Throughout the recent Black Lives Matter movement, there have been A LOT of resources shared in hopes of educating white people about the history and struggles of Black people. As a reader, I’ve been especially interested in the BIPOC book recommendations that have gone around because I’m always on the hunt for new books to read, learn from, and be moved by. I had the idea to look back on my GoodReads history to see how many books I’ve personally read by Black, Indigenous, People of Color authors.
I had a feeling that I wasn’t being as inclusive as I’d like to be when choosing books, so I wanted to take a closer look at my own reading habits. I think in the current climate, it’s imperative to step back and see where you’re at. Call yourself out, be open to being called out by others (not easy I know), and ultimately, do better. So I decided to go through my “Read” bookshelf on GoodReads and see how many books out of the 173 were written by BIPOC authors. (I’ve done a pretty decent job of tracking my reading history on GoodReads but I probably missed a few books here and there.) The results are in, and they’re not what I hoped to see.
Books I’ve Read by Black, Indigenous, People of Color Authors
Total out of 173: 15. Wow, only 8.7%.
That means that more than 91% of the books I’ve consumed in my lifetime were written by white people. And books stay with us. Inspire us. Shape our perspectives. Challenge us (or don’t if we don’t incorporate diverse voices). I’m sad to say that I wouldn’t have even read the majority of these 15 books if I wasn’t interested in feminism or travel. I didn’t read them with the thought of adding more diverse authors to my repertoire, but that is something I want to be more cognizant of going forward. I’m going to share the 15 books I’ve personally read by BIPOC authors so far, and I’ll also share some that I have my eyes on to read soon. I think you’ll find that these BIPOC book recommendations are different from the types circulating on lists right now.
BIPOC Book Recommendations: Asian Authors
Without You, There Is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea’s Elite by Suki Kim
Suki Kim is a Korean-American writer, and her Korean heritage helped her gain access to a country most of us will never visit. I loved this book and gave it a 5-star rating which I don’t give out frequently. It was so haunting and well written. North Korea is a place that’s often villainized in the news, so it was super interesting to get a firsthand account of what it’s like there. Yes, it can be terrifying, but she also wrote with affection and compassion for the people. This book really widened my perspective, and at the end of the day, I was reminded that we’re all human, no matter where we’re born.
The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Balli Kaur Jaswal is a Singaporean novelist with a family history in India. I picked this up purely because I was traveling through India. This means if I hadn’t gone to India, I wouldn’t have read this or one other on this list, bringing my total down from 15 to 13. This book was a decently lighthearted read that brought a country to life that is not easy to describe with words.
The Unwinding of the Miracle: A Memoir of Life, Death, and Everything That Comes After by Julie Yip-Williams
Julie Yip-Williams, an American writer born in Vietnam, published this book posthumously. It’s another one I gave 5-stars–it was so moving and full of wisdom. This book is about death, yes, but I felt it was more about the miracle of life and being human. Julie writes, “our purpose in this life is to experience everything we possibly can, to understand as much of the human condition as we can squeeze into one lifetime, however long or short that may be. We are here to feel the complex range of emotions that come with being human. And from those experiences, our souls expand and grow and learn and change, and we understand a little more about what it really means to be human. I call it the evolution of the soul.” Let’s grow and learn and change, people!
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Min Jin Lee is a Korean-American author, and Pachinko was the first-ever book written for adult, English readers about Japanese-Korean culture. It’s hard to believe that a book published in 2017 could be the first-ever anything. This novel was brilliant, covering issues like immigration and racism, but in places that we don’t really think of when we hear the words immigration and racism. I highly recommend this one, especially if you’ve traveled to Japan or Korea or have plans to.
Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia Tolentino
Jia Tolentino is an American writer who was born in Canada to Filipino parents. Trick Mirror has been called “required reading for all millennial females” and I want all my friends to read it, so don’t be surprised when I give this to you for Christmas haha. It’s a collection of spot-on essays, each of which blew me away and was better than the last.
BIPOC Book Recommendations: Latinx Authors
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian author, and his book The Alchemist is super popular among the travel community. It’s a quick read but very inspirational–perfect for dreamers. It’s another one I fear I wouldn’t have read if it weren’t for my love of travel.
Umami by Laia Jufresa
Laia Jufresa is a Mexican writer, and Umami is one of the best books I’ve read this year. It was such a joy to read–I found myself smiling and laughing throughout. It takes place in Mexico City, so you also get a glimpse of the culture there.
BIPOC Book Recommendations: Indian Authors
milk and honey + The Sun and Her Flowers both by Rupi Kaur
Rupi Kaur is a Canadian poet born in India. I cannot recommend her poetry more (accompanied by her beautiful illustrations). It is raw and soooooo powerful. You’ll be dog-earing every page.
Girls Burn Brighter by Shobha Rao
Shobha Rao immigrated to the United States from India. Girls Burn Brighter is a heartbreaking read about friendship, resilience, hope, and the heaviness of being female in a man’s world.
BIPOC Book Recommendations: Black Authors
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Alice Walker is an American author and the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction. This book was on my list because of a feminist book club and deals with issues like domestic and sexual abuse. It’s not a light read, but it’s so important.
All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks
bell hooks (born Gloria Jean Watkins) is an African-American author and activist. Her writing focuses on race and oppression (and more), but All About Love is about…love. She is a visionary, so definitely check out her work!
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Tayari Jones is a Black author from Atlanta, GA. An American Marriage was immensely popular when it came out, for good reason. One of the main characters gets wrongly accused of a crime and does jail time for it (sound realistic?). This book dives into what that’s like for him, his wife, and the best man at their wedding. I can’t recommend this one enough.
Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo
Ayobami Adebayo is a Nigerian novelist. I really enjoyed her book Stay With Me. It was layered and complex and brought up a lot of questions about marriage and masculinity (or the lack of it).
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
James Baldwin is a highly celebrated American author. I absolutely loved his writing in Giovanni’s Room, which is about homosexuality in 1950s American-expat Paris. The resulting tragedy represented the cost and repercussions of not telling the truth–to yourself and to the world. This book should be read and savored regardless of sexual orientation. It’s so human.
BIPOC Book Recommendations: Indigenous Authors
I have not read a single book by an indigenous author 🙁 Please send recs if you have any!
Books by BIPOC Authors I Have on My “To Read” List
There are tons of books being read and recommended right now, which I think is great overall. I don’t want to come off the wrong way saying this, but many of these books have not interested me. They seem more textual and educational, and I prefer to consume that type of information via podcasts or documentaries. When I read, I want my emotions to be overcome by a story. I imagine these “how-to” books will not be able to do that (I could be wrong), so I’m hesitant to add them to my list. Please call me out if I’m thinking about it the wrong way, though!
In saying that, the books on my “To Read” list are written by BIPOC authors and will hopefully bring another world to life in my mind that I was previously closed off to. A couple memoirs make the list as well.
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
Kamila Shamsie is a British Pakistani author. I’m saddened to say I’ve yet to read a book written by someone from the Middle East. It’s a novel that asks what sacrifices will we make in the name of love? It has received rave reviews, and apparently, the ending stays with readers long after they finish reading. That’s the impact I’m looking for!
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Brit Bennett is a Black writer born in Oceanside, CA, a city just a short drive from where I lived for 4 years. The Vanishing Half is about race, but it’s also about why some people feel pulled to live somewhere other than where they were born. It sounds eye-opening but also relatable, and I can’t wait to read it!
I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist and author. This girl is a feminist icon and is braver than most people will probably ever be. I know I’ll be changed and inspired by her story. I also want to read her other book We Are Displaced.
Severance by Ling Ma
Ling Ma is a Chinese-American writer. Severance was published in 2018 before the global pandemic occurred, but many people have recommended not reading it until COVID slows down because it’s about a plague (might be too eerie to read an apocalyptic satire during the current circumstances). It seems from the description that it also hits on being a first-generation American with Chinese immigrant parents.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Dr. Yuval Noah Harari was born in Israel to Lebanese parents. He currently does research on the relation between history and biology, while also lecturing and writing books. This one is highly renowned, and I feel like it will be completely fascinating and mind-blowing. I’m not sure if it addresses race specifically, but I feel like it has to come up if you’re talking about the rise and fall of empires as well as contemporary issues faced by humanity.
Find Me (Call Me By Your Name #2) by Andre Aciman
Andre Aciman is an Egyptian-American novelist. Call Me By Your Name is one of the best books I’ve ever read, so I can’t wait to read the follow-up. I guess that technically means I’ve read 16 books written by BIPOC, not 15 (still only brings me up to 9%).
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah is a South African comedian, author, television host, and political commentator. You might have seen him on The Daily Show on Comedy Central. Born a Crime is his memoir about being born to a white father and black mother during a time when such a union could land you five years in prison. I really want to learn more about South Africa’s apartheid history, and this book comes highly recommended.
Black is the Body: Stories from My Grandmother’s Time, My Mother’s Time, and Mine by Emily Bernard
Emily Bernard is a Black American author from Tennessee. Her family name was inherited from a white man and she ended up marrying a white man from the North. Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love and one of my heroes) recently raved about this collection of essays, in which the author sets out to find a new way to talk about race and share the truth of her experiences. I can’t wait to dive into this one.
The Beauty in Breaking: A Memoir by Michele Harper
Michele Harper is an African American doctor who grew up in Washington D.C. and moved to Philadelphia for her career as an emergency room physician. This book is extremely popular right now and seems to be full of wisdom about self-healing.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a Mexican Canadian novelist and New York Times best selling author. Mexican Gothic looks dark and seductive and suspenseful. It seems to be an updated take on Rebecca, which is one of my favorite books, so I can’t wait to read it!
Closing Thoughts
It might feel like something as small as changing my reading habits won’t make any difference in dismantling systemic racism. But books are an important part of my life–I spend a lot of time (and money on) reading. They offer a way I can improve myself to become a better ally–through opening up my perspectives but also through financially supporting BIPOC authors. Are there ways you can make a similar small step in your life?
Maybe you’re into makeup and beauty. Can you buy products from a Black-owned business? If you’re into reading like I am, can you step outside your comfort zone and read one of the books above? Reading has the power to open you up much like travel does. You might find yourself on a journey that spirals into compassion and doing more in the fight for equality. And that would be so, so beautiful.
Great post and very though provoking!! I love reading your lists! One other thing I think we must do is try to buy more books from BIPOC businesses. And also please add The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns to your Middle East must reads!
That’s a great point about buying from BIPOC businesses. I need to find somewhere! I’ve heard of both of those books and know they are highly recommended so I’ll have to add them to my list!