It becomes clear that Rachel never read Tolkien's classic fantasy adventure when she compares it to the feminist Be Your Own Windkeeper.īook: Flowers of Evil, Charles Baudelaire

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. While playing Pictionary, Joey proves that he reads more than menus.īook: The Little Engine That Could, Watty Piper Ross hopes that Rachel will end things with Italian hunk Paolo, but she's too caught up in the romance.īook: The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera Phoebe draws an analogy to a literary character who gave up a lot for a big payout.ĭespite his doctorate, Ross wasn't quite bright enough to see what everyone else could when the gang checked out this optical illusion book.Įpisode: 'The One Where Underdog Gets Away'Įver the awkward turtle himself, Ross offends Susan, his ex-wife Carol's partner, while browsing her bookshelf.Įpisode: 'The One with the Dozen Lasagnas' 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. I'd say spoiler alert, but c'mon people, you've had 20 years to catch up!Įpisode: 'The One with George Stephanopoulos' Season 7 is also notably absent - apparently planning Monica's wedding and teaching Ben about Hanukkah left little time for literature. 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).

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. An insane task, some might say, but like Joey facing down a Thanksgiving dinner, I was prepared for what lay ahead of me. I would have to commit to watching every single episode and record every literary reference I could find. 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.

After all, in the very first episode the first piece of furniture that Joey and Chandler assemble in Ross' new apartment is a bookcase.

Be your own windkeeper book online