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

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.

David Bowie's Favorite Books

Last Updated: June 2024

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.
Also recommended by:
Ben Shapiro 

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.

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.
Also recommended by:
Neil deGrasse Tyson 

Puckoon

Spike Milligan's comedic novel is set in 1924, centered around the fictional Irish village of Puckoon, where the boundary commission has divided the village in two, leading to a series of absurd and hilarious consequences for the locals.

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.

In Bluebeard's Castle: Some Notes Towards the Redefinition of Culture

George Steiner's series of essays critically examines modern Western culture, questioning its progress and sustainability in the wake of historical atrocities and shifting moral landscapes.

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 Master and Margarita

Mikhail Bulgakov's fantastical, satirical novel features the Devil visiting Soviet Russia, intertwining the lives of Margarita, her beloved Master who is an oppressed writer, and historical figures, ultimately exploring themes of good and evil, love, and redemption.
Also recommended by:
Jordan Peterson  Johnny Depp 

Billy Liar

Keith Waterhouse's novel follows a day in the life of Billy Fisher, a young man from a working-class English family who escapes his mundane life through vivid daydreams, while struggling with his desires versus societal expectations.

The Fire Next Time

James Baldwin's profound exploration of race in America, delivered through two essays that examine his early life in Harlem and a more philosophical exploration of racial identity and relationships.
Also recommended by:
Tom Hanks 

Kafka Was the Rage: A Greenwich Village Memoir

Anatole Broyard recounts his post-WWII years in Greenwich Village, a vibrant and bohemian hub, where he navigated young adulthood and intellectual awakening among influential writers and artists.

The Songlines

Bruce Chatwin offers a fascinating blend of travel narrative and philosophical inquiry into the Australian Aboriginal people's traditional network of 'Songlines,' pathways that crisscross the continent, through which they navigate and maintain their culture.

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.

Selected Poems of Frank O'Hara

This collection showcases the vibrant, spontaneous, and emotionally expressive poetry of Frank O'Hara, capturing the dynamic essence of urban life and the New York art scene of the mid-20th century.
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