[Our editor handpicks the products featured, and may earn commission from the links on this page]

New month, new reads! I'm truly working to reclaim my time and to establish a healthier routine for myself that includes reading more as a form of self care and less of wasting hours scrolling through social media. So far, so good! I finished my recent book club read this past Saturday, and have already set my sights on a new leisure read in addition to my upcoming book club read for the MoTiFFated Minds Book Club. This week, several authors released intriguing books and I have listed 3 below that are trying to make my upcoming reading list!

Well, here we are again. There was so much hope to start 2021 and within a moments time it seems like the reality of race in America was once again brought to the forefront, negatively. Most of us watched the news on January 6, 2021 in disbelief, though we were not truly surprised because for years damaging rhetoric built the momentum for what occurred. At this point, it should all be clear that people in this country go through life living in two different worlds and are held to two different standards. One world with so much pain and hurt. Many people are wondering what they can do to be an ally to black people or people of color, and a huge step is to acknowledge that this occurs. 

To aid you in becoming more informed, below are book suggestions from black authors who either discuss race or politics for you to add to your reading list.

[Our editor handpicks the products featured, and may earn commission from the links on this page]

Don't be startled by the title! That's right, the 2nd read for the MoTiFFated Minds Book Club is titled, Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life by Gary John Bishop. At the conclusion of the first virtual book club meeting, members selected this book as our latest pick. 2020 has been something, and nothing like we all envisioned heading into the new year. This year has taught us about the power of perseverance, and the need to be in tune with ourselves, mentally and physically. 

[Our editor handpicks the products featured, and may earn commission from the links on this page]

Starting a book club has been on my mind for some time now. Last June,  I created a book review, or my ten takeaways of a book that I read, and nothing has since come of that category. I thought about it and I don't want to just read books and tell people my thoughts, or what I feel like are important excerpts to me. Ideally, I'd love to create a community where we can read and grow our knowledge together, have diversity of thought, and intellectual discourse in a safe space. Thus, MoTiFFated Minds Book Club is here and reading will begin on Wednesday, July 1, 2020! It's a virtual book club.

We're at the beginning of June 2020, and still in the middle of COVID-19 and continuing the fight against longstanding racial injustice, so I wanted to allow folks time to receive the book if ordering it offline. So far, I haven't seen anyone my age, or anyone in my hometown of Charlotte create an environment to help people learn and lead in this way, and I hope it will be something special for my community and beyond. 

[Our editor handpicks the products featured, and may earn commission from the links on this page]

There were so many gems dropped in the book, #Influencer Building Your Personal Brand In The Age Of Social Media by Brittany Hennessy. This book is a wealth of knowledge for those like me who are embarking on the journey to build a brand and need a blueprint to help you get started. #Influencer informs you of the ins and outs from naming your brand to obtaining an agent to helping you secure partnerships for your brand.

If you are like me, and just getting started, you may be more interested in the basics. This blog post is dedicated to you!