For Queen Latifah, success has never been about trophies or red carpets. The Grammy- and Emmy-winning star, whose influence stretches from hip-hop to Hollywood, says her truest power comes from remembering where she started — and staying connected to the lessons that built her.
Every summer, no matter where she is in the world, she returns to the same ritual: rereading three 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. Reaching into a worn leather bag she carries almost everywhere, she added, “And where I’m still trying to go.”
A Ritual Born in the Early Days of Fame
Those close to Latifah say the tradition began in the 1990s, during the filming of Living Single, when the rush of success first threatened to pull her away from her roots. What started as a quiet act of self-reflection soon became a life-long habit — a way to stay grounded when fame got loud.
“It was my way of holding on to myself,” she said. “These books became a check-in with who I am.”
📖 The Autobiography of Malcolm X — by Malcolm X and Alex Haley
“This one reminds me of strength,” Latifah said, running her hand over the book’s worn, dog-eared cover.
“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.”
🎶 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. “Reading her makes me remember the little girl from Newark who dreamed big and wasn’t afraid to speak her truth.”
Some passages still move her to tears.
“There’s one line I underline every time: I rise. That’s not just poetry. That’s prayer.”
During the interview, Latifah even opened her copy and read aloud softly:
“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise.”
She closed the book gently and smiled. “That right there — that’s everything. That’s why I read them. They remind me I’m part of something bigger — a story that started long before me.”
💜 The Four Agreements — by Don Miguel Ruiz
Her third summer reread is what she 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 laughed softly. “It’s like spiritual maintenance — you don’t wait till you break down to take care of yourself.”
Staying True in a Changing World
For a woman who’s spent her life breaking barriers — pioneering women in hip-hop, starring in blockbuster films, and running her own production company — Queen Latifah says staying grounded is no mystery.
“People ask how I stay true to myself,” she said with an easy smile. “It’s not some secret. I just go back to the lessons that raised me — faith, family, and books that remind me to be grateful.”
And as she slipped the three books back into her bag, the picture became clear: a global star who never lost touch with the girl she once was.
The Queen, it turns out, has always known where her crown comes from — not fame or power, but the pages that taught her how to rise.