Every literary reference made in 'Friends'
Our favorite Friends were big readers. After all, in the very first episode the first piece of furniture that Joey and Chandler assemble in Ross' new apartment is a bookcase.
With Sept. 22 marking the 20th anniversary of the airing of Friends, I knew there was only one thing I could do to properly honor the series that brought me so much joy and laughter. I would have to commit to watching every single episode and record every literary reference I could find. An insane task, some might say, but like Joey facing down a Thanksgiving dinner, I was prepared for what lay ahead of me.
Using Monica's meticulous nature as inspiration, I combed carefully through every episode and now can present to you every literary reference our Friends ever made. The only titles you'll find missing are the books that are, tragically, not real — such as Be Your Own Windkeeper and Rachel's naughty book — and reference books like the dictionary or encyclopedia (book V specifically). Season 7 is also notably absent — apparently planning Monica's wedding and teaching Ben about Hanukkah left little time for literature.
I'd say spoiler alert, but c'mon people, you've had 20 years to catch up!
Episode: "The One with George Stephanopoulos"
Book: Jack and the Beanstalk
Rachel has run out on Barry, been cut off from her parents, and is quickly learning how hard it is to live without her safety nets. Phoebe draws an analogy to a literary character who gave up a lot for a big payout.
Episode: "The One with the Butt"
Book: Magic Eye 3D
Despite his doctorate, Ross wasn't quite bright enough to see what everyone else could when the gang checked out this optical illusion book.
Episode: "The One Where Underdog Gets Away"
Book: Yertle the Turtle, Dr. Seuss
Ever the awkward turtle himself, Ross offends Susan, his ex-wife Carol's partner, while browsing her bookshelf.
Episode: "The One with the Dozen Lasagnas"
Author: Danielle Steel
Ross hopes that Rachel will end things with Italian hunk Paolo, but she's too caught up in the romance.
Episode: "The One with All the Poker"
Book: The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera
While playing Pictionary, Joey proves that he reads more than menus.
Episode: "The One After the Superbowl"
Book: The Little Engine That Could, Watty Piper
While Phoebe plays her guitar for a group of school kids, Chandler reconnects with this childhood classic but is too impatient to know the ending.
Episode: "The One Where Eddie Won't Go"
Book: The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
It becomes clear that Rachel never read Tolkien's classic fantasy adventure when she compares it to the feminist Be Your Own Windkeeper.
Episode: "The One with All the Jealousy"
Book: Flowers of Evil, Charles Baudelaire
When he isn't writing offensive verse about Monica as an empty vase, Julio could be found reading poetry.
Episode: "The One Where Monica and Richard are Just Friends"
Book: The Shining, Stephen King and Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
Rachel tells Joey she'll read his favorite book, The Shining, if he reads hers, Little Women. But when Joey starts accidentally revealing spoilers, things get dirty fast.
Episode: "The One with a Chick and a Duck"
Book: Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
When Joey is overly affectionate with a baby chick, Chandler calls him out on being eerily similar to Steinbeck's not-so-gentle giant.
Episode: "The One with the Dirty Girl"
Book: The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams
Hopelessly in love with Joey's girlfriend, Chandler finds her the perfect birthday gift. Margery Williams' beloved children's book is mentioned for a second time in Season 8's "The One with the Halloween Party" when Monica gets Chandler a pink bunny costume loosely based on his favorite childhood book.
Episode: "The One Where They're Going to Party!"
Book: The Lord of the Rings series, J.R.R. Tolkien
The boys attempt to use a little Tolkien magic to bust out of the coffeehouse rut, only to find out their stamina matches that of an Ent and not an Elf.
Episode: "The One with All the Haste"
Book: Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes
The girls fail to bribe the boys into trading apartments, and Chandler fails to relate to Joey via a literary classic.
Episode: "The One with the Worst Best Man Ever"
Book: The Bible
The gang rarely discussed religion, but the Good Book was the first thing Rachel reached for when Phoebe started having contractions. Ross also mentions the Bible in Season 10, "The One After Joey and Rachel Kiss," when stuffing his suitcase with items the Barbados hotel "owes" him.
Episode: "The One with Ross' Sandwich"
Book: Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë and Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
In search of a new hobby, Phoebe decides to take up a literature class. Unfortunately, Rachel tags along as a classmate and is more interested in reading Vogue and stealing Phoebe's answers than truly participating.
Episode: "The One Where Chandler Can't Cry"
Book: Chicken Soup for the Soul, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
Chandler turns to literature when the gang makes fun of him for being heartless. If he wanted some tears he should've picked up The Time Traveler's Wife.
Episode: "The One That Could Have Been"
Book: 1984, George Orwell
Once again, Joey swoops in with a surprising reference to Orwell's 1984.
Episode: "The One with the Rumor"
Book: What to Expect When You're Expecting, Heidi Murkoff
Joey "helps" Rachel prep for pregnancy by reading up on the best-selling What to Expect When You're Expecting.
Episode: "The One with the Cooking Class"
Book: T. Rex and the Crater of Doom, Walter Alvarez
When Ross and Rachel go shopping, Ross picks up something that wasn't on the list: a new girlfriend.
Episode: "The One with Christmas in Tulsa"
Book: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Clement Clarke Moore
Phoebe entertains Joey with a magical tale of a jolly man delivering toys … and decides to claim it as her own.
Episode: "The One with the Cake"
Book: Love You Forever, Robert Munsch
After forgetting to buy a present for Emma's first birthday, Joey improvises a touching reading.
Episode: "The One with the Late Thanksgiving"
Author: Ernest Hemingway
Book: The Firm, John Grisham
Though he's appeared well-read before, Chandler proves just how little he knows of his "favorite" author.
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This article was originally posted on Bookish.com