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Every book Guillermo del Toro recommended on podcasts
Guillermo del Toro appears on the Book Review podcast to discuss his creative process, cinematic adaptations, and lifelong relationship with literature. Del Toro demonstrates a profound passion for classic literature, horror, and philosophical texts. Among his recommendations, he highlights Stephen Mitchell's translation of the Tao Te Ching as a favorite book that he frequently loves to give as a gift, and recommends Nabokov's Butterflies as a compelling collection of miscellaneous writings reflecting Vladimir Nabokov's fascination with entomology. A central focus of del Toro's discussion is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, recounting how he bought an 1818 text paperback at age eleven and explaining how the novel helped him navigate profound philosophical questions and the savagery of the world as a child. He also critiques how general audiences frequently misunderstand the true mechanics of classic novels like Frankenstein, Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo, Pinocchio, and Dracula. Additionally, del Toro discusses finally completing Herman Melville's Moby-Dick later in life, noting that the detailed whaling passages, which initially felt daunting, ultimately became his favorite part of the epic novel. Through these reflections, del Toro reveals a deeply analytical and historically grounded appreciation for enduring literary works.
Books recommended by Guillermo del Toro
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Nabokov's butterflies
Nabokov's butterflies by Vladimir Nabokov is a collection of writings showcasing the author's lifelong passion for entomology.
Recommended“...I would say there's a really good book that is called Navok's butterflies which is is a collection of miscellaneia and I think Nabokov uh had a fascination with entomology and uh uh you know particularly fascinated by butterflies...”
Where to get it
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Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu is an ancient foundational text of Taoism that offers philosophical wisdom on living in harmony with the natural flow of the universe and finding balance in life.
Recommended“I would say the the Dao in the translation of Stephen Mitchell uh is one of is one of the books I I love to I discovered and I love to give...”
Where to get it
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Frankenstein
Frankenstein by Mary W.
Discussed“And at that age, at 11, I pedal my bicycle to to to that store and I bought the paperback uh from a a Spanish a Spanish um publisher and that was the 1818 text um which is for me the only text uh the only version of the three versions that exist of the novel that were revised during”
Where to get it
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MOBY-DICK; or, THE WHALE
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville is a classic American novel detailing Captain Ahab's obsessive quest for revenge against the giant white sperm whale.
Discussed“Whenever whenever you hit the whailing passages as a young reader, I said, 'Well, I I would be completely shipwrecked in that.' And now uh like recently, you know, like a few years ago, I finished it and the whailing passages became my favorite.”
Where to get it
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The Count of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is a classic adventure novel chronicling a wrongful imprisonment, a meticulous revenge plot, and an elaborate escape and transformation.
Discussed“People think they know Pinocchio. People think they know Dracula. People think they know Frankenstein. People think they know Monte Cristo. But the mechanics that made the books what they are uh escaped them.”
Where to get it
Books Guillermo del Toro wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guillermo del Toro on Writing and Directing the Oscar-Nominated ‘Frankenstein’ | The Book Review | 2026-02-20 | 7 |
Other mentions (3: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I read all of Oscar Wild and I read uh Victor Hugo's uh Notredam and Lemis and Monte Cristo and etc etc etc and I and I realized this was a way to communicate with the world just as comic books were art was.”
“I read all of Oscar Wild and I read uh Victor Hugo's uh Notredam and Lemis and Monte Cristo and etc etc etc...”
“I read all of Oscar Wild and I read uh Victor Hugo's uh Notredam and Lemis and Monte Cristo and etc etc etc...”