Best books recommended by Bryan Callen
Before he made his name with stand-up specials like Bryan Callen: Never Grow Up and Complicated Apes, Bryan Callen established himself as an improv specialist and comedy actor.
Today, he’s the host of The Bryan Callen Show podcast and a regular guest on The Fighter & The Kid alongside former mixed martial artist Brendan Schaub.
But you may not know that a range of books feeds Callen’s insightful comedic mind. This article looks at five of the books he recommends to his audience.
About Bryan Callen
Born in Manila, Philippines, Bryan Callen’s first taste of TV success came when he was a founding member of the MadTV cast. He followed that up with a role in the hit HBO tv show Oz in 1997, along with guest appearances on several shows:
- The King of Queens
- 2 Broke Girls
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
- CSI: Miami
- Fat Actress
- Suddenly Susan
- Frasier
- The West Wing
- NYPD Blue
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
He also had more extensive roles in comedy series like The Goldbergs, in which he played Coach Rick Mellor and George Vickery Petrowski on 7th Heaven. He also had a role in Sex and the City, where he played Howie Halberstein, one of Carrie Bradshaw’s boyfriends.
Beyond his TV work, Callen is a veteran of stand-up comedy and podcast host. He has appeared in films like Old School, Joker, Bad Santa, and Think Like a Dog, where he played Agent Callen.
And there’s more. Callen made appearances on Newsradio, in addition to his work in stand-up, with specials like Guard Callen and Man Class.
Today, he runs his website, bryancallen.com, and hosts a podcast.
Books recommended by Bryan Callen
With his podcast covering so many topics, it’s no surprise that Bryan Callen reads many books. You may not expect the following recommendations from the man who played a pool boy on Newsradio.
Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari
The author of the bestselling Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari’s follow-up is just as compelling. Rather than looking at the history of humanity again, Harari turns his focus to the future.
He writes about humanity’s ability to survive war, famine, and events that could have led to the collapse of the species.
Then, he takes on more difficult questions. What duties will people set themselves in the future? And as the self-appointed gods of planet Earth, what new ways can we discover to obliterate ourselves?
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
As a well-schooled author in the philosophy of objectivism, Ayn Rand wasn’t afraid of letting her political colors show in her work. Nowhere is that truer than in The Fountainhead.
Following the tale of an architect named Howard Roark, the story deals with two elements – romance and creation.
Rand looks at the contempt society has for its most creative minds. But she grounds the story in a tragic romance between Roark and a beautiful woman named Dominique Francon.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
A scandalous novel that had a ripple effect from Las Vegas to New York, Lolita is a challenging read. It tells the tale of a man with uncomfortable erotic desires, leading to a twisted love story that is as poignant as it is uncomfortable.
A novel about a man’s love for a 12-year-old girl rightly caused controversy. And to this day, the book is among the world’s most ferociously debated works of literature.
Bad Pharma by Ben Goldacre
What do you get when you combine corruption with bad science? Ben Goldacre attempts to answer that question in Bad Pharma.
Goldacre turns his eye to scandal in science toward the multi-billion pharmaceutical industry in this scathing book. He highlights flaws present in the study and manufacture of today’s drugs. Plus, he exposed how big pharmaceutical companies manipulate data to market their products.
If you used prescription medication last night or at any point in the past, Bad Pharma could leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
As a love story at heart, Cold Mountain is a fascinating look at a Civil War soldier’s journey home to his beloved.
However, it’s not the romance that’s the most gripping aspect of this novel. The main character, Inman, is a Confederate soldier carrying war wounds. His journey is a difficult one. But his love for his sweetheart, Ada, causes him to push through.
Frazier touches on themes of solitude and the dangers of a society undergoing a change in this great novel.
Listen to Bryan Callen’s book recommendations on Speechify Audiobooks
It’s interesting to see how the man who starred as Miggs in Ride Along can also have such a fascinating list of books he enjoys. Far from his comedic work, it’s clear that Bryan Callen has a true love for literature.
A love of books is something that the team at Speechify Audiobooks understands. With its growing library of over 65,000 titles, Speechify Audiobooks offers access to some of Bryan Callen’s favorite books. These include Homo Deus and The Fountainhead, both of which are available to buy on the platform.
Best of all, if you’re new to Speechify Audiobooks, you get your first book for free. Why not explore some of Bryan Callen’s favorite books with the help of Speechify Audiobooks?
FAQ
Are Bryan Callen and Joe Rogan related?
Though there is a rumor that Bryan Callen is Joe Rogan’s half-brother, the two aren’t related.
What is Bryan Callen known for?
You may have seen Bryan Callen in many places, from his role as a stripper in My Man is a Loser to his work as Owen Manners in the 2013 film 10 Rules for Sleeping Around. He’s also a stand-up comedian, with Man Tears being his most recent special.
Is Bryan Callen Filipino?
Though he was born in the Philippines, Bryan Callen is American.
What is the theme of Callen’s podcast?
The Bryan Callen Show typically involves interviews with interesting and prominent figures. Themes range from the comedic to the scientific, with Callen taking a broad-minded approach to his work.
What is Callen’s favorite food?
Though he jokes about eating corgis, Bryan Callen’s favorite food appears to be Italian.
How tall is Bryan Callen?
Bryan Callen is 5ft 11 inches tall.