Ken Burns is a ‘Reader’

Like most highly intelligent people, Ken Burns reads a lot! In an interview published in the Sunday edition of the New York Times, Burns admitted that he didn’t have enough time to read for pleasure and then went on to recite a very ecletic list of books that he is either currently reading or reading again. Of course he reads non-stop for his work, concentrating on background material for whatever project he might have in the planning stages. Particularly drawn to Russian literature, Burns cites Anna Karenina as the greatest book he had ever read and read and read. Below are some interesting tidbits from the interview:

–Always reads from paper books.

–Thinks The Godfather is the best adaptation of a book to a movie.

–Would like to see Amor Towles’ two recent books made into movies.

–Does not like the ‘horror’ genre.

–Would invite Mark Twain, Leo Tolstoy and Willa Cather to a dinner party.

–Planning to read many many books about the American Revolution in the near future. (There’s a new documentary series in the works.)