Keke Palmer's Bookshelf Is Full Of Inspirational Reads

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While Keke Palmer is most known as an actor, starring in the Nickelodeon show "True Jackson VP" as a teen and appearing in movies like "Nope" and "Hustlers," the celeb has also made her foray into the literary landscape. The Illinois-native published "I Don't Belong to You: Quiet the Noise and Find Your Voice" in 2017 and "Master of Me" in 2024, with both titles combining memoir and self-help elements, while the latter landed on our list of celebrity memoirs you'll want to listen to on audiobook. Palmer also collaborated with romance author Jasmine Guillory to release a series of humorous short stories titled "Southern Belle Insults," with the actor similarly lending her voice to the audiobook versions via Audible. 

Outside of being a published author, Palmer has provided some insight into her personal reading preferences, revealing that her bookshelf is filled with inspirational reads as uplifting as her own works. "Becoming" by Michelle Obama, one of the best books written by a First Lady, is a standout from her reading list, with the "Alice" star highlighting Obama's encouraging influence. "Michelle Obama is such an inspiration for me," she told Amazon Book Review. "Her rise as First Lady is one that required resilience in the public eye. I hope my son Leo will derive strength from examples of people like Michelle Obama, who is crystal clear on her purpose, and stops at nothing to achieve it." And that's far from the only inspiring book Palmer has on her shelf. 

Given that she's penned two of her own, it's not super surprising that Keke Palmer enjoys encouraging self-help books and moving personal stories, including some great, well-written celebrity memoirs. When speaking with Amazon Book Reviews, the Hollywood figure highlighted how "Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself" by Nedra Glover Tawwab influenced her 2024 release "Master of Me." "Learning to set boundaries has been a life-changing part of my personal growth and is so necessary to finding purpose...this is the guidebook," she said in her recommendation. 

In terms of star-studded favorites, Palmer is a fan of Gabrielle Union's "We're Going to Need More Wine," a humorous and heartfelt essay collection that tackles topics ranging from sexual assault trauma and racism to beauty standards and puberty. "I've always loved Gabrielle's honesty," she told Elle about the 2017 publication. "The way she explores all these different topics including race, sexuality, and while also being incredibly vulnerable and sharing stories from her past made me so proud of her for writing this book." 

Palmer also shouted out "Dear Black Girls" by WNBA player A'ja Wilson, a 2024 release that examines what it's like to grow up as a Black girl in America. "The thing I love about this book is that A'ja shows us that sometimes the support from the people we love is hard truths," the "Baby, This Is Keke Palmer" podcast host said. "Gushy is good, but sometimes we need a little spice to get us right!" For inspirational reads centered around tough issues and personal triumphs, Palmer has all the recommendations you need.