Johnny Depp is an American actor, producer, and musician known for his versatility and distinctive character portrayals, often involving eccentric and larger-than-life roles. Born in 1963 in Owensboro, Kentucky, Depp rose to fame in the 1980s with a lead role on the television series "21 Jump Street." He gained further critical acclaim and a global following through collaborations with director Tim Burton in films such as "Edward Scissorhands," "Sleepy Hollow," and "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." Depp's portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series solidified his status as a leading Hollywood actor, showcasing his unique ability to blend humor with depth in a commercially successful franchise.
❝I think the thing to do is enjoy the ride while you're on it.❞ — Johnny Depp
Depp has expressed a deep appreciation for literature, often citing it as a significant influence on his approach to developing his film characters. He has a particular affinity for the works of Hunter S. Thompson and has been involved in adaptations of Thompson's work, such as "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and "The Rum Diary." His reading interests extend into classic literature and poetry, which have helped shape his artistic sensibilities and contributed to his reputation for portraying complex, introspective characters.
Johnny Depp's Favorite Books
Last Updated: July 2024
Big Sur
Author: Jack Kerouac
Publisher: Martino Fine Books
Date: Feb 26th, 2019
In this autobiographical novel, Kerouac chronicles his retreat to a cabin in Big Sur, California, as he struggles with fame, alcoholism, and a search for peace amid the beauty and isolation of the coastal wilderness.
The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America
Author: Douglas Brinkley
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date: Jul 28th, 2009
Brinkley's biography highlights Theodore Roosevelt's passion for conservation, detailing his efforts to protect America's natural landscapes and wildlife through landmark environmental policies.
The Rum Diary
Author: Hunter S. Thompson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date: Nov 2nd, 1998
Thompson's semi-autobiographical novel follows journalist Paul Kemp as he navigates the chaos and decadence of 1950s Puerto Rico while working for a failing newspaper and wrestling with existential dilemmas.
The People's Act of Love
Author: James Meek
Publisher: Canongate
Date: Nov 16th, 2005
Set in a remote Siberian village during the Russian Civil War, Meek's historical novel weaves a tale of love, faith, and brutality as a group of Czech soldiers, a Christian sect, and a mysterious stranger converge.
The Flowers of Evil & Paris Spleen
Author: Charles Baudelaire
Publisher: Dover Publications
Date: Sep 16th, 2010
This collection includes Baudelaire's influential poetry from The Flowers of Evil, which explores themes of beauty, decadence, and existential despair, alongside the prose poems of Paris Spleen, which capture the melancholy and vibrancy of urban life.
Ulysses
Author: James Joyce
Publisher: Modern Library
Date: Nov 1st, 2000
Joyce's groundbreaking modernist work chronicles the peripatetic appointments and encounters of Leopold Bloom in Dublin in the course of an ordinary day, 16 June 1904, weaving a dense tapestry of themes, techniques, and allusions.
The Thin Man
Author: Dashiell Hammett
Publisher: Vintage Crime/Black Lizard
Date: Jul 17th, 1989
Hammett's detective novel introduces retired private investigator Nick Charles and his witty wife Nora as they become embroiled in a murder investigation, blending elements of mystery, romance, and comedy against a backdrop of 1930s New York City.
On the Road
Author: Jack Kerouac
Publisher: Library of America
Date: Sep 1st, 2007
Jack Kerouac's seminal Beat novel, based on his own travels across America, captures the spirit of freedom and longing for meaning through the adventures of Sal Paradise and his charismatic friend Dean Moriarty.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Author: Hunter S. Thompson
Publisher: Modern Library
Date: May 5th, 1998
Thompson's gonzo journalism classic recounts a drug-fueled journey to Las Vegas, blending surreal narrative and social critique to explore the dark side of the American Dream.
A Season in Hell & Illuminations
Author: Arthur Rimbaud
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Date: Aug 9th, 2005
This collection includes Rimbaud's seminal works, A Season in Hell and Illuminations, showcasing his revolutionary and visionary poetry that has influenced generations of writers and artists.
The Master and Margarita
Author: Mikhail Bulgakov
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Date: May 3rd, 2016
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.
In the Hand of Dante: A Novel
Author: Nick Tosches
Publisher: Little, Brown
Date: Sep 4th, 2002
Tosches' literary thriller alternates between the story of Dante Alighieri in medieval Italy and a modern-day narrative involving the discovery of Dante's original manuscript of The Divine Comedy.
In Our Time: Stories
Author: Ernest Hemingway
Publisher: Dover Publications
Date: Nov 17th, 2021
Hemingway's first collection of short stories showcases his minimalist style and themes of war, love, and loss, featuring characters who navigate the complexities of the human condition with stoic resilience.
Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates
Author: Tom Robbins
Publisher: Bantam
Date: May 1st, 2000
Robbins' novel features the irreverent and unpredictable Switters, a CIA operative who becomes bound to a wheelchair, as he embarks on a surreal journey through the Amazon, the Middle East, and beyond.
The Ginger Man
Author: J.P. Donleavy
Publisher: Grove Press
Date: Jul 1st, 2010
Donleavy's comic novel follows the reckless and hedonistic adventures of Sebastian Dangerfield, an American expatriate studying in Dublin, as he navigates financial woes, relationships, and his own debauchery.
