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Quick answer: The best books on Malcolm X start with his own words and the prize-winning biographies written since. Begin with The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley, Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable, The Dead Are Arising by Les Payne and Tamara Payne, Malcolm X Speaks and The Sword and the Shield by Peniel E. Joseph.
Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in Omaha in 1925. After a troubled youth and prison, he became the most famous spokesman of the Nation of Islam, known for his fierce criticism of white racism and his call for Black self-defense and self-determination. In 1964 he broke with the Nation, made the pilgrimage to Mecca and began to change his views on race and on working with others. He was assassinated in Harlem in February 1965 at age 39. His life and ideas still inspire and provoke. The books below include his autobiography and speeches, the major biographies, memoirs by his family and books for teens and children.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Autobiography of Malcolm X | Malcolm X and Alex Haley | Autobiography | The essential first read |
| Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention | Manning Marable | Biography | The definitive modern biography |
| The Dead Are Arising | Les Payne and Tamara Payne | Biography | His roots and family |
| Malcolm X Speaks | Malcolm X | Speeches | Hearing his voice |
| The Portable Malcolm X Reader | Manning Marable and Garrett Felber (editors) | Primary sources | Serious readers |
| The Sword and the Shield | Peniel E. Joseph | History | Malcolm and Martin |
| The Night Malcolm X Spoke at the Oxford Union | Stephen Tuck | History | One famous debate |
| Malcolm X: The Man and His Times | John Henrik Clarke (editor) | Essays | Contemporary views |
| Growing Up X | Ilyasah Shabazz | Memoir | A daughter’s story |
| Seventh Child | Rodnell P. Collins | Family memoir | His family’s memories |
| The Fire Next Time | James Baldwin | Essays | The world he spoke to |
| Black Power | Kwame Ture and Charles V. Hamilton | Political book | His influence |
| Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary | Walter Dean Myers | Biography for teens | Ages 12 and up |
| X: A Novel | Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon | YA novel | Ages 13 and up |
| Malcolm Little | Ilyasah Shabazz | Picture book | Ages 6–10 |
1. The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley
Told to Alex Haley and published after his death, Malcolm X’s life story is one of the most influential American books of the 20th century. It’s honest, dramatic and transformative.
2. Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable
Marable’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography uses new sources to show how Malcolm X repeatedly reinvented himself. It also corrects parts of the autobiography.
3. The Dead Are Arising by Les Payne and Tamara Payne
Based on decades of interviews, this biography focuses on Malcolm’s family and early life. It won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.
4. Malcolm X Speaks by Malcolm X
Edited by George Breitman, this collection gathers speeches from the last year of Malcolm X’s life, including “The Ballot or the Bullet.” It shows how his ideas were evolving.
5. The Portable Malcolm X Reader by Manning Marable and Garrett Felber (editors)
This collection gathers speeches, interviews, letters and documents from across Malcolm X’s life. It’s the best one-volume source book.
6. The Sword and the Shield by Peniel E. Joseph
Joseph argues that Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. grew closer in their ideas than most people realize. It’s a fresh, thoughtful dual biography.
7. The Night Malcolm X Spoke at the Oxford Union by Stephen Tuck
Tuck tells the story of Malcolm X’s 1964 debate at Oxford University and places it in the global politics of race. It’s short and fascinating.
8. Malcolm X: The Man and His Times by John Henrik Clarke (editor)
This collection of essays by people who knew Malcolm X, along with some of his own writings, was first published in 1969. It shows how he was seen in his time.
9. Growing Up X by Ilyasah Shabazz
Malcolm X’s daughter writes about growing up with her mother, Betty Shabazz, and the legacy of a father she barely remembered. It’s personal and touching.
10. Seventh Child by Rodnell P. Collins
Malcolm X’s nephew draws on the memories of his mother, Malcolm’s sister Ella, to tell the story of the family. It adds new details to the familiar story.
11. The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Baldwin’s famous 1963 essays about race in America include a memorable account of meeting Elijah Muhammad. It’s essential context for understanding the era.
12. Black Power by Kwame Ture and Charles V. Hamilton
Written in 1967 by Stokely Carmichael, who later took the name Kwame Ture, and Charles V. Hamilton, this book shows how Malcolm X’s ideas shaped the Black Power movement.
13. Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary by Walter Dean Myers
The acclaimed young adult author tells Malcolm X’s story clearly and honestly for teen readers. It’s a great introduction.
14. X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon
Co-written by his daughter, this novel imagines Malcolm Little’s teenage years in Boston and New York before prison. It’s gripping and won a Coretta Scott King Honor.
15. Malcolm Little by Ilyasah Shabazz
Shabazz tells the story of her father’s childhood and the family values that shaped him. It’s a gentle, beautiful picture book.
Tips for Reading About Malcolm X
- Start with the autobiography. It’s the book that made him a legend.
- Then read a biography. Marable and the Paynes add what the autobiography left out.
- Listen to his speeches. Recordings of “The Ballot or the Bullet” are widely available.
- Compare him with King. Peniel Joseph shows they had more in common than many think.
- Follow his changes. His views evolved a great deal in his last year.
- Read with teens. X: A Novel is a great way in.
Related: best books on the Civil Rights Movement and best books on the Harlem Renaissance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book about Malcolm X?
The Autobiography of Malcolm X, written with Alex Haley, is the essential book, and Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable is the definitive modern biography.
Is The Autobiography of Malcolm X accurate?
It’s an honest and powerful account, but later biographers, including Manning Marable, found that some details were changed or dramatized.
What is a good book about Malcolm X for teens?
X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon and Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary by Walter Dean Myers are both excellent for teens.