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2023 Black-Authored Leadership BookList

February 17, 2023 Mikaila Culverson Leave a Comment

In honor of Black History Month, we created this list of books authored by Black leaders. This list is meant to be a resource, not an official endorsement. The books are not ranked or listed in any particular order.

2023-Black-Authored-Leadership-Books-1Download
  1. In Search of Our Mother’s Garden: Womanist Prose by Alice Walker 
  2. Purpose Driven Leadership: Building and fostering effective teams by Bridgette Tasha Hyacinth 
  3. The Transformational Consumer: Fuel a lifelong love affair with your customers by helping them get healthier, wealthier, and wiser by Tara-Nicholle Nelson 
  4. Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma
  5. Unprecedented: The Masters and Me by Tiger Woods 
  6. The Truths We Hold: An American Journey by Kamala Harris 
  7. The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin 
  8. Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde 
  9. Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay 
  10. Everybody’s Got Something by Robin Roberts & Veronica Chambers 
  11. This is the Fire: What I say to My Friends About Racism by Don Lemon 
  12. On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope by DeRay Mckesson 
  13. White Girls by Holton Als 
  14. Nothing Personal by James Baldwin 
  15. Revelations: The Autobiography of Alvin Ailey by Alvin Aily & A. Peter Bailey
  16. Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by Adrienne Maree Brown
  17. We Will Not Cancel Us by Adrienne Maree Brown
  18. Love and Rage by Lama Rod Owens
  19. Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by Adrienne Maree Brown
  20. How to Get Stupid White Men Out of Office: The Anti-Politics, Un-Boring Guide to Power by Adrienne Maree Brown
  21. It’s About Damn Time by Arlan Hamilton
  22. My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing & Hope by Kamaro Brown
  23. The Mentor Leader by Tony Dungy
  24. Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance by Tony Dungy
  25. The Secrets to Success: When you want to Succeed as Bad as You Want to Breath by Eric Thomas
  26. Produced by Faith: Enjoy real success without losing your true self by DeVon Franklin
  27. Super Rich: A guide to having it all by Russell Simmons
  28. It Worked for Me: In life and leadership by Colin Powell
  29. Reach: 40 Black men speak on living, leading, and succeeding by Ben Jealous & Trabian Shorters
  30. Black Faces in White Places: 10 game-changing strategies to achieve success and find greatness by Randal Pinkett & Jeffrey Robinson
  31. The Gatekeepers are Gone: Hustle + Technology = Success by Lamar Tyler 
  32. Know What Makes Them Tick: How to successfully negotiate almost any situation by Shonda Rhimes
  33. The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As told to Alex Haley by Malcolm X & Alex Haley
  34. What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey
  35. Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly
  36. The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae
  37. The One Week Budget by Tiffany Aliche
  38. I’m Judging You: The do-better manual by Luvvie Ajayi
  39. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngoni Adichie
  40. The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell by W. Kamau Bell
  41. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
  42. My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass
  43. Drop the Ball: Achieving more by doing less by Tiffany Dufu 
  44. Biased: Uncovering the hidden prejudice that shapes what we see, think and do by Jennifer Eberhardt
  45. Stamped from the Beginning: The definitive history of racist ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi 
  46. Lovesong: Becoming a Jew by Julius Lester
  47. Becoming by Michelle Obama
  48. The Race Whisperer: Barack Obama and the political uses of race by Melayne Price
  49. A Promised Land by Barack Obama
  50. Strength to Love by Martin Luther King, Jr. 
  51. My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem
  52. Just As I Am by Cicely Tyson
  53. Black and White: The Way I See It by Richard Williams
  54. Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
  55. A Way Out of No Way: A Memoir of Truth, Transformation, and the New American Story by Raphael Warnock
  56. Professional Troublemaker: The Fear Fighter Manual by Luvvie Jayi Jones
  57. Finding Me: A Memoir by Viola Davis 
  58. More than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) by Elaine Welteroth 
  59. My Life: Queen of the Court by Serena Williams 
  60. Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use by Amanda Seales 
  61. Bamboozled: How God Tricked Me into the Life of My Dreams by Yvonne Orji 
  62. After the Rain: Gentle Reminders for Healing, Courage, and Self Love by Alexandra Elle
  63. The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones 
  64. The Mind of a Winner by Steve Canal 
  65. All Bout Love by Bell Hooks 
  66. The Little Black Book of Success: Laws of Leadership for Black Women by Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood & Angela Burt-Murray 
  67. Your Next Level Life: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, and Opportunity for Black Women in America by Karen Arrington 
  68. Playing the Game Without a Coach: How Courage, Resilience and Forgiveness Helped One Man Seize the American Dream by Benjamin Raymond 
  69. The Wealth Choice: Secret Success of Black Millionaires by Dennis Kimbro 
  70. Beating the Odds: Eddie Brown’s Investing and Life Strategies by Eddie Brown 
  71. Strategize to Win: The New Way to Star Out, Step Up, or Start Over Your Career by Carla Harris 
  72. Rise and Grind: Outperform, Outwork, and Outhustle Your Way to a More Successful and Rewarding Life by Daymond John & Daniel Paisner 
  73. Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland 
  74. The Work: Searching for a Life that Matters by Wes Moore 
  75. The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish 
  76. Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change by Stacey Abrams 
  77. 50 Billion Dollar Boss: African American Women Sharing Stories of Success in Entrepreneurship and Leadership by Kathey Porter 
  78. Black Business Secrets: 500 Tips, Strategies, and Resources for the African American Entrepreneur by Dante Lee 
  79. Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires by Shomari Wills 
  80. Black Power Inc.: The New Voices of Success by  Cora Daniels 
  81. Climb: Taking Every Step with Conviction, Courage, and Calculated Risk to Achieve a Thriving Career and a Successful Life by Michelle Gadsden-Williams, Carolyn M. Brown 
  82. Boss Bride: The Powerful Woman’s Playbook for Love and Success by Charreah Jackson 
  83. Conversations in Black: On Power, Politics, and Leadership by  Ed Gordon 
  84. Double Down: Bet on Yourself and Succeed on Your Own Terms by  Antionette M. Clarke & Tricia Clarke-Stone 
  85. Expect to Win: Proven Strategies for Success From a Wall Street Vet by  Carla A. Harris 
  86. It’s About Time: The Art of Choosing the Meaningful Over the Urgent by  Valorie Burton
  87. Little Black Book: A Toolkit for Working Women by  Otegha Uwagba 
  88. Miss Jessie’s: Creating A Successful Business from Scratch – Naturally by Micho Branch 
  89. Mo’s Bows: A Young Person’s Guide to Start-up Success: Measure, Cut, Stitch Your Way to a Great Business by Moziah Bridges & Tramica Morris 
  90. More Than Pretty: Doing the Soul Work that Uncovers Your True Beauty by  Erica Campbell 
  91. The Book of Awesome Black Americans: Scientific Pioneers Trailblazing Entrepreneurs, Barrier-Breaking Activists and Afro-Futurists by Monique Jones 
  92. The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table by Minda Harts 
  93. The Merchant Prince of Black Chicago: Anthony Overton and the building of a Financial Empire by Robert E. Weems 
  94. Balancing Work and Life: The Nia Guide for Black Women by Sherly Huggins & Cheryl Mayberry McKissack 
  95. The Road to Someplace Better: From the Segregated South to Harvard Business School and Beyond by Lillian Lincoln Lambert 
  96. You Got This!: Unleash Your Awesomeness, Find Your Path, and Change Your World by Maya Penn 
  97. Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators by Susanne Tedrick 
  98. Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward by Valarie Jarret 
  99. Believe Bigger: Discover the Path to Your Life Purpose by Marshawn Evans Daniels 
  100. Swimming with Sharks in Dark Waters by Athene Brinson 
  101. FutureProofed: How to Navigate Disruptive Change, Find Calm in Chaos, and Succeed in Work & Life by Natalia Peart 
  102. Own Your Phenomenal Self: A Guide on Character, Success, & Leadership by Rita P. Mitchell 
  103. Werk 101: Get Your Life Together Guide by Koereyelle DuBose 
  104. Illogical: Saying Yes to a Life Without Limits by Emmanuel Acho 
  105. Impolite Conversations: On Race, Politics, Sex, Money, and Religion by Cora Daniels & John L. Jackson Jr. 
  106. Driven by Intention: Own Your Purpose, Gain Power, and Pursue Your Passion as a Woman at Work by Michelle Gadsden-Williams 
  107. Right Within: How to Heal From Racial Trauma in the Workplace by Minda Harts
  108. Gracism: The Art of Inclusion by Dr. David A. Anderson 
  109. So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo 
  110. All Bout Love by Bell Hooks 
  111. Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by Bell Hooks 
  112. You’ve Got to Be Hungry: The Greatness Within to Win by Les Brown 
  113. The Art of Ronin Leadership by Mike Howard 
  114. Hood Feminist: Notes from the Women that a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall 
  115. Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 
  116. Upper Hand: The Future of Work for the Rest of Us by Sherrell Dorsey 
  117. Will by Will Smith 
  118. More Myself: A Journey by Alicia Keys 
  119. Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals by Alexis Pauline Gumbs 
  120. These Wilds Beyond our Fences: Letters to My Daughter on Humanity’s Search for Home by Bayo Akomolafe 
  121. Black Futures by Kimberly Drew & Jenna Wortham 
  122. Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation by Rev Angel Kyodo Williams 
  123. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson 
  124. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic by Sonja Thomas & Lilly Workneh 
  125. How to Be an Antiracist byIbram X. Kendi
  126. Bridges to Heal US: Stories and Strategies for Racial Healing by Erin Jones 
  127. The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by Andre Braugher, James McBride, Lainie Kazan 
  128. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell 
  129. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell 
  130. Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution by Ellie Mystal 
  131. Fire Shut Up in My Bones by Charles Blow 
  132. The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto by Charles Blow  
  133. Speaking Truth to Power by Anita Hill 
  134. Writings on the Wall: Searching for a New Equality Beyond Black and White by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 
  135. Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 
  136. Up from Nothing: The Untold Story of How We (All) Succeed by John Hope Bryant 
  137. The Memo: Five Rules for Your Economic Liberation by John Hope Bryant
  138. Love Leadership: The New Way to Lead in A Fear Based World by John Hope Bryant 
  139. The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart by Alicia Garza 
  140. I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown 
  141. Standing Above the Crowd by James Donaldson
  142. The Extraordinary Power of Leader Humility: Thriving Organizations – Great Results by Marilyn Gist, PhD
  143. Talk it Up!: A Guide to Successful Public Speaking by David Suk Brown & Danny Suk Brown
  144. Our Brave Foremothers: Celebrating 100 Black, Brown, Asian & Indigenous Women Who Changed the Course of History by Rozella Kennedy
  145. You Owe You: ignite Your Power, Your Purpose, and Your Why by Eric Thomas, PhD
  146. Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit by Mary-Francis Winters
  147. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
  148. Year of Yes: How to Dance it Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes
  149. Acting Up: Winning in Business and in Life Using Down-Home Wisdom by Janice Bryant Howroyd
  150. How Boards Work and How They Can Work Better in a Chaotic World by Dambisa Moyo
  151. Chasing Youth Culture and Getting it Right: How Your Business Can Profit by Tapping Today’s Most Powerful Trendsetters and Tastemakers by Tina Wells
  152. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
  153. Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? by Reginald Lewis & Blair S. Walker
  154. Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers, and Create Success on Your Own Terms by Shellye Archambeau
  155. The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery by Sarah Lewis
  156. Display of Power by Daymond John
  157. Black Entrepreneur Survival Guide: The complete guide to becoming a successful African American Entrepreneur by Dunneille D Anderson
  158. Black Wall Street: From Riot to Renaissance in Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District by Hannibal B. Johnson
  159. CEO of My Soul: The Self-Love Journey of a Small Business Owner by Nic Cober Esquire
  160. Mom and Me and Mom by Maya Angelou
  161. How to Succeed in Business Without Being White: Straight Talk on Making It in America by Earl G. Graves
  162. Success Never Smelled So Sweet: How I Followed My Nose and Found My Passion by Lisa Price & Hilary Beard
  163. We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power by Rachel Rodgers
  164. 9 Laws of Success: Attracting the Life, Love, Health & Success You Want! By Stormy Wellington
  165. Self-Esteem is the New Black: How to become the confident woman you have always wanted to be! by Monique Mays
  166. Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth – And How You Can Too by Chris Hogan
  167. Get Good with Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole by Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche
  168. How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community by Mia Birdsong
  169. Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
  170. Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittney Cooper 
  171. The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner
  172. Green Power: The Successful Way of A.G. Gaston by A.G. Gaston
  173. The Black Woman Millionaire: A Revolutionary Act that DEFIES Impossible by Dr. Venus Opal Reese
  174. When the Miracle Drops: How Instagram Helped Turn a Quick Fix Into a Million-Dollar Product by Jessica Dupart
  175. Building Atlanta: How I Broke Through Segregation to Launch a Business Empire by Herman J. Russell 
  176. The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life’s Direction and Purpose by Oprah Winfrey
  177. Mental Detox: The Power and Guidance to Implement Peace, Joy, Balance, and Financial Abundance in Your Life by Cheyenne Bryant
  178. Quantum Leaps: 10 Steps to Help You Soar by Gloria Mayfield Bangs
  179. Air Traffic: A Memoir of Ambition and Manhood in America by Gregory Pardlo
  180. A Lucky Man by Jamel Brinkley
  181. Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
  182. Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching: A Young Black Man’s Education Book by Mychal Denzel Smith
  183. Meaty: Essays by Samantha Irby
  184. Unbowed by Wangari Maathai
  185. Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death and Redemption in an American Prison by Shaka Senghor 
  186. Where You Are is Not Who You Are by Ursula Burns 
  187. The Perfect Day to Boss Up by Rick Ross & Niel Martinez-Belkin
  188. Feeding the Soul by Tabitha Brown
  189. Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A guide to reclaiming yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab

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