Mindy Kaling's Favorite Books Make Up An Iconic Celebrity Memoir Reading List
Did you know Mindy Kaling is an avid reader? Well, if not, it's time to learn more about the former "The Office" and "The Mindy Project" star's passion for books, as, just like Jennifer Lawrence, she's got some pretty epic reads on her recommendation list. "Reading has always been my first love — even before beading and working at video stores," Kaling told Glamour.
Kaling is such a fan of books that she founded Mindy's Book Studio, which supports books by female authors she thinks her fans will enjoy. Think somewhat similar to Reese Witherspoon's Reese's Book Club. But that's not all Mindy's Book Studio does. The star has also published books through the company, including "The Vibrant Years" by Sonali Dev and "I'll Stop the World" by Lauren Thoman. But even that's not all. Kaling is also a published author in her own right. The actor and author has published a series of 10 books, including 2015's "Why Not Me?" and 2020's "Kind of Hindu."
It's safe to say that this star is pretty darn knowledgeable in the literary world, which is why we're looking to her for recommendations on some of the best celebrity memoirs to dive into. And she didn't disappoint when it came to her suggestions.
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Mindy Kaling chose some of her favorite reads for Today back in 2011, and Tine Fey's memoir "Bossy Pants" was among her picks. The book, which was released back that same year, is a comedic take on the former "30 Rock" star's ride to stardom and all the personal trials and tribulations that came along with it.
It's probably not too much of a surprise that Kaling is a big fan of Fey's book, though. The star has made her admiration of her fellow funny lady apparent on many occasions, including admitting in 2015 while attending an event alongside Fey that she actually wanted to create a rom-com for Fey to star in. "I would love to. I would love to write it. And to direct it," she told Vulture. Kaling even revealed that she had the whole thing planned out for Fey, who would play a librarian with none other than George Clooney as her love interest. "George Clooney was an Indiana Jones-like professor at a college, and he taught all of these classes and came into the library with all of these antiquities. All of the girls would love him and follow him on campus," Kaling said. "You actually worked at the library, and you would have to take his antiquities and check them in and out. And then sparks would fly!" she told Fey.
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Another book by one of Mindy Kaling's equally hilarious peers, Kaling has also shared her love for Amy Poehler's memoir "Yes Please." The former "Parks and Recreation" star released the book in 2014, and gets super candid in it about her personal life and rise to fame. Kaling recommended the book on X, formerly known as Twitter. She wrote in the since-deleted message, "Getting treated to some major truths and funniness in 'Yes Please.' I love you, Amy Poehler."
Due to their work as some of the funniest women on TV, it's no surprise that Kaling and Poehler have crossed paths before. The two both voiced characters in the 2015 Disney Pixar movie "Inside Out," but they were friends long before that. Back in 2013, Poehler appeared on Kaling's Instagram account when she shared (a since deleted) photo of the two spending time together as a selection of shots were handed out. And we just know that had to be a hilarious time — we're kinda jealous we weren't present for it.
A Visible Man by Edward Enninful
Another celebrity memoir recommended by Mindy Kaling came when she attended an event to celebrate the release of "A Visible Man" by Edward Enninful. In 2022, Kaling took to Instagram to heap praise on the former editor-in-chief of British Vogue after he released his memoir. "I am in awe of @edward_enninful and love reading about his remarkable journey in his new memoir 'A Visible Man'," Kaling wrote on social media. "As the editor-in-chief of @britishvogue, he's broken barriers and fostered an inclusivity that is completely inspiring. Thank you for including me in this celebration of your fabulous new book!"
"A Visible Man" tells the story of how Enninful went from a child in Ghana to an asylum seeker in London, before finding incredible success. It details how his incredible passion for fashion made him one of the biggest success stories in the fashion industry, becoming the first-ever Black editor-in-chief at British Vogue.
My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future by Indra Nooyi
Mindy Kaling is also a fan of "My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future" by Indra Nooyi. So much so that she spoke openly about her love of the memoir to promote it. As for what the multi-hyphenate had to say to publisher Portfolio Books? "Nooyi's honesty, integrity, and humor shine through at every turn. Truly inspiring." And that's hardly surprising due to Nooyi's impressive accomplishments.
As the title suggests, Nooyi tells her life story in the book, which starts when she was just a child in India, to then working her way up to become the former CEO and chairperson of one of the biggest companies in the world, PepsiCo. It delves into her impressive career and the business lessons she learned along the way, as well as touching on her personal life and the ups and downs she dealt with to make her the powerful woman she is today.
My Father's Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness by Gwyneth Paltrow
Okay, so this one may not technically be classed as a memoir, but bear with us, as Gwyneth Paltrow does get pretty personal in "My Father's Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness." In the cookbook that's also kind of a mini-memoir, she shares personal stories and recipes she learned from her late dad, Bruce Paltrow. Alongside plenty of delicious food ideas, she shares how her dad influenced the food she loves today and opens up about her own life as a mom.
This book was featured as one of Mindy Kaling's choices in her recommended readings for Today, but it's not the first time the actor and author has spoken about her passion for Paltrow's books. Kaling included Paltrow's "It's All Good: Delicious, Easy Recipes That Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great" cookbook in a 2014 Instagram post. The upload has been deleted, but she shared in the caption, "...I'm going to start my journey to minor self-improvement. I'm going to cook every recipe in @gwynethpaltow's excellent healthy & yummy cookbook ..." It definitely seems like if she did, she enjoyed the recipes!