#1
Months on List: 1
When the sitting president bows out just 107 days before the election, the vice president must navigate chaos, conviction, and history itself in a race that will define a nation.
107 Days
by Kamala Harris • Simon & Schuster (September 23, 2025) • 1 Months on List
#2
Months on List: 21
Harriot humorously yet critically challenges the dominant white narrative of American history, providing a fresh perspective through the overlooked experiences of Black Americans across significant events.
Black Af History: The Un-whitewashed Story Of America
by Michael Harriot • Dey Street Books (September 19, 2023) • 21 Months on List
#3
Months on List: 1
This book is a hands-on guide demonstrating how to transform your life through daily practices such as journaling, meditation, mindfulness, and creative expression, based on the true story of a man who overcame his own mental roadblocks and improved his self-esteem after 18 years of incarceration.
How To Be Free: A Proven Guide To Escaping Life’s Hidden Prisons
by Shaka Senghor • Authors Equity (September 9, 2025) • 1 Months on List
#4
Months on List: 1
The book is a potent narrative intertwining the long history of African Americans and firearms, the author's experience covering gun violence, and his personal family history impacted by racism, migration, and deadly gun use.
A Thousand Ways To Die: The True Cost Of Violence On Black Life In America
by Trymaine Lee • St Martins (September 9, 2025) • 1 Months on List
#5
Months on List: 5
"Uncommon Favor" is a compelling journey through the life of Staley, from her humble origins on a North Philadelphia basketball court to national fame, tackling sexism, isolation, and personal growth to achieve extraordinary success.
Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, And The Life Lessons I Learned From All Three
by Dawn Staley • Atria/black Privilege Publishing (May 20, 2025) • 5 Months on List
#6
Months on List: 2
This memoir is a deeply personal account of a Grammy-winning artist, detailing his journey through depression, addiction, and self-discovery, and his transformation from a kid from Cleveland to a cultural icon.
Cudi: The Memoir
by Kid Cudi • Simon & Schuster (August 12, 2025) • 2 Months on List
#7
Months on List: 12
Malcolm Gladwell revisits the concept of social epidemics, exploring how modern attempts to manipulate tipping points shape society in both beneficial and unintended ways.
Revenge Of The Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, And The Rise Of Social Engineering
by Malcolm Gladwell • Little, Brown And Company (October 1, 2024) • 12 Months on List
#8
Months on List: 6
A girl from 1950s Galveston grows into a force of maternal strength and creative vision, navigating love, loss, and legacy while shaping a multigenerational story of resilience and transformation.
Matriarch: A Memoir
by Tina Knowles • One World (April 22, 2025) • 6 Months on List
#9
Months on List: 3
A professional organizer shares five practical steps to transform every room into a calm, welcoming space that nurtures connection, beauty, and intentional living.
Beautifully Organized: A Guide To Function And Style In Your Home
by Nikki Boyd • Paige Tate & Co (April 2, 2019) • 3 Months on List
#10
Months on List: 6
In three poignant essays, acclaimed author Ta-Nehisi Coates examines the profound influence of stories and myths on our realities and highlights the necessity of confronting difficult truths to liberate ourselves from destructive narratives.
The Message
by Ta-nehisi Coates • One World (October 1, 2024) • 6 Months on List
#11
Months on List: 17
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story is an enlightening exploration of American history that places slavery and its continuing legacy at the center of the narrative, revealing the profound impact of it on contemporary American society through an intricate blend of historical essays, poems, and works of fiction contributed by renowned scholars, authors, and poets.
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story
by Nikole Hannah-jones • One World (November 16, 2021) • 17 Months on List
#12
Months on List: 2
This book documents the journey of the McKissack family, who established the foremost Black design and construction firm in the U.S, tracing back to their roots in the mid-1800s, and highlights their significant architectural achievements and the importance of perseverance and vision in shaping their enduring legacy.
The Black Family Who Built America: The Mckissacks, Two Centuries Of Daring Pioneers
by Cheryl Mckissack Daniel With Nick Chiles • Atria/black Privilege Publishing (August 12, 2025) • 2 Months on List
#13
Months on List: 4
This book is a deeply profound exploration of America's racial history and its current crisis, presented in the form of a personal letter from a father to his son.
Between The World And Me
by Ta-nehisi Coates • One World (July 14, 2015) • 4 Months on List
#14
Months on List: 1
This is a riveting tale about a family's endeavors during their period-specific restoration of an abandoned, historic mansion, overcoming numerous challenges during the height of the pandemic, and discovering the house's rich, abolitionist past.
The Chancellor’s Mansion: A Renovation Story Of Family, Home, History, And Mystery
by Jamie Arty • Andscape Books (July 15, 2025) • 1 Months on List
#15
Months on List: 2
This compelling biography explores the life and influences of an innovative African-American science fiction writer, highlighting her speculation on the American empire's devolution, and her work's relevance to social movements like Civil Rights, Black Power, women's liberation, queer rights, and Reaganomics.
Positive Obsession: The Life And Times Of Octavia E. Butler
by Susana M. Morris • Amistad Press (August 19, 2025) • 2 Months on List
#16
Months on List: 1
Traces how the spiritual and healing practices of enslaved Black women evolved into the cultural magic that still shapes American life—from the kitchen to pop culture—revealing conjure as both a quiet rebellion and a lasting legacy of Black womanhood.
The Conjuring Of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, And 400 Years Of Black Women’s Magic
by Lindsey Stewart • Legacy Lit (July 29, 2025) • 1 Months on List
#17
Months on List: 1
This book provides a historical exploration of American cuisine through the lens of the Black diaspora, featuring testimonies from over 30 Black culinary experts and 40 historically-rooted recipes, illustrating the unrecognized contributions of the Black community to American food traditions.
American Soul: The Black History Of Food In The United States - Including 40 Recipes
by Anela Malik • National Geographic Society (September 9, 2025) • 1 Months on List
#18
Months on List: 17
This book invites readers on a journey toward greater happiness, providing tools of emotional self-management and practical ways to cultivate the four pillars of happiness: family, friendship, work, and faith, regardless of circumstances.
Build The Life You Want: The Art And Science Of Getting Happier
by Arthur C. Brooks And Oprah Winfrey • Portfolio (September 12, 2023) • 17 Months on List
#19
Months on List: 2
The book is a compelling account of a Black woman's journey to self-possession and the social barriers she defies in a society that often tries to limit who she is allowed to be, both professionally and personally.
Full Of Myself: Black Womanhood And The Journey To Self-possession
by Austin Channing Brown • Convergent Books (August 26, 2025) • 2 Months on List
#20
Months on List: 9
<em>Self-Care for Black Men</em> is a comprehensive guide offering practical strategies and tools for Black men to navigate societal challenges, nurture their mental health, and cultivate joy, providing an essential roadmap towards wellness and self-discovery in a world beset by racism and trauma.
Self-care For Black Men: 100 Ways To Heal And Liberate
by Jor-el Caraballo • Adams Media (November 7, 2023) • 9 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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