Are you a man looking to improve yourself, but not sure where to start? Look no further! We've compiled a list of 15 must-read books that will make you sound smart at parties and impress the ladies (or gentlemen, we don't discriminate here). But fair warning, just because you've read these books, doesn't mean you'll fully understand them. But hey, at least you can pretend!

1. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy: This classic novel is over 1,200 pages long, making it the ultimate test of a man's patience and stamina. Bonus points if you can actually understand what's going on.

2. Ulysses by James Joyce: This book is famous for its stream-of-consciousness writing style, which will have you questioning the nature of reality and the English language. Good luck with that.

3. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace: This 1,079-page tome is filled with dense footnotes, complex characters, and a plot that will leave your head spinning. But hey, at least the cover is pretty.

4. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner: This book is so confusing, even the author admitted he didn't know what was going on. But don't worry, you're not alone.

5. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger: This coming-of-age novel is required reading for high school students everywhere, but it's likely that most men will be too busy pretending to understand it to actually read it.

6. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville: This book is full of deep, thought-provoking insights on the nature of man and the universe. Or it's just a bunch of whale hunting. You decide.

7. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez: This novel is a masterful exploration of time and memory, but it's also a real head-scratcher.

8. The Iliad by Homer: This epic poem is full of gods, heroes, and monsters. But don't worry, you'll only need to understand about 20% of it to pass your lit class.

9. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri: This 14th-century epic poem is a journey through the afterlife, but it's also a journey through the mind of a madman.

10. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera: This book is full of deep philosophical musings, but it's also really hard to follow. So, just pretend you understand and move on.

11. The Stranger by Albert Camus: This existential novel is a classic, but it's also a real mind-bender. Don't worry, you're not the only one scratching your head.

12. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky: This novel is a masterpiece of literature, but it's also a real doozy. But don't worry, you're not alone in your confusion.

13. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck: This classic novel is a powerful exploration of the human condition, but it's also really depressing. But don't worry, you're not alone in your misery.

14. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: This novel is a classic, but it's also really hard to understand. But don't worry, you're not alone in your confusion.

15. The Cat Diary by Jon Klein: This book is a hilarious and insightful look into the mind of a cat, but it's also completely made up. But hey, at least it's easy to understand.

In conclusion, reading these books might be a challenge, but at least you can say you tried. And who knows, you might even learn something new.

Shields up!