BE WELL READ IN 2020: SUMMER READS (BLACK AUTHORS)

6 books in 3 months? Are you up for the challenge? You sit on the phone all day anyhow! So with this being said, I'm going to provide you with my summer reading list. Along with clothes, I have a bad habit of adding books to my cart then closing the tab once I see the total but to combat the large number at checkout I've decided to just get books little by little. Disclaimer: I have not read any of these books that are on my list but I plan to read them throughout the summer.

First up on the list we have Blink the Power of Thinking without Thinking by Malcom Gladwell, author of David & Goliath his top selling book. Many of us know the story of David & Goliath through the Bible but after reading Gladwell's analysis along with other examples of this biblical story he quickly became one of my favorite authors. You can find a summary and preview of what this book is about here.

Next up we have All About Love by Bell Hooks. I have seen many excerpts and read the first few pages of this book. Also, I have seen it appear on other people's reading list so here I am putting it on mine as well. I definitely want to read other books that she has written including Communion: The Female Search for Love and Salvation: Black People and Love...if you haven't notice she writes a lot about love so if you find love to be intriguing or interesting then she's probably the author for you. You can find a summary and preview about All About Love here.

Thirdly (not sure if this is a word) but we have The Source of Self Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations by Toni Morrison. I have read one other book by Morrison titled Beloved which was also a good book so I would say she's a reliable writer, not to mention this book is her #1 bestseller. (I'm also supposed to be reading Sula by her as well with my family so I'll be on a Toni Morrison kick this summer as well along with Bell Hooks.) You can find a summary and preview of this book here.

Vibrate Higher Daily: Live Your Power  by Lalah Delia is a book written to serve as a guide on how to channel your emotions in a positive way. Learn how to move through daily challenges that life brings to our doorstep. I follow Delia on Twitter to brighten up my timeline. In addition with being an author, she is a spiritual practitioner. You can find a summary of this book here.

***While on the topic of mental health be sure to check this out this book when it's released on 10/13 and this author who is also a mental health professional.***

This book isn't on the reading list because it has yet to be released but just a freebie! After the Rain by Alexandra Elle. I have a journal by the name of Today I Affirm by Elle (available at 5 below). I love this journal because it gives you prompts to journal write about which makes it easier for people who may be new to journaling. After the Rain is a book that serves as a guide to healing. Since this book is not yet published I can't offer much of an opinion. You can find a summary of what the book is about here.

Thick by Tressie McMillan Cottom is a book that discusses what being a black woman in society means. While every one woman's experience is unique, she is here to address some commonalities amongst the average black woman. I watched an interview of her talking about the book on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, to say the least she is very well spoken. A summary and preview of the book can be found here.

Lastly to finish off the list we have, Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin. I've read The Fire Next Time and Go Tell it on the Mountain which were also good reads. Baldwin is known as being a very influential writer who addresses issues such as racism and the struggles of being black in America. In Giovanni's Room he also addresses struggles with sexuality. I thought this would be a good book not only to learn but to enjoy a story as well. Most books on the list if not all are books to teach. A preview and summary of this book can be found here.

When composing this list I originally planned to have 9 books over the course of 3 months but then I thought to myself like hmm the world is opening back up so maybe smaller? Then when I got halfway through the list I realized all the authors had something in common. After this realization, I decided to commit to this theme. So I invite you to read these books with me this summer. My hope is that you learn something, gain insight, a different perspective, and find a new favorite author/book.