Suggested Readings: 21 Women’s Empowerment Books Every Woman Should Read This post was originally published on Yahoo Lifestyle on August 25, 2017.
Seven books that will inspire you in every area of your life, plus 14 extra inspirational books for women to add to your list. The authors range from journalists to social scientists to doctors and even a Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
Follow along with us as we introduce you to the top women’s empowerment books that we think deserve a place on your bookshelf. Cancel your plans—you won’t be able to put them down.
Roxane Gay is the author of the novel An Untamed State, which was a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Fiction; the essay collection Bad Feminist; Ayiti, a multi-genre collection; the memoir Hunger; and a comic book in Marvel’s Black Panther series. In the collection of essays, author Roxane Gay explores what it means to be imperfect in this day and age (and why it’s okay). She doesn’t leave anything out—covering race, friendship, feminism, and even Lena Dunham. (FYI: The title speaks to how, as a black woman, she believes in the tenets of feminism, but she feels like it was created to primarily benefit the white community.) If you think the tone is going to be preachy, think again. Sitting down with this book will kind of be like having a thought-provoking conversation with your cooler, smarter best friend.
You’ll also like: Gloria Steinem Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions($8);
Ngozi Adichie We Should All Be Feminists($6)
At the beginning of Redefining Realness, author Janet Mock writes, “We need stories of hope and possibilities, stories that reflect the reality of our lived experiences.” Mock’s narrative goes on to detail how she grew up impoverished, multiracial, and transgendered, all with the ultimate goal of finding herself. It wasn’t until the People editor fell in love with a man she was dating that she had to dig deep and open herself up to him—and the possibility of rejection.
You’ll also like: Jennifer Finney Boylan She's Not There ($10);
Dorothy Allison Two or Three Things I Know for Sure ($8)
If you’re a fan of social scientist Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly, then you need to read Braving the Wilderness too. If you’re familiar with her work, then you know the author has the amazing ability to seamlessly weave stories with science, and the same is done in this new piece of literature. The premise revolves around Brown’s belief that we’re all disconnected from reality, so she goes on to prescribe four ways to find belonging every day.
You’ll also like: Gretchen Rubin The Four Tendencies ($15);
Brooke McAlary Destination Simple ($13)
Rebecca Solnit’s collection of seven essays begins by recalling a conversation in Aspen with a successful businessman who assumes her opinion about something is wrong simply because she’s a woman. The book’s essays go on to range from the silly (like “mansplaining”) to the serious (gender equality). Solnit’s opinions about feminism, marriage equality, and our society are nothing less than bold (and sometimes totally necessary). But hey, there’s no use in sugarcoating things, right?
You’ll also like: Sloane Crosley I Was Told There’d Be Cake ($9); Betty Friedan The Feminine Mystique ($15)
This memoir penned by the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize tells the tale of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani girl who stood up for education. But more than just that, the book—co-written by British journalist Christina Lamb—doesn’t shield you from Malala’s flaws as she pushes for the right to attend school even in the face of the Taliban. From cover to cover, readers not only see Malala’s true power amidst the political strife but that of her whole family.
You’ll also like: Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn Half the Sky ($8);
Michael J. Sandel Justice ($8)
This compelling true story revolves around Quanta A. Ahmed, MD, a British doctor of Pakistani descent who takes a job in Saudi Arabia when her U.S. visa renewal is denied. The book’s plot is woven with positive moments like Ahmed rediscovering her Islamic religion on a pilgrimage and cons that include seeing co-workers celebrate during the September 11 attacks on the U.S. Things aren’t always black and white, as Ahmed comes to realize on her two-year stint in Riyadh, but sometimes you just have to find the silver lining.
You’ll also like: Ayaan Hirsi Ali Infidel ($9);
Omar Saif Ghobash Letters to a Young Muslim ($12)
Author Jena Nardella shares how she set out after college graduation to save the world with the hope of building 1000 wells in Africa. The fact of the matter is that she succeeded—as the co-founder of Blood: Water, she’s helped give more than one million African residents access to clean water. But along the way, Nardella faced many challenges, including corruption and serious setbacks that cause her to question herself and her mission. Thankfully, the activist found a way to embrace the world—flaws and all (a lesson for all of us).
You’ll also like: Bob Goff Love Does ($13);
Kennedy Odede and Jessica Posner Find Me Unafraid ($9)
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