List of Top 10 Maya Angelou Books – The SoftBook

Top 10 Maya Angelou Books

Maya Angelou was an American writer, poet, and civil rights activist. She was born on 4th April 1928 and died on 28th May 2014. She was best known for her series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences Maya Angelou’s books got the highest rating even during the initial day of publishing Now one question arises in everyone’s mind: how many books did Maya Angelou write? Don’t worry we will give you the answer.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

It is an autobiography and was published in 1969. The book tells about the life of Maya Angelou and how she lives in Stamps, Arkansas. Maya Angelou tells about the racism that she and her family (her grandmother and her uncle) faced in life, like being forced to sit on the back side of the bus and facing racism from white people. The book also tells how she got depressed after getting raped by her mother’s boyfriend. Maya Angelou’s book tells us about racism, her life struggle, her depression, and her love for poetry and literature.


Letter to My Daughter

Letter to My Daughter

This 2008’s modern-day Maya Angelou book is all about essays and a collection of stories. This is one of the books by Maya Angelou which is written like the author is writing letters to her daughter and this book is a collection of those letters. Maya Angelou wrote about her life experiences, like the importance of education. Share her life stories as a mother and how she faces racism and all the struggle of her life. In my opinion, this is one of the best books by Maya Angelou.


The Heart of a Woman

The Heart of a Woman -Maya Angelou Books

The Heart of a Woman was published in 1981 and in this book, the author talks about her life journey from 1957-1962. This is one of the books by Maya Angelou in which she talked about the sacrifices of a single mother during the civil rights movement. This Maya Angelou book is about how she worked in a nightclub as a singer and dancer. In this book, all her perspective is written to find a place in the world during the civil rights movement.


Mom & Me & Mom

Mom & Me & Mom

It was the 7th and final book in her series of biographies. The book was published in 2013. This is basically a biography and this is the last book among her autobiographies written by her. This book majorly focuses on Maya Anglou’s relationship with her mother. Maya Angelou books are very emotional and related to reality. This is one of them how they struggle during their twenties all are written in this book by Maya Angelou.


Gather Together in My Name

Gather Together in My Name

One more biography! It is the 2nd book in Angelou’s series of autobiographies. It was published in 1974. This book by Maya Angelou covers the life span of 17 to 19 years of her age. This is the second book from the seven autobiographies. In this book, the author talked about her life of her as a single mother, dancer, and prostitute. This book by Maya Angelou starts from where ”I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” ended.


The Complete Collected Poems

The Complete Collected Poems

This is the first collection of poems by Maya Angelou and was published in 1994. As we are getting from the name this book is all about the poems which Maya Angelou wrote many years before publishing and some of them which were already published in Maya Angelou books are “And still I Rise” and “Just Give me Cold Drink of Water ‘fore I Die’”. Most of Maya Angelou books are about her life and these poems also relate to her life like how she lived as a black American woman, and her struggles. Her writing is so immense and enjoyable. Her poetry gives a message of hope and perseverance.


Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now

Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now

This one is the first book of essays by Maya Angelou and was published in 1993. It is a collection of essays based on real-life experiences of love, family, and racism. This book is in three sections. 

The name of the first section is “the power of words” which tells us about the importance of language and how to express your opinion and inspire others.

The name of the second section is “Serenity”, which tells us about self-love and self-care and finding inner peace in this cruel world.

The name of the third section is “The Compassionate Life” which tells us about the importance of empathy in our day-to-day interactions and how to treat others in our daily life.


Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas

Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas

It is the third book of Maya Angelou’s autobiography series of seven books. This book was published in 1976. This is the third book from the seven books of autobiographies by Maya Angelou. In this Maya Angelou’s book, she talked about her career in dancing, her marriage, and how she dropped out of high school and became a cook. She struggles to make her own identity after leaving her husband and her love for music and the role music plays in her life.


All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes

All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes

Here’s the fifth book from the seven books of Autobiography by Maya Angelou. Maya Angelou’s books are basically her real-life experiences when she lived in Ghani, her interactions and bonding with Ghani people, and how she understands her culture as a black American woman when she lived in Ghani. And the perspective of the world to a black woman.


A Song Flung Up To Heaven

A Song Flung Up To Heaven

A Song Flung Up To Heaven was published in 2002. Maya Angelou’s book’s title is inspired by a poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar. This book by Maya Angelou tells us about the history of America and her role in the civil rights movement and how she made her career in those days. Maya Angelou books also tell us about the struggle she faces as a black woman in the male and white dominant world.

Wrapping Up

So, this was the list of 10 best books by Maya Angelou but still, there is a question: how many books did Maya write in her lifetime? Maya Angelou has written almost 30 books and “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is the one that gave her global recognition. I hope you like this insightful article and if you do, don’t forget to share it with your reader friends. 

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