Some gather shoes, others gather stamps celebrities? Celebrities hoard books like precious stones. And not just for coffee table placement. From pop culture icons to sports heroes, there are plenty of stars who have strong, individual attachments to reading that influence their creativity, work lives, and even outlook.
When social media streams overflow with bite-sized and quick takes, these stars prove it’s still a power move to get lost in a book. From Taylor Swift weaving in old literature into song lyrics to Bill Gates devouring memoirs at light speed, their stories reveal how life-altering reading can be.
Here’s a look at the bookshelves and minds of celebrities whose love of reading might inspire your next library visit.
1. Taylor Swift’s Literary DNA
Taylor Swift’s songwriting is sometimes book-like, and that’s by design. She’s been a voracious reader all her life, even penning a 400-page novel on friends and family at age 13. Swift has stated that books once helped her “to ease the agony of my existence,” something she now channels into music. Her music is full of nods to Shakespeare, Fitzgerald, Brontë, and even Frances Hodgson Burnett’s *The Secret Garden*. Evermore’s release date of December 10 wasn’t an accident either December 10 is Emily Dickinson’s birthday, a poet to whom Swift has a remote connection. This deep literary heritage isn’t trivia it’s a glimpse of how she composes tales that resonate with the whole world.
2. Chris Hemsworth’s Not-So-Childish Favorite
In 2020, Chris Hemsworth surprised his fans when he included *The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse* in his favorite books. While it’s promoted as a children’s novel, Hemsworth insists it’s “for everyone” and that it’s uplifting universal lessons of kindness and friendship. The choice points to a new adult trend to go back to picture books for emotional authenticity proof that a great story is timeless.
3. Oprah Winfrey’s Book Club Power
Oprah’s Book Club, started in 1996, has turned obscure books overnight bestsellers to the tune of about $80 million worth of new sales for bookstores per selection. All 48 of her initial selections landed on the U.S. top 150 list within a week, many staying there for months. Her influence is so strong that it’s referred to as “The Oprah Effect.” In addition to outside sales, Oprah also uses her platform to provoke discussions about social issues, as she did with scandals like *American Dirt*. To readers, her approval still means a book is worth the reader’s time.
4. Reese Witherspoon’s Page-to-Screen Magic
Reese Witherspoon’s book club is not about recommendations so much as a springboard for adaptations. She promoted *Little Fires Everywhere* before adapting it into a Hulu series she both produced and starred in. Witherspoon has explained that her intention is to “shine a light on the stories I found meaningful,” frequently highlighting female-centered stories. Her selections don’t merely spark reading lists they redefine Hollywood’s narrative landscape.
5. Daniel Radcliffe’s Fanfiction Curiosity
Daniel Radcliffe grew up loving *Harry Potter* and not just because he played the boy wizard. During the pandemic, he joined other stars in reading chapters from the first book for a Wizarding World audiobook. Later, he admitted to reading fanfiction about Harry and Draco, saying, “I’ve read some of that.” His openness to fan-created worlds shows how literature can evolve beyond its original form, keeping stories alive in unexpected ways.
6. Emma Watson’s Mission of Feminist Reading
Emma Watson is a “book ninja” and describes books as “revolutionary.” Utilizing her now-defunct club Our Shared Shelf, she recommended such books as *Relations and World Peace* and *Untamed*, hoping to empower women and spark dialogue about equality. “Some will make you smile, some will make you cry, others will inspire you,” she promised. Watson’s selections bring activism and artistry together, illustrating how reading can be political and personal.
7. Kerry Washington’s Refuge in Stories
Kerry Washington has described how she learned to “soothe my loneliness by disappearing in books.” That refuge led her to become home in strong women like Olivia Pope in *Scandal*. She has mentioned that her experience of reading was “going to the imaginary, looking for some truth.” It’s a reminder that fiction is like life and can help us ready ourselves to encounter it.
8. Zayn Malik’s Universal Wonder
Zayn Malik’s reading habit started early, reading correspondence for his grandfather learning English. Today, his interests range from books to space and alien conspiracy theory. “I probably spend too much time” on them, he said tongue-in-cheek, but his diverse interests reflect how reading has the ability to fire one up in unexpected avenues.
9. Bill Gates’ Speed-Reading Memoir List
Bill Gates reads 150 pages an hour and roughly a book a week. His summer reading list for 2025 included autobiographies like Katharine Graham’s *Personal History* and Trevor Noah’s *Born a Crime*. Gates says, “Reading is my favorite way to indulge my curiosity,” and his selections have a tendency to blend personal growth and global vision offering readers a masterclass in learning from experience.
10. Halle Berry’s Deep Reads
Halle Berry identifies herself as “passionate” about reading and is drawn to books that challenge her to “think and feel deeply.” She has a special fondness for *LOVE*, which she says causes her to seek emotional depth. Berry’s book life is less about flight than about engaging with stories that expand empathy and self-awareness.
From Swift’s book-crammed Easter eggs to Oprah’s game-changing recommendations, these celebrities show us that reading is not just a hobby it’s an art superpower. Their choices show us how books can ignite art, shape careers, and revolutionize industries. For anyone looking to make their own story richer, the message is clear: start by turning the page.
