Books Written by Common
Books Written by Rapper Common
Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., aka Common, is one of Rap/Hip-Hop’s most thoughtful lyricists, blending poetry, soul, and social commentary into his music. He’s also a well known actor but his talents don’t end at the microphone or screen. Common has also carved a significant role as an author, using books as another medium to inspire, motivate, and tell his story across memoirs, self-help guides, illustrated books, and reflective essays. His books speak to identity, love, healing, creativity, and community. How many books has Common written? 6. (so far at the time of this post). Here’s a look at the books written by Common:
1. The Mirror and Me (2005)
Co-written with Lorraine West
Publisher: Hip Hop Schoolhouse
Illustrator: Lorraine West
Release Date: October 1, 2005
Page Length: 40 pages
ISBN: 978-0976867401
Common’s debut book is a tender, introspective work. The Mirror and Me reads like a guided conversation about identity and self-perception. Common uses plainspoken and poetic language to invite readers, especially young adults, to look honestly at who they are, where they come from, and who they want to become. The tone is reflective and encouraging rather than didactic, and the book often reads like short meditations or prose-poems meant to prompt self-inquiry.
What’s Inside Common’s The Mirror and Me book?:
• Short, lyrical reflections on identity and image
• Prompts for self-examination and journaling
• Stories drawn from Common’s early life and observations
• Affirmations and exercises to build self-esteem
• A focus on inner value over outward validation
2. I Like You But I Love Me (2006)
Co-written with Lorraine West
Publisher: Hip Hop Schoolhouse
Illustrator: Lorraine West
Release Date: July 14, 2006
Page Length: 36 pages
ISBN: 9780976867418
I Like You But I Love Me is a 2006 children's book by Common with illustrations by Lorraine West. The book tells the story of a young South African boy named Kare who learns the importance of self-love when he tries to change himself to gain a girl's affection. It’s a work of poetry that was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Children's in 2007. This book zeroes in on relationships and the essential work of loving oneself first. Common blends personal anecdotes with practical advice about boundaries, respect, and emotional honesty. The writing encourages readers to develop self-respect as the foundation for healthy partnerships, romantic, or otherwise, while acknowledging the real messiness of human connection.
What’s Inside Common’s I Like You But I Love Me book?:
• Guidance on setting healthy boundaries
• Personal stories about love, heartbreak, and growth
• Exercises to cultivate self-respect and self-awareness
• Communication tips for honest relationships
• Reflection prompts for healing and moving forward
3. One Day It’ll All Make Sense (2011)
Co-written with Adam Bradley
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Page Length: 305 pages
ISBN: 9781451625875
Co-written with journalist Adam Bradley, this memoir is a deeper, more expansive portrait of Common’s journey from Chicago to the global stage. Named after his 1997 album, the book traces his journey from Chicago’s South Side to becoming a Grammy- and Oscar-winning artist. It covers his coming-of-age, the decisions that shaped his music and activism, and the often complicated intersection of fame and personal responsibility. The memoir mixes vulnerability with wisdom, making it one of the most heartfelt autobiographies in Rap/Hip-Hop literature.
What’s Inside Common’s One Day It’ll All Make Sense?:
• Stories from Common’s Chicago upbringing and early career
• Behind-the-scenes moments from the early days of his music and acting life
• Reflections on faith, responsibility, and creative purpose
• Honest accounts of relationships and parenthood
• Stories about his mother’s influence and family life
• Lessons on resilience, love and staying grounded
4. Let Love Have the Last Word: A Memoir (2019)
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Page Length: 224 pages
ISBN: 9781501133152
In this book Common expands the conversation about love into a broader ethic for living. Mixing memoir, practical advice, and social commentary, he argues that love, understood as radical empathy and accountability, can be a force for personal healing and collective change. The book offers both intimate moments and calls to action, urging readers to make love their default operating principle.
What’s Inside Common’s Let Love Have the Last Word book?:
• Personal essays about vulnerability, forgiveness, and growth
• Reflections on love as political and spiritual practice
• Stories illustrating the power of compassion in action
• Practical advice for cultivating healthier relationships
• Calls to community-minded activism grounded in empathy
5. Bluebird Memories: A Journey Through Lyrics & Life Words + Music, Vol. 3 (Audiobook, 2020)
Co-written with Awoye Timpo and NSangou Njikam
Publisher: Audible Originals
Release Date: August 4, 2020
Listening Length: 1 hour 20 minutes
ISBN: 9781982168728
A contemplative collection, Bluebird Memories: A Journey Through Lyrics & Life Words + Music, Vol. 3 is an Audible Original audiobook that blends short essays, poetic passages, and memory-driven vignettes. The audiobook leans into the emotional textures of memory; loss, joy, longing, and often connects those moments to music, place, and personal evolution. It’s written with a lyricist’s ear, where small details become entry points for larger meditations on life and art.
What’s Inside Common’s Bluebird Memories book?:
• Poetic essays and memory vignettes
• Reflections on music, nostalgia, and place
• Intimate glimpses into Common’s creative process
• Meditations on love, loss, and personal growth
• Short pieces meant for reading slowly and reflectively
6. And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self (2024)
Publisher: HarperOne
Release Date: January 23, 2024
Page Length: 224 pages
ISBN: 9780063215177
And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self is Common’s most recent book. This guide brings Common’s ongoing commitment to self-care and community into a focused manual. And Then We Rise combines mindfulness practices, journaling prompts, and candid reflections to help readers develop routines and mindsets that support emotional well-being. The book centers self-care not as selfishness but as a necessary foundation for sustained activism, creativity, and love.
What’s Inside Common’s And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self book?:
• Practical self-care routines and mindfulness exercises
• Journaling prompts and reflective practices
• Stories about the importance of rest, boundaries, and community
• Tools for emotional regulation and rebuilding after setbacks
• An invitation to see self-care as a political and creative practice
Across memoir, motivational writing, illustrated lessons, and lyrical essays, Common’s books, just like his music and films, form a coherent body of work centered on love, integrity, and growth. He writes like he raps: thoughtfully, with moral clarity, and a deep sense of responsibility to his community. From children’s literature to memoirs to guides on love and self-awareness, Common has used the written word to connect with people of all ages. His writing, like his rhymes, encourages readers to grow, reflect, and believe in the power of love and self-expression.
Common also wrote the afterword on The Anthology of Rap, alongside Chuck D.
Want to read more Hip-Hop books like any of these titles? Check our full collection at HipHopBooks.com for the greatest books in Rap/Hip-Hop.
A book every Rap/Hip-Hop fan should have in their library is the Rap Dictionary.
You can read our ultimate list of rappers who have written books/books written by rappers here.
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