Reni Eddo-Lodge

I’ve always been a writer and reader. When I was about nineteen, I threw myself into feminist activism. It changed my life, introduced me to some brilliant people, and helped me develop the politics I have today.

Around the same time, I started a blog. Over the subsequent decade, it became an outlet for my political thoughts. I kept one foot in feminist activism, and made a living as a freelance journalist. I’m now a full time author. Outside of writing, you might find me reading, cycling, buying nail polish or trying to find good coffee.

About my work

My debut non-fiction book, Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, was published in June 2017 to critical acclaim. It has since become a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller.

In 2020, Why I’m became the first book by a Black British author to top the British book charts in Nielsen Bookscan’s twenty year history.

Why I’m won the 2018 Jhalak Prize, the 2018 Bread and Roses Award for Radical Publishing, and a 2018 British Book Award for Narrative Non Fiction. A 2018 public poll by Academic Book Week named Why I’m the most influential book written by a woman.

The book earned a spot on many prestigious award longlists and shortlists, including the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, the Orwell Prize for Political Writing, the Specsavers National Book Award, and the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards. In its year of publication, Why I’m was voted non-fiction book of the year for 2017 by booksellers at both Foyles and Blackwells.
The actress Emma Watson selected Why I’m for her feminist book club, Our Shared Shelf, in January 2018. You can watch us in conversation here.

My podcast, About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge, premiered in March 2018. It was chosen as one of the best podcasts of 2018 by Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Harper’s Bazaar UK, The Guardian, British GQ and Wired UK. It’s since won three Lovie Awards.

In 2019, my work earned me a place on Forbes’ European 30 Under 30 list. In 2018, I won a Bold Moves Award from Women in the Creative Industries for the publication of Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race. Prior to the publication of the book, in 2015, I won a 30 to watch award from MHP Communications. In 2014, the Guardian listed me as one of the 30 most exciting people under 30 in digital media. I’ve also been listed in Elle Magazine’s 100 Inspirational Women list, and The Root’s 30 black viral voices under 30.

I’m represented by Carrie Plitt at Felicity Bryan Associates.