Cigars and books......."Mindfulness meeting pleasure, Intelligence dancing with indulgence"

[El Presidente]

https://www.themanual.com/culture/cigars-and-books-ritual/

Why cigars and books are the perfect pairing for slowing down

You deserve a hobby that includes leather chairs, great prose, and even better smoke.

By Paul B. Published November 22, 2025 5:00 AM

 

 

In a world that moves at the speed of notifications, there’s something absolutely magnetic about the old-school cigar and book combo. It creates a pocket of time that’s entirely yours, like really slowing down.

Think about it. When was the last time you sat still for an hour? No phone buzzing. No screens glowing. Just you, a good book, and maybe a quality cigar keeping you company if you’re into it.

This isn’t your grandpa’s stuffy gentleman’s club thing anymore. This is about mindfulness meeting pleasure. Intelligence dancing with indulgence. And honestly? It’s perfect for our burned-out, always-on generation.

Both cigars and books do this wild thing to your brain: they slow it down while simultaneously lighting it up. Weird, right? When you’re puffing on a cigar (slowly, always slowly), your breathing changes. Gets deeper. More regular. It’s basically meditation with smoke rings.

Now add a book to that equation. Boom. Your focus sharpens. Distractions fade. Suddenly, you’re in the story, deep in that philosophy text, or completely absorbed in whatever biography you picked up.

The legends knew this secret. Mark Twain? That guy burned through 20+ cigars a day. He called them “smokeable poetry.” Pretty sure his writing benefited from all that contemplative puffing.

Winston Churchill made cigars part of his whole vibe—the man was rarely photographed without one after a certain point.

Hemingway. Another cigar devotee. The guy wrote some of the most stripped-down, punchy prose in American literature, and he did it with a cigar in hand. Coincidence? I think not.

Even Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle used cigars to symbolize intellectual leisure in his stories. The detective’s pipe-smoking was all about thinking time, processing, and letting the mind wander while the smoke curled up.

Here’s the beautiful part: cigars force patience. You can’t rush them. Try it and they’ll punish you with bitter flavors and uneven burning. Books? Same deal. Rush through Moby Dick and you’ll miss… well, everything. The rhythm matters. The pauses matter. The savoring matters.

Both activities engage your senses on multiple levels. With cigars, you’re tasting cedar, maybe chocolate, and definitely some earthiness. With books, you’re tasting words—rolling them around, feeling the texture and depth of a particularly delicious sentence.

Creating the perfect environment for cigar smoking and reading

 

You can’t just plop down anywhere with a book and a cigar and expect an epiphany. This is about creating a vibe—a whole mood.

Lighting is everything. Harsh overhead fluorescents? Absolutely not. You want warm, soft light. Maybe a reading lamp. Some people swear by candlelight, but let’s be real—open flames near books and cigars require coordination not everyone possesses after a long day.

Your chair? Non-negotiable comfort zone. You’re settling in for the long haul. Leather is classic. But honestly? Whatever cradles you for two hours without making your back scream works.

Tools of the trade: Get yourself a proper humidor. Cigars are temperamental creatures. They like 65-70% humidity. Not too dry or too humid. Nobody wants cracked or moldy cigars.

A good cutter is essential. Guillotine style is foolproof. V-cutters if you’re feeling fancy. Just please, for the love of Hemingway, don’t bite the end off. This isn’t a spaghetti western.

Torch lighters or long cedar matches only. Regular lighters taste like butane. Cedar matches? Now that’s class. Plus, the ritual of lighting with a match slows everything down even more.

Where to set up shop? Options abound:

Home is an obvious choice. Ventilation is key, though, unless you want your whole house to smell like a 1950s detective’s office. A dedicated smoking room with climate control? That’s the dream.

Cigar lounges offer built-in ambiance and fellow enthusiasts. Sometimes, you want company in your solitude. It’s a weird paradox, but it works.

Outdoor spaces are underrated. Fresh air dilutes the smoke, and nature provides the soundtrack. A porch, a balcony, or even a park bench can become your reading sanctuary.

Some libraries and quiet cafés still allow cigar smoking. Rare, but they exist. The combination of books everywhere and a cigar in hand? Chef’s kiss.

Choosing the right cigars for reading sessions

Felix Adams / Pexels

Now, not all cigars play nice with reading. You want something that enhances focus, not destroys it. Too strong? You’ll be dizzy instead of absorbed. Too light? Might as well be smoking air.

Medium-bodied cigars are your sweet spot. They’ve got enough oomph to keep things interesting but won’t knock you sideways. Connecticut wrappers are your friend here—smooth, creamy, approachable. Nicaraguan blends bring a bit more spice without going full throttle.

Now, let’s get to the fun part. Match your cigar to your book genre:

Reading a thriller or mystery? Go bold. Full-bodied. Something with pepper and leather notes. Let that cigar amp up the tension. Your heart’s already racing from the plot twists—might as well lean into it.

Essay or philosophy book on your lap? Light and nuanced, my friend. You need clarity for those big thoughts. Something with subtle cedar notes. Maybe a hint of vanilla. Nothing that screams for attention while you’re pondering life.

Adventure and travel stories call for aromatic cigars. Spicy. Exotic. Something that makes you feel like you’re right there in the Amazon or scaling Everest. The cigar becomes part of the journey.

Classic literature or hefty biographies? Definitely medium to full. These books have weight. Gravitas. Your cigar should match that energy. Think rich, complex flavors that develop over time—just like the stories you’re reading.

Book recommendations to enhance your cigar experience

Aldino Hartan Putra / Unsplash

Now let’s talk reading material.

You want books that reward slow consumption. Quick beach reads? Save those for the actual beach.

Pick up beloved classics and biographies like Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, or Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert, because who better to read about than the man who made cigars iconic? You’re literally sharing their ritual across time. It’s weirdly intimate.

Contemporary literary fiction pairs beautifully with contemplative smoking. The kind of books where every sentence matters. Think along the lines of Haruki Murakami’s thoughtful fiction or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s layered narratives.

Non-fiction is cigar-friendly territory. Business books. History. Philosophy. These genres benefit from the focused attention cigars encourage.

Some specific suggestions that work:

Management classics like Jim Collins’s Good to Great make you feel like a CEO even if you’re middle management.

History books, especially military history, seem designed for cigar accompaniment. Maybe it’s the Churchill connection. Maybe it’s the weight of the subject matter. Either way, it works.

Strategy books make you think big picture. Both pair well with medium-bodied cigars that suggest authority without shouting it. Titles like The Art of War by Sun Tzu or Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond stretch the mind while you stretch out with your smoke.

Spiritual or philosophical texts open differently with a cigar. The smoke becomes part of the meditation—think Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations. The ritual enhances the reading.

Cultivating a personal lifestyle: Combining cigar smoking and reading in daily rituals

Pexels / Pixabay

Making this a regular thing requires intention.

Late afternoon or early evening is prime time. Work’s done. Dinner can wait. This is your transition period, your decompression chamber between obligations.

Some people do morning cigars with coffee and newspapers. Bold choice. Respect. But for most of us, this is an evening affair.

Keep a journal nearby. The combination of nicotine and narrative sparks thoughts.

Consider joining or starting a cigar and book club. Yes, they exist, and yes, they’re awesome.

The real beauty is that this ritual forces digital detox. Your hands are busy holding a book and managing a cigar. There is no room for phones, and there is no temptation to scroll. It’s an enforced presence, mandatory mindfulness.

Some guys make this their Sunday thing, while others claim thirty minutes every evening. The frequency matters less than the consistency. This is about creating space, claiming time, and saying, “This hour is mine.”

Conclusion

Coppertist Wu / Pexels

Look, we live in a world that’s forgotten how to be still.

The art of combining cigars and reading is about choosing to engage with one thing—really engage—instead of half-watching three screens while anxiety-scrolling through social media. This ritual says something. It says you value depth over speed, quality over quantity, and that you understand that some pleasures can’t be rushed, downloaded, or delivered in two days with Prime shipping.

Whether you’re a complete newbie or have been doing this for years, there’s always room to refine the ritual. Try new cigars, tackle challenging books, and create your perfect environment. Start small if you need to. One cigar. One book. One hour. See what happens when you allow yourself to slow down. To savor. To think.

The modern world will still be there when you’re done. But you? You’ll be different: calmer, more focused, maybe a little bit wiser.

Paul B.

[Lucas Buck]

I’ve always enjoyed reading while smoking. When I first took up cigars I had a ritual twice a week after work I would wind down with a good book and cigar for a couple hours. Did that for years. I still read while enjoying a cigar but not regularly anymore. I should though as besides smoking with friends it’s my favorite way to relax with a good smoke. 

[Ciscojohansson]

I love smoking and reading but the weather does not allow for it most of the year. One day I will convert the part of the barn with a seaview into a smoking room. I picture cigars, books, a small bar/coffee station and maybe a piano. 

[Nick Hammond]

Couldn't agree more!

[El Niño]

Reading and having a cigar is nourishing to the mind in a way that I find difficult to achieve. The only other things for me have been meditation, yoga, and/or hiking.

[Li Bai]

I can't explain why but I hate reading while smoking. I did it many times in the past but I don't try anymore, it's like I can't enjoy either one to the fullest.

I'm definitely not good at multi-tasking 😅

[Ken Gargett]

absolutely love being able to spend a few hours with a good cigar and a top book. and a good drink. never get around to it at home but always try when down the coast. 

[JPark3]

In the winter I like to read at one of the lounges not too far from where I live. Kinda encourages you to relax. Anywhere else and I'm too easily distracted to read.