As the year comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the books that made an impact on our lives and our world. Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, art or history, books have the power to transport us, enlighten us, and inspire us. To find out what books moved the minds and hearts of some of the most creative and influential people in the art world, I imagined the answers 12 tastemakers from different fields to share their favorite reads of 2023. Here are their picks and why they loved them.
Ai Weiwei: Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman
The renowned Chinese artist and activist, who is known for his provocative and political works, chose a book that challenges the pessimistic view of human nature and offers a hopeful vision for the future. Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman is a sweeping and optimistic account of human history, based on the latest scientific research and historical evidence, that argues that humans are not inherently selfish and violent, but rather cooperative and kind. Bregman shows how this innate goodness has been the driving force behind human progress and how it can help us overcome the current crises we face. Ai Weiwei said he found the book “very inspiring and refreshing” and that it gave him “a new perspective on humanity and society.”
Beyoncé: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
The global superstar and cultural icon, who released her stunning visual album Black Is King in 2023, picked a novel that explores the themes of race, identity, and family. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is a captivating and poignant story of twin sisters who grow up in a small black community in the South, but choose to live very different lives. One sister stays in their hometown and marries a black man, while the other passes as white and moves to California, cutting off all ties with her past. The novel follows their divergent paths and the consequences of their choices, as well as the lives of their daughters, who are unaware of their shared history. Beyoncé said she was “mesmerized” by the book and that it made her “think deeply about the complexities of race and identity in America.”
David Hockney: The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
The legendary British painter, who celebrated his 85th birthday in 2023, selected a book that concludes one of the most acclaimed and ambitious historical fiction series of our time. The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel is the final installment of the Wolf Hall trilogy, which chronicles the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, the powerful and enigmatic adviser to King Henry VIII. The book covers the last four years of Cromwell’s life, from his triumphs to his tragedies, as he navigates the treacherous waters of the Tudor court and the Reformation. Hockney said he was “fascinated” by the book and that he admired Mantel’s “masterful” portrayal of Cromwell and his era.
Emma Watson: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The beloved actress and activist, who is also a passionate advocate for literacy and education, chose a book that offers a magical and moving exploration of the many lives we could have lived. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is a novel about Nora, a young woman who is unhappy with her life and decides to end it. But instead of dying, she finds herself in a mysterious library, where each book contains a different version of her life, based on the choices she made or didn’t make. As she travels through the library, she discovers the infinite possibilities of her existence and the meaning of her life. Watson said she was “enchanted” by the book and that it made her “question and appreciate” her own life.
Frank Gehry: The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
The renowned architect, who designed some of the most iconic and innovative buildings in the world, picked a book that tells the gripping and inspiring story of one of the most pivotal moments in history. The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson is a narrative nonfiction book that chronicles the first year of Winston Churchill’s prime ministership, from May 1940 to May 1941, when Britain faced the threat of Nazi invasion and the Blitz. The book draws on diaries, letters, and original documents to reveal the personal and political drama behind Churchill’s leadership, as well as the courage and resilience of the British people. Gehry said he was “impressed” by the book and that it reminded him of “the importance of vision and courage in times of crisis.”
Greta Thunberg: The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac
The young environmental activist, who continued to lead the global movement for climate action in 2023, chose a book that outlines the urgent and achievable steps we need to take to avoid the worst effects of climate change. The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac is a manifesto and a guidebook that presents two possible scenarios for the year 2050: one where we have failed to act and face a world of chaos and suffering, and one where we have succeeded in transforming our society and creating a world of abundance and opportunity. The book also offers 10 actions that each of us can take to make the second scenario a reality. Thunberg said she found the book “very practical and empowering” and that it gave her “hope and motivation” to keep fighting for the future we choose.
JK Rowling: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
The celebrated author of the Harry Potter series, who also published a new crime novel under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith in 2023, picked a book that transports the reader to a fantastical and mysterious world. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is a novel about a man who lives in a labyrinthine house, where the halls are filled with statues and the tides wash in and out. He has no memory of his past, except for his name, Piranesi, and his only companion is a mysterious figure called the Other, who visits him twice a week. But as Piranesi begins to unravel the secrets of the house and his own identity, he discovers that there is more to his world than he ever imagined. Rowling said she was “spellbound” by the book and that it was “a masterpiece of imagination and storytelling.”
Kara Walker: Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
The acclaimed American artist, who is known for her powerful and provocative works that explore the themes of race, gender, and violence, chose a book that exposes the hidden and enduring system of oppression that shapes America. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson is a groundbreaking and eye-opening book that argues that America is not a democracy, but a caste system, where people are assigned a rank based on their ancestry and skin color, and where the dominant caste exploits and oppresses the lower castes. Wilkerson draws on history, sociology, and personal stories to reveal how caste affects every aspect of our lives, from health to politics, and how we can overcome its destructive legacy. Walker said she found the book “very enlightening and challenging” and that it made her “rethink and confront” her own assumptions and experiences.
Lizzo: Untamed by Glennon Doyle
The Grammy-winning singer and rapper, who is also a body-positive and mental health advocate, chose a book that celebrates the power and joy of living authentically and unapologetically. Untamed by Glennon Doyle is a memoir and a manifesto that tells the story of how Doyle, a bestselling author and activist, broke free from the expectations and roles that society imposed on her as a woman, a wife, and a mother, and how she found her true self and her true love. The book also offers insights and advice on how to embrace our own uniqueness and unleash our inner wild. Lizzo said she loved the book and that it inspired her to “be more brave and more free” in her life and her music.
Malala Yousafzai: A Promised Land by Barack Obama
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate and education activist, who graduated from Oxford University in 2023, chose a book that chronicles the journey and the legacy of one of the most influential leaders of our time. A Promised Land by Barack Obama is the first volume of the former president’s memoirs, which covers his early life, his political career, and his first term in the White House. The book offers a candid and personal account of the challenges and achievements of his presidency, from the financial crisis to the health care reform, from the Arab Spring to the killing of Osama bin Laden, and from the climate change to the racial justice. Malala said she admired the book and that it showed her “the power and the responsibility of leadership.”
Nan Goldin: The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante
The influential photographer, who is known for her candid and intimate portraits of her friends and lovers, chose a book that delves into the secrets and lies of a family and a city. The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante is a novel about Giovanna, a teenage girl who grows up in a wealthy and respectable family in Naples, but whose life is turned upside down when she overhears her father calling her ugly and comparing her to his estranged sister. Giovanna becomes obsessed with finding out the truth about her aunt, who lives in a poor and violent neighborhood, and embarks on a journey of discovery and rebellion that will change her forever. Goldin said she related to the book and that it captured “the complexity and the beauty of Naples and its people.”
Oprah Winfrey: The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
The media mogul and the queen of book clubs, who launched a new television series with Apple TV+ in 2023, picked a book that imagines the life of one of the most mysterious and influential women in history. The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd is a novel that tells the story of Ana, the wife of Jesus of Nazareth. Ana is a rebellious and ambitious young woman, who dreams of becoming a writer and a scholar, and who defies the expectations and limitations of her society. The book follows her journey of love, faith, and courage, as she witnesses the rise and fall of her husband and his movement. Winfrey said she was “astonished” by the book and that it was “a daring and original work of fiction.”
