Actor Matt McGorry’s book recommendations
You may know Matt McGorry as John Bennett from Orange is the New Black (OITNB). Or, you may know him as Asher Millstone from the hit ABC series How to Get Away with Murder (HTGAWM).
But what you may not know about this former competitive bodybuilder, actor, and female rights activist is that he’s an avid reader.
McGorry’s favorite books focus on public morals, racism, and similar topics that align with his activism. This article looks at six of the books this American actor counts among his best reads.
About Matt McGorry
Born in Manhattan, New York, Matt McGorry didn’t get his start with acting until later in life. During his younger years, he was a competitive bodybuilder and personal trainer.
Granted, he picked up a few roles along the way. His turn as a personal shopper in Gossip Girl was memorable, as was his 2011 acting debut in the soap opera, One Life to Live.
Those roles led to more guest roles as an EMT in Person of Interest and Royal Pains. But McGorry’s star started to rise when he took on the recurring role of corrections officer John Bennett in Orange is the New Black.
From there, his career has gone on to greater heights. He played the role of Asher Millstone for 90 episodes of How to Get Away with Murder. He also featured as officer Sam Klecko in the TV show Elementary and Harvard in Uncorked.
His work in TV has more recently given way to film roles. In 2020, McGorry starred as Andy in Death of a Telemarketer, on which he also served as an executive producer. He was also one of the leads in the 2015 indie film How He Fell in Love.
Today, McGorry is as well known for his social activism work as he is for his acting. He’s active in the Black Lives Matter movement, for example. However, he still finds time for fun. McGorry starred in a Peking Duk music video in 2015 and enjoyed a turn on Lip Sync Battle in 2017.
Books recommended by Matt McGorry
As an actor with a diverse list of roles to his credit, it’s no surprise that Matt McGorry has an interesting library. The six titles listed below tell you more about the man and activist he is.
Killing Rage: Ending Racism by bell hooks
McGorry makes no secret of his love for Killing Rage and its author, bell hooks. He points to the way hooks can show how gender, race, and class combine to make liberation difficult for those affected by these issues.
The book is a collection of 23 essays, each covering a different topic though each intertwined with the others. As a collection, it casts a glaring spotlight on the issues of inequality in the United States.
Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison
As somebody who experienced body issues in his younger years, McGorry gravitates to books that call out modern diet culture.
In Anti-Diet, Christy Harrison does just that. Harrison confronts the obsession with dieting in modern culture. She offers some keen insight into why dieting doesn’t work and why it is an all-consuming issue that masquerades as a way to improve health.
Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings
Fatphobia, particularly concerning black women, is Sabrina Strings’ focus in Fearing the Black Body. The book takes the reader on a journey through time, including eras when fat bodies were more desired than they are now.
From there, Strings argues that our current views of body size stem from racialized sentiments. It’s an important book for anybody who is curious about how criticisms of body size intertwine with race and gender.
Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis
The American prison system saw a rise in incarcerations that continues to this day.
Are Prisons Obsolete? digs into the privatization that may be the cause for these increasing numbers. It also highlights racial challenges, including the disproportionate number of people of color in America’s prisons.
By the time you’ve finished reading, you may have some new views on the effectiveness of America’s penal system.
Shrill by Lindy West
In Shrill, Lindy West fights back against a culture that demands women be quiet. An autobiographical tome, the book charts West’s rise from a shy child to a proudly loud woman.
Along the way, it discusses her activism, battles with internet trolls, and her work to demonstrate that larger women have value. As both a bold and funny read, Shrill will put a smile on your face while making you think more about our society.
Yes Means Yes! by Jaclyn Friedman and Jessica Valenti
Yes Means Yes! is a scathing look at how modern rape culture came to be. It delves deep into issues of consent while also presenting a new model for consent. Instead of “No Means No,” Friedman and Valenti introduce the more positive “Yes Means Yes.”
They compile many perspectives on the issue of consent. They also argue that men need to change how they think about sex and that proper education is key to this change.
Listen to books recommended by Matt McGorry with Speechify Audiobooks
Matt McGorry’s reading list shows you that he takes his activism seriously. It’s a list that reveals the man wishes to educate himself on issues he isn’t exposed to firsthand.
Perhaps you would like to follow in McGorry’s reading footsteps?
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FAQ
Does Matt McGorry have a prosthetic?
As Corrections Officer John Bennett in Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, Matt McGorry has a prosthetic leg. However, he doesn’t have a prosthetic leg in real life.
Did Matt McGorry leave OITNB for HTGAWM?
Matt McGorry starred in both Orange is the New Black and ABC’s How To Get Away with Murder at the same time for a while. However, he eventually committed to the latter TV show.
How old is Matt McGorry?
Matt McGorry was born on April 12, 1986. He is 36 years old at the time of writing.
What is Matt McGorry’s Instagram account?
You can find Matt McGorry on Instagram at @mattmcgorry.