Michelle Obama’s Becoming tops list of most popular books in Kenya

For most Kenyan readers and writers, 2018 was definitely their year.

It was marked by debut of epic books such as Biko Zulu’s “Drunk” and Sunny Bindra’s “The Bigger Deal”.

Surprisingly, former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama released her book Becoming and within one week, it had already sold over 1.4million copies around the world.

Robert Green, the author of 48 Laws of Power, was also a favorite among Kenyan readers with his recent publication, Laws of Human Nature.

The following is a list of top 20 best selling books in Kenya, according to Prestige Bookshop:

1. Becoming. The Biggest book of 2018, it has sold millions of copies across the world. In this book, Michelle  Obama pours her heart, soul, and humor making it a captivating memoir..

2. The Bigger Deal. Sunny Bindra has created a phenomenal spur with this book. It is a must read for every Kenyan in the ever growing consumerism market;from the customers to the managers to the entrepreneurs to the service providers.

3. Drunk. Jackson Biko –also known as Bikozulu. It is a story about Larry. Larry who drinks, hates his father, and shags girls. However, it is also a story about relationships, substance abuse, and the consequences of our actions.

4. Children of Blood and Bone. Tomi Adeyemi is one of its propellers. In the land of Orisha where the Maji have been oppressed, Zelie must find a way to save her people and start a rebellion against the unjust mass murder.

5. Fear. With authoritative reporting honed through eight presidencies from Nixon to Obama, author Bob Woodward places a spotlight on the harrowing life inside President Donald Trump’s White House and precisely how he makes decisions on major foreign and domestic policies.

6. Dance of the Jacaranda. Peter Kimani. Dance of the Jacaranda starts with a mysterious kiss that leads to the unraveling of a forgotten history. Every lover of historical fiction is drawn into the details intricate details of this beautiful novel.

7. We’re going to Need More Wine. Gabrielle Union shares a collection of personal essays and life experiences. From being sexually abused to enduring multiple miscarriages, Gabrielle does not shy away from the brutal parts of her story.

8. Skin in the Game. The New York Times bestselling author of The Black Swan,  redefines what it means to understand the world, succeed in a profession, contribute to a fair and just society, detect nonsense, and influence others.

9. Shoe Dog. Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight shares the inside story of the company’s evolution into one of the world’s most iconic, game-changing, and profitable brands.

10. Sapiens. In Sapiens, Dr Yuval Noah Harari spans the whole of human history, from the very first humans to walk the earth to the radical – and sometimes devastating – breakthroughs of the Cognitive, Agricultural and Scientific Revolutions.

11. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Mark Manson is brutally honest with his readers in his effort to teach you to expect less so that you can be more. For those who overthink everything this book is essential.

12. Laws of Human Nature. Robert Greene has an uncanny ability to fully observe and note aspects of human behavior that we tend to bypass. The book creates a more objective and efficient perspective.

13. Digital Democracy: Analogue Politics. Nanjala Nyabola’s debut book has presented a unique contribution to the debate on digital democracy. Re-framing digital democracy from the African perspective, Nyabola’s ground-breaking work opens up new ways of understanding our current global online era.

14. Headscarves And Hymens. Mona Eltahawy has traveled across the Middle East and North Africa. The culmination of those conversations and her research comes in the form of this book; a plea for outrage and action on their behalf, confronting the toxic mix of culture and religion that few seem willing or able to disentangle lest they blaspheme or offend.

15. What a Time to be Alone. Peppered with insightful Igbo proverbs from Chidera’s Nigerian mother and full of her own original artwork, What A Time To Be Alone is essential reading for all women.

16. An American Marriage. A black man (Roy), wrongfully convicted for a crime he did not commit. And yet in the telling, Tayari Jones, manages to bring her readers into the relationships.

17. Guru. This autobiography does justice to its title. Kailash Mota, traces four decades in the life of Guru Bhai Narendra Raval. It is hard to believe that the astute businessman, who successfully built a US$400 million industrial empire, began his work life as a young, teenage priest in Nairobi, Kenya.

18. Principles. Here, Dalio shares what he’s learned over the course of his remarkable career. He argues that life, management, economics, and investing can all be systemized into rules and understood like machines.

19. Best of Whispers. Fifteen Years after the passing of Wahome Mutahi, we are lucky enough to have a collection of his revolutionary articles. Written in satirical form during the regime of Moi.

20. Inside Al-Shabab. The Secret History of Al-Qaeda’s Most Powerful Ally recounts the rise, fall, and resurgence of this overlooked terrorist organization and provides an intimate understanding of its connections with Al-Qaeda.