Joe Goldberg, the character Penn Badgley plays in the Netflix thriller series You, is a book lover—and Badgley himself is also quite well-read. However, unlike Goldberg, he doesn’t use literature to justify murder. Instead, books helped Badgley understand the world and the people in it, particularly during his time being homeschooled as a budding performer. He reflects on this period in Crushmore: Essays on Love, Loss, and Coming-of-Age, a clever and charming new book he co-wrote with Sophie Ansari and Nava Kavelin, his co-hosts on the podcast Podcrushed.

“Reading has always been how I learned the most,” Badgley shares over Zoom. The 38-year-old actor has a baby strapped to his chest, gently rocking them as he talks about his unconventional upbringing—a stark contrast to the fictional elite high school world of Brooklyn he once portrayed on Gossip Girl.

To celebrate the release of Crushmore, Badgley shares six books that profoundly influenced his life and helped shape him as a writer.

Thief of Always by Clive Barker
I read this book when I was nine or ten, and it stands out among all my literary experiences. I can’t recall what I’d read and loved before, but I remember it introduced me to mystery, awe, and wonder. It must have been my first taste of horror, as it’s a children’s book in that genre, though that’s not how I remember it. What stuck with me was its strangeness and intensity—it completely blew me away.

It’s funny, because I also recall a sense of dread, which isn’t something I usually enjoy in books or films. I’m not one for horror suspense, yet this book clearly had a formative impact. It might not sound entirely positive, but I think it introduced me to existential dread—and I’m not joking. That’s what horror does, and this book does it masterfully.

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Last night, my five-year-old picked up my complete collection of Calvin and Hobbes, which I’ve had for about 15 years, and asked me to read it to him at 4:30 in the morning. His sleep schedule is all over the place because of the twins. As I read it this morning, I realized this was actually my first formative literary experience. It’s brilliant—definitely my introduction to literate humor. It’s wise, clever, and subtle.

Despite Calvin’s irreverence, Bill Watterson’s depiction of the natural world is reverent, spiritual, and vivid, adding another layer to the comic strip. Now as a father, I appreciate how accurately and smartly Watterson captures childhood. Revisiting it, I noticed that Calvin has a lonely side. He has this incredible imagination that hides his loneliness; Hobbes isn’t real, and the people he interacts with are often antagonistic, even if they’re trying to care for him. Those tender moments with his parents really melt my heart.

Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild
I read this in 2009, the year before the BP oil spill, while filming the second season of Gossip Girl. Politically, that era was defined for me by Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show in its golden age. Even though it was the Obama years, I wasn’t content. I think everyone’s political coming-of-age involves some disillusionment, and I was ready for a change. Reading this book, I was struck by the particular evil of the slave trade in the…Congo, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, made me realize we have no time for fiction. It didn’t just open my eyes to racism or slavery, but to the far-reaching system built around them—a system the whole world profited from, and one that must change you when you truly face it. After reading this book, no fiction could hit as hard or strike a chord that felt so true. My theory has always been: if it feels true and resonates, I want to read it. But I can’t find a work of fiction that hits as powerfully as nonfiction when it tackles something profound. So this book marked the start of a search that began politically, turned moral, then spiritual, and ultimately led me to live a different way of life—part of which was becoming a Baha’i.

I don’t want to overstate what that one book did, as I think I was already heading in that direction; it was more of a milestone. The following year brought the BP oil spill, then the Arab Spring, and later Occupy Wall Street. A few years after that, Black Lives Matter emerged. As a young adult, I was at the right age for all these events to be deeply formative and transformative.

The Hidden Words by Bahá’u’lláh
In the preamble, Bahá’u’lláh writes, “This is that which hath descended from the realm of glory, uttered by the tongue of power and might, and revealed unto the Prophets of old. We have taken the inner essence thereof and clothed it in the garment of brevity…” Just as science reveals the truth of physical reality—its laws, principles, and dynamics—this book reveals those same principles and dynamics for the inner human being by distilling the essence of true religion.

That, to me, is the ultimate purpose of religion. Modern organized religion is often a different story, but this book achieves that purpose successfully and effectively. I wasn’t a Baha’i before reading it, but in early 2015, I spent about three months reading it regularly. It’s a small book you can finish in a day, yet it’s incredibly dense—you could meditate on just a few words for a month or even a year, which I’ve sometimes done. I never consciously planned to become a Baha’i, but this book was one of the things that led me there.

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
I wonder if, in a discussion among people from diverse backgrounds, they’d say James Baldwin was meant more for white audiences. I suppose he must be, because he describes aspects of the Black experience that white people most need to hear. He does it so effectively that it feels spiritual. His humanity is profound and should be taken as the highest compliment.

The idea that race is a social construct wasn’t the terminology of his time or when I read it. Though I haven’t read it in years, I think it helped me feel what that means—that something isn’t real but socially constructed. Breaking it down, it’s a disturbing way to view human beings—so unbelievably superficial. This issue is incredibly vital for the world, especially our country, and now more than ever. Baldwin occupies a unique, rarefied, and special place. He’s such a powerful writer.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
This is the one work of fiction I could finish during that nearly 20-year period when I wasn’t interested in fiction. Part of why I struggle with fiction is that the author becomes like God—the creator of that universe’s reality. And the principles of that universe don’t necessarily…Novels don’t operate by actual truth; they reflect the author’s understanding of it. The best fiction can draw you in, allowing you to perceive real and universal truths through its narrative. Yet, I often find myself thinking, “This is just your personal view of people, so why should it matter to me?” Authors can be incredibly skilled yet profoundly unaware. Brilliance doesn’t guarantee a true perspective on the world; it might just be persuasive or alluring. This particular book struck me as post-apocalyptic fiction with a foundation in reality. And it’s no coincidence, I believe, because the author is not only a genius but also a Black woman. That matters because speculative fiction and fantasy are often dominated by white male imaginations. Here, the world-building feels authentic and is among the most impactful I’ve encountered.

Many futuristic visions present a deeply cynical outlook on humanity, devoid of any hope. In contrast, the protagonist, Lauren Olamina, lives in a crumbling, terrible world but holds onto a radical hope rooted in both faith and reason.

Crushmore: Essays on Love, Loss, and Coming-of-Age
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Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and clear FAQs about the six books that transformed Penn Badgleys life

General Beginner Questions

1 Who is Penn Badgley and why are his book recommendations a big deal
Penn Badgley is an actor best known for his roles in Gossip Girl and You Hes also known for his thoughtful perspective on life media and spirituality so his book recommendations offer a window into the ideas that shape his worldview

2 What are the six books that transformed Penn Badgleys life
While his list may evolve based on his interviews the core six transformative books are often cited as
The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chdrn
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

3 What is the common theme among these books
The common thread is a focus on inner transformation mindfulness and finding meaning beyond material success They explore topics like healing from trauma living in the present moment and discovering ones personal journey or dharma

4 Im new to this type of reading Which book should I start with
The Alchemist or The Four Agreements are great starting points They are short accessible and use parablelike stories to convey their powerful messages about personal legends and selflimiting beliefs

Deeper Dive Advanced Questions

5 How did The Myth of Normal specifically impact him
This book helped him understand the link between personal trauma and societal sickness It gave him a framework for discussing mental health healing and the idea that many of our personal struggles are rooted in a sick culture which aligns with his critiques of fame and consumerism

6 Whats the core lesson from Eckhart Tolles The Power of Now
The core lesson is that all our psychological suffering comes from being trapped in memories of the past or anxieties about the future True peace and power are found by anchoring your awareness entirely in the present moment