20 Wellness Books Written by People of the Global Majority

BooksPhysical Self-CareEmotional Self-Care
Written By Parent Self Care

Written by Kristi Yeh, LMFT

White executives dominate the publishing industry, and not surprisingly the majority of books published are written by white authors. A 2018 study by professor Richard Jean So found that although Non-Hispanic white people make up 60% of the U.S. population, that group authored 89% of fiction books (published in 2020 in the Columbia University Press). While self-care and wellness books are not fiction, white authors and content creators disproportionately represent this space. This can leave people of the global majority feeling uncomfortable, unseen, or traumatized in predominantly white wellness spaces (e.g. yoga studios, mental health therapists/organizations, books, etc.). 

These are twenty wellness and self-care books written by people of the global majority that offer expertise, wisdom, and encouragement on a variety of topics. Enjoy!

Wellness


Mindfulness 


Spirituality 


Movement


Rest


Healing and Self-Love


Self-Help and Self-Acceptance

  1. Your Turn: How to Be an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims

  2. Own Your Glow: A Soulful Guide to Luminous Living and Crowning the Queen Within by Latham Thomas

  3. More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) by Elaine Welteroth

  4. You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance by Chani Nicholas


Workbooks and Journals

  1. The Self-Care Investment: Your Guide to Making Your Self-Care Non-Negotiable by G. Michelle Goodloe

  2. I Own My Magic: Self-Talk for Black Women: Affirmations for Self-Care and Empowerment by Gennifer Michelle Goodloe

  3. Self-Explore, Self-Restore: A Guided Self-Care Journal Created to Support Your Relationship with Yourself by G. Michelle White

  4. The Set Boundaries Workbook: Practical Exercises for Understanding Your Needs and Setting Healthy Limits by Nedra Glover Tawwab

July is also National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This month brings awareness to the ways in which mental health services in the U.S. need to change in order to serve all communities and cultures with respect, safety, and competence. The National Minority Mental Health Month also aims to help community leaders destigmatize mental health services. You can learn more about health disparities and access publications and resources on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.

While there is much more work to be done to diversify the publishing industry, one hopeful statistic is that in 2019, half of publishing interns identified as people of color. If employers promote a diverse pool of talent, the publishing industry may experience a long-term shift that more accurately represents Americans in addition to paying people of the global majority equitably.

Kristi Yeh is a parent of two, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been practicing in California for over ten years. She currently works in school-based mental health at a public elementary and middle school. A part of Kristi’s role entails discussing self-care with parents. Research shows that the better the adults take care of themselves, the healthier our children are at home and school. 

Parent Self Care https://parentselfcare.com
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