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BLK Bestsellers List — January 2025

America’s Bestselling Books by Black Writers and Illustrators

ADULT NONFICTION (PAPERBACK) — January 2025
#1
Months on List: 11
by Kimberly D. Moore
Rockridge Press (February 11, 2020), Trade Paperback
A yearlong journey through the Bible to strengthen women’s faith.
#2
Months on List: 12
by Bell Hooks
William Morrow & Company (January 30, 2018), Trade Paperback
In <em>All About Love,</em> renowned scholar and feminist bell hooks challenges society's narrow definition of love as romance, presenting a provocative new ethic for a world suffering from lovelessness, and advocating for a holistic love that is sacred, redemptive, and capable of healing both individuals and nations.
#3
Months on List: 11
by Malcolm Gladwell
Back Bay Books (June 7, 2011), Trade Paperback
<em>Outliers</em> by Malcolm Gladwell delves into the unexplored factors of success, examining the cultural, familial, and generational influences on high-achievers, shedding fresh light on the path to greatness from software billionaires to iconic rock bands.
#4
Months on List: 11
by Isabel Wilkerson
Random House (February 14, 2023), Trade Paperback
In her groundbreaking work <em>Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,</em> Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson explores the powerful, unseen caste system that underpins American society, linking it to similar systems in India and Nazi Germany, and offering insight on its deep-seated influence on American life today.
#5
Months on List: 7
by Malcolm Gladwell
Back Bay Books (September 28, 2021), Trade Paperback
An examination of our interactions with strangers, and why they often go wrong.
#6
Months on List: 11
by Trevor Noah
One World (February 12, 2019), Trade Paperback
<em>Born a Crime</em> is a riveting memoir by Trevor Noah, tracing his unlikely journey from a childhood under apartheid South Africa, where his very birth was an act of defiance, to becoming the host of The Daily Show, presenting his tales of survival, perseverance and the remarkable love of his rebellious mother with wit and honesty.
#7
Months on List: 5
by Zoe Shaw
Rockridge Press (February 2, 2021), Trade Paperback
A guided journal offering 365 short exercises to help build a daily self-care routine and cultivate positivity, confidence, and well-being.
#8
Months on List: 11
by Isabel Wilkerson
Vintage (October 4, 2011), Trade Paperback
In <em>The Warmth of Other Suns</em>, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Wilkerson presents a compelling account of the great, untold migration of nearly six million black citizens fleeing the South for northern and western cities between 1915 and 1970, weaving a vivid narrative through the diverse experiences of three unique individuals whose journeys reshaped America.
#9
Months on List: 8
by Michelle Obama
Crown (April 16, 2024), Trade Paperback
In her empowering sequel to <em>Becoming</em>, former First Lady Michelle Obama shares heartfelt anecdotes and valuable insights in <em>The Light We Carry</em>, guiding readers to find strength, create lasting relationships, and navigate life's challenges with resilience and grace.
#10
Months on List: 10
by Ross Gay
Algonquin Books (August 16, 2022), Trade Paperback
<em>The Book of Delights</em> is a collection of engaging, lyrical essays penned over a tumultuous year by award-winning poet Ross Gay, who skilfully captures and celebrates the overlooked ordinary wonders of life while examining the complexities of living in America as a black man.
#11
Months on List: 5
by Rachel Johnson
Rockridge Press (July 19, 2022), Trade Paperback
A guided self-care workbook designed to help Black women cultivate self-love, confidence, and healing through affirmations, reflections, and practical exercises.
#12
Months on List: 12
by Bell Hooks
Washington Square Press (December 1, 2004), Trade Paperback
This powerful examination invites men to break free from patriarchal conditioning, reconnect with their emotions, and embrace a fuller, more loving version of themselves.
#13
Months on List: 7
by Nikole Hannah-jones
One World (June 4, 2024), Trade Paperback
<em>The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story</em> expands on the award-winning New York Times Magazine issue, presenting a comprehensive exploration of the enduring legacy of slavery in America through a blend of essays, poems, and works of fiction that weave a deeply impactful narrative about race, caste, and the country's foundational history.
#14
Months on List: 9
by Michelle Obama
Crown (March 2, 2021), Trade Paperback
<em>Becoming</em> is a captivating memoir by former First Lady Michelle Obama, detailing her journey from a child on Chicago's South Side to an influential advocate and icon, balancing motherhood and work, and reshaping the White House with inclusivity and resilience, inspiring readers to defy expectations even in extraordinary circumstances.
#15
Months on List: 11
by James Baldwin
Vintage (December 1, 1992), Trade Paperback
<em>The Fire Next Time</em>, a national bestseller by James Baldwin, is a profound exploration of America's racial injustice through two poignant letters that ignited the civil rights movement, demystifying race relations in America with intense personal narrative and incisive prose.
#16
Months on List: 6
by Maya Angelou
Random House (April 21, 2009), Trade Paperback
This memoir chronicles the experience of a young girl growing up in the American South, enduring abandonment, bigotry, and a brutal attack, who finds her liberation through self-love, kindness from others, and the power of words.
#17
Months on List: 1
by Ross Gay
Algonquin Books (October 8, 2024), Trade Paperback
<em>Inciting Joy</em> by acclaimed author Ross Gay masterfully examines the power of connection and empathy to resist societal hardships, providing a fresh perspective on resilience and unity in times of adversity.
#18
Months on List: 7
by Angela Y. Davis
Haymarket Books (February 9, 2016), Trade Paperback
Renowned activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis explores the interconnected struggles against state violence and oppression, highlighting the importance of intersectionality and prison abolition in today's socio-political landscape while challenging readers to envision a movement for greater human liberation.
#19
Months on List: 12
by Wes Moore
One World (January 11, 2011), Trade Paperback
This book explores the parallel lives of two men with similar backgrounds but drastically different outcomes: one becomes a successful scholar and businessman, while the other winds up in prison for life.
#20
Months on List: 4
by Llaila Afrika
Eworld (February 16, 2012), Trade Paperback
The book is a comprehensive guide on holistic health from an African-centered viewpoint, offering information on herbal remedies and homeopathic disease treatments, while highlighting physiological and psychological differences between people of African and European descent.

Sales Data Source: Circana BookScan. Represents U.S. print sales from thousands of retailers.

Methodology: Books are categorized and filtered for Black Authors by the African American Literature Book Club. This list is a sneak peek into the Black Book Accelerator initiative.