Joan Rivers's Reading List

"One is “The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson,” by Robert A. Caro. It’s fascinating that I’m not mentioned at all, considering the torrid affair I had with Mr. Johnson, or as I called him, Big Lyndy."

"The first is a four-volume history of English kings by Thomas B. Costain. It includes “The Conquering Family,” “The Three Edwards,” “The Magnificent Century” and “The Last Plantagenets.” I read this every 10 years. It sounds insane, but it’s a real page turner."

"The first is a four-volume history of English kings by Thomas B. Costain. It includes “The Conquering Family,” “The Three Edwards,” “The Magnificent Century” and “The Last Plantagenets.”"

"The first is a four-volume history of English kings by Thomas B. Costain. It includes “The Conquering Family,” “The Three Edwards,” “The Magnificent Century” and “The Last Plantagenets.”"

"The first is a four-volume history of English kings by Thomas B. Costain. It includes “The Conquering Family,” “The Three Edwards,” “The Magnificent Century” and “The Last Plantagenets.”"

"“Mary Poppins,” “The Secret Garden” and one that I think has totally disappeared from the face of the earth but I adored — “The Middle Moffat.”"

"“Mary Poppins,” “The Secret Garden” and one that I think has totally disappeared from the face of the earth but I adored — “The Middle Moffat.”"

"“Mary Poppins,” “The Secret Garden” and one that I think has totally disappeared from the face of the earth but I adored — “The Middle Moffat.”"

"There is also a series of books called “Tales of the Wild West,” by Rick Steber. They’re almost pamphlets, and they contain true eyewitness accounts of all kinds of lives lived on the frontier — from the stories of Indians to settlers to mountain men. I’ve read them over and over again to my grandson."

"I’m very proud of my first book, “Enter Talking.” It really tells of my struggle to make it in the business, and I think somewhere in there is a good lesson for all young actors/comedians, which is, Just keep going."

"And of course, my latest book, “I Hate Everyone . . . Starting With Me,” is my true favorite."

"But one great, real Hollywood read is Nathanael West’s “The Day of the Locust.”"

"There is also an amazing book by William Goldman called “Adventures in the Screen Trade,” which tells the inside pain that even a most successful screenwriter goes through."

"I loved Caroline Weber’s “Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution.” It showed how fashion really can change history."

"Our latest is “Destiny of the Republic,” by Candice Millard. I really was never that interested in President James A. Garfield, but this turned out to be really fascinating."

"The other one we both fell in love with was Hölldobler and Wilson’s “Journey to the Ants.”"

"“Unbroken,” by Laura Hillenbrand (I’m ashamed to say that I still haven’t gotten around to this one, but I hear it’s wonderful)."