HOLLYWOOD, CA — For Queen Latifah, success has never been defined by trophies or red carpets. The Grammy- and Emmy-winning star, whose vast influence stretches from pioneering hip-hop to executive leadership in Hollywood, says her true power stems from staying connected to the foundational lessons that built her career.
Every summer, regardless of her location or schedule, she maintains a sacred ritual: rereading three specific books that, as she puts it, “keep me humble, thankful, and human.”
“They remind me where I came from,” Latifah said with a warm smile during a recent interview. “And where I’m still trying to go.”
A Tradition Born in the Days of Living Single
Those close to Latifah say this tradition began quietly in the 1990s, during the filming of her hit show Living Single, when the first rush of fame threatened to pull her away from her roots. What started as an act of self-reflection soon became a lifelong habit—a reliable way to stay grounded when the noise of celebrity grew loud.
“It was my way of holding on to myself,” she shared. “These books became a check-in with who I am.”
1. The Autobiography of Malcolm X — by Malcolm X and Alex Haley
Holding the worn, dog-eared cover, Latifah described the first book as her guide to resilience.
“This one reminds me of strength,” she said. “Every time I read it, I remember what it means to evolve—to own your past and grow from it. Malcolm’s journey wasn’t about perfection; it was about progress. That hits me every time. You can fall, learn, and rise again—that’s the real revolution.”
2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings — by Maya Angelou
The second book, Latifah says, speaks to her soul “like a familiar song.”
“Maya taught me that your voice has power—even when people try to silence you,” she shared, adding that reading Angelou reminds her of the “little girl from Newark who dreamed big and wasn’t afraid to speak her truth.”
She even opened her copy during the interview to read a passage that still moves her to tears: “Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise.”
“That right there—that’s everything,” she concluded. “That’s why I read them. They remind me I’m part of something bigger—a story that started long before me.”
3. The Four Agreements — by Don Miguel Ruiz
Her third summer reread is what she affectionately calls her “peace manual.”
“When the world gets loud—social media, politics, expectations—this one helps me tune back into myself,” Latifah said. “It’s simple but powerful. Don’t take things personally, don’t make assumptions—those two alone have saved me a lot of stress.”
She likened the practice to spiritual maintenance. “You don’t wait till you break down to take care of yourself.”
For a woman who’s spent her life breaking barriers, Queen Latifah says the secret to staying grounded is no mystery. As she slipped the three books back into her bag, the message was clear: her crown comes not from fame or power, but from the pages that taught her how to rise.