Anna Kendrick is one of those celebrities that seems good at everything.
She first became widely known for her role in Twilight before completely dominating pop culture with Pitch Perfect. Along the way, she proved she could act, sing, do comedy, and somehow remain effortlessly charismatic while doing all of it.
After her breakout performance in Up in the Air, critics and audiences quickly realized Kendrick was far more versatile than many initially expected. Since then, she has built one of the most recognizable careers in Hollywood.
But outside of acting and music, Anna Kendrick is also a huge reader.
And honestly, her reading list is far more intense than I expected.
Celebrity book lists can sometimes feel predictable. You usually expect a few trendy self-help books, a couple modern bestsellers, and maybe one classic included to make the list look balanced. But Kendrick’s favorite books list is surprisingly thoughtful, dark, intellectual, and eclectic.
There are war novels, philosophical works, psychological nonfiction, dystopian classics, and some incredibly bleak literary fiction.
In other words, this is not a casual beach-reading list.
Here are Anna Kendrick’s favorite books and why her reading taste is more interesting than many people probably expected.
Anna Kendrick’s Favorite Books
- Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
- Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy
- The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
- Blood Meridian by Cormac Mccarthy
- All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
- Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
- The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien
- The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
- Hunger by Roxane Gay
- Around the Way Girl by Taraji P. Henson
- So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
- Writing Movies for Fun and Profit by Robert Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon
- The History of the Wife by Marilyn Yalom
- The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Starting the list with Meditations immediately tells you this is going to be an interesting collection of books.
Written by Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius nearly two thousand years ago, Meditations remains one of the most influential philosophical works ever written.
The book focuses heavily on Stoicism, self-discipline, mortality, and emotional control.
What makes it fascinating is that it was never intended to be published publicly. It was essentially Marcus Aurelius writing personal reflections to himself while dealing with leadership, war, and life itself.
It is easy to see why modern readers continue to connect with it. Stoicism has become incredibly popular again in recent years and Meditations remains one of the best introductions to that philosophy.
Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan
This is probably one of the more unexpected books on Kendrick’s list.
Sex at Dawn explores human relationships, evolution, and sexuality while challenging many modern assumptions surrounding monogamy and social behavior.
The book became controversial after release because it questioned long-held beliefs about human nature and relationships.
Whether readers agree with its arguments or not, many people praise the book for being thought-provoking and deeply researched.
It definitely stands out compared to the darker fiction-heavy parts of Kendrick’s reading list.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
If you have read The Road, you already know this book stays with you long after you finish it.
Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic novel follows a father and son traveling through a dying world filled with ash, starvation, and violence.
The novel is emotionally devastating while somehow remaining deeply beautiful at the same time.
McCarthy’s minimalist writing style makes every moment feel cold, bleak, and painfully real.
This is one of those books readers either absolutely love or never emotionally recover from.
Honestly, seeing this on Kendrick’s list makes complete sense once you realize how literary and emotionally heavy many of her favorite books are.
The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker
Unlike many books on this list, The Gift of Fear is nonfiction focused on personal safety and intuition.
Gavin de Becker examines how human instincts often recognize danger long before logic catches up.
The book has become hugely influential over the years because it teaches readers to trust warning signs and instincts rather than dismissing them.
A lot of people describe it as genuinely life-changing because of how practical and psychologically insightful it feels.
It is also one of those nonfiction books that people constantly recommend to friends and family.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Few dystopian novels have remained as culturally relevant as The Handmaid’s Tale.
Margaret Atwood’s classic explores a totalitarian society where women lose nearly all rights and autonomy.
The novel feels disturbingly plausible, which is probably part of why it continues to resonate decades after publication.
Atwood’s writing is sharp, unsettling, and emotionally powerful throughout.
This is one of those books that people often read in school before fully realizing how layered and brilliant it actually is.
And honestly, every time the world becomes more chaotic, this novel somehow becomes relevant again.
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
Seeing one Cormac McCarthy novel on a favorite books list is common among literary fiction fans.
Seeing two makes me think Kendrick may genuinely consider him one of her favorite authors.
Blood Meridian is often described as one of the greatest American novels ever written and also one of the most violent.
The story follows a teenage runaway traveling with a brutal group of scalp hunters across the American West.
McCarthy’s prose in this novel is hauntingly beautiful despite the horrifying subject matter.
This is not an easy read whatsoever, but readers who connect with it tend to become obsessed with it.
It is a brutal, philosophical, and unforgettable novel.
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
This classic anti-war novel remains just as devastating today as when it was first published.
The story follows young German soldiers during World War I and explores the psychological destruction caused by war.
What makes the novel so powerful is its honesty. There is no glorification of violence or heroism here.
Instead, Remarque focuses on fear, trauma, exhaustion, and the loss of innocence.
It is one of the greatest war novels ever written and easily one of the most emotionally impactful books on Kendrick’s list.
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut’s masterpiece somehow manages to be funny, absurd, tragic, and philosophical all at once.
Slaughterhouse-Five follows Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes “unstuck in time” after surviving World War II.
The novel blends science fiction, satire, and anti-war commentary in ways that still feel unique decades later.
Vonnegut’s writing style feels deceptively simple while carrying enormous emotional weight underneath the humor.
This is one of those books readers revisit repeatedly because it reveals something new every time.
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Another war novel appears on Kendrick’s list and honestly, there is a clear pattern emerging here.
The Things They Carried explores the Vietnam War through interconnected stories about soldiers and the emotional burdens they carry with them.
The book blurs the line between fiction and memoir in fascinating ways.
What makes it so memorable is how personal and intimate the storytelling feels. It is less focused on battles themselves and more focused on memory, fear, guilt, and trauma.
Many readers consider this one of the best books ever written about war.
The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson has a talent for taking complex psychological subjects and making them entertaining.
The Psychopath Test explores psychopathy, mental illness, and the strange world of psychiatric diagnosis.
The book balances humor and serious commentary surprisingly well while asking important questions about how society defines sanity.
Ronson’s conversational writing style makes potentially heavy material incredibly accessible.
This feels like exactly the kind of nonfiction book someone reads late at night and immediately recommends to everyone afterward.
Hunger by Roxane Gay
Roxane Gay’s memoir is deeply personal, emotional, and brutally honest.
In Hunger, Gay discusses trauma, body image, identity, and self-protection in ways that many readers find profoundly moving.
The memoir became widely praised for its vulnerability and emotional depth.
It is not always an easy read emotionally, but readers consistently describe it as powerful and important.
Around the Way Girl by Taraji P. Henson
Taraji P. Henson’s memoir explores her journey through Hollywood, personal struggles, motherhood, and success.
Readers often praise the book for feeling genuine, funny, and inspiring without becoming overly polished or artificial.
Celebrity memoirs can sometimes feel overly curated, but this one seems to resonate because of its honesty and personality.
So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
Jon Ronson appears twice on Kendrick’s list, which suggests she clearly enjoys his work.
This book explores public shaming culture, internet outrage, and how social media can completely destroy people’s lives overnight.
Considering how online culture has evolved over the years, the book feels more relevant now than ever.
Ronson approaches the topic with empathy while still examining the darker aspects of internet behavior.
Writing Movies for Fun and Profit by Robert Ben Garant & Thomas Lennon
This might be the most industry-specific book on the list.
Written by two successful screenwriters, the book offers insight into Hollywood screenwriting while balancing practical advice with humor.
For someone working in film like Kendrick, this choice makes perfect sense.
It also shows that her reading interests extend beyond fiction and philosophy into creative craft as well.
The History of the Wife by Marilyn Yalom
This nonfiction book examines the role of wives throughout history across different cultures and societies.
It explores how marriage, gender roles, and societal expectations evolved over time.
It is definitely one of the more academic selections on Kendrick’s reading list and further highlights how varied her taste in books really is.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Arthur Miller’s legendary play remains one of the greatest works of American literature.
Using the Salem witch trials as inspiration, Miller explores fear, paranoia, mass hysteria, and political persecution.
The themes remain timeless because societies repeatedly fall into the same cycles of fear and accusation.
This is one of those works people often first encounter in school before realizing how frighteningly relevant it actually is.
A Surprisingly Unique Reading List
The books that stand out most immediately are The Handmaid’s Tale and Slaughterhouse-Five simply because they are such iconic literary classics.
These are the kinds of books many people first read in school before later revisiting them as adults and realizing how brilliant they truly are.
But honestly, the most interesting part of Kendrick’s list is how dark and introspective many of the books are.
There is a strong focus on war, trauma, psychology, survival, philosophy, and human behavior throughout the entire list.
Seeing Cormac McCarthy appear twice especially makes me think he is likely one of Kendrick’s favorite authors. Most casual readers would probably choose The Road, but including Blood Meridian as well suggests a deeper appreciation for literary fiction.
The rest of the list also feels highly personal rather than curated for appearances. These choices genuinely feel like books someone loved rather than books selected to impress people.
Final Thoughts
Anna Kendrick’s favorite books list is honestly far more fascinating than I expected.
Rather than playing it safe with trendy bestsellers, her list leans heavily into literary fiction, philosophical nonfiction, psychological exploration, and emotionally challenging stories.
It is the kind of reading list that tells you a lot about someone’s personality and interests.
And while I may not rush to read every single title here, there are definitely several books on this list that immediately moved higher on my own reading list after seeing Kendrick recommend them.
Especially the Jon Ronson books. Those sound impossible to ignore. Until next time, happy reading!
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