Recently I have stumbled upon an article in the Mirror, Britain’s newspaper, where famous people were interviewed about books that made the biggest impression and impact on them.
Here is a list of very surprising and amazing choices: from adventure stories and historical fiction to science fiction and spiritual books:
Steven Spielberg – The Last of the Mohicans by James Fennimore Cooper
“The film director has cited this adventurous tale of colonial powers and Native American identity as an inspiration”.
This book is also one of my favourite reads since the seventh grade.
George Clooney – War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
“At 1,440 pages, it is one of the longest novels ever written, Tolstoy’s masterpiece focuses on five aristocratic Russian families during the Napoleonic wars and is split into four volumes”.
Simon Cowell – Disney War by James B Stewart
“The story of a giant entertainment empire torn apart by a civil war obviously struck a chord with the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent mastermind”.
Mel Gibson – 1984 by George Orwell
“This classic imagines a political dystopia in which war is the constant backdrop and surveillance is everywhere. Unlike the book’s everyman hero, when the real 1984 came round Mel was one of the hottest stars in Hollywood, appearing in Mad Max, and Lethal Weapon”.
Kate Winslet – Therese Raquin by Emile Zola
“Discovering Zola’s psychological thriller about a woman who kills her husband in order to pursue a sordidly passionate affair with his friend was “life-changing” according to the Titanic actress”.
Daniel Craig – His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
“You might expect the Bond star to be a Fleming fan but it’s the books that his 2007 fantasy film The Golden Compass was based on that really get him going. “They are fantastic children’s books. They’re about love and growing up and about how, as adults, we should see the world,” he said”.
Duchess of Cambridge – Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
“It seems that adventurous and imaginative Anne – the orphan girl that goes to live on a farm – made a big impression on Kate Middleton growing up. In 2011 she specifically asked to visit Prince Edward Island, where the book is set, on a trip to Canada”.
Daniel Radcliffe – The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
“A book about love’s battle to triumph over dark forces and black magic? No wonder Mikhail Bulgakov’s surreal romp through Russia appeals to the Harry Potter actor. Daniel said: “It’s just the most incredible book that I’ve ever read; I read it once and then I read it almost immediately again.”
Kate Moss –The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“The Great Gatsby author’s tale of a glamorous couple who burned brightly on the 1920s social scene before fading away into anonymity might have sounded as a warning for the supermodel who shot to fame as a teen but has managed to remain in the spotlight ever since”.
Miley Cyrus –The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
“It’s no surprise to learn that a novel about teenage angst, alienation and rebellion has a place on the book shelf of the former Disney Club pop star”.
Morgan Freeman – Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner
“One of the favourite books that Morgan Freeman keeps in his library and sometimes rereads”.
Jay Z – The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav
“Growing up, I was always curious about religion. This book made the most sense to me; it’s about the way you live your life…”
Robin Williams’s favorite books were The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov. His favorite book growing up as a child was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.
Check out favobooks.com – Famous People’s Favourite Books, a website with a lot of book suggestions from outstanding entrepreneurs, great politicians, writers and other celebrities.
What books did make the biggest impression or impact on you, dear Reader?
