The long-contested definition of what a true man is has been immortalized in the realm of literature. With specifications ranging from real men “wearing pink” to even men being “swift as the coursing river,” the formula for what really makes a man manly is a very blurry line. Fortunately, course requirements for “Being Manly 101” can be found in different genres and eras. While there really is no one exact road to manhood, the stepping stones that are these books will take you quite close.

Anansi Boys

Neil Gaiman

This 2005 masterpiece champions the lost ideal of true masculinity. Instead of sugar-coating the not-so-manly traits that “real men” supposedly should not be guilty of possessing, Gaiman manipulates these realistic insecurities in such a way that they are used to their advantage. Through the journey of two brothers who timidly live under the burden of their father’s shadow, an epic tale of father-and-sons, brotherhood, and male diffidence which eventually flourishes into empowerment gives rise to one of the most masculine novels ever written.

The Bro Code

Barney Stinson

Nothing screams man louder than The Bro Code does—or at least that’s what anyone who has already read this “code of brotherhood” would undoubtedly attest to. Since its inception in the TV sitcom sensation How I Met Your Mother, in the guise of Barney Stinson’s unforgettable antics, it has landed on the hands of countless men as a guide to everything a “bro” should know. From the words of Barney himself, “It is my hope that, with a better understanding of The Bro Code, bros the world over can put aside their differences and strengthen the bonds of brotherhood.”

The Harry Potter Series

JK Rowling

Doing away with the notion that magic and fairy tales were only for young children and girls, Harry Potter and his lightning-shaped scar proved to the world that a boy holding a magic wand could personify the ultimate in masculinity. The Boy Who Lived and his journey to defeat Voldemort not only shows that being good-willed, loyal, and brave is what a man is all about, but that sticking to what you believe in and doing the right thing will help you prevail.

Fight Club

Chuck Palahniuk

If the sight of men throwing punches at each other doesn’t strike you as manly, I don’t know what will. This satirical novel-turned-into-film accounts the life of an anonymous male protagonist who suffers from insomnia and has only an underground fighting club as his deep-seated psychotherapy. Through the character’s internal conflict with himself, Palahniuk creates what hails as “The Great Gatsby updated a little.”

The Godfather

Mario Puzo

The world of the Italian mafia is one filled with high levels of testosterone, guns, and a whole lot of smoking. But aside from its stereotypical “macho-man” appearance, The Godfather (which the iconic movie was based on) takes on the idea of loyalty to your brotherhood, and the importance of family in life. Besides, the notion of doing nothing all day but gambling, dealing and wielding guns at unsuspecting Mafia members just screams “man.”

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee

This classic book about prejudice still holds ideals that have been proven to be true until today. While the novel takes on the still-prevalent discrimination against African-Americans, Atticus Finch’s example of standing up for what is right despite opposition and criticism from others is an ideal that only a true man can personify.

1984

George Orwell

When it comes to the dominance of men, 1984 transcends prominence. Just by looking at the fact that the concept of “Big Brother” was introduced through this 1949 dystopian novel, no one would dare question the supremacy that Orwell bestowed upon his male characters. Being political and apocalyptic in nature, this instant classic encompasses every essential attribute with which manly stories are built – action, suspense, and thriller.

The Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger

Perhaps the first literary work to perfectly encapsulate the turbulence of being a misunderstood contemporary adolescent, J.D. Salinger’s debut created a stir not only because of the abundance of profanity, but because it was the first to really look into a teenager’s mind. The woe-is-me façade lies a longing to discover one’s own identity. Holden Caufield is not only the personification of a classic teenager, but his supposedly devil-may-care way of life is an insight into a different kind of man.