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This past weekend saw the simultaneous premieres of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" in theaters. Both movies drew huge crowds, breaking several box office records, partly due to the phenomenon around "Barbenheimer," a moniker coined for the online fervor surrounding both movies. Due to this, many viewers went to see both movies in the same day, with several—myself included—dressed up to fit the aesthetic of each film.
Though focused on extremely different subject matter, both films share a genesis in literature. Director Christopher Nolan has been quite up front about his inspiration for "Oppenheimer" being the Pulitzer Prize winning biography "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer" throughout the press tour for the film. "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig said in an interview with Vogue that "Reviving Ophelia," a book she read as a child that focuses on the problems adolescent girls face within our culture, partially inspired the plot arc for her film.
Reading the books that inspired the directors provides additional insight into each film's respective plot, but can also make you think more about what these movies are trying to say. "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" are both films that carry immense meaning beyond just what viewers see on the screen, so we rounded up several pertinent books to expand your "Barbenheimer" experience, from standout philosophical works to harrowing historical accounts.
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