Elena shifted in her chair as the hiring manager leaned forward with a slight smile. “What book best describes you?” came the unexpected question, catching her completely off guard. She had prepared for salary negotiations and technical questions, but never imagined she’d need to connect her personality to literature during a marketing coordinator interview.
As someone who’s sat on both sides of countless interview tables, I’ll walk you through exactly how to tackle this creative yet revealing question with confidence and authenticity. It isn’t a situational interview question or behavioral interview question, I must remind you.
Why employers ask “What book best describes you”?
Hiring managers use this question to peek beyond your resume and discover your self-awareness, values, and communication style. They want to understand how you see yourself and whether you can articulate complex ideas through creative thinking. This question reveals your ability to make connections, tell stories, and provide insight into your personality in a way that traditional interview questions simply cannot. It is different from when they asked you common questions like: “How would you describe yourself?” or “What is your biggest strength?”
Based on my experience recruiting across various industries, approximately 15% of interviewers incorporate this question into their process, particularly in creative fields, leadership roles, and positions requiring strong communication skills. Companies value candidates who can think on their feet and express themselves authentically.
Variations of “What book best describes you?”
Interviewers often phrase this question in different ways to achieve the same goal of understanding your personality and self-perception.
- If you were a book, what would the title be?
- What’s a book that really resonates with your personality?
- Which literary character do you most identify with?
- What book has shaped who you are today?
- If someone wanted to understand you, what book would you recommend?
- Which book best reflects your values and approach to life?
- What’s a book that captures your essence?
- If you could be any book on a shelf, which would you choose?
- What book would your colleagues say describes you best?
- Which book title could be your personal motto?
How to answer “What book best describes you”?
Successfully answering this question requires connecting a book’s themes, characters, or messages to your professional qualities and personal values. Follow this strategic approach to craft a memorable and meaningful response.
Step 1: Choose a book that genuinely resonates with you. Select something you’ve actually read and can discuss authentically. Avoid picking a book solely because it sounds impressive—authenticity trumps trying to impress every time.
Step 2: Identify specific connections between the book and your professional qualities. Think about the main character’s traits, the book’s central themes, or the author’s message that aligns with how you approach work and life.
Step 3: Structure your answer with the book title, brief context, and clear parallels. Start by naming the book, provide a sentence of context about what it’s about, then draw specific connections to your work style and values.
Step 4: Connect it back to the role. Tie your chosen book to qualities that would make you successful in the position you’re interviewing for. Think of it like answering “Tell me about yourself” in an interview.
Step 5: Keep it concise and professional. Aim for 60-90 seconds of speaking time, focusing on the most relevant connections rather than a lengthy book summary.
Here’s how I would answer this question, while grabbing ice from the best countertop ice maker, putting in my drink: “The book that best describes me is ‘The Lean Startup‘ by Eric Ries. While it’s primarily a business book, it reflects my approach to problem-solving and personal growth. Just like the book’s emphasis on continuous learning and adaptation, I believe in testing assumptions, gathering feedback, and iterating quickly rather than waiting for perfect conditions. In my recruiting career, I’ve applied this mindset by constantly refining my candidate assessment techniques based on hiring outcomes and feedback from both managers and new hires. The book’s core message about embracing failure as learning resonates with how I approach challenges—I see setbacks as data points that help me improve rather than roadblocks that stop progress.”
This response works because it demonstrates self-awareness, shows how I apply learning to my work, and highlights qualities valuable in any role: adaptability, continuous improvement, and resilience. The key is choosing a book that authentically reflects who you are while showcasing qualities relevant to your target position.