Penn Badgley, the acclaimed actor from 'You' and 'Gossip Girl,' reveals the literary influences that shaped his personal and professional journey. In his recently released book, 'Crushmore: Essays on Love, Loss, and Coming-of-Age,' co-written with Sophie Ansari and Nava Kavelin, Badgley shares six pivotal books that have significantly impacted his worldview and creative process. These selections span various genres and themes, reflecting his evolution from an aspiring homeschooled performer to a thoughtful writer and individual.
A Deep Dive into Penn Badgley's Formative Reads
Badgley, at 38, candidly discussed his deep connection to literature during a recent Zoom interview, emphasizing how reading has always been his primary mode of learning. He shared this perspective while holding his infant, illustrating a personal side far removed from his on-screen personas. His chosen books offer a window into his intellectual and spiritual development:
- Clive Barker's 'Thief of Always': This children's horror novel, read between ages nine and ten, introduced Badgley to mystery, awe, wonder, and even a formative sense of existential dread. He credits it with sparking his initial engagement with complex themes.
- Bill Watterson's 'Calvin and Hobbes': Discovered in childhood, this comic strip was Badgley's first encounter with literate humor. He praises Watterson's cleverness, subtlety, and especially his profound depiction of the natural world and the often-lonely yet imaginative world of childhood.
- Adam Hochschild's 'Leopold's Ghost': Read in 2009, this non-fiction work about the atrocities in the Congo during King Leopold II's reign marked a turning point. It ignited a period of profound disillusionment and a shift in his focus from fiction to non-fiction, driven by a desire to confront brutal truths and systemic injustices.
- Bahá'u'lláh's 'The Hidden Words': This spiritual text, which Badgley began reading regularly in early 2015, profoundly influenced his spiritual path. He describes it as distilling the essence of true religion and credits it with leading him to embrace the Baha'i faith.
- James Baldwin's 'The Fire Next Time': This powerful work by Baldwin was instrumental in helping Badgley understand the social construction of race. He views Baldwin as a humane and spiritual writer whose insights into the Black experience are crucial, especially for white audiences, and remain incredibly vital in contemporary society.
- Octavia E. Butler's 'Parable of the Sower': As one of the rare fiction books Badgley engaged with during a nearly two-decade period of favoring non-fiction, Butler's dystopian novel resonated deeply. He lauded it for its grounded truth and effective world-building, attributing its power to the author's unique perspective as a Black woman in a genre often dominated by others. He highlighted the protagonist's radical hope amidst a disintegrating world as a particularly impactful aspect.
Badgley's diverse reading list underscores a continuous quest for understanding, truth, and personal growth, highlighting how literature can profoundly shape an individual's journey through life's complexities.
Penn Badgley's curated list of impactful books offers a compelling insight into the transformative power of literature. It reminds us that books are not merely sources of entertainment but can serve as catalysts for intellectual, moral, and spiritual awakening. His journey, marked by shifts from engaging with childhood mysteries to confronting historical injustices and embracing spiritual texts, encourages readers to seek out works that challenge perceptions and foster a deeper understanding of themselves and the world. Ultimately, his experience underscores the idea that truly great literature leaves an indelible mark, shaping not just what we think, but how we live.