Few celebrities have worn as many hats—as successfully—as Tom Hanks. Beloved actor, director, screenwriter, and even typewriter collector, Hanks is a man of depth, curiosity, and storytelling finesse. But what many may not realize is how deeply books have shaped his worldview and creative expression.
An avid reader with a quiet literary wisdom, Hanks approaches stories the way he approaches characters—with empathy, wonder, and a desire to understand the world better. Whether it’s historical fiction that makes you weep, memoirs that shift your perspective, or novels that reveal life’s quiet poetry, Hanks’ 2025 reading list is packed with titles that linger long after the last page.
From timeless classics to modern reflections on humanity, these are the books that have either earned a spot on Tom Hanks’ shelf—or deeply reflect the kind of stories that have always moved him.
Let’s take a look at the books that shaped Tom Hanks this year. #6 might just be the quietest—but most profound—book you’ll read all year.
A World Lit Only By Fire by William Manchester
Category: History, Nonfiction, Medieval Europe
What It’s About
William Manchester takes readers deep into the darkness and drama of the Middle Ages in this vivid, narrative-style history book. Covering the fall of the Roman Empire to the dawn of the Renaissance, A World Lit Only By Fire doesn’t just recount facts—it immerses you in a time of superstition, savagery, and stunning human resilience. With gripping prose and sharp storytelling, Manchester paints a world ruled by kings and popes, torn by plagues and wars, and destined for transformation.
Why You Should Read It
This isn’t your average history book. It reads more like an epic tale than a textbook—perfect for readers who want to understand how the medieval world gave rise to modern civilization. From barbaric practices to breathtaking breakthroughs, the book reminds us how far humanity has come—and how far we still have to go.
Tom’s Take
“Try A World Lit Only By Fire by Wm Manchester. I’ve read it four times!”
Tom Hanks once shared enthusiastically. For someone known for his thoughtful roles and love of rich storytelling, this historical masterpiece clearly resonates. Hanks’ repeated reads speak volumes—it’s the kind of book that offers something new with each pass, revealing layers of insight about power, ignorance, progress, and the strange beauty of human history.
Get Book: A World Lit Only By Fire by William Manchester!The Martian by Andy Weir
Category: Science Fiction, Adventure, Survival
What It’s About
When astronaut Mark Watney is stranded on Mars after a mission goes wrong, everyone assumes he’s dead—except he’s very much alive. Alone on a hostile planet with limited resources, he has to use his wit, engineering skills, and unshakable sense of humor to survive until rescue. The Martian is a masterclass in science-driven storytelling, where every challenge is met with clever, often hilarious, problem-solving.
Why You Should Read It
It’s fast-paced, smart, and surprisingly funny. Whether you’re a science geek or just love a good survival story, this novel pulls you in with heart-pounding tension and keeps you there with a protagonist you can’t help but root for. It’s Apollo 13 meets Cast Away—but on Mars.
Tom’s Take
“Andy Weir’s masterpiece! Jealous of Matt Damon! First in line for the movie? Me!”
Tom Hanks couldn’t hide his enthusiasm for The Martian. As a fan of stories that blend human ingenuity with impossible odds, it’s no surprise this one earned his admiration. His tongue-in-cheek comment reflects what fans everywhere love about the book: it’s clever, cinematic, and just the right kind of nerdy thrill.
Get Book: The Martian!Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Category: Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Historical Sci-Fi
What It’s About
Spanning centuries and continents, Cloud Atlas is a dazzling puzzle of six interconnected stories—from a 19th-century voyage in the Pacific to a dystopian future in post-apocalyptic Korea. Each narrative is nested within the next, like literary Russian dolls, exploring how individual actions ripple across time. At its core, the novel asks: how are we connected to those who came before us—and those yet to come?
Why You Should Read It
Few novels match the ambition, scope, and lyrical power of Cloud Atlas. If you enjoy big, mind-bending questions about time, morality, and the human spirit—all wrapped in sharply distinct storytelling voices—this book is a must. It’s the kind of story you’ll want to reread just to see what you missed the first time.
Tom’s Take
Tom Hanks starred in the 2012 film adaptation of Cloud Atlas, playing multiple characters across timelines—a bold storytelling move he called “one of the most ambitious films I’ve ever been part of.”
His deep engagement with the story’s themes of reincarnation, fate, and legacy suggests the novel itself left a lasting impression. It’s a cerebral favorite for someone who thrives on layered narratives and philosophical questions.
Get Book: Cloud Atlas!Lenin’s Tomb by David Remnick
Category: Nonfiction, History, Soviet Politics
What It’s About
Lenin’s Tomb is a Pulitzer Prize–winning deep dive into the final days of the Soviet Union, capturing the unraveling of a political empire through the eyes of those who lived it. Drawing on firsthand accounts, secret archives, and his years as a Moscow correspondent, Remnick weaves a narrative that blends journalism with history—shedding light on truth, repression, reform, and revolution.
Why You Should Read It
This isn’t just a history book—it’s a gripping chronicle of a society on the edge. If you’re fascinated by the collapse of ideologies, or if you’re curious about how propaganda, politics, and power shape a nation’s legacy, Lenin’s Tomb reads like a thriller but hits with the weight of truth.
Tom’s Take
“Lenin’s Tomb by David Remnick of The New Yorker. Hands down.”
Hanks praised the book for its grounding in verifiable history, especially in contrast to earlier narratives clouded by propaganda. His interest reflects a broader intellectual curiosity in global affairs and historical truth—one that aligns with his appreciation for stories that challenge official narratives and spotlight human resilience.
Get Book: Lenin’s Tomb by David Remnick!In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
Category: Historical Nonfiction, World War II, Political History
What It’s About
Set in 1933 Berlin, this compelling nonfiction book follows William E. Dodd, the first U.S. ambassador to Nazi Germany, and his daughter Martha, as they navigate the glittering yet ominous world of pre-war Germany. Through the Dodds’ eyes, readers witness the chilling rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime—long before the world understood the full horror to come.
Why You Should Read It
Larson is a master of narrative nonfiction, and this book reads like a historical thriller. It offers a front-row seat to one of the most pivotal moments in modern history, reminding readers how fascism can creep in while the world watches. If you’re a fan of gripping, character-driven nonfiction that reveals the fragility of democracy, this is a must-read.
Tom’s Take
Hanks was so captivated by In the Garden of Beasts that he bought the film rights. His interest in turning this story into a movie speaks volumes—it’s exactly the kind of historically rich, morally complex narrative that resonates with him.
The book’s intersection of diplomacy, personal conflict, and political descent is a natural fit for Hanks’ cinematic sensibilities and his passion for telling important, human-centered stories from history.
Get Book: In the Garden of Beasts!Stoner by John Williams
Category: Literary Fiction, Character Study, Academic Life
What It’s About
Stoner is the quiet yet powerful story of William Stoner, a humble English professor in the early 20th century whose life unfolds in near-total obscurity. From his rural beginnings to the classroom halls of the University of Missouri, we follow Stoner through marriage, fatherhood, personal disappointment, and professional endurance. The beauty of this novel lies in its subtlety—there are no grand plot twists, only the quiet, heartbreaking truths of a life lived with quiet dignity.
Why You Should Read It
This is a novel that rewards the patient reader. It asks you to sit with discomfort, with routine, with quiet failures and invisible victories. The emotional resonance creeps in slowly but deeply. Stoner is a meditation on purpose, identity, and how a seemingly unremarkable life can carry monumental meaning.
Tom’s Take
Tom Hanks has called Stoner “one of the most fascinating things that you’ve ever come across,” and it’s easy to see why.
The novel mirrors the kind of storytelling Hanks often gravitates toward—unflashy but profound, understated yet unforgettable. Like many of his on-screen roles, Stoner is a study in restraint, grace, and the human spirit under pressure. It’s a book that leaves you different by the time you quietly close the final page.
Get Book: Stoner by John Williams!My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
Category: Literary Fiction, Identity, Art, Religion
What It’s About
This powerful novel tells the story of Asher Lev, a gifted young Hasidic Jewish artist growing up in postwar Brooklyn. From a young age, Asher’s passion for art clashes with the strict traditions of his faith and family. As he matures, the tension between his artistic calling and religious upbringing deepens, ultimately leading him to create a work so controversial it fractures his community—and his relationship with his parents.
Why You Should Read It
Potok’s storytelling is richly layered, examining the complex intersections of faith, self-expression, and generational expectation. My Name is Asher Lev is not just a book about art—it’s about the cost of living truthfully, the price of genius, and the courage it takes to break away from what you’ve always known. It will resonate with anyone who’s ever struggled between duty and desire.
Tom’s Take
Tom Hanks has said of Chaim Potok, “I’ve read almost everything that he wrote,” a rare kind of endorsement that speaks volumes.
It’s no surprise that Asher Lev would captivate him—this is a story of creative struggle, identity, and grace under fire, all themes that have echoed throughout Hanks’s most compelling roles. In Asher Lev, Hanks finds the kind of soul-searching journey he has long been drawn to—quiet, intense, and unforgettable.
Get Book: My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok!The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Category: Literary Mystery, Historical Fiction, Gothic Fiction
What It’s About
Set in post–Civil War Barcelona, The Shadow of the Wind follows a young boy named Daniel who discovers a forgotten novel by a mysterious author—only to find that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of the writer’s work. As Daniel searches for answers, he becomes entangled in a web of secrets, love, revenge, and betrayal that spans generations. It’s a haunting, romantic ode to books and the people who love them.
Why You Should Read It
If you’re drawn to rich storytelling, shadowy cityscapes, and stories-within-stories, this book will wrap around your imagination and never let go. Zafón’s prose reads like a love letter to literature, and the novel explores the power of stories to shape lives, uncover truth, and protect memory. It’s gripping, elegant, and deeply immersive.
Tom’s Take
“A friend of mine recommended me Shadow of the Wind, and I truly liked it,” Hanks once shared.
That quiet nod speaks to the book’s magic—The Shadow of the Wind doesn’t shout; it lingers. Like Hanks’s own performances, the novel builds its power through emotion, character, and mystery. His appreciation for this gothic gem highlights his love for layered storytelling and timeless, atmospheric fiction.
Get Book: The Shadow of the Wind!Bossypants by Tina Fey
Category: Memoir, Humor, Pop Culture
What It’s About
In Bossypants, comedian, writer, and producer Tina Fey takes readers on a wildly funny journey through her life—from nerdy childhood to her rise as the first female head writer at Saturday Night Live and her creation of the iconic show 30 Rock. The memoir blends sharp wit with surprising heart, offering behind-the-scenes stories, feminist insight, and self-deprecating hilarity.
Why You Should Read It
This book isn’t just about laughs—it’s about resilience, ambition, and the absurdity of navigating womanhood in the spotlight. Fey’s storytelling style is as punchy as her comedy, making this a breezy but deeply satisfying read for anyone craving both humor and honesty. You’ll laugh, reflect, and probably want to re-read it with a friend.
Tom’s Take
“If you haven’t read Tina Fey’s Bossypants, you will, and whatever you are drinking will come out of your nose due to laughter,” Hanks quipped.
That kind of enthusiastic endorsement says it all. Tom Hanks, a master of blending drama and comedy, clearly appreciates Fey’s comedic genius—and Bossypants stands as a shining example of storytelling that’s both hilarious and unexpectedly profound.
Get Book: Bossypants!Redshirts by John Scalzi
Category: Science Fiction, Satire, Meta-Fiction
What It’s About
Redshirts is a sharp, hilarious sci-fi novel that flips the script on every Star Trek-style trope you’ve ever known. When Ensign Andrew Dahl joins the Universal Union’s starship Intrepid, he quickly notices something strange: low-ranking crew members die at an alarming rate—especially during away missions. Dahl and his fellow ensigns begin to suspect they’re caught in a bizarre narrative loop—and the truth they uncover is as mind-bending as it is entertaining.
Why You Should Read It
This is science fiction with a wink—and a whole lot of heart. Scalzi plays with genre conventions while delivering a genuinely compelling story that asks big questions about fate, free will, and who gets to matter in the stories we tell. It’s witty, fast-paced, and perfect for anyone who loves their sci-fi served with a side of existential musing and absurd humor.
Tom’s Take
“My summer reading: Redshirts, then anything else by John Scalzi!” Hanks declared.
That simple shoutout speaks volumes—Tom, a known lover of both thoughtful fiction and clever satire, clearly found a new favorite in Scalzi’s smart, self-aware storytelling. It’s easy to see how this book fits into Hanks’s bookshelf: it’s intelligent, a little weird, and wildly entertaining.
Get Book: Redshirts!Final Thoughts
Tom Hanks’s 2025 reading list is exactly what you’d expect from one of Hollywood’s most beloved storytellers—curious, wide-ranging, and full of heart. From time-bending fiction to searing historical accounts, his picks reflect a mind that’s always searching, learning, and laughing. Whether you’re in the mood for deep introspection or pure entertainment, Hanks’s bookshelf offers a little bit of everything—just like the man himself. Dive in, and you just might see the world through a more generous, more thoughtful lens.
