Do you need inspirational ideas that will ignite you to make an impact in your life?
Want to boost your levels of creativity?
Willing to replace self-doubt and worry with confidence, self-worth, and courage?
Reading can do all of these wonders & even more! All you have to do is….just keep reading!
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by bestseller lists and be stressed to choose what you should read. I’ve done a little bit of the hard work for you by putting together some of the most popular, thought-provoking, and life-changing books from a diverse group of women writers. You should aim to add these books to your reading list (and finally read it!). These books will make you rethink your choices in life & will provide valuable advice to create new opportunities, have better relationships, more influence, and move forward confidently in the corporate world.
Still, need more inspiration? Check out favorite quotes about reading “Inspiring Quotes Worth Reading About Reading”.All right, enough talking. Here’s the recommended list for you. Grab a cup of tea/coffee & enjoy…
Book: Playing Big by Tara Mohr — Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead
“At last. At last, this very important book has been written, encouraging women to take up all the creative space they deserve in the world.”
— Elizabeth Gilbert — Author, Big Magic & Eat Pray Love
Book: The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You
“I wept through almost every page of this book out of sheer self-recognition. To say this book changed my life would be an understatement. I am forever grateful to Elaine Aron.” — Alanis Morissette, singer, songwriter, activist
Book: Lean In - Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
“Lean In poses a set of ambitious challenges to women: to create the lives we want, to be leaders in our work, to be partners in our homes, and to be champions of other women. Sheryl provides pragmatic advice on how women in the twenty-first century can meet these challenges. I hope women — and men — of my generation will read this book to help us build the lives we want to lead and the world we want to live in.” — Chelsea Clinton
Book: Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change by Ellen Pao
“If Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In has been the handbook for the rising female executive over the last decade, Ellen Pao’s book [Reset] is its logical companion and should be read alongside it as a staple in every business course.” — Wired
Book: Imagine It Forward: Courage, Creativity, and the Power of Change
“Imagine It Forward is like having a coach on your shelf to help you lead forward. Beth shares her lessons on summoning candor, courage, and action to make meaningful change happen in any organization.” — Kim Scott, author of Radical Candor
Book: The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
“Small, charmingly odd, inspirational stories…Quite simply, it’s a book about how she learned to take care of herself, and how you might be able to as well. Welcome your new life coach, Shonda Rhimes.” — Vulture
Book: Burnout by Emily & Amelia Nagoski (how women process stress differently)
“If you feel overwhelmed and exhausted — and who doesn’t? — this is the book for you. With tasty recipes, beautiful photos, and genius tips, From Burnout to Balance will put you on the path to a life that feels good.” — Maya Feller
Book: Quiet by Susan Cain
“Gentle is powerful… Solitude is socially productive… These important counter-intuitive ideas are among the many reasons to take Quiet to a quiet corner and absorb its brilliant, thought-provoking message.” — Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Book: Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet
“A necessary addition to the story of women in computing, about known heroes and the fearless women and punks the world needs to know more about.” — Ellen Ullman, author of Life in Code, Close to the Machine, and The Bug
Book: The Likeability Trap: How to Break Free and Succeed as You Are
“Reading The Likeability Trap, I felt a weight lift off me. I realized that feedback and worry about my likeability are systemic issues, not something wrong with me. I understood that I wasn’t alone and that there were things I could do about it. It has been a gift.” — Rachel Simmons, author of Odd Girl Out
Book: Machiavelli for Women: Defend Your Worth, Grow Your Ambition, and Win the Workplace
“A succinct and savvy guide to making your way in the world, Machiavelli’s Prince offers a clever conceit to deliver a raft of practical advice for women looking to make their mark and blast off the glass ceiling for good.” — Suzanne Nossel
Book: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
“As Invisible Women illuminates, in an almost overwhelming way, communities pay tremendous costs for the gender data gap: costs of income, time, women’s health, and sometimes women’s lives.”, Bustle
Book: Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts
“With Dare to Lead, Brené brings decades of research to bear in a practical and insightful guide to courageous leadership. This book is a road map for anyone who wants to lead mindfully, live bravely, and dare to lead.” — Sheryl Sandberg
Book: Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
“It is inevitable — we will fall. We will fail. We will not know how to react or what to do. No matter how or when it happens, we will all have a choice — do we get up or not? Thankfully, Brené Brown is there with an outstretched arm to help us up.” — Simon Sinek
Book: Radical Candor by Kim Scott: Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
“Reading Radical Candor will help you build, lead, and inspire teams to do the best work of their lives. Kim Scott’s insights―based on her experience, keen observational intelligence, and analysis — will help you be a better leader and create a more effective organization.” ―Sheryl Sandberg
Book: Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility
“Drawing on her decades of experience building high-performance professional environments, Patty McCord has given us a valuable playbook for designing workplaces where colleagues thrive. Anyone interested in building and strengthening talent will find ‘Powerful’ a useful resource to create professional cultures anchored in mutual respect, empathy, and creativity.” — Laurene Powell Jobs
Book: Impact Players: How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiply Your Impact
“If you want to stand out early in your career, this book is required reading. Liz Wiseman highlights the practical, often surprising habits that will help you reach your potential and make your mark.” — Adam Grant
“Earning a million dollars requires a lot more than just ‘a positive mindset’. This book is an honest, realistic, and inspiring look at what it really takes to become an extremely high-earning woman. Rachel Rodgers will give you a million-dollar attitude with a bank account to match.”— Sophia Amoruso, New York Times Bestselling Author of #Girlboss
Book: How to be Yourself by Ellen Hendrickson
“Ellen Hendriksen is the real deal. This book cuts through the noise to help you overcome those big, dark anxieties and doubts that hold you back so you can live your best life.” ―Lewis Howes
Book: Untamed by Glennon Doyle
“Some books shake you by the shoulder while others steal your heart. In Untamed, Glennon does both at the exact same time.” — Brené Brown
Book: Multipliers by Liz Wiseman
“Every so often a book comes along that forces us to ask important and difficult questions of ourselves. ‘Multipliers’ is such a book. Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown challenge us to imagine a dramatically more productive future for our organizations” — Tim Brown, CEO, IDEO
Book: Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
“I just glanced at the table of contents and I’m already a better writer. Ann Handley might just single-handedly save the world from content mediocrity. Really, really ridiculously good-looking content just got an owner’s manual.” — Jason Miller, Senior Content Marketing Manager, LinkedIn
Book: The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eva Eger
“Edith’s strength and courage are remarkable in this memoir as she draws on her own unthinkable experience in Nazi concentration camps to become a therapist and help others recover from all kinds of hardship. Her life and work are an incredible example of forgiveness, resilience, and generosity.” — Sheryl Sandberg
Book: Between Grit and Grace: The Art of Being Feminine and Formidable
“Dr. Sasha Shillcutt is an extraordinary woman, physician, leader, and entrepreneur. Her words are eloquent showcasing both her vulnerability and strength. She has a strong passion for elevating women around her, encouraging them to be their best selves. Her book Between Grit and Grace will be a must-read for anyone who wants to be inspired to be authentic, be visionary and be brave.” — Rakhee K. Bhayani
Book: In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs
“These amazing stories will surely spark something deep within us all: the courage to dream and the fortitude to make those dreams happen.” — Joanna Gaines
Book: Becoming by Michelle Obama
“Deeply personal and refreshingly honest . . . She’s thoughtful, humorous, bracingly revealing, and when it’s time, she does us all the favor of showing us the human side of a man worshipped by so many. . . . It’s human and genuine and welcoming to see the layers of humanity she holds open. . . . Michelle Obama’s story can maybe inspire you to find a path for your own story.” — Shonda Rhimes
Book: The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance — -What Women Should Know
How do we make the most of our talents, skills, and interests? This book demonstrates that it’s not enough to know what we’re doing; our confidence is a key factor in our success. Fascinating reading for every woman who wants to take her life to the next level.” (Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project)
Book: I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This: Success Secrets Every Gutsy Girl Should Know
“This is NOT your mother’s plodding, nose-to-the-grindstone, put-on-a-power-suit career guide. Kate White gives us her witty and wise secret sauce to fast-tracking your career, thinking big, having fun, getting the money you deserve — all while pursuing your passion.” (Claire Shipman, ABC News Correspondent and co-author of Womenomics)
Book: Ask For It: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want
“Filled with practical tips and real-life examples, Ask for It empowers women to ask for what they want and get it. A must-read for any woman looking to make a change at home or on the job.” — Lindsay Hyde, President, Strong Women, Strong Girls, Inc.
Book: Carry On, Warrior: The Power of Embracing Your Messy, Beautiful Life
“Glennon’s writing is like a warm embrace. She shines that little light of hers over the whole wide mommy world, reminding us that it is OK — more than OK, our right — to be who we are, no apologies. And we as mothers matter. Because when you spend so much time focusing on everyone else’s needs, you often forget that you count too.” ― Family Circle.com
You are now well-equipped with a great list of amazing books. Grab one of these books & enjoy. Happy Reading…