Celebrities favorite books 2011 – To honor National Read a Book Day this 2011, we take a look at the favorite books of famous people, celebrities, our favorite actors and actresses, famous musicians, business leaders and politicians.
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #1: Ben Affleck
The fact that Ben Affleck loves to read comes as no surprise to those who remember his Oscar win for best original screenplay. Recently recognized as a renaissance man of the film industry, Affleck is as comfortable directing award-winning films as he is talking about the Middle East.
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #2: Judd Apatow
When “Knocked Up” producer and director Judd Apatow dropped out of college, he didn’t stay home playing video games – he read books.
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #3: Samantha Bee
As the Most Senior Correspondent of “The Daily Show,”Samantha Bee spends lots of time traveling to and from interviews – great for squeezing in reading time. Bee says she loves to tackle books that deal with issues of aging and human relationships.
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #4: Harold Bloom
Yale literature professor Harold Bloom has strong, sometimes polarizing views about books. When asked about his favorite, he says he picked the one in which “I found myself more truly and more strange.”
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #5: George H. W. Bush
Former president George H. W. Bush lists an oft-banned book as one of his favorites and says it “helped shape my life.”
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #6: Don Cheadle
This “Hotel Rwanda” actor and humanitarian says that you’ll “never read a book that could better make you understand what it feels like to be subjugated.”
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #7: Bill Clinton
Voracious reader and former president Bill Clinton (get his books | see photos) loves to churn through popularthrillers and mysteries, but his favorite book touches on themes of trauma and abuse.
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #8: Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper (read about his show | see photos) says he grew up with “a mild form of dyslexia” that required special instruction, but he still developed a love of reading and writing.
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #9: Mark Cuban
The favorite book of billionaire businessman Mark Cuban may have helped him rise to the top. He says “it encouraged me to think as an individual, take risks to reach my goals, and responsibility for my successes and failures.”
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #10: Nora Ephron
As a writer, producer, director and journalist, Nora Ephron has made a career out of knowing what makes a good story. Ephron attributes her love of reading to “the state of rapture that occurs when I read a wonderful book.”
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #11: Chris Matthews
TV news host Chris Matthews (see his show | photos) says he didn’t read many non-required books in college – but every night after studying he’d pick up his favorite book and read.
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #12: President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama (get his books | see photos) was a best-selling author before he became president. He and his daughters, Malia and Sasha,wrote a note to author Yann Martel expressing their appreciation for his book, “Life of Pi” – but it’s not the president’s favorite.
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #13: Michelle Obama
When First Lady Michelle Obama (see her garden |photos of her) recalls her favorite book, she remembers it was “one of the first books that I loved and read cover to cover in one day – not because anybody made me read it but because the book was good.”
Celebrities favorite books 2011 #14: Gwyneth Paltrow
A passionate reader, this actress and musician (see her movies | photos | hear her music) ranks her first book as her favorite. Her mother read it to her when she was just 10 years old, and it’s held a special place in her heart ever since.
