28 Brilliant Books To Empower You As A Woman In 2019

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As a woman it’s so important not to give up despite the silliness that often comes across our paths, whether in personal or work life.

There are 28 books that are bound to empower you to greater things this year. No need to queue here for inspiring stories, incredible advice, and enjoyable reading. Just pick and order!

#1 Bossypants by Tina Fey

Tina Fey made a household name doing hard work and creating a name for herself in a world dominated by men, comedy. Here she tells the journey about how she made her dreams come alive, sad and funny this book will change your perspective on what empowering truly means.

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#2 In the Land of Invisible Women by Ahmed, Qanta

The western way of the living clash with the real world of the Saudi Kingdom, which is like for a Muslim girl to live in a place where women often aren’t taken seriously. Recognize where these feelings are coming and where you could focus your energy, perfect if you are Muslim, live in a heteropatriarchal country or want a different perspective for your life.

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#3 The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf

Women are supposed to be pretty, that’s what society tells you, even though women have never been so powerful often the conversation is about how she looks or what is she wearing, Naomi Wolf does a powerful job in deconstructing beauty in today’s society.

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#4 This Book Is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell

Who are you? What is racism? Where does it come from? Why does it exist? What can you do to disrupt it? Learn about social identities, the history of racism and resistance against it, and how you can use your anti-racist lens and voice to move the world toward equity and liberation. Gain a deeper understanding of your anti-racist self as you progress through 20 chapters that spark introspection, reveal the origins of racism that we are still experiencing and give you the courage and power to undo it.

Each chapter builds on the previous one as you learn more about yourself and racial oppression. Exercise prompts get you thinking and help you grow with the knowledge.

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#5 The Power Book by Claire Saunders

What makes you the boss of me? What makes a king a king, or a queen a queen? Why can some people vote for their leaders, but other people can’t? Does having lots of money make you powerful? Why are there fewer female scientists, leaders and artists than men in history books? These are things that children wonder about.

Beautifully illustrated and thought-provoking, The Power Book attempts to answer these and other questions in a relatable way for young children. Readers will gain an understanding of their place in their family, their school, and the world, and will discover ways in which they can use their own power to shape the future.

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#6 Step into Your Power by Jamia Wilson

Listen up sister! You’ve heard about heroes and read about the greats, but how do you actually get there yourself? This book shows you how to make your big dreams a big reality. Learn from the lived experience of author Jamia Wilson and illustrator Andrea Pippins as they mentor you through growing up in the modern world, and teach you how to STEP INTO YOUR POWER. ‘Slay your fear!’ ‘You’ve got this!’ ‘Take heart and trust your gut!’

In this friendly guide, ‘big sister’ Jamia Wilson helps you achieve your dreams and know your rights with caring advice and actions you can take and make your very own. Explore what it means to know and trust your insights and capabilities with stories, images, activities, resources and action prompts that you can interact with on your own time and, most importantly, on your terms.

Unlock your power and be yourself – you may just change the world!

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#7 Boss the Bestseller List like JK Rowling

When Joanne Rowling was a young woman, she found herself down and out of luck. But, she had a best-selling idea and a tenacious spirit. If only she could find someone who wanted to publish her book…Discover how J. K. Rowling became a best-selling author and publishing sensation in this true story of her life. Then, learn 10 key lessons from her work you can apply to your own life.

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#8 Run the Show Like CEO JK Rowling

When Oprah Winfrey was a little girl, she watched her grandma hang clothes out on the line. Oprah adored her grandma, but she knew in that moment her life was going to be different… And she was right. Discover how Oprah became a billionaire CEO and media mogul in this true story of her life. Then, learn 10 key lessons from her work you can apply to your own life. Featuring inspiring quotes and mantras, this is a book for all kids wanting to forge their own career path

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#9 Little People, Big Dreams: Wilma Rudolph

Wilma was born into a family with 22 brothers and sisters, in the segregated South. She contracted polio in her early years and her doctors said she would never walk again. But Wilma persisted with treatment, and she recovered her strength by the age of 12.

At school, Wilma showed a talent for basketball and sprinting, earning the nickname Skeeter (mosquito) as she ran so fast. Wilma was in college when she went to the 1960 Olympics. She not only won gold in sprint events, but also broke world records with her sprinting skill.

She had beaten polio to become an Olympic champion. She is a huge inspiration to many women in sports around the world. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the athlete’s life.

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#10 Little People, Big Dreams: Dolly Parton

Little Dolly grew up in Tennessee in a family ‘as poor as dirt’. She started performing at an early age, singing on local radio and television. After graduating high school, she moved to Nashville to pursue her singing dreams.

Her managers wanted her to sing pop, but she followed her heart to sing and write country songs. Her heart was right – Dolly became a musical superstar, but she never forgot where she came from. She now uses her wealth to give back to people, children and animals in need.

This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the singer’s life.

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#11 Ella May Does It Her Way

Hello and welcome to Ella May, the girl who likes to do things her way. In the first of this brilliant new series all about an imaginative, strong-willed girl character with her own ideas, Ella May tries walking backwards, just to see how it feels.

In her bedroom she tries reading her books backwards, and after dinner she goes backwards up to the bathroom and climbs backwards into bed. When Ella goes backwards up the slide and backwards over the castle, Ella’s mum decides to turn around and walk backwards next to Ella, to make it easier for them to talk. Pretty soon, half the town is walking backwards in a giant, backwards-walking procession. Where will it end?

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#12 Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

Are you looking for some boss babe empowerment vibes? Give Lean In a gander. This book encourages women to stop giving excuses, pull out a chair and confidently take a seat at the table.

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#13 Depression Hates a Moving Target by Nita Sweeney

At 49 years of age, grief-stricken, chronically depressed Nita Sweeney takes up running with her dog in an attempt to find a way out of the darkness. Her memoir of pounding the roads with her canine companion will entertain and motivate any reader who has ever fallen into deep despair. Whether or not readers want to follow in her footsteps, they will enjoy reading about her journey.

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#14 Ignite Your Life for Women by Jb Owen

Stories are how we connect. They unite one another across generations and cultures, and they have the power to inspire and transform. Ignite Your Life for Women is a collection of real-life stories that do just that.This book will expand your mind while touching your heart. As you read the stories, your spirit will ignite and your soul will soar.

Thirty-five exceptional women have united to create a book designed to light your spark through connection. Each story holds a life-lesson, an awareness and an IGNITE moment that influenced the trajectory of the story teller’s life profoundly, empowering them to be the best version of themselves.

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#15 Ignite your Leadership Philosophy by Jb Owen

Female leaders break tradition. Leadership is often accompanied by hardships and sacrifices. Every story in this book touches down with some type of trial. Yet, they also speak of perseverance, intuition, and self-determination. Each author shares how they embraced their IGNITE moment and found a new purpose to confidently go in the direction of their dreams, while graciously leading others. This book empowers women learning how to show up as a leader and that takes courage.

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#16 The Year of No Nonsense by Meredith Atwood

The Year of No Nonsense is the upcoming book by Meredith Atwood. This revolutionary book is for the woman who is already amazing, but is ready to take herself to the next level on her terms, to rid herself of the Nonsense that is holding her back from her best health, (pursuit of) happiness, and success–finding her true spirit and self. There is nothing more spiritual or amazing than a women who knows herself.

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#17 Strap on a Pair by Abby Lou Walker

In Strap on a Pair, Abby Lou Walker, owner of her own recently launched multi-million dollar company, empowers women of all walks of life with an inspirational story of her transition from the drudgery of being a professional woman in an office setting with a draining home life to becoming a self-made woman entrepreneur in the fashion industry.

Before, there was only one problem with Abby’s good life… it was slowly killing her. Tired of mundane roles at work and exhausting routines at home, uninspired by the corporate BS, and desperate to do anything to feel alive, Walker was determined to keep living the good parts of her life AND satisfy her desire for something more. Armed with a bit of curiosity, some courage and a love of high heels, she strapped on a pair and set out on her quest.

Walker’s refreshing and brave quest to launch her own business and become an independent woman offers working moms and single mothers the chance to begin the process of taking control of their life and chasing their own dreams of becoming successful women on their own terms.

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#18 Come Back Strong by Lori Ann King

Educational, inspirational, and motivational. A well-written journey through a dramatic life-changing experience that leaves readers with a positive outlook and practical techniques that will help you overcome your own life struggles. An unexpected surgery at age 43 caused King to feel completely out of balance. It was through this setback that she learned the tools, habits, and mindset required to make a strong come back. Settle in for a story that will make you laugh, cry, and dance your way back to joy, passion, and purpose.

This book is packed full of information about hormones, menopause, wellness, aging, exercise, nutrition, self-care, stress, sleep, sex, communication, mindset, empowering yourself… and more! It is for women in all stages of hormonal transition (PMS too!) who are seeking the peace and serenity that comes from balanced wellness as well as the people that love them.

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#19 Live the Life You Have Imagined! by Janie Jurkovich

Janie J has been where we all have at one time or another in our life: a point where we are wondering what happened? and what do I do next? Her book is empowering because it takes you through the exact steps she took to change her life. It’s deceptively simple things… but if they were easy, we’d all be doing them. Janie shares her internal through process on each item, strategies she used to implement them and in some cases, the outcome.

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#20 Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

The author, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, evaluates fairy tales and myths from all over the world and shares her insight into what these stories have to teach. I feel like this book can invigorate something laying dormant in us all, and call to us to trust our intuition, be fierce and experience a richness that is available to us.

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#21 Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

This book is all about stepping out of your comfort zone, and forcing yourself to take action on things you would otherwise let pass you by. The author boldly decided to start saying yes to opportunities that she normally said no to. In doing so she made new connections, learned new things, and ultimately changed her entire outlook on life. As women, fear can sometimes cripple us into inaction, and I love that this book challenges you to act anyway, even if you’re scared. Though there certainly is a time and a place for a hard no, this book inspires to say yes a little more frequently and open your eyes to a whole new world around you.

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#22 Follow the Feeling by Lisa C. West

Being empowered begins with knowing who you are and how to take care of yourself. When past hurts are held inside, they can sabotage your ability to live fully. “Follow the Feeling contains 33 easy-to-do techniques to help settle your nervous system and work through various emotional upsets.

West is a physical therapist and yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience treating chronic pain and trauma and knows that stress gets held in the body. This book teaches you to be compassionate as you start working with unhealed pain and trauma, and asks you to love yourself through even the most difficult emotions.

As your emotional dashboard starts to heal, you begin to see the wisdom your feelings carry and can learn to trust yourself. Follow the Feeling” is a great practical introduction into yoga, mindfulness and embodiment. The techniques are simple but effective, and several have free-of-charge audio links available to help you find your authentic voice and step into your power.

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#23 I am Malala By Malala Yousafzai

After her once-free village in Pakistan was taken over by the terror group the Taliban, many things became forbidden including women going to school. Malala, determined to learn, went to school anyway. The Taliban shot her point-blank in the head while she was riding the bus home from school. No one thought she would survive but she did, now she is an international symbol of peace, protest, and female empowerment.

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#24 Represent by June Diane Raphael

June Diane Raphael (actress, activist, producer, screenwriter and comedian) has teamed up with Kate Black (policy advisor and former Chief of Staff and Vice President of Research at EMILY’s List) to create this inspiring and informative step-by-step guide detailing how YOU- yes, even YOU- can run for the one of the 500,000 US elected offices.

Represent covers anything you would need to know to run for office- from fundraising and deadlines to juggling family- and does it with an honesty and sense of humor that is relatable to any woman seeking to make an impact. This book will leave you feeling empowered and give you everything you need to know (including a checklist!) to hit the ground running and be the change!

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#25 The Secret of the Wealth Success Chamber by Nikita Lawrence

This book is a highly interactive tool that has helped hundreds of women gain clarity about their identity and purpose, becoming truly empowered to awaken their biggest dream or vision and activate their potential to move from being stuck to taking action toward that vision, dream, and goal.

Many have shared their testimonials about their mindset shifting to one of thriving and abundance, writing their book, starting their business, helping more people, becoming more confident, more full of joy, feeling more successful and feeling empowered to truly change the world after reading it and completing the journal exercises inside the book.

This is one that allows space for true self reflection, with guided exercises that allows the readers to be coached into their next best phase in life and work.

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#26 Style Your Mind by Alwill Leyba, Cara

This book reminds women of the power they have to change their lives. It offers thought prompts and a blueprint for creating the lifestyle of their dreams.

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#27 The Bridge to Wholeness by Jean Benedict Raffa

Nominated for the Benjamin Franklin Award for the Best Psychology Book of 1992, the Bridge to Wholeness, describes an inner feminine way where one makes peace with dragons instead of fighting them. This moving account of a mythic journey from humility to strength, through darkness to light, carries a powerful message of unity and balance for seekers everywhere.

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#28 Dream Theatres of the Soul by Jean Benedict Raffa

What are your dreams telling you? Dr. Raffa believes that dreams show us who we are and what we can become. In this fascinating book of how to analyze dreams, explore the feminine aspects of ourselves, and use dreams to grow emotionally and spiritually, Raffa combines the metaphor of a theatre with the practicality of a handbook to provide a practical guide to understanding your dreams and empowering your feminine side.

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Contributors to this article
Abe Navas from Emily’s Maids

Mel Schuit from The Quarto Group

Courtney Ruth from KOYA

Nita Sweeney from NitaSweeney

Joanna Mercado from Joanna A Mercado Peters

Jessica Gore from Moon 40 Marketing

Abby Walker from Vivian Lou

Lori Ann King from LoriAnnKing

Beth Bridges from The Networking Motivator

Pamela Shelby from The Toll Podcast

Lauren McManus from Create and Go

Lisa West from Lisa West Wellness

Adina Mahalli from Enlightened Reality

Stephanie Langlitz from Dawning Public Relations

Nikita Lawrence from NikitaLawrence

Mo James from The Confetti Collective

Jean Benedict Raffa from JeanRaffa

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