#1
Months on List: 14
A yearlong journey through the Bible to strengthen women’s faith.
The Bible In 52 Weeks: A Yearlong Bible Study For Women
by Kimberly D. Moore • Rockridge Press (February 11, 2020) • 14 Months on List
#2
Months on List: 16
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.
All About Love: New Visions
by Bell Hooks • William Morrow & Company (January 30, 2018) • 16 Months on List
#3
Months on List: 14
<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.
Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood
by Trevor Noah • One World (February 12, 2019) • 14 Months on List
#4
Months on List: 10
An examination of our interactions with strangers, and why they often go wrong.
Talking To Strangers: What We Should Know About The People We Don’t Know
by Malcolm Gladwell • Back Bay Books (September 28, 2021) • 10 Months on List
#5
Months on List: 14
<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.
Outliers: The Story Of Success
by Malcolm Gladwell • Back Bay Books (June 7, 2011) • 14 Months on List
#6
Months on List: 2
<em>There's Always This Year</em> is a poignant exploration of basketball, success, and community in 1990s Columbus, Ohio, blending intimate personal narratives and historical context to question cultural beliefs and encourage a radical reimagining of society through the incisive and profound writing of Hanif Abdurraqib.
There’s Always This Year (paperback): On Basketball And Ascension
by Hanif Abdurraqib • Random House Publishing Group (March 25, 2025) • 2 Months on List
#7
Months on List: 10
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.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings
by Maya Angelou • Random House (April 21, 2009) • 10 Months on List
#8
Months on List: 14
<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.
The Fire Next Time
by James Baldwin • Vintage (December 1, 1992) • 14 Months on List
#9
Months on List: 16
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.
The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates
by Wes Moore • One World (January 11, 2011) • 16 Months on List
#10
Months on List: 14
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.
Caste: The Origins Of Our Discontents
by Isabel Wilkerson • Random House (February 14, 2023) • 14 Months on List
#11
Months on List: 14
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.
The Warmth Of Other Suns: The Epic Story Of America’s Great Migration
by Isabel Wilkerson • Vintage (October 4, 2011) • 14 Months on List
#12
Months on List: 1
<em>Working the Roots: Over 400 Years Of Traditional African American Healing</em> is a captivating exploration of traditional African American medicine, compiling first-hand interviews, authentic healers' stories, and a plethora of remedies, providing both an enriching historical account and a practical guide to African and American folk healing practices.
Working The Roots: Over 400 Years Of Traditional African American Healing
by Michele E. Lee • Wadastick (December 15, 2017) • 1 Months on List
#13
Months on List: 11
A former child soldier gives a harrowing account of growing from an innocent boy into a hardened killer amidst the brutal civil war in his home, Sierra Leone, provoked by manipulative government forces.
A Long Way Gone
by Ishmael Beah • Sarah Crichton Books (August 5, 2008) • 11 Months on List
#14
Months on List: 8
A guided self-care workbook designed to help Black women cultivate self-love, confidence, and healing through affirmations, reflections, and practical exercises.
Self-love Workbook For Black Women: Empowering Exercises To Build Self-compassion And Nurture Your True Self
by Rachel Johnson • Rockridge Press (July 19, 2022) • 8 Months on List
#15
Months on List: 13
<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.
The Book Of Delights
by Ross Gay • Algonquin Books (August 16, 2022) • 13 Months on List
#16
Months on List: 11
<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.
The 1619 Project (paperback): A New Origin Story
by Nikole Hannah-jones • One World (June 4, 2024) • 11 Months on List
#17
Months on List: 6
A guided journal offering 365 short exercises to help build a daily self-care routine and cultivate positivity, confidence, and well-being.
A Year Of Self-care: Daily Practices And Inspiration For Caring For Yourself
by Zoe Shaw • Rockridge Press (February 2, 2021) • 6 Months on List
#18
Months on List: 16
This powerful examination invites men to break free from patriarchal conditioning, reconnect with their emotions, and embrace a fuller, more loving version of themselves.
The Will To Change: Men, Masculinity, And Love
by Bell Hooks • Washington Square Press (December 1, 2004) • 16 Months on List
#19
Months on List: 3
In <em>Communion: The Female Search for Love</em>, bell hooks concludes her enlightening love trilogy, challenging all women to embark on a brave journey for love, while examining how feminism, female workforce participation and the self-help culture have altered perceptions about women and love.
Communion: The Female Search For Love (love Song To The Nation #2)
by Bell Hooks • William Morrow & Company (December 24, 2002) • 3 Months on List
#20
Months on List: 2
This work asks readers to consider imagination as a battleground for conflicts and a zone of opportunity for restructuring the future.
Imagination: A Manifesto
by Ruha Benjamin • W. W. Norton & Company (February 4, 2025) • 2 Months on List
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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.
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