Reading + listening to the first 25 books of the year
I set a goal to read or listen to 100 books this year and I’m 25% of the way there with 25% of the year done! I wanted to share a little bit of each of the books and I hope you will pick up some or all of these titles and share your reading + listening journey here.
Trigger / content warning: Some of these books include and address sensitive topics like sexual abuse and sexual assault, and some of these have been done to children.
Unprotected: A Memoir by Billy Porter. Bullied, sexually abused, and criticized by various important people in his life, Billy was unprotected, and yet, despite the trauma he experienced, he was fiercely determined to achieve success and did so because of his grit and hard work, and also, because he had people in his life whom he calls angels, teachers and others who were a source of support and love. Now an Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award winner, he also is a bright light to others, especially in the LGBTQ+ community.
Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation by Linda Villarosa. This is one of the five books in my top five list. This well researched book inspired me, validated me, and helped me think about how I can continue to contribute to my community. The part about unlikely heroes with respect to community organizing and environmental racism and injustice made me weep. I got an opportunity to meet and chat with Linda in January 2023 and she’s lovely and incredibly humble.
Spare by Prince Harry Duke of Sussex. This was a good read. I’m still gobsmacked that people think the monarchy isn’t problematic and racist. It’s also curious that people don’t understand how abuse and abusive relationships work. I’m not saying Harry is perfect, he’s not. He wore a Nazi outfit as a costume. Wildly problematic. And also, unrelated, his mother was terrorized and ultimately died at the hands of the British press and he wants to avoid that same ending for his wife and family.
Self Care By the Signs by Valerie Tejeda. I listened to this one while shoveling snow for the first time. Nothing revolutionary, yet it was a good reminder of ways to practice self care based on my astrological sign, Virgo in the house!
Token Black Girl: A Memoir by Danielle Prescod. What a wonderfully insightful book. I felt seen as a read this book and it helped me have greater empathy, compassion, and understanding for younger Chidimma. It’s important to note that Danielle discusses her history of an eating disorder along with the significant racism she experienced in the fashion industry. I’m glad she wrote the book and I hope it was as helpful to others, as it was to me.
Black Women Will Save the World: An Anthem by April Ryan. What a brilliant book, a love letter to Black women. April Ryan is a joy to watch on TV and what she went through at the hands of the previous administration, especially the one who defiled the White House, was unacceptable, deliberate, and unconscionable. And still she rose. As we usually do as Black women.
Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay: The Case for Economic Disobedience and Debt Abolition by The Debt Collective. In light of recent events with Silicon Valley Bank, Silvergate Bank, and Signature Bank collapsing, the least this country can do is bail out people, not just banks. We have enough money if we reallocate funds.
The Art of War by Sun Tzu. This was a good listen on the beach as it calmed me.
Big Shot by Mindy Kaling. She’s a hoot. Essentially playing the big shot isn’t going to end the way you think it will.
How to Stay Focused: 10 Untold Remarkably Simple Techniques to Control Your Mind and Stay Focused by Stephans Hyang. This was a free audiobook and it has simple techniques that can aid in focus. Nothing revolutionary and yet, I’m sure many will find these techniques helpful.
Unf*uck Your Anger: Using Science to Understand Frustration, Rage, and Forgiveness by Faith G Harper. Sensible advise. I’m glad Faith understands that real issues like racism and other isms, for example, won’t go away just because they are ignored. And that those harmful experiences are very different than say someone stealing your parking spot and subsequent ruminating about that.
Own It: The Secret of Life by Diane Von Furstenberg. This was interesting. It was Diane essentially reading a dictionary.
How to Train Your Mind: Exploring the Productivity Benefits of Meditation by Chris Bailey. This was a good listen and reminder for me to encourage my clients to meditate.
We’re Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union. I love listening to memoirs read by the author, which is the case with this audiobook. Gabrielle seems down to earth and it turns out, we have some similarities in how we grew up, specifically living in mostly white cities/towns where we, and our siblings, were the only Black kids or a handful of them. This is another book that validated me.
Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn. I loved this book. Even though it’s about a Yoraba woman living in Britian, it was so relatable! As someone who got married later than I thought, I know my Nigerian family (aunties included) were praying for me to find my husband. The difference, is that nobody bothered me or stressed me out about being single, thankfully. I especially appreciate how this novel ended.
You Got Anything Stronger?: Stories by Gabrielle Union. This was fun to listen to. I appreciate Gabrielle’s commitment to her family and that she talks about so many things that are often considered taboo topics. As I’ve shared more about my life, I’ve found that it’s always made me feel less alone, and usually others say the same thing. Sharing our stories helps us say, “Me too.”
The Montessori Toddler: A Parent’s Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being by Simone Davies. I love the Montessori way of loving, teaching, and raising joy drop. She guides a lot of her experiences because she’s a little person with desires, intuition, and wisdom. Parenting has helped me practice the knowledge that joy drop is her own person, we are here to guide and protect her.
Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media by Brittany Hennessy. It was fun to listen to this book. It was helpful as I think about how to increase engagement and create community on social media.
What Great Teachers Do Differently: 17 Things That Master Most by Todd Whitaker. This audiobook helped me mentally thank the great teachers I had and the great teachers I know. I linked What Great Teachers Do Differently: 19 Things That Master Most since this is the most recent version.
The Sugar Jar: Create Boundaries, Embrace Self-Healing, and Enjoy the Sweet Things in Life by Yasmine Cheyenne. This was such a good book. It did help me as I healed from a recent loss and it helped me send three of four emails to former friends whom I needed to communicate with. The visual of a sugar jar was a wonderful one and it’s helped me continue to asking for what I need, communicate my boundaries, and say no since it’s a complete sentence.
The Visit (Black Stars, #1) by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This was a short story about two friends reunion.
A New Moon by Brandy Norwood. Yes, that Brandy. I love that Audible does these audiobook + music combos. I learned more about Brandy’s life and heard her music. WIN/WIN!
Wahala by Nikki May. This book was so good and it was better to listen to it than just reading it. It’s a story of three Black mixed race women who are friends. They are Yoruba Nigerian-Brits and each living their best lives…or are they? It was the equivalent of a page turner, what is it when it’s an audiobook?! There are plot twists and hearing some of the things that are culturally similar was heartwarming and like being at home, which I loved.
Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want by Ruha Benjamin. This was another excellent read…listen. I did both. I loved that Ruha is educated and swears. She kept it all the way real and this book was also well researched. It’s in my top five list of books and I told her when we met in mid-March 2023. Viral Justice was another book that inspired me, validated me, and helped me think about how I can continue to contribute to my community. There is something everyone can do. Meaning, we each have a role in creating viral justice in our communities.
On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi. This was such a sweet and good book. Ghanaian American Angela is living the adult child of immigrants experience, and I can relate in many ways. She’s a med student that is still learning more about herself and the ones in her circle that she loves. I’m here for African authors breaking out and doing the damn thing!
Meeting Linda Villarosa, author of Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation, at U-M Ford School of Public Policy, 1/17/23
Meeting Ruha Benjamin, author of Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want, at U-M Ruthvan Building, 3/14/23
Leseliey Welch, founder of Birth Detroit, and Ruha Benjamin, Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University and author of Viral Justice, at the Michigan Union, 3/14/23.
Photo Courtesy: Mikalia Dennis