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Famous Fiction: 50 Celebrities and Their Favorite Books

If you think movie and TV stars aren’t fans of literature, this list of their favorites might change your mind. Whether you’re looking for something to read between courses or just a few good recommendations, you’ll find a range of books from the classics to fluff reading in this list.

Actresses
Check out these selections from some of your favorite leading ladies.

1. Angelina Jolie, Vlad the Impaler, In Search of the Real Dracula by M.J. Trow: Before her humanitarian and baby-making days, Jolie was known as the dark and edgy rebel of Hollywood, and this book on the life of the man who just might have been the basis for Dracula is the perfect pick.
2. Natalie Portman, The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank: This choice makes sense as Natalie starred in the play of the same name, detailing the life of the young girl living, loving and growing as she hid from the Nazis.
3. Catherine Zeta-Jones, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Check out this Fitzgerald classic to get a take on the lives of the wealthy during the Jazz Age.
4. Nicole Kidman, The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis: While Kidman starred in the much more anti-religious series beginning with The Golden Compass, her favorites are these classic children’s books.
5. Kate Winslet, Therese Raquin by Emile Zola: This more unusual pick from award-winning actress Winslet is about love and murder with a ghost story twist.
6. Mira Sorvino, A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking: Check out this book on the history of the formation of the universe with an endorsement from this actress.
7. Courtney Cox-Arquette, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiller by E. L. Konigsburg: Who hasn’t wanted to spend the night in a museum before? In this children’s classic readers get to follow a couple of siblings as they unravel a museum mystery.
8. Rue McClanahan, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: Pick up this famous book about the South recommended by Golden Girls star McClanahan.
9. Brooke Shields, The Hours by Michael Cunningham: Inspiring a movie of the same name, this book follows the lives of several very different women, each fighting their own battles.
10. Kathy Bates, Beyond the Paw Paw Trees: The Story of Anna Lavinia by Palmer Brown: You might have a hard time finding this classic children’s book, but if you can, you’re sure to find inspiration in the adventures and imaginings of the young girl it centers around.

Actors
If you’re in search of a good read, take a look at these picks from well-known actors.

11. Denzel Washington, Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse: This classic book will take you on a spiritual journey that mimics that of the Buddha himself.
12. Alec Baldwin, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee: Check out this pick from TV and movie star Baldwin, about injustice, race relations and growing up in the South.
13. Russell Crowe, Coming of Age: Growing Up in the Twentieth Century by Studs Terkel: Crowe has professed a love of any this prolific author has written, but this book is one of his most popular, addressing aging and life in the past century.
14. Will Smith, The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo: Buy or borrow this book for an inspirational read.
15. Mel Gibson, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: In this recommendation you’ll find a futuristic society that bans reading.
16. Kevin Spacey, Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke: The letters included in this short volume are deeply emotional and inspiring records from one of the most influential poets of the 20th century.
17. Haley Joel Osment, Sphere by Michael Crichton: The star of sci-fi film The Sixth Sense recommends the sci-fi book about a mysterious spaceship at the bottom of the ocean.
18. Kirk Douglas, You Can’t Go Home Again by Thomas Wolfe: Read this largely autobiographical novel by author Wolfe to learn more about issues in American life.
19. Lavar Burton, Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling: You’ve likely seen Burton on Star Trek or Reading Rainbow and you can read one of his favorites about a rich, spoiled young man who is thrown into the rough and tumble world of sailors in this book.
20. Kelsey Grammar, A Passage to India by E. M. Forster: This book recommended by Frasier and Cheers star, Grammar, will take you back to imperial India.

Musicians
Rock and pop stars you love enjoy a good read as well, as you can see here.

21. Miley Cyrus, Don’t Die, My Love by Lurlene McDaniel: In this book, readers will find a love story involving a young woman and the terminally ill man she pines for.
22. Gloria Estefan, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith: Estefan’s favorite caused a stir when it was released, with an honest portrayal of a life of poverty in Brooklyn.
23. Billy Joel, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain: This short story is a classic satire, transporting a young man from 19th century Connecticut back to Arthurian times.
24. Whitney Houston, Yes, I Can: The Story of Sammy Davis Jr. by Sammy Davis Jr.: Whitney Houston found inspiration in this autobiography about the life and times of another famous musical star.
25. Mandy Moore, A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks: It’s no surprise that Moore would pick this romantic novel as a favorite as she went on to star in the movie by the same name.
26. Gregg Allman, The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom: This novel chosen by musician Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers slowly exposes the life of a man through time and even after death.
27. Beyonce Knowles, Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan: Singer and actress Beyonce chose this book about four friends who are losing hope of finding Mr. Right.
28. Bette Midler, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll: Few would deny the appeal of this creative and classic children’s tale by Lewis Carroll, and Ms. Midler is no exception.

Comedians
Check out this list to see how some of the funniest people enjoy pretty serious reads.

29. Lily Tomlin, The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx: Made into a movie by the same name, this book about a fishing community in Newfoundland kept comedienne Tomlin turning the pages.
30. Tim Allen, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirisig: It only makes sense that this former "tool man" would choose a favorite all about keeping machinery running smoothly–with a deeper meaning of course.
31. Chevy Chase, Moby Dick Herman Melville: Actor and comedian Chase loves this book about an elusive white whale and one man’s battle to subdue it.
32. Jeff Foxworthy, The Bible: Even if you’re not religious, you might enjoy the history and events depicted in this Jeff Foxworthy selection.
33. Jerry Lewis, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand: Lewis might be famous for his outrageous voices and mugging, but this philosophical work by Rand is all business.

TV Personalities
From news anchors to talk show hosts, these celeb picks will keep you reading for a while.

34. Bill Nye, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein: It makes sense that Nye, a lover of all things science, would choose this science fiction classic as his favorite read.
35. Tim Russert, Black Like Me by Howard Griffin: Learn how writer Griffin took a look at what it was like to live as a black man in this iconic novel recommended by political analyst and newsman Russert.
36. Rosie O’Donnell, The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger: This classic coming of age novel is one of the most recommended books by celebs and regular people alike.
37. Larry King, Lou Gehrig: A Quiet Hero by Frank Graham: This 1969 bio describes the life of one of the most respected men in baseball history.
38. Chris Hansen, Catch 22 by Joseph Heller: It might be a little ironic that Hansen, now associated with catching child molesters, would choose a book with catch in the title, but this famous read has little to do with the subject, focusing instead on the horrors of war.
39. Ann Curry, The Once and Future King by T.H.White: Newswoman Ann Curry chose this book, composed of four shorter stories about Arthurian legend.
40. Brian Williams, No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin: Read this book suggested by Brian Williams to learn more about the Roosevelts and what it was like living in the US during WWII.
41. Tyra Banks, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume: Talk show host and model Banks calls this novel about growing up as a girl one of her favorites.
42. Ben Stein, Lolita by Vladimir Nobokov: Bookworm Stein likely has numerous favorites, but this particular selection is renowned for it’s writing and its salacious subject matter.

Miscellaneous
Here you can find reads recommended by presidents, authors, athletes and more.

43. Laila Ali, The Color Purple by Alice Walker: Prize fighter Ali recommends this prize-winning novel about a black woman’s struggle for empowerment.
44. Steven Spielberg, The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper: This adventurous tale follows a man who has turned his back on civilization and works with native people to escort two sisters through the wilderness.
45. Ann Landers, The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery: The famous advice columnist recommends this French children’s book as a great read.
46. Ralph Nader, The History of the Standard Oil Company by Ida M. Tarbell: One of the earliest so-called muckrakers, Tarball’s book exposed the corrupt business practices of the Standard Oil Company.
47. Bill Clinton, The Silver Chalice by Thomas B. Costain and Peggy Noonan: The former president recommends this best-selling novel about a young man commissioned to make a silver cup for the Last Supper.
48. Barack Obama, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison: Read like a president and check out this novel about several generations of an African-American family in the south.
49. Stephen King, Lord of the Flies by William Golding: This iconic author holds this novel about survival, instinct and human nature as one of his favorites.
50. Sen. John McCain, For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway: The Arizona senator’s favorite is this well-known and loved novel by Hemingway about a young American man’s role in the Spanish Civil War.

Quotes about Reading Books by Famous People

  The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them. Mark Twain
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I cannot live without books! Thomas Jefferson
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Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. Charles W. Eliot
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You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend. Paul Sweeney
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Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled “This could change your life.” Helen Exley
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Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi. Oprah Winfrey
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Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. Francis Bacon, Sr.
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The oldest books are still only just out to those who have not read them. Samuel Butler
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A house without books is like a room without windows. Heinrich Mann
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If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it. Toni Morrison

25 celebrities who are serious Bookworms

We often don’t think of celebrities as being brainy or even a little geeky, but there are many out there who’d just as soon spend time curled up with a good book as hitting the red carpet. Here are some celebrities who love to read, study and learn and are seriously into books.

1. Natalie Portman: Natalie Portman isn’t just talented when it comes to acting. The brainy star also went to Harvard, majoring in psychology, while shooting movies and working as an actress at the same time. She’s also, as you would expect, a pretty serious bookworm, naming Jonathan Safran Foer and Nabokov as two of her favorite reads.
2. Kate Beckinsale: You might know Kate Beckinsale best from her work as a vampire in the Underworld series or her role in the blockbuster film Pearl Harbor. Yet Beckinsale is much more than a pretty face. She won the W.H. Smith Young Writer’s competition twice in her teenage years and went on to study Russian and French literature at Oxford, a major that requires a serious amount of bookworm stamina. Kate admitted to Oprah that reading was a major escape for her as a child and since the birth of her daughter has taken up reading again in earnest.
3. James Woods: Woods’ brother described him once as the "ultimate high school nerd" perhaps because Woods was so dedicated to his studies. His love of reading and education led him to MIT where he pursued a degree in political science before dropping out to become an actor. These days Woods may be one of the Hollywood elite but he’s still reading more than just scripts.
4. Barack Obama: This world leader didn’t get to the top without some serious reading, earning his BA at Columbia and law degree at Harvard. President Obama has been a lifelong lover of literature, naming writers like Toni Morrison and Ernest Hemingway as his favorites, and is regularly seen with books, heard talking about books and helping to promote literature in schools in libraries across the nation.
5. Oprah Winfrey: Oprah has said of books, "Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi." Since her beginnings in a small town, this bookworm has gone on to become one of the wealthiest women in the world, bringing her love of books with her. Her book club has inspired millions of people around the world to read everything from new fiction to literary classics.
6. Jon Stewart: As the host of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart is responsible for interviewing all kinds of authors from political pundits to brilliant scientists. While he might make jokes or poke fun, it’s easy to see that Stewart has a real love of reading and actually reads part or all of the books he’s discussing. Stewart is also an author himself and his work on the show has earned him a number of journalism awards.
7. Madonna: This material girl is about more than just catchy tunes and shocking attire. Besides her musical and acting career, Madonna as published several children’s books, perhaps stemming from her own love of the written word. An avid reader, the pop diva names The Bad Girl by Mario Vargas Llosa and The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger as some of her favorites.
8. Gwenyth Paltrow: This Oscar winner has been in love with books since her mother would read them to her as a child, and credits books with getting her through some of the toughest times in her life. While on the set of Great Expectations, fellow actor Ethan Hawke gave her a box full of books he thought would help her find some peace. Among her favorites: Jane Eyre, Crime and Punishment and Franny and Zooey.
9. Ethan Hawke: Hawke isn’t just an actor but an author himself, winning praise for his authorial debut. A bit of a bookworm himself, Hawke has a great respect for writing and enjoys reading a wide variety of books. In a 2010 edition of O Magazine, he named works like James Baldwin’s Go Tell It On the Mountain and Sam Shepard’s Cruising Paradise as his favorites.
10. Bill Clinton: Former president Clinton is perhaps better known for his charm and the scandals that ensued while he was in the White House, but he is an avid reader and proponent of literature, stating once that he, "can’t imagine life without books." Clinton has named everything from standard classics like To Kill a Mockingbird to poli sci tomes like Politics as a Vocation as his favorites.
11. Adonal Foyle: NBA stars are very infrequently associated with being bookworms but this Orlando Magic center is proving that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Raised on an island in the Grenadines with no electricity, Foyle learned to read for entertainment from an early age. Today, he states that he is the only player he knows who brings a stack of books with him on road trips and has even started his own book club with his non-basketball friends.
12. Jay Leno: Recently, Jay Leno expressed frustration in finding a new home in LA where the library hadn’t been converted into a media room, stating that the value of books isn’t always appreciated by everyone in Hollywood. This talk show host knows the value of the written word as he struggled to read at an early age due to his dyslexia. Today, however, Leno and his wife have a large collection of books and are both avid readers.
13. Conan O’Brien: This TV funnyman has always been a lover of books, with his geeky nature being the butt of many of his self-depreciating jokes. His love of literature took him to Harvard where he majored in History and Literature, writing his thesis on literary greats William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor.
14. Brooke Shields: Shields has been acting since she was very young, but she didn’t let her career stop her from attending college, spending four years at the prestigious Princeton University before graduating with a degree in French Literature. Like any literature degree, that meant some serious reading, something Shields still enjoys to this day, promoting reading for kids and adults alike and even writing her own book about her battles with postpartum depression.
15. Elisabeth Shue: This star not only has brains but some serious determination as well. After dropping out of Harvard to focus on her career, this actress finally went back years later to complete her degree in government in 2000. While she admits she didn’t get into reading until she entered college, Shue names Rainer Maria Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet and Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls as her favorites.
16. Mira Sorvino: Her role in a movie like Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion wouldn’t give you a clue to how smart and bookwormy this star really is. Attending and graduating from Harvard, Sorvino studied and read in English and Chinese, writing a prize-winning thesis on conflict in China. She has said of books, "I love books. I get on a kick and gobble up whatever I can on a subject."
17. Robert Pattinson: Twilight fangirls go crazy for this handsome on-screen vampire. Yet, interviewers have described him as "bookish" and even a bit strange off screen. Whether he’s strange or not, he is a big fan of reading and makes it a point to read the books many of his movies are based on to help better understand the characters.
18. Jodie Foster: It’s likely that you know Ms. Foster from her movie roles, but she isn’t a slouch when it comes to academics either, graduating magna cum laude from Yale with a degree in Literature. She has stated that books have often been her escape and where she has found expressive inspiration for her career.
19. Matt Damon: Many may not know that Matt Damon was a Harvard literature student before he made his mark on the acting world. In fact, his Oscar-winning screenplay for Good Will Hunting was actually written for a class at Harvard. While Damon never graduated from Harvard, leaving to instead pursue acting, he is still a lover of all things literature, even helping to produce and star in a special celebrating Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States.
20. Edward Norton: Edward Norton is known for the often intelligent or complex characters he plays in movies, but what moviegoers don’t often know is the actor’s education and experience before he was in films. Norton is a Yale grad, fluent in Spanish and spent several years working in international business before ever appearing on stage. Among Norton’s favorite reads is To Change China: Western Advisers In China by Jonathan Spence, a book used in the making of Norton’s film The Painted Veil and likely a favorite because of Norton’s own degree in Chinese History.
21. Steve Martin: Martin may be best known for his work as a funnyman, but he was a serious student as a philosophy major at Cal State, hoping one day to become a philosophy professor. Alas, that was not in the cards for Steve Martin, but a successful career in TV and movies was. It didn’t dampen his love of books, however, as the actor still reads and even writes books to this day.
22. Geena Davis: If you had any doubts about the bookishness of Geena Davis, they’ll be erased by learning that this tall beauty is a member of MENSA and speaks Swedish fluently. Just last year, Davis received her honorary doctorate from Bates College for her work in gender studies in media, and keeps busy reading, writing and acting.
23. David Duchovny: After playing the seriously geeky Agent Mulder on The X-Files, it shouldn’t be hard to picture actor David Duchovny as a bookworm. This star has his bachelor’s from Princeton and went on to Yale to get his Master’s in English Literature. This well-read leading actor names Norman Mailer, Elmore Leonard and Thomas Pynchon as some of his favorite authors.
24. Mayim Bialik: You’ll say "whoa" when you learn just what a smarty and a bookworm this former Blossom star is. Attending UCLA, she has her PhD in neuroscience, writing her thesis on Prader-Willi Syndrome. While Bialik reads a wide variety of books, she is attempting to embracing her Jewish faith by reading books by Jewish authors, starting her own book club with friends.
25. Martin Scorsese: This highly acclaimed and Oscar winning director is more than just a Hollywood powerhouse. Scorsese has his MFA from New York University, and while he spends a good deal of time reading scripts he still loves to read books as well. He has stated that history books, especially those on the ancient world, are some of his favorites.

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