Strong bodies are built in the gym. Strong fathers are built in the mind.
I’m sharing this reading list because growth doesn’t stop at the barbell. The way we think, lead, pray, make decisions, and show up for our families also needs training. And most dads never get guidance on how to build that kind of strength.
These books sharpen discipline.
They cultivate mental toughness.
They deepen faith.
They develop leadership at home.
Our kids aren’t just watching how much we lift.
They’re watching how we handle pressure,
how we love their mom,
and how we respond when life gets tough.
Reading is training.
Growth is leadership.
Fatherhood is the mission.
This is a list of what I have read and resonated with. If you have a recommendation to be added, send them my way!
Book List
High-Intensity Performance & Mindset
- The Bible.
- Endure: How to Work Hard, Outlast, and Keep Hammering, by Cameron Hanes
- Undeniable: How to Reach the Top and Stay There, by Cameron Hanes
- Go One More, by Nick Bare
- 25 Hours a Day, by Nick Bare
- Relentless, by Tim S. Grover
- W1nning, by Tim S. Grover
- Can’t Hurt Me, by David Goggins
- Never Finished, by David Goggins
- Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard, by Ken Rideout
- The Book on Mental Toughness, by Andy Frisella
- Man Up, by Bedros Keuilian
- Living with a SEAL, by Jesse Itzler
- Do Hard Things, by Steve Magness
- Unbeatable Mind, by Mark Divine
- No Excuses, by Brian Tracy
Christian Leadership & Character
- The Bible.
- Stand Firm and Act Like Men, by Joby Martin
- Habits of the Household, by Justin Whitmel Earley
- The Resolution for Men, by Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick
- Point Man, by Steve Farrar
- Raising a Modern-Day Knight, by Robert Lewis
- Fathered by God, by John Eldredge
- Disciplines of a Godly Man, by R. Kent Hughes
- Wild at Heart, by John Eldredge
- Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis
- The Measure of a Man, by Gene A. Getz
- Winning the War in Your Mind, by Craig Groeschel
- Lead Like It Matters, by Craig Groeschel
Habits, Mindset & Personal Growth
- The Bible.
- Atomic Habits, by James Clear
- Courage Is Calling, by Ryan Holiday
- Discipline Is Destiny, by Ryan Holiday
- Justice Is Joy, by Ryan Holiday
- Wisdom Takes Work, by Ryan Holiday
- The Obstacle Is the Way, by Ryan Holiday
- Ego Is the Enemy, by Ryan Holiday
- The Compound Effect, by Darren Hardy
- Make Your Bed, by William H. McRaven
- Discipline Equals Freedom, by Jocko Willink
- The Power of One More, by Ed Mylett
- Mastery, by Robert Greene
- The Comfort Crisis, by Michael Easter
- The Way of the Wolf, by Jordan Belfort
- Mindset, by Carol S. Dweck
- Deep Work, by Cal Newport
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey
**You may have noticed that The Bible appears in every recommended category, and for good reason. It is one of the most influential and important books ever written. More than a religious text, it has shaped history, inspired art and literature, guided moral thought, and impacted civilizations across centuries. Its stories, wisdom, and teachings continue to resonate with millions of people around the world, making it a timeless and essential read.