The Book of Possibilities - by Bee Quammie (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Instead of a role model, Bee prefers to think of herself as a possibility model--one example among many of how to live one's life. But even more important, Bee wants to show her daughters and other women how ripe with possibility their lives really are, how many opportunities and avenues there are to explore...Bee shows us how small acts of bravery and paying careful attention to our inner voice can open up a world of opportunity and lead to a fulfilling life"--

Book Synopsis

Bee Quammie invites women and girls everywhere to embrace the power of possibility in this intimate and empowering collection.

A successful Black woman in media, Bee Quammie often finds herself being cast as a role model for young women--and especially Black women and other women of colour. But Bee has never quite been comfortable with the idea of being a role model for the next generation. Who is she to suggest anyone live the way she has? Follow a certain path? Who says the path she followed is the "right" one--that there even is a "right" one?

When Bee became a mother, the weight of responsibility became even heavier, and she spent hours agonizing over how she could be the guide her girls needed without getting in their way or imposing her agenda. That's when Bee decided she needed a new model for understanding the role she should play for her children--and anyone else who might be looking to her for inspiration.

Instead of a role model, Bee prefers to think of herself as a possibility model--one example among many of how to live one's life. But even more important, Bee wants to show her daughters and other women how ripe with possibility their lives really are, how many opportunities and avenues there are to explore. There is so much richness to be found in life, even if you end up somewhere that feels unconventional or unplanned.

In The Book of Possibilities, Bee shows us how small acts of bravery and paying careful attention to our inner voice can open up a world of opportunity and lead to a fulfilling life.

Review Quotes

"Bee Quammie may resist being called a role model, but with The Book of Possibilities she's certainly become one of mine. Inspiring and practical, it's the kind of book you'll want to press into the hands of every girl and woman you know. It left me feeling energized!"
--Carley Fortune, #1 New York Times bestselling author of This Summer Will Be Different and Meet Me at the Lake

"The Book of Possibilities is as delightful as it is astute. Bee Quammie's unabashed venture into vulnerability invites readers to find solace and inspiration in the lessons she's learned and the breakthroughs she's reached. A must-read."
--Zalika Reid-Benta, award-winning author of River Mumma and Frying Plantain

"Bee Quammie has written a joyful book about learning to thrive, flourish, and prosper. In The Book of Possibilities, she offers warm and wise advice--not about ignoring life's many challenges, but growing with and through them. Buy it for your mother, your sister, your daughter, your friends. Buy it for yourself."
--Elizabeth Renzetti, author of What She Said: Conversations About Equality

"In this illuminating debut, Bee Quammie serves as a reassuring guide, inviting readers to discover the versions of self they like best and embrace the joy of who they are and who they are becoming. Scraping the belly of curiosity, Quammie constructs a narrative ripe with insights gained from her close relationship with her daughters. The Book of Possibilities reminds us all that we are deserving of more, and that we can chart our own paths while finding safety and comfort in our stories. As the author poignantly writes, 'Possibility is the golden thread that connects one life moment to the next.' And that's something we all need to hold close. This book is gold."
--Chelene Knight, award-winning author of Junie and Let It Go: Free Yourself From Old Beliefs and Find a New Path To Joy

"This uplifting read from empowered Black woman Bee Quammie offers practical inspiration for you to live a life of your own design. Rich with lush imagery and heartening personal stories, The Book of Possibilities is guaranteed to put pep in your step as you walk towards your most authentic self."
--Catherine Hernandez, award-winning author of Scarborough the novel and screenwriter of Scarborough the film

"Bee Quammie's The Book of Possibilities paves a road to arriving at a better version of ourselves. Her book offers us that necessary deep breath we all need to take once in a while and then it provides us with the guidance for how to care for our insides while simultaneously offering our own abundance to others in a healthy way. Bee nourishes us with her words in such a kind way: with digestible moments and memories of self-discovery and teachings. This book is really a love letter to us all." --Matthew R. Morris, author of Black Boys Like Me

"Bee's mind and heart have been shared with us for years through cultural commentary, but in The Book of Possibilities, Bee takes us somewhere much, much deeper. This book speaks to the little girl in me, reminding me that I can thrive in the world--whole, simultaneously complex and infinitely loveable. An incredible and inspiring read!"
--Kelechi Okafor, actress and author of Edge of Here and Strong Like Me

"If notions of possibility, thriving, and loving yourself have eluded you in the past, look no further! In this golden guide, Bee Quammie sheds light on the everyday opportunities to see ourselves differently, evolve, and elevate."
--Vivek Shraya, author of People Change and I'm Afraid of Men

"'Possibility is the golden thread that connects one life moment to the next, ' writes Bee Quammie to her daughters, Layla and Zuri, in The Book of Possibilities. Quammie examines her experiences--from work to motherhood--for life lessons that can serve as templates for better living, what she calls a 'possibility model' for her readers. Through loving observations of her life, and as the mother of two daughters, Bee provides an offering of life writings that unpack a variety of ways to affirm ourselves while engaging with supportive communities. In a time in which Black women are often silenced, undermined, or made to feel small, Bee's voice provides a refreshing, inspiring perspective on how to instill and build on care practices transmitted across generations and geographies. Valuable for anyone who might be feeling stuck--personally, politically, or socially--this is a book of experiential wisdom for which to reach when chances for renewal appear remote. Possibility, for Quammie, is 'a path that gives us more beauty to witness, more lessons to learn, and more joy.' For all of us who seek to create a world filled with more delight and hope in uncertain times, this is a love letter not only to daughters but toward a better world for us all."
--Myriam J.A. Chancy, author of Village Weavers and What Storm, What Thunder

"Readers will feel empowered." --Publishers Weekly

About the Author

BEE QUAMMIE is a writer, radio host, television personality, and public speaker. She was the co-host of the Kultur'D podcast on Global News Radio and is a regular guest on The Social. Her writing has been featured in publications including The Globe and Mail, Maclean's, Chatelaine, Ebony, Flare, and Hazlitt among others, and covers topics spanning race and culture to parenthood to health and wellness. She lives in Toronto.