Being a Woman

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Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In created an international sensation when it was published in 2013. Sandberg incisively examines the state of the contemporary workplace, asking questions about the obstacles that women face when they express ambition, seek mentors, show leadership, and confront the challenges of motherhood. Sandberg’s witty, direct, and informative approach makes reading Lean In an empowering act in itself. 23. The Power is Within You by Louise Hay

Her chapter on marriages. Weddings have become a ridiculously high-priced event that generally makes everyone involved miserable.Malala Yousafzai is an international symbol of bravery, a champion of education for girls, and the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize — but before all that, she was a teenage girl. In I Am Malala , she tells her story in her own words and shows readers that standing up for girls is standing up for the future. 60. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Elizabeth also encourages women through her radio broadcast, “A Minute for Busy Women,” featured on Christian radio stations across America and at www.OnePlace.com. She is also a regular keynote speaker at women’s conferences and retreats. NOW – Caitlin Moran rewrites The Female Eunuch from a bar stool and demands to know why pants are getting smaller. There’s never been a better time to be a woman: we have the vote and the Pill, and we haven’t been burnt as witches since 1727. However, a few nagging questions do remain… Sometimes you need a boost from a brave female historical figure, a bold female industry leader, or a badass female character to remind you of all the things that women have accomplished and can achieve when they aren’t pushed to the margins and can claim their rightful space in the spotlight. In the list below, we recommend some of our favorite inspirational books ( nonfiction as well as fiction) for women — though people of all genders will enjoy these powerful stories. You’re bound to find some uplift and motivation as these reads spark joy, outrage, entrepreneurial ambition, or some combination of them all. Nonfiction 1. Becoming by Michelle Obama

Elizabeth George seems to be the sort of person that simply acts unwaveringly and committed upon every conviction she receives (such a foreign experience for me). I guess we need this sort of motivating inspiration and I hope it catches. I’d like catching it now, with the turn of the year. There were some squirm worthy moments: I did not enjoy reading about Moran's early experiences with menstruation. I did not enjoy the suggestion that one should taste one's menstrual blood. I did not enjoy the suggestion that one should name one's vagina and one's breasts. Granted, I'm the type of person who perpetually lives in fear of TMI--Caitlin Moran clearly does not. Saltwater by Jessica Andrews is a coming-of-age tale about Lucy, who leaves the North of England to go to university in London, then travels to her grandfather’s old cottage in Ireland. A poetic, fragmented story about family, class identity and growing up, Saltwater is a beautiful and visceral tribute to the North and its values — it’s no wonder the book won the 2020 Portico Prize. 49. Sealed by Naomi Booth

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It was when I finally accepted that I was different and worthy, exactly as I was, that the clouds started to shift and I started to own the space I occupied.

Climate activist Thunberg has become the voice of her generation — but she calls on people of all ages to take action in her collection of speeches No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference. She delivers an urgent message that the action of every person counts when it comes to global emissions, and that every person has the power to enact change to save our planet. 59. I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai Women can do anything. Of course, historically speaking, that hasn’t always been the message we encounter in the media or popular culture. But today, there’s never been a better time to be looking for inspirational books for women, as the literary world is now spoiled for choice when it comes to stories of women’s bravery, grit, resilience, humor, and drive. In any case, she is replacing one set of body image standards with another which defeats the very purpose of her proclamations. If I think of Beth Moore studies as a battlefield of her personal quirks vs the lasting story message, in this study of Esther the lasting story & message wins out. Beth opened my mind to many ways that Esther is a form of great literature. I also learned about "chiastic structure" from this study (Don't live to eat, just eat to live, etc), & turned tables, ironies, & destiny reversals. I feel I've gotten more out of this study than what work I actually put into it! Esther definitely shows that God is the Master Storyteller!

While it’s impossible to capture the nuances and richness of the female experience, the following 10 books present unique, moving portraits of being a woman.

I first did this study with a church group 4 years ago. I was distracted, and didn't keep up with the assignments. George Eliot’s 19th century classic Middlemarch tells the story of several characters in provincial England. It’s a moving and wise narrative documenting a moment in time, but also a timeless tale about human nature. Eliot’s book is brimming with idealism and a belief in people’s power to do and be good; it’s no wonder that many consider Middlemarch the book that changed their lives. Brilliant and optimistic, this admittedly long novel really is worth your time. 45. A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen