Rachel Lindsay wears many hats, she’s a former Bachelor contestant, the first Black Bachelorette, a lawyer, a television correspondent and now a first author (opens in a new tab). In Marie Clairethe last episode of Portrait Shelf (opens in a new tab)— in which celebrities, influencers and famous bookworms show off their personal libraries — Lindsay took us on a tour of her collection, a collection just as eclectic as she is.
Lindsay begins the video by sharing some of her childhood readings, including Anne Terry White’s george washington carver (opens in a new tab) and Mildred D. Taylor Rolling thunder, hear me cry (opens in a new tab). She loves Trevor Noah Born of a crime (opens in a new tab)and that of Michelle Obama Become (opens in a new tab)—two biographies she recently read—as well as that of Greg McKeown Essentialism (opens in a new tab) and Christina Dalcher Voice (opens in a new tab) (she says the latter is very relevant to what is happening in our society today).
Two books Lindsay got from exes that she still keeps in her library? Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People (opens in a new tab) and Michael Eric Dyson Mercy, Mercy, Me. (opens in a new tab) These are alongside one of her other favorites – May Cobb’s hunting women (opens in a new tab) (she’s obsessed with all things housewives!) – as well as Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste (opens in a new tab) and Nikole Hannah-Jones The 1619 Project (opens in a new tab): two essential readings.
Near the end of the video, Lindsay talks about writing her first book, miss me with this (opens in a new tab) (released January 25), and describes the process as “rigorous”. “I knew that I had always wanted to do a book, especially after having done The Bachelorette,” she says. “It’s tough. There’s so much you want to say, but at the same time you have to be careful about telling your story and not telling someone else’s stuff.” This is the first time people will learn Lindsay’s full, untold story.
Watch Lindsay Portrait Shelf video, below, then order some of his favorite books for yourself. Lindsay’s book, miss me with this (opens in a new tab)is available for purchase now.