Ben Affleck’s Five Life-Changing Books

Every star learns to shine through their inspirations and influences. Five time award-winning film expert Ben Affleck has solidified a respectable presence in the film world. There are five great book influences he can immediately recall. Continue reading to find what the former role-playing Batman was inspired by!

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Winning 2 Academy Awards and 3 Golden Globe Awards
  • Co-written the famous American psychological drama Good Will Hunting
  • Co-founded the nonprofit organization Eastern Congo Initiative
  • Starred in commercially successful films The Town and Argo

BEN AFFLECK ACKNOWLEDGES ONE OF HIS INSPIRATIONS

Ben Affleck’s five favorite books

Here’s what Affleck said about one of his favorite books The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr and E.B. White:

This book is an essential tool. It has been of great use to me and is probably responsible for my best writing. I owe my successes to Strunk and White; only the mistakes are mine.

Ben Affleck’s notoriety in co-writing the 2 time award-winning film Good Will Hunting perhaps was influenced by The Elements of Style. Here’s the complete list of Ben Affleck’s top five books:

TOP 5 READS OF BEN AFFLECK

1) THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE

The Elements of Style William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

The Elements of Style is an astonishing tour on the science of writing. Every writer should read this.

2) SHAH OF SHAHS by Ryszard Kaguścinski

2) SHAH OF SHAHS by Ryszard Kaguścinski
SHAH OF SHAHS by Ryszard Kaguścinski

On behalf of Ryszard Kapuścinski’s analysis of the rise and fall of the last Shah of Iran, Shah of Shahs is a window to political struggles in the Middle East. At 18, Ben Affleck took to some serious study of Middle Eastern affairs. 

3) We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families 

We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families 
We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families 

A 1998 published non-fiction book about the 1994 Rwandan genocide. It is a gripping account of the tragic event that fueled the stories of its survivors. 

4) Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media

This book, its revealings of and disillusionment about the many dangers of “manufacturing consent”, or using propaganda for financial gain and control, makes for a provocative yet good read. 

5) The Book of Matthew

5) The Book of Matthew

Never self-claimed as a religious man, actually taking to agnosticism, Affleck humbly credits The Book of Matthew from the Bible as a source of inspiration in his life. 

CONCLUSION

Clearly, Ben Affleck has earned a notorious presence in the enterprise of filming. His successes as a screenwriter, actor, and film producer surely stem from these book influences. 

These five favorite books of Ben Affleck are as relevant to now as they were when first published. Maybe you will find merit in the appeal of these works. This is a diverse list of books for a film director. Each books is a lens to the complex individual experience.

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1 thought on “Ben Affleck’s Five Life-Changing Books

  1. Todd says:

    “Ben Affleck’s notoriety in co-writing the 2 time award-winning film …”

    “Clearly, Ben Affleck has earned a notorious presence in the …”

    “Notoriety” and “notorious” are not the words you want to use here. Heh. Not unless you really did intend to be insulting to or critical of Affleck. I suspect you did not intend that and this would warrant an edit.

    Reply

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