Alix Earle's Book Confession

Influencer Alix Earle told Interview magazine she had never read a book, saying maybe only Dr. Seuss.

“I never read a book. Like, maybe Dr. Seuss?”

Jenna Bush Hager's Response

Jenna Bush Hager created a reading syllabus for Alix to help her build reading skills after her book confession.

“We know that you’re smart, so you know what we want to do, we want to give you a little syllabus.”

First Book: The Baby-Sitters Club

The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin starts with Kristy Thomas starting a babysitting club with friends.

“We know you’re an entrepreneur. She started her own brand. This talks about females getting together, starting a club, empowering each other.”

Second Book: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume follows a girl navigating school and her relationship with God.

“Alix, if you haven’t learned about sex, this might hit the ticket.”

Third Book: Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck tells the story of George and Lennie during the Great Depression.

“If you didn’t get assigned this in eighth grade, I want to talk to your English teacher.”

Fourth Book: Pachinko

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee is a multigenerational story about Sunja becoming pregnant by a wealthy married man.

“I love this author so much. This is a bigger one, so that’s why you start with these [other books].”

Additional Books in Syllabus

Jenna Bush Hager’s full syllabus includes Bel Canto, The Hunger Games, The House on Mango Street, The Fault in Our Stars, Summer Sisters, Beezus and Ramona, and The Bluest Eye.

Jenna's Reading Philosophy

Jenna Bush Hager explains that reading fiction builds empathy and uses a part of the brain combated by social media.

“With social media, you have to use your mind quickly. When you sit in a book and you’re there for a while it uses a different part of our brain, which is a part that we used a lot back in the day and has been sort of combated with the rise of short videos.”

Reader Reactions

Readers praised The Baby-Sitters Club for teaching acceptance and responsibility and relatable themes.

“As a child I absolutely loved these books. I read more than 100 of them growing up, and unfortunately didn’t keep my collection.”

Next Steps for Alix

Jenna Bush Hager’s reading syllabus aims to help Alix Earle develop reading skills and build empathy through literature.