David Bowie

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David Bowie

Dive into the literary world of David Bowie, Singer-songwriter & Musician.

70 Books Listed
Musicians

David Bowie, an iconic figure in the world of music, was known for his eclectic style and groundbreaking contributions to the music industry. Born David Robert Jones in London in 1947, Bowie's career spanned over five decades, during which he reinvented himself and his music numerous times, influencing many genres from glam rock and punk to electronica and pop. His alter egos, most famously Ziggy Stardust, allowed him to explore different musical styles and societal themes, cementing his status as a pioneer of contemporary music and culture. Bowie's hits like "Space Oddity," "Heroes," and "Under Pressure" remain timeless classics that continue to resonate with audiences around the world.

❝I'm a real self-educated kind of guy. I read voraciously. Every book I ever bought, I have. I can't throw them away. It's actually a burden.❞ — David Bowie

Bowie's intellectual pursuits extended far beyond music; he was an avid reader with a deep love for literature. His wide-ranging tastes included classics, contemporary novels, historical biographies, and philosophical texts. This love of books not only influenced his songwriting—often weaving complex narratives into his lyrics—but also informed his views on life and art. Bowie's personal library was extensive, reflecting his voracious appetite for knowledge and his interest in a plethora of subjects, from the occult to modern art. His reading habit fed into his artistic process, often providing inspiration for his music videos, stage designs, and public personas.

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David Bowie's Favorite Books

Last Updated: June 2024

Inside the Whale

A collection of essays by George Orwell, including the famous title essay which analyzes the social and political environment leading up to World War II, as well as literary criticism and reflections on the role of the writer.

The Gnostic Gospels

Elaine Pagels examines a collection of early Christian texts discovered in Egypt, offering insights into the diverse beliefs and practices of early Christianity and the political implications of the narratives canonized in the New Testament.

Flaubert's Parrot

Julian Barnes crafts a unique literary detective story, where an obsessive scholar seeks to find the truth about Gustave Flaubert by investigating a stuffed parrot that once belonged to the writer.

The Bird Artist

Howard Norman's novel set in a remote Newfoundland coastal village in the early 20th century tells the story of Fabian Vas, a bird artist, who confesses to the murder of the lighthouse keeper, revealing the complex interrelations and dark secrets of the village.

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The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind

Julian Jaynes presents a controversial theory that human consciousness arose as a recent development in history, linked to the breakdown of a previous mind-state where decisions were made through auditory hallucinations believed to be the voices of gods.

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White Noise

Don DeLillo's novel satirizes the ubiquity of mass media and the complexity of family dynamics in contemporary America, following a professor who specializes in Hitler studies as he grapples with a toxic airborne event and existential dread.

A Confederacy of Dunces

John Kennedy Toole's comedic masterpiece features Ignatius J. Reilly, an eccentric, lazy, and philosophically inclined man who embarks on various misadventures in New Orleans, reflecting the city's colorful spectrum of characters.

Room at the Top

John Braine's novel follows the ambitious Joe Lampton, who seeks social mobility in post-war England through calculated charm and relationships, exploring themes of class, power, and personal integrity.

Teenage: The Prehistory of Youth Culture: 1875-1945

Jon Savage provides a detailed history of the emergence of teenagers as a distinct demographic, exploring how their identity was shaped in the years before they were recognized as a significant cultural force.

The Coast of Utopia Trilogy 'Voyage', 'Shipwreck', 'Salvage

Tom Stoppard's trio of plays explores the philosophical and political upheavals of 19th-century Russia through the lives and intellectual struggles of pre-revolutionary reformers and thinkers.

Last Exit to Brooklyn: A Novel

Hubert Selby Jr.'s novel presents a gritty, unflinching look at the lives of the residents of an impoverished Brooklyn neighborhood, exploring themes of violence, sexuality, and survival in a chaotic urban environment.

Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder: Pronged Ants, Horned Humans, Mice on Toast, and Other Marvels of Jurassic Technology

Lawrence Weschler explores the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles, delving into its collection of scientific wonders and curiosities that challenge the boundaries between the real, the improbable, and the fake.

David Bomberg

This biography explores the life and work of David Bomberg, an influential British painter known for his bold, expressionistic style, whose art traversed the tumultuous developments of the early 20th century.

Darkness at Noon: A Novel

Arthur Koestler's powerful political novel set during the Stalinist purges and Moscow show trials of the 1930s, follows an aging revolutionary, Rubashov, as he undergoes imprisonment and psychological torture, questioning his past beliefs and the morality of his political actions.

The Age of American Unreason

Susan Jacoby critiques the decline of intellectual and rational thought in American society, linking historical trends with contemporary issues in culture and politics that celebrate ignorance over knowledge.

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The Leopard: A Novel

Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's classic novel set in 19th-century Sicily, chronicling the decline of the aristocracy represented by the aging Prince of Salina and the rise of the new class during the Italian unification.

Writers at Work: The Paris Review Interviews

This compilation from "The Paris Review" features a series of interviews with some of the twentieth century's most influential writers, providing rare and profound insights into their writing processes and literary techniques.

Beyond the Brillo Box: The Visual Arts in Post-Historical Perspective

Arthur Danto explores the philosophy and complexities of contemporary art, discussing how art has evolved in meaning and practice since the era of Andy Warhol, and what these changes reflect about cultural shifts.

The Quest for Christa T.

Christa Wolf's novel follows the life of Christa T., a woman coming of age in East Germany, as she navigates the complexities of her own aspirations against the backdrop of a restrictive socialist regime, exploring themes of individuality and conformity.

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The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea

Yukio Mishima's novel explores the stark and often disturbing clash between traditional Japanese values and the nihilistic ethos of modern youth, through the story of a group of young boys and a sailor they idolize and ultimately betray.

Nights at the Circus

Angela Carter's novel follows Sophie Fevvers, a circus aerialist who claims to be part woman, part swan, on a fantastical journey from London to Siberia at the turn of the 20th century, blending magical realism with feminist themes.

On Having No Head

D.E. Harding's philosophical work challenges the reader's everyday perspective of self by exploring the idea of a "headless" way of being, using a unique blend of experiential exercises and contemplative practices to question the fundamental nature of experience and identity.

The Insult

Rupert Thomson's novel follows the story of a man who, after being shot in the head and left with partial blindness, starts to perceive things he shouldn't be able to see, leading him down a mysterious and suspenseful path.