25 Celebrities Tell Us the Book That Changed Their Life
25 Celebrities Tell Us the Book That Changed Their Life
During exclusive interviews with OprahMag.com, our favorite actors and musicians revealed what game-changing books they turn to. Selections from Oprah's Book Club, written by authors such as Eckhart Tolle and Brené Brown, made the cut. But a few of these picks just might surprise you. If you're looking for a title to kick off the new year with, let Taraji P. Henson, Serena Williams, Issa Rae, Chrissy Teigen, and 20 other stars be your helpful guide.
Toni Collette, Olive, Again
"I can tell you a recent book I read that I was incredibly moved by: I read Olive Kitteridge when I was making United States of Tara, and it was my introduction to Elizabeth Strout's writing, who I think is so incredibly talented," the Unbelievable actress told OprahMag.com. "She knows and understands humanity on a level that very few people can express. So I was given an advanced copy of the sequel, Olive, Again—and man, I couldn't put it down! It moved me to tears. I laughed out loud, and I just love everything that Elizabeth Strout writes."
Olive, Again is the second selection in Oprah's newly-launched Book Club with Apple. It rejoins Olive, an ornery woman who lives in Crosby, Maine, and appears in thirteen interrelated stories.
Chrissy Teigen, Ladies Who Punch
"I'm currently reading Ladies Who Punch," shares the model and cookbook author. "I've been to that set [The View] many times and you can feel the tension. I live a fairly boring life, so I love hearing that side of it and the juicy gossip. I think it's why I love The Real Housewives, because they fight so much. I would be so happy to just sit in on a dinner where other people were fighting."
Ladies Who Punch is a 2019 nonfiction book by entertainment journalist Ramin Setoodeh about the daytime talk-show, The View. Setoodeh provides explicit details of all the backstage drama among the show's co-hosts.
Serena Williams, The Holy Bible
"It's really helped me a lot and it’s underrated," says the mother and 23-time Grand Slam tennis champion of the religious text filled with empowering scriptures, valuable lessons, and stories. "People always mention other books, but the Bible is where I get the best advice to help me through life."
Winston Duke, Native Son
"I was unable to put it down," the Us actor says of Richard Wright's controversial novel. "I read it in two days. The book is a conversation about Black psychology and internalized oppression and how that affects your surroundings. It put a lot of things into perspective, and it also created a character [Bigger Thomas] that I said I never wanted to be. I never wanted to internalize the darkness of the world and end up hating myself and the people who look like me."
The TV adaptation of Native Son premiered on HBO in April 2019, starring Moonlight actor Ashton Sanders, Kiki Layne, and Sanaa Lathan.
Phylicia Rashad, Play of Consciousness
"It’s a beautiful story that takes place on the battlefield of righteousness," says Phylicia Rashad about Swami Muktananda's autobiography.
Play of Consciousness tells the story of spiritual leader Muktananda, who was an integral figure in the Siddha Yoga movement in the '70s. A meditative practice and spiritual enlightening that the 70-year-old legendary actress was introduced to early on in her life.
Issa Rae, The Alchemist
"I read The Alchemist during a transitional period in my life, and it just made me think differently," says the Little and Insecure star.
Rightfully so, considering its author Paulo Coelho penned an inspiring manuscript on how to find and pursue your dreams, no matter what challenges or setbacks you face. More than that, however, The Alchemist champions being spiritually connected to the Universe.
Rita Wilson, Beloved
The Halfway to Home country star and actress admits to OprahMag.com that she loves a good tear-jerker novel. And Toni Morrison's signature 1987 book definitely fits the bill, as Wilson shared that haunting novel about the consequences of slavery made her "cry so much." Beloved was turned into a movie in 1998, starring Oprah, Thandie Newton, and Danny Glover. Book enthusiasts can learn more about Morrison and her literary works and achievements when her documentary The Pieces I Am hits theaters on June 21.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Cutting for Stone
"Cutting for Stone is a book about making sacrifices and the good that comes from it," says Dr. Gupta, a neurosurgeon who just completed a trip around the globe in search of happiness for the CNN docuseries, Chasing Life. "Although the good that comes from this character sacrifice takes time to actually be recognized and realized, it’s just so heartwarming when you see it in the end. Sometimes doing the right thing is hard, and you may even wonder if it’s worth it. But if you play the long game and think about your whole life, doing the right thing always pays off. It just makes the world better."
Regina Hall, Freedom in Exile
The Girls Trip star selected this autobiography about the peace guru as one of her all-time favorite books. The Dalai Lama traces his childhood through his exile in the '90s, due to The Chinese People's Liberation Army. In the book, the Dalai Lama recounts the history of the Tibetan people, the devastating effects that communism had on his native land and people, and he also explores reincarnation in the 300-plus page read.
Taraji P. Henson, The 5 Love Languages
"Because of where I’m about to go in my life with marriage, it's definitely The 5 Love Languages," the newly-engaged Empire star says. "I’d been single for so long and the book opened my eyes on what it would be like to commit to someone forever."
In it, author Gary Chapman offers advice on connecting with someone based on their "love language," a term he uses to describe the ways we show and receive love.
John Legend, Let the Trumpet Sound
"I started developing a social conscious when I would read biographies about people like Dr. King and other leaders who put themselves on the line to make big change happen," the All of Me singer-songwriter reveals.
The 1982 biography details Martin Luther King Jr.'s childhood and how his Southern upbringing inspired him to become a formidable figure in the civil rights movement. "I always thought about myself and what it meant to live a good, impactful life, and how it was important for me to use whatever platform I had to make a change," Legend adds.
Iyanla Vanzant, A Course In Miracles
"The book that really changed me so that I could change my life would be A Course in Miracles," says the Fix My Life host about the spiritual resource that helps readers cultivate and strengthen their faith. The book is broken up into three parts: the text, a workbook, and an easy-to-follow guide for teachers.
Constance Wu, The Gifts of Imperfection
"I don't read a lot of nonfiction but I love anything by Brené Brown. The Gifts of Imperfection is one of my favorites," the Crazy Rich Asians star says. In the 2010 bestseller, Brown uses extensive psychological research to help readers reframe their way of thinking in order to feel more satisfied.
Kelly Rowland, Waiting to Exhale
"I learned about friendship through this book," Rowland says. "Some stuff I didn’t quite understand because it was talking about marriage and I read it in my teens, but it taught me how important my friends are."
McMillan's 1992 novel, which was later adapted into a movie in 1995, is about sisterhood. It follows four Black female professional women living in Phoenix who are each struggling to find both love and their purpose in the world.
Leah Remini, Hardwiring Happiness
"I got plenty of tools to use from Hardwiring Happiness," the Second Act actress says. The self-help book shows readers how to cultivate happiness, love, peace, and confidence by following simple brain exercises.
Misty Copeland, The Power of Now
"As a young adult, The Power of Now was something that really affected me. It still does when I read it as an adult," the ballet dancer says. In his inspiring book, Eckhart Tolle outlines the positive benefits of mindfulness and learning to live in the present.
Vanessa Hudgens, The Four Agreements
"I remember reading The Four Agreements at a very transitional time. It helped me move forward and rethink how I want to live my life," Hudgens says.
Alison Brie, What Alice Forgot
"I've been reading a lot of Liane Moriarty's books, the same author who wrote Big Little Lies, and What Alice Forgot is such a good one," the Glow star says. "It's about a woman who has forgotten a chunk of her memory so she’s thinking about her life from ten years ago versus her current life, which is very different."
Brie continues: "It’s also about being grateful for the people and relationships in your life. The book reminded me of how lucky I am to have my amazing husband [Dave Franco] and our cats."
Shay Mitchell, The Mastery of Love
"I think it's a Bible that everyone should read, and I do quite often," the former Pretty Little Liars star says. The 1999 self-love title outlines the importance of putting your own happiness first in order to create meaningful relationships with others.
Michelle Williams, The Untethered Soul
"The Untethered Soul that has been life changing for me as far as how to see things from a different perspective," shares the former Destiny's Child singer. "It’s about untethering from all the stuff that can have too much control over you."
Mashonda Tifrere, The Conscious Parent
"The Conscious Parent is a gem," the Blend author says. "It teaches parents how to heal themselves so they can parent prosperously. Oprah is a big fan of Dr. Shefali Tsabary and she's been on SuperSoul Sunday twice. It's one of the most enlightening books I’ve ever read in my life."
Emily Meade, The Pisces
When it comes to The Pisces, The Deuce actress says reading it had the ability to "save me." "It's definitely comforting and I relate to it in a lot of ways," she says. Melissa Broder's debut fantasy novel is about a woman name Lucy who is filled with anxiety after a devastating breakup. She eventually learns to love again thanks to a merman she meets under the sea.
Kofi Siriboe, A New Earth
"Oprah gave me A New Earth when I got famous," explains the Queen Sugar actor. "The book deals with identity, social issues, and life in general. I needed a little help with processing things. The book was her way of saying, 'I know where you’re at and I know where you’re about to go.' I still cherish that. It changed my perspective."
Merle Dandridge, The Journey of Desire
"The Journey of Desire is about living your life passionately for God," says the Broadway and Greenleaf star. "There’s a story in it about a sea lion that was stuck in a mud puddle under a tree in the desert. He was far away from the ocean for so long that he was just content in going to the mud puddle to splash around. But every night he would dream of the sea. He knew there was something more. Then he finally worked up the courage and stepped out in faith to find the sea, knowing that God already put it in his heart."
Shangela, The Mother of Black Hollywood
The A Star Is Born actress turns to Jenifer Lewis, star of Black-ish and a champion of Black women in Hollywood, for motivation.
"I identify a lot with someone who grew up using an outhouse and didn’t have a lot of money. Reading how she navigated it inspired me. She was on Broadway when she was 18 and has spent 40 years in the entertainment industry," Shangela says. "What I gathered from this book is that there will be ups and downs, but you just have to keep going."
Taraji P. Henson, Serena Williams, and Chrissy Teigen consider these must-reads.