As college students, it can be difficult to justify reading for pleasure.
The time consuming hobby is hard to fit in between classes, work and homework. But when you finally sit down and read that perfect book, it becomes totally worth it.
Many busy celebrities — from Oprah to Beyoncé — have intimated their love for the written word.
Here are some of these noted figures’ favorite books.
Oprah Winfrey – “The Seat of the Soul” by Gary Zukav (1989)
Talk show fixture and media luminary Oprah Winfrey has often emphasized the importance of reading in her daily life.
She is known for her eponymous book club, which has included both contemporary best-sellers and timeless classics.
Winfrey’s favorite book, according to an interview with LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner, is “The Seat of the Soul” by Gary Zukav.
“The Seat of the Soul” argues humans have entered a new phase of evolution and encourages us to acknowledge higher, spiritual forces in our lives.
Jonathan Franzen – “The Trial” by Franz Kafka (1925)
Writer Jonathan Franzen is known for his five novels, including “Purity” (2015) and “The Corrections” (2001).
It is unsurprising given his style, distinguished by psychological depth and morbid humor, that one of his favorite novels should be “The Trial” by Franz Kafka.
“The Trial” describes the tribulations of a criminal who knows neither his crime nor the authority he has transgressed.
“Modern anxieties are given near-archetypal form in this parable that seems both to foretell the totalitarian societies to come and to mourn our alienation from a terrible Old Testament God,” Franzen said of Kafka’s novel.
James Franco – “As I Lay Dying” by William Faulkner (1930)
Actor and director James Franco is well-known for his comic roles in films like “Pineapple Express” (2008) and “The Interview” (2014).
However, unknown to many of his fans, Franco is a rapacious reader.
His taste in literature has informed many of his independent projects. He directed and starred in a 2013 adaptation of William Faulkner’s 1930 novel, “As I Lay Dying,” which aslo happens to be his favorite novel.
“As I Lay Dying” explores the thoughts, feelings and motives of members of the Bundren family as they travel to Jefferson, Mississippi to bury their matriarch, Annie.
Franco has identified Faulkner’s tour de force as one of his favorite books, and has said its unique style and raw content fascinate him.
Beyoncé – “What Will It Take to Make a Woman President?” by Marianne Schnall (2013)
Singer and pop-culture queen Beyoncé is known for her advocacy of female empowerment.
In a recent interview, she identified her favorite book as Marianne Schnall’s 2013 collection, “What Will It Take to Make a Woman President?”
This varied analysis of women’s place in American politics includes conversations with several public intellectuals, writers and artists on the question, “Why haven’t we ever had a woman president?”
“(Schnall’s conversations) will inspire you to become a better leader,” Beyonce said.