If you grew up in the 2000s, chances are you've seen an episode or two of 'Gilmore Girls' on TV. And if you watched the show, you already know that Rory Gilmore reads all the time.
She reads so much that across 153 episodes, Rory is either seen reading or referencing over 400 different books! Not only is this a clever way for the screenwriters to "nod" to the books that inspired them, but it's also a tactic to show Rory's character development and reflect what she's experiencing through her book list.
Reading isn't just a hobby but a core part of her identity. Her curiosity and inquisitive nature spur her to explore the world around her. If you've ever wanted to become a reader like her, this is your chance! We've collected every single title referenced on the show below.
Navigating the Rory Gilmore reading list
Now, this list includes books from every conceivable niche and genre imaginable. Drama, non-fiction, fantasy, satire, psychology — it's all here! But where should the newcomer begin with so many options to choose from?
The options might seem overwhelming, but don't worry! We've highlighted the most notable must-reads to make it easier for you to choose.
The complete collection of the books Rory Gilmore read on TV
You can find the whole list here, in alphabetical order. It's also referred to as the "Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge" because of its sheer size. If you're having trouble choosing where to start, we recommend one of these titles:
'Gilmore Girls Series' by Catherine Clark
'Charlotte's Web' by E. B. White
'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen
'Othello' by William Shakespeare
'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens
'A Room with a View' by E. M. Forster
'The Raven' by Edgar Allan Poe
'Bambi' by Felix Salten
'Franny and Zooey' by J. D. Salinger
'Lady Chatterley's Lover' by D. H. Lawrence
'Atonement' by Ian McEwan
'A Mencken Chrestomathy' by H. L. Mencken
'Monsieur Proust' by Céleste Albaret
'Mrs. Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf
'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley
'Out of Africa' by Karen Blixen
'Pushkin: A Biography' by T. J. Binyon
'The Snows of Kilimanjaro' by Ernest Hemingway
'The Sun Also Rises' by Ernest Hemingway
'The Shining' by Stephen King
'Swann's Way' by Marcel Proust
'Tender Is the Night' by F. Scott Fitzgerald
'The Catcher in the Rye' by J. D. Salinger
'The Count of Monte Cristo' by Alexandre Dumas
'The Fellowship of the Ring' and 'The Return of the King' by J. R. R. Tolkien
'The Godfather' by Mario Puzo
'Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal' by Christopher Moore
'The Outsiders' by S.E. Hinton
'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' by L. Frank Baum
'The Scarecrow of Oz' by L. Frank Baum
'The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath' by Sylvia Plath
'Alice in Wonderland' by Jane Carruth
'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' and 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' by J. K. Rowling
'How the Grinch Stole Christmas!' by Dr. Seuss
'Beowulf'
'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens
'Candide' by Voltaire
'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes
'Howl' by Allen Ginsberg
'Anna Karenina' by Leo Tolstoy
'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte
'Dead Souls' by Nikolai Gogol
'The Song Reader' by Lisa Tucker
Why these? They represent an excellent blend of classic and modern literature, containing stories that are culturally significant and relevant even now.
Thematic exploration
The books on this list can be categorized into five "main" topics. Let's elaborate on some of the most influential reads in each category.
Social commentary
Rory has a strong moral compass, an eye for inequality, and a sincere desire to make the world a better place. She's also fascinated by history, which these books explore:
'1984' by George Orwell is a classic critique of totalitarianism and how governments ultimately seek to control populations to the point of complete obedience.
'The Jungle' by Upton Sinclair dives deep into the realities of industrial capitalism and how the working class is forced into a life of hard labor with little to no reward.
'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee tackles racism in America and how some people would rather see an innocent Black man punished than seek the actual perpetrator.
'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller depicts the Salem witch trials and how easily power can cloud rational thinking. It highlights the importance of individual conscience over following the mass hysteria around us.
Racial injustice
Segregation was abolished in 1964. Unfortunately, erasing deeply ingrained social attitudes isn't as simple as passing a bill. People are still affected by the consequences of centuries of slavery, and thoughtful young people like Rory are no exception.
This painful but crucial part of American history must never be forgotten or repeated. Several books on Rory's list focus on this theme:
'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' by Mark Twain — Despite often being categorized as a children's book, this novel dives into profound racial issues. Through the experiences of its white protagonist, readers witness his growing understanding of humanity and his developing empathy toward Jim, a slave.
'Uncle Tom's Cabin' by Harriet Beecher Stowe — This is another powerful critique of slavery, which fueled the abolitionist movement with its mature depiction of the daily brutality of slaves. It is more than just a novel. Stowe even said, "I did not write it. God wrote it. I merely did his dictation."
'Beloved' by Toni Morrison — Beyond physical abuse, Morrison focuses on the psychological trauma inflicted by slavery, even after liberation. The novel depicts just how deep the wounds are and how abolition isn't the end of it. The damage has already been done, and healing it for people who lived it is impossible.
Personal growth
Rory is 16 years old when the series begins — a difficult and confusing age for anyone. It's plagued with questions, like What does it mean to be yourself? How do you stay mentally healthy? How do you deal with the unpredictable world we live in?
These questions have no simple answers, especially when relationships and love are involved. So here are more books on Rory's list that discuss themes of identity and growth:
'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger is a classic about a teenager who sees through societal fakeness and corruption while struggling to find his place in the world. Rory also has similar moments throughout the show, particularly during her time at Yale.
'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' by Stephen Chbosky also follows a teenage protagonist dealing with anxiety and trauma. Similar to Salinger's novel, the core theme in this novel is self-acceptance and finding your place in the world, which fits well with Rory's fragility and need for perfection.
Human relationships
The complexities of communication, friendship, and love are naturally huge topics for a young adult like Rory. These books cover these relationship dynamics:
'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen explores the themes of marriage and the importance of empathy in relationships. Love is a lot like a game of tug-of-war, and this novel is all about finding common ground, overcoming misunderstandings, and shedding prejudice. This back-and-forth can be seen on the Gilmore Girls show, particularly in Rory's relationships with Jess and Logan.
'Terms of Endearment' by Larry McMurtry focuses on mother-and-daughter relationships, showing how both must learn to communicate effectively and navigate life's challenges together. This theme is especially relevant to Rory's close relationship with her mother Lorelai, especially given her father's absence from their household.
War and conflict
Though Rory lives in the safety of Connecticut, books about war don't lose their relevance to her. Armed conflict often mirrors our everyday struggles, and literature about war is about analyzing human nature.
'The Iliad' by Homer – A timeless exploration of the brutality and pointlessness of war, loss, revenge, and, of course, honor. Sure, Rory may have never experienced combat, but she can still learn from this ancient work about the consequences of unchecked anger and pride.
'The Armies of the Night' by Norman Mailer — Moving to a more modern conflict, this work focuses on the Vietnam War. It's not just the combat itself but also the impact of war on the socio-political climate within a country.
Key titles from Rory’s book list
Let's scale down our focus even more and talk about five of the most essential (in our humble opinion) titles on the list.
'A Room of One's Own' by Virginia Woolf
'A Room of One's Own' resonates deeply with Rory's character because she aspires to become a journalist. Woolf explores women's freedom, or lack thereof until recent times, in both artistic expression and their day-to-day lives.
The title is both literal and metaphorical: a woman needs an actual physical space of her own and also the financial independence to carry that creativity into reality.
Though we might take these freedoms for granted today, this work is less than a century old., When Woolf wrote it, women were mostly confined to household lives and denied educational opportunities. Not to mention the societal expectations she critiques — about how women must become mothers and spend their days in the kitchen — are still in full force today.
As Woolf states, "The history of men's opposition to women's emancipation is more interesting perhaps than the story of that emancipation itself."
She combines financial and intellectual freedom and emphasizes the importance of economic security for female self-realization.
'1984' by George Orwell
Many consider '1984' to be more of a prophecy than a novel. And indeed, Big Brother is watching more and more each day. When Orwell published it in 1949, the internet was still decades away.
But as our digital footprints expand, avoiding "Big Brother's watchful gaze" becomes nearly impossible. Some might disregard this sentiment as appealing to conspiracy theorists, but we can't ignore that many governments exercise control far beyond simple legislation.
Authoritarian regimes in countries like North Korea, Russia, and Turkmenistan have little to no regard for human life. To them, humans are just resources, never meant to have any thoughts of their own. But Orwell's message extends beyond obvious dictatorships, inviting us to question how much individual autonomy we truly have even in democratic societies.
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—forever." — George Orwell.
Orwell wasn't just writing about textbook "bad guys" — his insights apply to any society where power becomes concentrated, information is controlled, and surveillance becomes normalized. For example, America is edging closer to Orwellian territory by the day, and the tech industry's monopoly on information isn't helping.
We just hope the rest of the world doesn't follow.
'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee
We mentioned 'To Kill a Mockingbird' earlier when discussing racial injustice. Unfortunately, this classic is still relevant to this day. Why "unfortunately"? Because it's about racism and how people are much more likely to punish an innocent man due to the color of his skin.
The novel follows the story of Atticus Finch, a lawyer defending a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. The man is innocent, but that doesn't stop the judge from passing a "guilty" verdict despite Atticus' attempts to appeal to the court.
What does that say about us as a society? Although this piece first appeared in 1961, its core topics remain relevant six decades later.
"People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for." – Harper Lee.
Sure, slavery is no longer legal, but prejudice and racism have not disappeared. Beyond racism, the novel explores the age-old fight between good and evil and how "good" doesn't always win. Perhaps most importantly, it demonstrates that to beat the "ultimate" evil, you must have some degree of courage in your heart. And without it, the world is destined to fail.
'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu
Don't mind the militant-sounding title of this ancient Chinese text. While it originally served as a military strategy guide, 'The Art of War' is more of a deconstruction of human nature that goes beyond basic hate and aggression.
Above all, it's about analyzing and strategizing around your and your enemies' (literal or hypothetical) strengths and weaknesses. Sun Tzu's main point is that it's best to win without fighting: "The wise warrior avoids the battle."
The text covers diplomacy, reconnaissance, deception, and environmental awareness to use the terrain to your advantage. It pays special attention to how quickly things may change in combat. Sun Tzu also heavily leans into psychological warfare, specifically how to confuse and demoralize your enemy.
The word "combat" here is not necessarily literal. Many of Sun Tzu's strategies apply to everyday life, from sports and school competitions to politics and leadership.
It heavily emphasizes the importance of maintaining composure — both as an army and as an individual. The work is about understanding and influencing the human psyche to your advantage, which is an undeniably helpful skill.
'All The President's Men' by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
Ever heard of the Watergate scandal? If not, then 'All The President's Men' will teach you all about it. It's a real-life story following two Washington Post journalists investigating rumors of political espionage during Richard Nixon's presidency.
Some people believe that Nixon was the best United States president, but this controversy was so great that he willingly resigned. "What could possibly be so bad about it?" you might ask.
Oh, you know, the usual. It's a typical case of corruption, abuse of power, surveillance, and elaborate cover-ups, which seem to be a recurring theme for governments worldwide. The journalists' dogged pursuit of truth emphasizes its importance for the masses rather than just following popular sentiment.
"I think all good reporting is the same thing - the best attainable version of the truth." – Carl Bernstein.
Reading strategies and challenges (if you want to read like Rory Gilmore)
No matter how busy you are, 408 books is a lot to tackle. It's more than most people consume in their entire lifetime nowadays! Even more so if you think about how much free time you have between work, grocery shopping, cooking, and taking care of family, to name a few.
Safe to say, most people can't afford to sit down and just consume books for hours on end. So, let's look into ways to help you fit more books into your daily routine more often.
1. Monthly reading plans
You don't need to read every 300-page book from cover to cover to grasp its content.
A 15-minute summary can be a great alternative when you're short on time, especially when it's in audiobook format. You can listen to it while cooking, driving, or even working if your job allows it.
Many of these books are available in our Headway app. And the best thing? There's a free version with one non-fiction book summary available per day. So, just by using the free plan, you can listen to 365 books in a year for free!
Even if you're not an avid reader, this is a convenient way to get acquainted with more literature. And if that doesn't satisfy your daily reading itch, monthly plans are available for only $12.99.
The app also offers fun reading challenges lasting from a few days to a month, and each list has curated recommendations for choosing the perfect book.
2. Join a book club!
Everything is more fun when you do it with friends, and reading is no exception. Though book clubs might seem old-fashioned, they're perfect for keeping your excitement for reading going!
It doesn't have to be a physical meetup. There are tons of social media communities dedicated to book clubs. These discussions aren't just about discovering new books; they're about taking part in literary discussions that open you to new perspectives you might never have considered on your own.
Each person processes information differently, and it's enlightening to get a peek into other people's brains every once in a while. Here are some questions you might discuss in book club:
"What makes the story compelling?"
"How does the book reflect the social and cultural context of its time?"
"What underlying psychological factors drove a character's actions?"
"How does the author use symbolism to convey deeper meanings?"
"What ethical dilemmas does the book present, and how do they relate to real-world issues?"
"What philosophical questions does the book raise about the nature of humanity?"
3. Other multimedia resources to explore
We've already mentioned audiobooks, but now is the age of information. Many of these titles also have film adaptations, documentaries about their authors, or even a lecture dissecting the work.
Let's take a look at a few examples:
'The Great Gatsby' (2013)
That's right — this is the stunning film adaptation of the same-titled novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It's about the American Dream (or, at least, people's idea of the American Dream) in the Roaring Twenties.
While not a perfect recreation of the novel, it's still an incredibly polarizing look behind the endless pursuit of pleasure and wealth that ultimately ends in tragedy.
'The Vietnam War' documentary series
Ken Burns and Lynn Novick's enormous, 10-part documentary series is an exceptional display of journalism prowess, offering extremely diverse perspectives from both sides. This work interviews nearly 80 people — including American soldiers, anti-war protesters, Vietnamese combatants, and ordinary civilians from different parts of Vietnam.
But what's the point of caring about something that happened 50 years ago? It's because the political and societal issues displayed in the series remain relevant today.
'How to Enjoy Shakespeare' by William E. Cain
It's no secret that Shakespeare's works can seem intimidating or dated, especially to younger audiences. And sure, they're an acquired taste and require some mental exercise to enjoy properly.
This lecture, delivered by William E. Cain, Mary Jewett Gaiser Professor at Wellesley College, is available on YouTube. In it, Cain walks through Shakespeare's plays and makes them more accessible by breaking down their stories, language, and symbolism.
Want to read like Rory Gilmore but don’t have the time? Headway makes it easy.
Explore key ideas from Rory’s favorite books in just 15 minutes with audio or text summaries. Perfect for busy days, short breaks, or your daily commute. With Headway, you can easily dive into the summaries of '1984' by George Orwell and 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee.
Besides, you can:
Learn on the go, no matter how packed your day is
Highlight and save key insights to revisit anytime
Stay motivated with bite-sized learning goals
Track your growth and build a meaningful reading habit
Download the Headway app and start reading smarter today.
