Read by Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z
What books does Jay-Z recommend?
Jay-Z's book recommendations map the reading of a man who turned a housing-project childhood into the first billion-dollar fortune in hip-hop. The Roc Nation founder and cultural icon reads across spirituality, marketing, and social history, and this list of 8 titles is anchored by a candid 2009 interview with O, The Oprah Magazine, supplemented by his Twitter and endorsements. Its themes run through self-improvement, society and politics, and business and strategy. He names two books he "absolutely lives" his life by: Gary Zukav's The Seat of the Soul, which "made the most sense" to him among the spiritual books he explored growing up, and James Redfield's The Celestine Prophecy, a novel he calls "a metaphor for life." His practical side surfaces in Seth Godin's Purple Cow, from which he draws the lesson that "your product has to be a purple cow," and in Robert Greene's The 48 Laws of Power, which he referenced directly in his lyrics.
Last updated February 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
The Seat of the Soul
25th Anniversary Edition
byGary Zukav
1989256 Pages“There are two books that I absolutely live my life by. This is one of them. Growing up, I was always curious about religion. This book made the most sense to me; it's about the way you live your life.”
— Jay-Z
Source: O, The Oprah Magazine interview, 2009
The Celestine Prophecy
An Adventure
byJames Redfield
1993246 Pages“This is the other book I live by. It's fiction—a guy travels to find a secret book that has a series of principles. The story is a metaphor for life.”
— Jay-Z
Source: O, The Oprah Magazine interview, 2009
Outliers
The Story of Success
byMalcolm Gladwell
2008304 Pages“This book is about the principles of timing and repetition—about preparing yourself for luck, really.”
— Jay-Z
Source: O, The Oprah Magazine interview, 2009
Purple Cow
Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable
bySeth Godin
2009224 Pages“This is straight marketing advice: Your product has to be a purple cow—it has to be distinct to have any success.”
— Jay-Z
Source: O, The Oprah Magazine interview, 2009
byDick Gregory, Robert Lipsyte
2019240 Pages“I don't know who turned me on to this autobiography, but his sense of humor and the hardships he went through stayed with me.”
— Jay-Z
Source: O, The Oprah Magazine interview, 2009
Read by Jay-Z, Nipsey Hussle
byTa-Nehisi Coates
2015176 Pages“America. Please. Read.”
— Jay-Z
Source: Jay-Z's Official Twitter Account (@S_C_)
Lucky Me
A Memoir of Changing the Odds
byRich Paul, Jesse Washington
2023272 Pages“This book is an American tale of 'against all odds'—and I believe young people in similar environments will see themselves in Lucky Me.”
— Jay-Z
Source: Official Book Endorsement / Blurb
Read by Jay-Z, Ryan Holiday, Steven Bartlett and 4 others
byRobert Greene
1998480 Pages“I carry the 4-5, mastered 48 Laws.”
— Jay-Z
Source: Direct reference in 'Primetime' and interview with Robert Greene
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Jay-Z recommend?
His 8 recommendations include The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav, The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Purple Cow by Seth Godin, and The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.
What are Jay-Z's favorite books?
He names two he lives by: The Seat of the Soul, which "made the most sense" to him spiritually, and The Celestine Prophecy, a novel he calls "the other book I live by" and "a metaphor for life."
Where do Jay-Z's book recommendations come from?
Most come from a 2009 interview with O, The Oprah Magazine, alongside his official Twitter account, a book blurb for Rich Paul's Lucky Me, and a lyric reference to The 48 Laws of Power.
Has Jay-Z written any books?
Yes, one: Decoded, published in 2010, which pairs his lyrics with commentary on their meaning, his life, and hip-hop culture.
Why does Jay-Z recommend Purple Cow?
He treats it as "straight marketing advice," summarizing its core idea that "your product has to be a purple cow—it has to be distinct to have any success," a principle that echoes his own approach to brand building.