Empowering LGBTQ+ Self-Improvement and Wellness Books

Sometimes loving ourselves better starts with a lesson in loving others. Kai Cheng Thom believes that every human is sacred and intrinsically beautiful. But as a Chinese Canadian trans woman living in a racist, transphobic, post-pandemic world, Kai Cheng found her trust in the goodness of humanity waning. This collection of poetry and inspirational musings was her way of searching for and restoring her love for life and other humans. It’s a gorgeous, moving book that will help you find hope and beauty in dark times.

Whether you’re looking to be more productive in your career or facing discrimination in the workplace, journalist Alan Henry has just the book for you. Henry has reported on technology and productivity for years, but as a queer Black man, he found a lot of common “hacks” (like blocking off work time on your calendar or limiting checking emails) were viewed differently when he utilized them. In Seen, Heard & Paid, Henry shares research on the challenges people of marginalized identities face in the workplace, advice for managing up and responding to microaggressions, and real talk about when it’s time to leave your toxic job.

One of my favorite things about being queer is the perspective it gives you on what society tells us is “normal” and the freedom we have to eschew those expectations. Poet, artist, and LGBTQ+ activist Yrsa Daley-Ward is also interested in the ways society tries to mold us into familiar shapes and how we can break those molds. In The How, Daley-Ward helps readers dig deeper to find their own unique inner selves and empowers them to live more authentically every day. It’s a beautiful celebration of individuality, with passages and meditations you’ll return to again and again.

John Paul Brammer has earned a reputation as a hilarious and heartfelt LGBTQ+ advice columnist. But his own young adult years were far from perfect, and sometimes make him wonder what right he has to offer advice to strangers. These essays are a combination of responses to some of his most commonly received questions and reflections on his experiences growing up as a queer mixed-race kid in Oklahoma. If you’re looking for a book to make you laugh and inspire you to live your best and most authentic life, ¡Hola Papi! is the one for you.

We’ve long been told that our society is organized into a series of strict binaries: man or woman, straight or gay, young or old, right or wrong. But life is never so simple, and finding space to exist outside of the binaries can be transformative. In this book by two nonbinary authors, gender and sexuality theory is explained in clear, approachable terms. But it’s also about so much more than queer identity. Life Isn’t Binary also explores how breaking out of binaries can make for healthier and happier relationships, communication, emotions, and more.

Bernardine Evaristo is a wildly impressive writer with dozens of awards, fellowships, and honors for her work in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, journalism, theater, and more. What does it take to be that prolifically creative? You’ll find out in Evaristo’s inspirational memoir Manifesto. From growing up as one of eight children in a Nigerian-British family to discovering her queerness to fighting her way through barriers in the publishing industry, Evaristo’s story is powerful, moving, and beautifully written in her inimitable voice. And for creatives, it’s the perfect guide to persevering in your art, even when the odds are stacked against you.

You may recognize Melissa Dilkes Pateras as “the TikTok laundry lesbian” who creates hilarious viral videos with tips for keeping house. In her book, A Dirty Guide to a Clean Home, you’ll find so much more than instructions for folding fitted sheets. From brilliant cleaning advice to inspirational organizing techniques to instructions for DIY home repairs, it’s a funny, approachable guide to adulting and managing a cleaner, healthier home.

Travel is an impactful way to learn more about ourselves and the world we live in, but traveling while queer can come with many complications. Add to that being Black, disabled, and assigned female at birth, and international travel can become particularly perilous. But journalist and poet Shayla Lawson has found many rewards in their travel, despite the risks. In these thought-provoking essays, Lawson shares some of the wisdom and insights they’ve gained in adventures through Egypt, Mexico, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, and more. Lawson uses the places they’ve visited to creatively unpack issues like gender, relationships, chronic illness, racism, and privilege.

The wellness industry is booming and worth an estimated $5.6 trillion in 2022. But where does it come from, and who is it for? That’s the question Fariha Róisín, a queer Bangladeshi Muslim writer, is interested in exploring. Róisín started to notice that many of the aspects of her South Asian culture that had once marked her as an outsider were now being marketed to white people, by white people, as luxury items that could help them live a happier, healthier life. In this book, she explores how we got here, who is excluded from the self-care industry, and how we can make wellness accessible for all.