Books by Questlove

Creative Quest

by Questlove

NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2018 BY Esquire • PopSugar • The Huffington Post • Buzzfeed • Publishers Weekly
A unique new guide to creativity from Questlove—inspirations, stories, and lessons on how to live your best creative life
Questlove—musician, bandleader, designer, producer, culinary entrepreneur, professor, and all-around cultural omnivore—shares his wisdom on the topics of inspiration and originality in a one-of-a-kind guide to living your best creative life.
In Creative Quest, Questlove synthesizes all the creative philosophies, lessons, and stories he’s heard from the many creators and collaborators in his life, and reflects on his own experience, to advise readers and fans on how to consider creativity and where to find it. He addresses many topics—what it means to be creative, how to find a mentor and serve as an apprentice, the wisdom of maintaining a creative network, coping with critics and the foibles of success, and the specific pitfalls of contemporary culture—all in the service of guiding admirers who have followed his career and newcomers not yet acquainted with his story.
Whether discussing his own life or channeling the lessons he’s learned from forefathers such as George Clinton, collaborators like D’Angelo, or like-minded artists including Ava DuVernay, David Byrne, Björk, and others, Questlove speaks with the candor and enthusiasm that fans have come to expect. Creative Quest is many things—above all, a wise and wide-ranging conversation around the eternal mystery of creativity.

Creative Quest

by Questlove

NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2018 BY Esquire • PopSugar • The Huffington Post • Buzzfeed • Publishers Weekly

A unique new guide to creativity from Questlove—inspirations, stories, and lessons on how to live your best creative life

Questlove—musician, bandleader, designer, producer, culinary entrepreneur, professor, and all-around cultural omnivore—shares his wisdom on the topics of inspiration and originality in a one-of-a-kind guide to living your best creative life.

In Creative Quest, Questlove synthesizes all the creative philosophies, lessons, and stories he’s heard from the many creators and collaborators in his life, and reflects on his own experience, to advise readers and fans on how to consider creativity and where to find it. He addresses many topics—what it means to be creative, how to find a mentor and serve as an apprentice, the wisdom of maintaining a creative network, coping with critics and the foibles of success, and the specific pitfalls of contemporary culture—all in the service of guiding admirers who have followed his career and newcomers not yet acquainted with his story.

Whether discussing his own life or channeling the lessons he’s learned from forefathers such as George Clinton, collaborators like D’Angelo, or like-minded artists including Ava DuVernay, David Byrne, Björk, and others, Questlove speaks with the candor and enthusiasm that fans have come to expect. Creative Quest is many things—above all, a wise and wide-ranging conversation around the eternal mystery of creativity.

Soul Train: The Music, Dance, and Style of a Generation

by Questlove

From Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson of the award-winning hip-hop group the Roots, comes this vibrant book commemorating the legacy of Soul Train—the cultural phenomenon that launched the careers of artists such as Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, Whitney Houston, Lenny Kravitz, LL Cool J, and Aretha Franklin. Questlove reveals the remarkable story of the captivating program, and his text is paired with more than 350 photographs of the show's most memorable episodes and the larger-than-life characters who defined it: the great host Don Cornelius, the extraordinary musicians, and the people who lived the phenomenon from dance floor. Gladys Knight contributed a foreword to this incredible volume. Nick Cannon contributed the preface.

Hip-Hop Is History

by Questlove

This is a book only Questlove could have written: a perceptive and personal reflection on the first half-century of hip-hop.

When hip-hop first emerged in the 1970s, it wasn’t expected to become the cultural force it is today. But for a young Black kid growing up in a musical family in Philadelphia, it was everything. He stayed up late to hear the newest songs on the radio. He saved his money to buy vinyl as soon as it landed. He even started to try to make his own songs. That kid was Questlove, and decades later, he is a six-time Grammy Award–winning musician, an Academy Award–winning filmmaker, a New York Times bestselling author, a producer, an entrepreneur, a cofounder of one of hip-hop’s defining acts (the Roots), and the genre’s unofficial in-house historian.

In this landmark book, Hip-Hop Is History, Questlove skillfully traces the creative and cultural forces that made and shaped hip-hop, highlighting both the forgotten but influential gems and the undeniable chart-topping hits―and weaves it all together with the stories no one else knows. It is at once an intimate, sharply observed story of a cultural revolution and a sweeping, grand theory of the evolution of the great artistic movement of our time. And Questlove, of course, approaches it with not only the encyclopedic fluency and passion of an obsessive fan but also the expertise and originality of an innovative participant.

Hip-hop is history, and also his history.

Hip-Hop Is History

by Questlove

This is a book only Questlove could have written: a perceptive and personal reflection on the first half-century of hip-hop.

When hip-hop first emerged in the 1970s, it wasn’t expected to become the cultural force it is today. But for a young Black kid growing up in a musical family in Philadelphia, it was everything. He stayed up late to hear the newest songs on the radio. He saved his money to buy vinyl as soon as it landed. He even started to try to make his own songs. That kid was Questlove, and decades later, he is a six-time Grammy Award–winning musician, an Academy Award–winning filmmaker, a New York Times bestselling author, a producer, an entrepreneur, a cofounder of one of hip-hop’s defining acts (the Roots), and the genre’s unofficial in-house historian.

In this landmark book, Hip-Hop Is History, Questlove skillfully traces the creative and cultural forces that made and shaped hip-hop, highlighting both the forgotten but influential gems and the undeniable chart-topping hits―and weaves it all together with the stories no one else knows. It is at once an intimate, sharply observed story of a cultural revolution and a sweeping, grand theory of the evolution of the great artistic movement of our time. And Questlove, of course, approaches it with not only the encyclopedic fluency and passion of an obsessive fan but also the expertise and originality of an innovative participant.

Hip-hop is history, and also his history.

something to food about: Exploring Creativity with Innovative Chefs

by Questlove, Ben Greenman

In somethingtofoodabout, drummer, producer, musical director, culinary entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling author, Questlove, applies his boundless curiosity to the world of food.

In conversations with ten innovative chefs in America, Questlove explores what makes their creativity tick, how they see the world through their cooking and how their cooking teaches them to see the world. The conversations begin with food but they end wherever food takes them.

Food is fuel. Food is culture. Food is history. And food is food for thought.

Featuring conversations with: Nathan Myhrvold, Modernist Cuisine Lab, Seattle; Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park, and NoMad, NYC; Michael Solomonov, Zahav, Philadelphia; Ludo Lefebvre, Trois Mec, L.A.; Dave Beran, Next, Chicago; Donald Link, Cochon, New Orleans; Dominque Crenn, Atelier Crenn, San Francisco; Daniel Patterson, Coi and Loco'l, San Francisco; Jesse Griffiths, Dai Due, Austin; and Ryan Roadhouse, Nodoguro, Portland

The Rhythm of Time

by S A Cosby, Questlove

An Instant New York Times Bestseller

From the Academy Award–winning, Grammy-winning, and New York Times bestselling author Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and the New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby comes this thrill-a-minute novel—the first in a rollicking time-travel adventure series that’s perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers and Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky.

Seventh grader Rahim Reynolds loves testing out the gadgets invented by his brilliant friend Kasia Collins. First there were the X-ray glasses and all the trouble they caused. Now there’s the new cell phone she built for his birthday, even though his parents won’t let him have one. But Rahim is excited to use the phone to search for videos of his favorite old-school rap group. What he doesn’t know is the phone has a special battery that interfaces with a secret government satellite, which spells trouble when the phone transports him back to 1997. Almost immediately, he learns what every time traveler before him has: Actions in the past jeopardize the future. With Kasia as his only lifeline to the present, Rahim works with her to get home unscathed, all the while dodging bullies (on his end) and suspicious government agents (on hers).

Philadelphia in the late nineties is a new world for Rahim and Kasia, but it is a familiar place for Questlove, who, alongside S. A. Cosby, delivers a high-velocity tale where two best friends discover that sometimes the best beat is the one that brings you back home.

The Rhythm of Time

by S A Cosby, Questlove

The spectacular first entry in a middle-grade sci-fi trilogy by six-time Grammy Award-winning musician, Academy Award-winning filmmaker, and New York Times-bestselling author Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and New York Times-bestselling author S. A. Cosby.

It’s not easy being a teenager, and it’s no different for Rahim, who is trying to balance everything in his busy Philly life: school, parents, bullies, his secret hopes of becoming a hip-hop star, and the constant schemes of his brilliant best friend, Kasia. When Kasia invents a new kind of cell phone that is also a time machine, it sends Rahim into the past, where he must outmaneuver a secretive government agency without altering history's delicate balance.

This electrifying book puts Rahim and Kasia at the center of an ever-widening mystery that will illuminate their own pasts (and futures) and test their friendship. Dynamic and richly written, with crisp commercial prose and charming interior illustrations, The Rhythm of Time is an infinitely readable sci-fi adventure that is sure to delight younger readers.

Mixtape Potluck Cookbook: A Dinner Party for Friends, Their Recipes, and the Songs They Inspire

by Questlove

“Mixtape Potluck never wavers from its earnest stated intent: to help readers plan the best possible dinner party.” —Eater
“Thank you, Questlove, for this inspired book on a theme that is having a resurgence.” —Martha Stewart, from her foreword

What if Questlove threw a dinner party and everyone came? Questlove is best known for his achievements in the music world, but his interest in food runs a close second. He has hosted a series of renowned food salons and conversations with some of America’s most prominent chefs.

Now he is turning his hand to creating a cookbook. In Mixtape Potluck Cookbook, Questlove imagines the ultimate potluck dinner party, inviting more than 50 chefs, entertainers, and musicians and asking them to bring along their favorite recipes. These recipes are usually enough to feed a dozen or more. Here are: Zooey Deschanel’s bok choy and cucumber salad J. J. Johnson’s sticky ribs Lilly Singh’s mother’s chicken curry Éric Ripert’s salmon rillettes Shep Gordon’s Maui onion and ginger soup Natalie Portman’s Greek spinach pie, using a phyllo-like a pie crust And dozens more! He also pairs each cook with a song that he feels best captures their unique creative energy. The result is not only an accessible, entertaining cookbook, but also a collection of Questlove’s diverting musical commentaries and an illustration of the fascinating creative relationship between music and food.

With Questlove’s unique style of hosting dinner parties and his love of music, food, and entertaining, this book will give readers unexpected insights into the relationship between culture and food.

Note: The cover material for this book is meant to mimic the texture and tactile quality of tinfoil and is intentional.

Music Is History

by Questlove

A New York Times bestseller, Music Is History combines multi-Grammy Award winner Questlove’s deep musical expertise with his curiosity about history, examining America over the past fifty years.

Focusing on the years 1971 to the present, Questlove finds the hidden connections in the American tapestry, whether investigating how the blaxploitation era reshaped Black identity or considering the way disco took an assembly line approach to Black genius. And these critical inquiries are complemented by his own memories as a music fan, and the way his appetite for pop culture taught him about America.

A history of the last half-century and an intimate conversation with one of music’s most influential and original voices, Music Is History is a singular look at contemporary America.

“An entertaining, informative and far-reaching work, meticulously excavating American culture and history with the eye of a seasoned cratedigger.” —The Washington Post

Music Is History

by Questlove

New York Times bestselling Music Is History combines Questlove’s deep musical expertise with his curiosity about history, examining America over the past 50 years.

Focusing on the years 1971 to the present, Questlove finds the hidden connections in the American tapes, whether investigating how the blaxploitation era reshaped Black identity or considering the way disco took an assembly-line approach to Black genius. And these critical inquiries are complemented by his own memories as a music fan and the way his appetite for pop culture taught him about America.

A history of the last half-century and an intimate conversation with one of music’s most influential and original voices, Music Is History is a singular look at contemporary America.

“An entertaining, informative and far-reaching work, meticulously excavating American culture and history with the eye of a seasoned cratedigger.” —Washington Post

Creative Quest CD

by Questlove

This unique, boundary pushing audiobook features original music by Questlove and members of The Roots with vocal guest appearances from Fred Armisen, Tariq Trotter, Dion Flynn, Robin Thede, "Suga" Steve Mandel, Norm MacDonald, Ludo Lefebvre, and Molly Kelly.
Questlove - musician, bandleader, designer, producer, culinary entrepreneur, professor, and all-around cultural omnivore - shares his wisdom on the topics of inspiration and originality in a one-of-a-kind guide to living your best creative life.

In Creative Quest, Questlove synthesizes all the creative philosophies, lessons, and stories he's heard from the many creators and collaborators in his life, and reflects on his own experience, to advise listeners and fans on how to consider creativity and where to find it. He addresses many topics - what it means to be creative, how to find a mentor and serve as an apprentice, the wisdom of maintaining a creative network, coping with critics and the foibles of success, and the specific pitfalls of contemporary culture - all in the service of guiding admirers who have followed his career and newcomers not yet acquainted with his story.

Whether discussing his own life or channeling the lessons he's learned from forefathers such as George Clinton, collaborators like D'Angelo, or like-minded artists including Ava DuVernay, David Byrne, Björk, and others, Questlove speaks with the candor and enthusiasm that fans have come to expect. Creative Questis many things - above all, a wise and wide-ranging conversation around the eternal mystery of creativity.

Time for a Change

by S A Cosby, Questlove

Book 2 in the electrifying middle-grade sci-fi trilogy by six-time Grammy Award–winning musician, Academy Award–winning filmmaker, and New York Times–bestselling author Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and New York Times–bestselling author S. A. Cosby.

On the heels of their thrilling appearance in Rhythm of Time, best friends Rahim and Kasia are back traveling through time in Time for a Change. Last time around, they were on their own—now they are working with Aevum, a mysterious organization from the future that tasks them with averting disaster and safeguarding the flow of history.

The first assignment sends Rahim to Hawaii to recover a rock that Aevum insists is key to stabilizing the future. But things take a dramatic turn when he inadvertently jeopardizes the mission, thrusting him and Kasia into a web of intrigue populated by a diverse cast of time-travelers with their own enigmatic motives. There are doppelgängers from parallel dimensions. There are robots who may be allies but may be enemies. As Rahim and Kasia move like pinballs through time, they must navigate a treacherous path to unveil the truth and avert a devastating future across multiple realities.

Dynamic, richly written characters, a mystery that twists and turns through the corridors of time and the multiverse, interior illustrations, and crisp prose make for an infinitely readable sci-fi adventure that is sure to delight young readers.

The Idea in You A Picture Book

by Questlove

A joyous exploration of imagination and finding inspiration, The Idea in You is the debut picture book from Questlove--New York Times bestselling author, six-time GRAMMY Award-winning drummer, producer, and Academy Award-winning filmmaker--and Coretta Scott King Honor Award-winning illustrator Sean Qualls

An idea can come from anywhere.
Start here: reach up into the sky
And unhook a star.

Questlove's debut picture book, an uplifting story about passion, creativity, and joy--exuberantly illustrated by award-winning artist Sean Qualls--will inspire kids to find their own creative pursuits.