Beauty and the book: Lessons for us in Marilyn Monroe's love of literature

Marilyn Monroe just helped me put together a summer reading list.

The late star, known more for looks than intelligence, is making headlines with the sale of something she once cherished – her impressive collection of literature. It turns out that the beauty was also a bookworm. Articles point out that she not only loved to read, but spent much of her time away from the movie studio taking classes at the university.

I've read that Monroe worried that she wasn't worldly or well rounded enough, so she did something about it. She unleashed her natural curiosity and went out devouring the world with her senses.

That story offers some golden wisdom for all of us. What we don't know, we can learn.

The sweetness of this story continues with the fact that proceeds from the auction will benefit adult literacy projects. I think Marilyn would have liked that.