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BLK Bestsellers List — October 2025

America’s Bestselling Books by Black Writers and Illustrators

Adult Nonfiction (Hardcover) — October 2025
#1
Months on List: 1
by Kamala Harris
Simon & Schuster (September 23, 2025), Hardcover
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.
#2
Months on List: 21
by Michael Harriot
Dey Street Books (September 19, 2023), Hardcover
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.
#3
Months on List: 1
by Shaka Senghor
Authors Equity (September 9, 2025), Hardcover
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.
#4
Months on List: 1
by Trymaine Lee
St Martins (September 9, 2025), Hardcover
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.
#5
Months on List: 5
by Dawn Staley
Atria/black Privilege Publishing (May 20, 2025), Hardcover
"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.
#6
Months on List: 2
by Kid Cudi
Simon & Schuster (August 12, 2025), Hardcover
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.
#7
Months on List: 12
by Malcolm Gladwell
Little, Brown And Company (October 1, 2024), Hardcover
Malcolm Gladwell revisits the concept of social epidemics, exploring how modern attempts to manipulate tipping points shape society in both beneficial and unintended ways.
#8
Months on List: 6
by Tina Knowles
One World (April 22, 2025), Hardcover
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.
#9
Months on List: 3
by Nikki Boyd
Paige Tate & Co (April 2, 2019), Hardcover
A professional organizer shares five practical steps to transform every room into a calm, welcoming space that nurtures connection, beauty, and intentional living.
#10
Months on List: 6
by Ta-nehisi Coates
One World (October 1, 2024), Hardcover
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.
#11
Months on List: 17
by Nikole Hannah-jones
One World (November 16, 2021), Hardcover
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.
#12
Months on List: 2
by Cheryl Mckissack Daniel With Nick Chiles
Atria/black Privilege Publishing (August 12, 2025), Hardcover
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.
#13
Months on List: 4
by Ta-nehisi Coates
One World (July 14, 2015), Hardcover
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.
#14
Months on List: 1
by Jamie Arty
Andscape Books (July 15, 2025), Hardcover
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.
#15
Months on List: 2
by Susana M. Morris
Amistad Press (August 19, 2025), Hardcover
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.
#16
Months on List: 1
by Lindsey Stewart
Legacy Lit (July 29, 2025), Hardcover
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.
#17
Months on List: 1
by Anela Malik
National Geographic Society (September 9, 2025), Hardcover
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.
#18
Months on List: 17
by Arthur C. Brooks And Oprah Winfrey
Portfolio (September 12, 2023), Hardcover
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.
#19
Months on List: 2
by Austin Channing Brown
Convergent Books (August 26, 2025), Hardcover
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.
#20
Months on List: 9
by Jor-el Caraballo
Adams Media (November 7, 2023), Hardcover
<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.

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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