Sometimes it feels as though the world has forgotten the magic of reading and learning. I’d like to believe that the intelligent and dignified will always trump the shameless, but as a population we seem to feed off the embarrassing and stupid actions of D-List celebrities instead of the remarkable brilliance of those who are truly inspirational. And I don’t get it.
A few years ago I was shocked to read a statistic that stated when asked, 75% of young American girls said they would rather win America’s Next Top Model instead of The Nobel Peace Prize…bewildering to say the least.
Needless to say, I think we need to take some time to stop and celebrate some of the truly remarkable women that we are fortunate enough to be able to learn from. Here are 11 fabulous books written by women, which will make you feel like a TOTAL BOSS. Get off Instagram and start reading now!!
This is a book written to inspire and build confidence within women, and helps us realise that everything we need in order to be successful is already residing within us. Girl Code is filled with valuable takeaways, including a powerful message on how, as women, we need to be happy for each other’s success, and be each other’s champions. This is the kind of book you’ll want to carry around in your handbag long after finishing it just so you can share it with others, and for those moments you need a quick pep talk and a shot of confidence.
2. Do Cool Sh*t by Miki Agrawal
Miki is one of those truly remarkable superwomen, who you look at and wonder just how she has enough hours in her day to do everything she does. She had a childhood dream of playing professional soccer which she just couldn’t put to rest; managed to hold down an intense corporate day-job, and still found time to train fiercely, attend weekly soccer practices, and went on to make the team! You’ll put this book down wanting to do some serious cool sh*t of your own.
3. #GirlBoss by Sophia Amaruso
Sophia is a hustler in every sense of the word. She started out selling vintage clothing on eBay, which she trawled through charity shops to find, and ended up with a multi-million dollar business. Today we know that business as Nasty Gal; cool huh?. Like many entrepreneurs, Sophia knew she would never be content working for someone other than herself, and had the balls and determination to do something about it. She shows us what we all can achieve, simply by putting in the blood, sweat & tears. Once you start reading this book, you won’t be able to put it down.
4. Not That Kind Of Girl by Lena Dunham
Lena is an honest and hilarious breath of fresh air, and if you’re a fan of her hit TV series Girls, you are guaranteed to adore her collection of wit & wisdom-filled essays. “If I could take what I’ve learned and make one menial job easier for you, or prevent you from having the kind of sex where you feel you must keep your sneakers on in case you want to run away during the act, then every misstep of mine was worthwhile…” Anyone remotely familiar with Lena will know that what you get with her is the raw reality of being a twenty-something woman in our world today, without any bullsh*t. Never one to mince her words, you’ll find yourself laughing out loud along with Lena as she bares her soul in the in a remarkably honest and endearing way.
5. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Most people will know Gilbert for her infamous best-selling memoir Eat, Pray, Love. Big Magic is a greatly different book, and is one for all the creative souls who are trying to put a piece of their hearts out there for the world to see. Elizabeth teaches us to fight every rejection with another attempt to succeed; and that school is not necessarily the best place to be in order to learn your craft, and to learn it well. She pinpoints creative success to three necessary elements: Talent, luck, and discipline – and noting that the first two are pretty much out of our control, she stresses the importance of working your ass off, and practicing your craft every single day.
6. I Am That Girl by Alexis Jones
Alexis Jones has carved her career out of helping and encouraging young girls to believe in themselves and the unique spirit that they each harbor. Alexis pens a complete guide to being that girl, sharing all the wisdom she has gained on her own path, while challenging us to be the best possible versions of ourselves. You can, and you should, dream BIG. Don’t ever let those little voices in your head tell you that you’re not good enough. You are more than enough.
7. The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggett, Holly Corbett & Amanda Pressner
Have you ever found yourself wondering how the hell you ended up in a stressful, soul-destroying job that makes you far from happy when you had such high hopes for what your life would look like by this age? Yeah, I think we’ve all been there. Jennifer, Holly, and Amanda are three friends who find themselves seeking more than a 9-5, and decide to ditch everything and travel the world for a year. And as life would have it, despite being majorly broke towards the end, they return far richer than they could have ever imagined. Warning: this book might just prompt you to quit your job for the backpacking life!
8. One Thousand Wells be Jena Lee Nardella
Jena graduated from college with a diploma, one thousand dollars, and a BIG dream of building one thousand wells across Africa. Today, Jena’s charity Blood Water has raised over $25 million, and has provided health care for over 62,000 people across Africa. Jena always had her heart set on saving the world, and shows us just what we can achieve when we fight for our dreams. If you’re looking for inspiration, and someone who has been there, started out with nothing, and really managed to make a tangible difference to our world, then this is the book for you.
9. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
Malala is the girl who fought for her right to an education, and was shot in the head, at point-blank range, by the Taliban as a lesson for speaking out. However, this did not silence her. Malala is the youngest ever winner of The Nobel Peace Prize, and her book tells the story of how the voice of one young girl can, and did, inspire change in the world.
10. O’s Little Guide to Finding Your True Purpose by The Editors of O
This collection of essays will offer you guidance on your journey to finding your true calling. Written by those who have once stood where you may find yourself now, O’s Little Guide is an incredible read that will help you along the way to success. Oprah stresses the importance of us all going on our own journeys to discover the purpose for our existence. We all have one, and it is our job to do everything we can to find it, to nurture it, and to fulfill our true potential here on earth. As far as inspirational women go, Oprah is certainly up there on my list of greats, and I doubt you will finish this book without taking something life-changing away from it.
So there you have it – my top 10 list of incredible books written by a bunch of truly remarkable women. I think it totally rocks to be a woman today, because as these books demonstrate, the world really is our oyster. Anything that men can do, we can do it too. Every single one of these women have an inspiring story to tell; stories that will teach us strength, resilience, determination, hard work, and patience. Stories that will stay with us long before we put them down.
So what are you waiting for?! Happy reading!
Featured image via Reggienald Suarez on Pexels
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