Forward. Not as easy to read, but very much like Project Hail Mary so maybe you will like it.
If you want to stay in the sci-fi genre, try something by Blake Crouch, maybe Recursion or Dark Matter.
What self help books have you liked?
I would definitely try Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series might suit you very well. Perhaps start with Guards! Guards! or Mort.
So it can be a little crass but if you have recently ditched social media you might like “Blind Faith” by Ben Elton. “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury is also really good. Both books are about the importance of books instead of digital media like videos, TV, social media etc. Also both are easy reads.
Also once you get more used to reading check out 1984 by George Orwell, it is harder than the other two I’ve suggested but very, very worth it and has similar dystopian vibes.
Very different genre but “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton, also an easy read but very emotional. I read it when I was 12 and it remains to this day one of my favourite books.
[Nevermoor](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6a6d5ca1-b2f5-47be-828c-018144d3bbc7) by Jessica Townsend! It’s my favorite series even as an adult, and the only one that makes me feel the way the Harry Potter books used to. It also has excellent audiobooks, if that’s something you prefer.
Watership Down
Some good suggestions so far, I’ve found the Michael Connelly books easy to read. Detective/Thriller/mystery stories, if you are familiar with Los Angeles, it’s a plus.
I wonder if you would enjoy Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel? It’s very much a page turner, good characters, engaging and story driven and even though it’s set in a dystopian future it has a hopeful tone.
A young adult book I’ve enjoyed was The Hate U Give, the movie is good too.
If you fancy getting into a whole world, the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers is great.
Ilona Andrews Innkeeper Chronicles –A magic Inn, space werewolves and vampires, a lot of really unique aliens, mystery, romance, action, a fun and humorous series
Old but still fascinating, Jules Verne. 20 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, The Mysterious Island..
If you liked Harry Potter you might like the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. The audiobooks are great.
Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells is short and easy to get into.
These would be more in the “educational but hilarious” category, so no sci-fi, but Bill Bryson writes very readable books: *A Walk in the Woods* about his trip on the Appalachian Trail “his signature wit and engaging writing style are central to the book, as he details the challenges and absurdities of his and Katz’s unprepared journey. ” Or “*A Short History of Nearly Everything* that “explores the history of the universe, from the Big Bang to the rise of human civilization, in an accessible and entertaining way”. Whatever you choose, welcome back to reading!
The Eragon series.
Self Guidance :
Let Them Theory
The Four Agreements
Mans Search for Meaning (non fiction)
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy – lots of giggles
Guncle – subject matter adult but very charming and heartwarming and giggles along the way
The Martian (same author as Project Hail Mary)
The jackal
The firm
Or Erik Larson who often writes about events occurring in parallel times: *Devil in the White City* (1893 Chicago World’s Fair and a serial killer) or *Thunderstruck* (the wireless telegraph and another serial killer). Fascinating and very well-researched and well-written.
Bro, you definitely gotta start with The Hobbit. Don’t even worry about the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Hobbit is a great stand alone story that meets your criteria.