Where did all the adventure books for teenage boys go? Jeff Putnam—author and father of eight sons—explains why boys stopped reading, what happened to men’s adventure fiction, and how indie authors are bringing it back. We also discuss why manga and LitRPG dominate with young male readers while traditional publishing keeps churning out books boys don’t want.
The Hardy Boys to Hemingway pipeline is broken. Here’s how to fix it.
In This Episode
Why publishing stopped making books for teenage boys
What boys actually want to read (vs. what publishing thinks they want)
The Hardy Boys to Hemingway pipeline (and why it collapsed)
How masculinity became associated with not reading
Why manga and LitRPG succeeded where trad pub failed
What makes the Cole Harper series different
How to get teenage boys interested in reading
Leading by example: making reading normal in your household
The importance of letting kids explore different formats
Guest Links
Jeff Putnam
Cole Harper Adventure Series: Amazon
Kristin’s Links
Services & Content
Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com
Newsletter: Fictional Influence on Substack
YouTube: Nonsense-Free Kristin
Sponsors
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Timestamps
[00:00] - Introduction: Where are the books for boys?
[02:45] - Men’s adventure fiction used to dominate publishing
[04:30] - Why boys don’t read anymore (according to Jeff)
[07:15] - What happened between 1982-1984 that changed everything
[09:30] - Why manga and LitRPG fill the gap
[11:45] - The transgressive fiction moment (and why it didn’t last)
[13:20] - Making reading an adventure, not homework
[15:40] - Leading by example: seven bookcases and no book budget limit
[17:25] - Letting kids explore different formats (comics, manga, audiobooks)
About This Podcast
Nonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.
New episodes weekly.
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