Read by Wong Kar Wai, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Ralph Lauren and 5 others
What books does Ralph Lauren recommend?
Like a mood board for the empire he built, the book recommendations of Ralph Lauren, who turned a vision of American style into a global lifestyle brand, read as pure inspiration. This collection of 10 titles comes largely from Ralph Lauren Magazine's "From Ralph's Bookshelf" features, a Gentleman's Journal interview, and the biography Genuine Authentic. Fiction and literature and history dominate, with a design and creativity thread. In his own words he names his formative writers: "The authors that have most influenced me are Fitzgerald, Hemingway and Ayn Rand, to name a few." F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby stands at the center, and titles like Out of Africa, The Sun Also Rises, and Brideshead Revisited are cited as recurring sources of inspiration for his collections and campaigns.
Last updated February 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
byF. Scott Fitzgerald
2004180 Pages(4,896,000)
“The authors that have most influenced me are Fitzgerald, Hemingway and Ayn Rand, to name a few.”
— Ralph Lauren
Source: The Gentleman's Journal interview
Read by Donald Trump, Larry Ellison, Chip Wilson and 4 others
byAyn Rand
1943752 Pages“Lauren's literary heroes [are] Jay Gatsby and, from 'The Fountainhead,' Howard Roark.”
— Ralph Lauren
Source: Genuine Authentic: The Real Life of Ralph Lauren by Michael Gross
Read by Ralph Lauren
byErnest Hemingway
1926251 Pages(525,000)
“Though Ralph Lauren has always been inspired by the character and style of Hemingway the man, the author's work has also been a source of design inspiration.”
— Ralph Lauren
Source: RL Mag: From Ralph's Bookshelf
Read by Ralph Lauren
byIsak Dinesen
1989480 Pages“This 1937 memoir by Danish author Karen Blixen... has inspired the spirit of many of Ralph Lauren's collections.”
— Ralph Lauren
Source: RL Mag: From Ralph's Bookshelf
Read by Ralph Lauren
byCalvin Tomkins
1971152 Pages“Calvin Tomkins' 1971 book is the definitive nonfiction account of these glamorous American expats' exploits on the Riviera in the '20s.”
— Ralph Lauren
Source: RL Mag: From Ralph's Bookshelf
Read by Ralph Lauren
byTruman Capote
1958160 Pages“The moment embodies the kind of contradiction that would become a Ralph Lauren signature in his own collections and advertising.”
— Ralph Lauren
Source: RL Mag: From Ralph's Bookshelf
Brideshead Revisited
The Sacred and Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder
byEvelyn Waugh
2000480 Pages“The style of Lord Sebastian Flyte and Captain Charles Ryder in Waugh's riveting epic... has often inspired the English elegance.”
— Ralph Lauren
Source: RL Mag: From Ralph's Bookshelf
Read by Ralph Lauren
byWilla Cather
1918320 Pages“Cather's incredibly bold vision of pioneer life set in the prairies of rural Nebraska... captures one of the many visions of the American frontier.”
— Ralph Lauren
Source: RL Mag: From Ralph's Bookshelf
Read by Wong Kar Wai, Chip Wilson, Steven Spielberg and 1 others
byJohn Steinbeck
2002464 Pages“The novel echoes the pioneers who, with countless expeditions, conquered the immense territory that is the United States.”
— Ralph Lauren
Source: RL Mag: From Ralph's Bookshelf
Read by Ralph Lauren
byDiane Keaton
2024304 PagesSource: Foreword by Ralph Lauren
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Ralph Lauren recommend?
The 10 titles associated with him include The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen, and Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh.
Who are Ralph Lauren's favorite authors?
In his own words: "The authors that have most influenced me are Fitzgerald, Hemingway and Ayn Rand, to name a few." The Great Gatsby in particular sits at the heart of his aesthetic.
How do books influence Ralph Lauren's designs?
Ralph Lauren Magazine's "From Ralph's Bookshelf" links several titles to his collections, noting that works like Out of Africa and The Sun Also Rises have served as sources of design inspiration.
Has Ralph Lauren written any books?
Yes, two in the data: Ralph Lauren (2007) and the Revised and Expanded Anniversary Edition (2017), retrospective volumes on his design career and brand.
What genres does Ralph Lauren favor?
His bookshelf is dominated by fiction and literature and history, with a strong creativity and design thread and several biographies and memoirs, reflecting his interest in American style and eras.
All 10 Books Ralph Lauren Has Recommended
- The Great Gatsby · F. Scott Fitzgerald
- The Fountainhead · Ayn Rand
- The Sun Also Rises · Ernest Hemingway
- Out of Africa · Isak Dinesen
- Living Well Is the Best Revenge · Calvin Tomkins
- Breakfast at Tiffany's · Truman Capote
- Brideshead Revisited · Evelyn Waugh
- My Ántonia · Willa Cather
- The Grapes of Wrath · John Steinbeck
- Fashion First · Diane Keaton