Inspiring books for women

Here’s a list of inspiring books for women. Whether you are looking for personal success as a woman in business, or inspiration to become the best you can be, all the books offer a different point of view in life and some practical advice on success and how to build a more meaningful life.

 

Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success by Deepak Chopra

“This book shifted my understanding of productivity and how to spend my time on things that will make a real impact. I had worked myself into a major stress and Chopra’s idea that success should not be forced really stroke a chord. Success should not be difficult and should come to you naturally, if you keep making a reasonable effort! I’ve been working more efficiently and enjoying every moment of it without focusing on the outcome. My business has moved forward due to big creative ideas and bold implementation, not because of stressful long working hours and long to do lists. Chopra made a practical joke on me. As the book arrived from Amazon I felt slightly cheated and disappointed. The book is tiny! Is this book really going to offer value in such a small size? Yep, big is not necessarily better and reading the book was one of the best hours I’ve ever spent!” Review by Miisa

 

Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

“The book introduces the idea of using belief and ‘coding’ the unconscious mind to work on your success plan. Hill suggests anyone can achieve what ever they want if they literally ‘put their mind to it’. I can support this idea, as only days after reading the first part of the book my mind started filling with ideas and practical steps to move towards the goal I had envisioned. I also started prioritising the activities I had written down as the ways I was going to give the universe in form of my services in exchange of the riches. The book was published in 1937 and was a starting point to personal success literature. Hill was inspired by Andrew Carnegie asked him if he’d interview and analyze over 500 successful men and women, many of them millionaires, in order to discover and publish the formula for success. All of his advice is still valid today!” Review by Miisa

 

The Chimp Paradox by Prof. Steve Peters

This book is about ‘mind management’. Sounds daunting, but it’s not. Steve Peters makes understanding how our brain works very accessible to all of us. And when you start to understand how your brain works you can start to control your ‘chimp’, the primitive part of your brain that reacts on impulse and emotion, not logic. The chimp is often helpful, but most times actually not and may get you into all sorts of trouble. By learning to manage your thoughts you can start to become the person you would like to be.

Understand how you measure success, why you should define some ‘life rules’, a difference between motivation and commitment or how to erase guilt, blame and regret and truly learn from your mistakes. Packed with simple but effective ways to improve your life, it’s a ‘must read’ for mastering personal excellence!” Review by Miisa

 

Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

“Once in a while a book comes along which has the power to transform our lives for the better. ‘Daring Greatly’ by Brene Brown is one of those books. It is uplifting and insightful, and based on years of rigorous research involving hundreds of interviews.

I discovered Brene Brown through her TED talks on vulnerability and was struck by her authenticity and openness. Her message is practical and simple – we squander our lives if we wait to be perfect or bullet proof. The only way to really live is to believe that we are enough, practice gratitude, deal with shame and face uncertainty, exposure and emotional risks. In essence, we transform our lives by having the courage to be vulnerable. This is not weakness, it is the willingness to show up and show who we really are, to truly connect with others, to live with the discomfort of being a leader or parent. It means practising our values and pushing back against a culture of scarcity, blame and comparison with others.

Here are three steps you can take right now: practice courage and reaching out; talk to yourself the way you would talk to someone you really love; and own your story – that way you get to write the ending.” Review by Jenny

 

Mindset – How You Can Fulfil Your Potential by Dr. Carol Dweck

“This is a must read/listen to whoever believes she/he is superior, different, entitled and has a need to constantly validate oneself. According to Dr Dweck these kinds of people, called Fixed Mindset (FM) people, believe that the human traits and qualities are cast in stone. They protect their fixed traits by avoiding challenges and failure as these would endanger their faultless appearance. They undermine effort, and blame others for their misfortunes. Enron and Chrysler were lead by FM CEOs who put their personal pride before the corporation. Notwithstanding his huge talent tennis star Mc Enroe never reached his full potential due to his fixed mindset.

People with Growth Mindset (GM) believe that abilities and personal qualities can be cultivated through effort. They don’t see failure as reflection of their intelligence, as FM do, but as mere challenge to learn and become smarter. They are fearless, focus on development, and believe that everyone can improve with right tools, teaching and mindset. Jack Welsh, CEO of General Electric, rooted out his fixed mindset to transform GE by growth mindset of listening, caring and nurturing. In sports Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods have shown how talent is converted to greatness by hard work and continuous learning.

Mindset can be employed not only to business and sports but also to relationships, parenting, coaching and teaching. One can change the mindset, and in the end of the book Dr. Dweck shares growth mindset strategies and gives practical advise how to apply them in everyday life.” Review by Anne

 

The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris

“The ultimate book for creating the lifestyle you want. Life is not about working hard and dreaming of retirement, you should live your dream now and create mini-retirements as you go along. Decide what you want to do and then work backwards to generate the income to need to live your dream. Published in 2007, the book has spent more than four years on the The New York Times Best Seller list, has been translated into 35 languages, and has sold more than milloin copies worldwide. It started a location independent movement and has inspired many authors such as Chris Guillebeau. Even if you don’t want to travel and explore the world, this book is a must read as it will change the way to think about work and what options you have creating the life you want.” Reviewed by Miisa

 

$100 Start-Up by Chris Guillebeau

“Fantastic book on how to launch a company on a shoestring. Chris studied hundreds of microbusinesses to find the best practices that work, including invaluable advice for the unexpected entrepreneur from creating your one page business plan to launching your product and raising more money. Very practical book with lots of inspiring examples.

Chris is also the author of ‘The Art of Non-Conformity’, ‘A Brief Guide to World Domination’. It defines common assumptions about life and work and gives you the tools to life differently. A good book to read when you want to practise getting out of your comfort zone. Chris now hosts a popular World Domination Summit in Portland every year in July.” Review by Miisa

 

Zen And The Art Of Falling In Love by Brenda Shoshanna

“This is the book I recommend the most! If you know me it is most likely I have not only recommended this book to you, but almost demanded you read this. In many cases I simply go and buy this book for you, my friend. It’s the most amazing book about loving your life.

The lessons can be applied to your relationships but also to living every day so that it matters and loving what you do. This is a must read for anyone in a relationship or for anyone looking for one. It is the best book to read in a divorce and would prevent many divorces if couples would read it together when getting married.

However, I could have also placed this in the Entrepreneurship section for many reasons. You gotta love life, and yourself to succeed.” Review by Miisa