This is the “most impactful” book that Joseph Quinn gifts all his friends
Got any birthdays coming up? The Fantastic Four actor has got you covered
NOWADAYS, EVERY CELEBRITY HAS A BOOK CLUB: Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, Dakota Johnson. But what about Joseph Quinn, who is quite literally the hottest actor in the world, thanks to his brilliant performance as the Human Torch in The Fantastic Four First Steps? In a recent interview with Esquire, the British actor revealed his go-to reading recommendation.
It is a book called The Prophet by Lebanese-American poet and writer Khalil Gibran. “It goes through different themes of life and give you pearls of wisdom of how to handle them,” Quinn says of the book, first published in 1923. You may have heard of the title, which comprises 26 prose poetry fables, as it has been translated into over 100 languages and is one of the best-selling books of all time.
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
The Prophet unfolds as a series of poetic monologues delivered by Almustafa, a traveller preparing to leave the city of Orphalese after 12 years. Asked by townspeople to share his wisdom before he departs, he speaks on love, marriage, work, joy, sorrow, freedom and more. Each chapter blends lyrical prose with parable-like imagery, drawing on Gibran’s fusion of Eastern mysticism and Western literary style.
The language is rhythmic, almost biblical, with simple yet layered phrasing designed to be both meditative and universal. Rather than prescribing rules, the work offers open-ended reflections, allowing readers to find personal meaning in its lines – one reason it has remained a touchstone for spiritual and philosophical seekers for over a century.
The backstory is just as interesting, as Quinn reveals. He first stumbled across the book because he came across a recording of screen legend Richard Harris reading excerpts of The Prophet. The rest is history: he gives the book to those closest to him at Christmas. If you are not one in Quinn’s inner circle, you can buy the book literally anywhere so do not panic.
A version of this story originally appeared on Esquire UK.
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