28 best motivational & inspirational books for women

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat Pray Love is a New York Times bestselling book that was made into a blockbuster film starring Julia Roberts. It tells the story of Gilbert’s painful divorce from her first husband and the following life events. It covers how after the divorce, she embarked on the journey to rediscover herself and the true meaning of life.

It’s an uplifting and inspirational story about love, self-love, and finding your own way of living.

Just As I Am by Cicely Tyson

Cicely Tyson was one of the most prolific actresses with a career that spanned more than seven decades. In her memoir, she recounts her life and celebrates the strength and accomplishments of Black women. Plus, she highlights all the obstacles and harshness of life they have to overcome in order to thrive.

It’s truly a profound book that will make you smile, and cry and leave you with an uplifting feeling at the very end.

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Shonda Rhimes is one of the most influential women in Hollywood. She’s the creator of some of the most popular TV shows in the world including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal,” and “How to Get Away with Murder.” In her book, Year of Yes, she shares how powerful the word “yes” can be and how it transformed her life, and how it can transform yours as well.

The Moment of Lift by Melinda French Gates

Melinda Gates is a businesswoman, an advocate for women’s rights, and a co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In this book, Gates talks about women’s empowerment and how closely it’s linked to the health of societies all around the world.

Secrets of Six-Figure Women by Barbara Stanny

Barbara Stanny is a bestselling author, financial educator, and motivational speaker. In this book, Stanny provides insight into women who make six and seven figures at their jobs as entrepreneurs and high-level executives. Also, she provides seven key strategies that these six-figure women use to be successful at making money so you can implement them in your life.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

When The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up was first released, it took the world by storm. Everyone wanted the details on Marie Kondo’s excellent method of tidying. It involves sorting things in our lives and closets into things that spark joy and things that don’t was simple yet revolutionary for many people.

This book is one of the best inspirational books on how to organize and tidy up your surroundings and home to help you refine your inner world as well.

Finding Me by Viola Davis

Viola Davis is one of the most talented actors of all time. With her memoir, she aims to inspire other people to discover their creative expression. And learn to re-discover their true selves despite the labels that the world might put on them.

Best motivational books for women

Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

Marie Forleo is a successful entrepreneur who built her business with her laptop and a camera. And she is now inspiring other entrepreneurs to create the life of their dreams.

In this book, she provides insights into how to deal with imposter syndrome that so many creatives struggle with. Plus, how to learn to deal with failure and learn from it without giving up, and how to build a business with little to no money and time.

The Source of Self-Regard by Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison was an American author and a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. She was one of the most prolific minds of her time. And in her book, The Source of Self-Regard, she gives us a collection of essays on society, culture, and art through her lens. It’s an inspiring and thought-provoking read.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Glennon Doyle is a bestselling author and an activist. In her memoir Untamed, she tells a story of her midlife awakening when she realizes she was in love with a woman. It’s an inspirational story of figuring out our life and family. And learning to live a life that is true to ourselves, no matter what society might tell you.

Believe IT by Jamie Kern Lima

Jamie Kern Lima is the founder of IT Cosmetics, one of the most popular beauty brands in the world. In this book, she shares her story about going from a struggling waitress to a CEO. And how she later sold her company for over a billion dollars all while facing backlash for being a plus-sized woman in the beauty industry.

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston and a bestselling author. Her work revolves around researching courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. And in Daring Greatly, she encourages us to embrace vulnerability and imperfections and live a courageous life despite it all. It’s a crucial read if you struggle with vulnerability and need help reframing your outlook.

How Are You, Really? by Jenna Kutcher

Jenna Kutcher is an educator and entrepreneur who built a six-figure business as a wedding photographer. And then took it to the seven-figure business by teaching people authentic marketing on social media platforms. In this book, she shares her insights and tips on how to turn around your life and build a life of your dreams from scratch.

Empowering books for women

Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

Roxane Gay is one of the most prolific writers of her generation. In this book, she brings the reader on a journey. From what it’s like being a woman and a feminist to trying to figure out the right way to be a woman who is a feminist. Gay offers witty and sharp social commentary on our culture. And she points out where we still need to do better.

Lead from the Outside by Stacey Abrams

Stacey Abrams is an American politician, businesswoman, lawyer, and bestselling author. In her book, Abrams shares her experiences and what she learned as a politician and a businesswoman. As well as her experiences working for a non-profit. It’s a great book on leadership and how to overcome obstacles that come with it, especially when you feel like an outsider.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama was the First Lady of the United States, and she was the first African-American woman to serve in this position. Raised in the South Side of Chicago, she graduated from Princeton University and Harward Law School. In her book, she shares her experiences, from her childhood to being in the White House, offering a personable and inspirational story to readers.

Uplifting books for women

The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor

Sonya Renee Taylor is an author, poet, and activist who believes art is a vehicle for social change. This book is a guide to radical self-care to help heal wounds inflicted by unjust systems. And a guide to learning to create a healthy and balanced relationship with our bodies. It’s an empowering read for those looking to reconnect with themselves and find a way to create a better world around them.

So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know by Retta

Marietta Sirleaf, or Retta, is an American comedian and actress known for her roles in “Parks and Recreation” and “Good Girls.” In her memoir, she shares an unfiltered and funny story of how she went from being an immigrant child to graduating from Duke University on a path to becoming a doctor to a Hollywood star.

The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish

Tiffany Haddish is an American comedian and actress. In this book, she tells her inspiring and empowering story of growing up in foster care, struggling to read, and later supporting herself as a comedian to rise to the stars. It’s a heartwarming story of a woman rising to success that will surely uplift and offer inspiration when you need it.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

The author of Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert, has another inspirational book that needs to be on your required reading list, Big Magic. This is a must-read for all creatives, as it’s a very refreshing look into creativity, where to find it, and how to build a healthy relationship with it once you do.

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

Jen Sincero is a bestselling author, speaker, and motivational coach who has helped countless people to transform their lives. In her book, You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, she offers an honest and straightforward guide on how to create and start living an authentic and fulfilling life.

Life-changing books for women

Yale Needs Women by Anne Gardiner Perkins

Anne Gardiner Perkins is an author and a Yale Graduate, where she also was the first woman editor-in-chief of the Yale Daily News. One of the Ivy League schools, Yale only opened its doors to women in the late 70s. This book is a story of the first generation of women who attended Yale and had to pave their own way in an environment that wasn’t built for them and how they strived to change that.

My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem

Gloria Steinem is an American feminist, journalist, and social and political activist. In this book, she recounts her life and tells a story of the growing women’s rights movement and her journey in paving the way for women from the late 70s.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin is a bestselling author who has dedicated her life and work to figuring out happiness and human nature. In this book, Rubin shares her findings on what it is to live a happy life after she decided to embark on a one-year journey to find happiness. And she gives advice on how we can take what she learned and incorporate it into our lives.

Unbound by Tarana Burke

Tarana Burke is the activist who started the #MeToo movement that changed the lives of millions of women around the world. In her memoir, she shares how the idea for the movement was born. And how each of us can heal and learn to love ourselves unabashedly.

Books about powerful women

Anna: The Biography by Amy Odell

Anna Wintour is the Editor-In-Chief of American Vogue. She is also one of the most influential women in fashion and business. In this biography, Amy Odell she recounts the life of Wintour. It started when she was a young ambitious girl eager to start building her career. And offers an insight into the world of high fashion and how Wintour became the icon she is today.

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai, Christina Lamb

Malala Yousafzai is a remarkable young woman who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban. She was fighting for her right to an education when she was attacked and hasn’t stopped advocating for education since. Her story is remarkable. She recovered from an injury that should have been fatal to become a global activist and the youngest nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.