Since mother earth was struck by a pandemic nearly three years ago, everyone has been stressing the importance of self-care and mental health. We all need to take time for ourselves to ensure we are getting the rest and care we need to move through life. Unfortunately, for Black women, finding the best place to find advice is just as stressful as finding time for self-care. Many self help books are written for white people, by white people. Although books are the most common way to take in information, most people aren’t keen on finding the best book for their problem.
So, to help get you started, here’s a list of self help books for Black women, by Black women. From former first lady Michelle Obama to award-winning professor and clinical psychologist Rheeda Walker, these books offer different but supportive methods to map out how best to cope with everyday and lifelong stressors.
Recommended Self-Help Books
Here are some recommended self-help books for Black women:
- Acts of Faith by Iyanla Vanzant
- Self-help for Black Girls by Lynnette R.
- The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
- Emotional Self-Care for Black Women by Alicia Magoro
- What are you doing here?: Notes on a life by Shonda Rhimes
- Right Within by Minda Harts
- Pressure: Lesson in Love vs. Fear by Taye Diggs, Shane W. Evans
- How We Heal by Alexandra Elle
- After the Rain by Alexandra Elle
Acts of Faith by Iyanla Vanzant
Before the self help genre took shape as we know it today, we had Iyanla Vanzant. This list wouldn’t be complete without at least one title from our favorite auntie. Though Acts of Faith was published more than 25 years ago, it still helps Black women with its inspirational and thoughtful quotes. Vanzant has written words that expand across spiritual practices and teachings that most people can relate to. The best thing about this book is it was written for the Black experience through a spiritual lens, so it differs from other self-help books because of that.
Self-Help for Black Girls by Lynnette R.
Self-help for Black Girls breaks down how different self-help is for Black women, and what happens when you don’t practice self-love adequately. Although we are all different there are similarities that bind us together, and Sinclair spills all the tea on the benefits of putting yourself first and being intentional about it. This program is read by the author.
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The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
If you read Mrs. Obama’s first book Becoming, be prepared for a different text with The Light We Carry. In this book, our favorite First Lady presents hard conversations surrounding identity, community, and relationships in manageable chapters and chats. She gives it to readers straight but somehow softens the blow at the same time, with humor and compassion employed throughout as she shares her own experiences to relate with readers.
Emotional Self-Care for Black Women by Alicia Magoro
Don’t be fooled by its long title - Emotional Self-Care for Black Women is surprisingly short. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a powerful punch though. Alicia Magoro teaches us how to do away with negative thoughts and deal with our trauma head on, her book a tie between self-lead therapy and self-care. But a crucial aspect of the book is its emphasis on working on one’s self even when your life isn’t in order. Oftentimes, we believe our life has to be in a certain place to begin actively improving ourselves. But the reality is that it’s an ongoing process where we have to put in the work whenever we have time to.
What are you doing here?: Notes on a life by Shonda Rhimes
Our favorite TV show creator has produced a book to help you get out of your comfort zone. Rhimes inspires us to say yes to things we normally wouldn’t and see how our lives begin to change. She gives specific ways on how you can say yes in your everyday life and improve the things happening around you. This book is so important for Black women to read because we spend a lot of time saying yes to things we don’t usually want to do. But Shonda can inspire us to say yes only to the things that serve our wellbeing.
Right Within by Minda Harts
Right Within is an essential self-help book for women of color to heal and thrive in the workplace.
Pressure: Lesson in Love vs. Fear by Taye Diggs, Shane W. Evans
This program is read by Taye Diggs. An audiobook about what it means to be a friend from Taye Diggs and Shane W. Evans, the writer/artist team that brought us Chocolate Me! and Mixed Me.
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How We Heal by Alexandra Elle
How We Heal is a practical and empowering guide to self-healing. It is a life-changing invitation to heal yourself and reclaim your peace. Inside, are remarkable stories from eclectic voices on healing. You will discover essential techniques for self-healing such as restorative writing, affirmative actions, and learning to name what you need. We learn trauma is not our resting place and we don’t have to sit in it. We learn to seek joy and self-celebration.
After the Rain by Alexandra Elle
After the Rain is another book by Alexandra Elle. It is a 15-lesson book on how to overcome obstacles, build confidence, and cultivate more than you could ever imagine. Elle shares her own personal stories about her journey with self-doubt and self-love. Some themes explored in this book are loss, fear, love, and acceptance. Again Elle leaves us with her warmth and vulnerability. She talks about her difficult childhood, painful romantic relationships, and her single parenting as a young mom. The perfect example of what life looks like after the rain.
Sistah Girls, if you’re on a self-discovery of any kind it always helps when you have someone to help you navigate along the way.
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