50 Best Inspirational Books for Women in 2023

Based off a Navy SEAL's inspiring graduation speech, this book shares the little things in life that everyone should know.

Why we love it: It's a great book for anyone looking to put a little order back in their lives.

Toni Morrison is one of the most important writers of the 20th century. This book collects her own words in a gathering of essays and speeches that will leave you feeling inspired by all of the wisdom she has blessed the world with over half a century in the public eye.

Why we love it: Morrison is a genius, and reading words from her speeches, meditations, and essays feels like an invitation into her mind.

Poet Maggie Smith explores the disintegration of her marriage and her renewed commitment to herself.

Why we love it: This beautifully written memoir comes from the heart, with inspirational prose based on her life experience.

This essay collection touches on a range of topics, from the challenges of adulting to the reasons some people are made for reality TV. It's full of fun and hilarious stories that will definitely stay with you.

Why we love it: It'll make you belly laugh.

In this insightful memoir, author Stephanie Foo interviews scientists and psychologists and tries a variety of innovative therapies to help understand the complexities of PTSD.

Why we love it: By recognizing the hold of the past over the present, Foo is able to examine her ability to reclaim agency from her trauma.

A self-help book that acts as a "how to" guide to owning your life and being the best you can be. World-traveling success coach Jen Sincero serves up hilarious stories, great advice, and personal exercises everyone can do to create a life you love.

Why we love it: Let's be honest. Sometimes, we all need a reminder to own our inner "awesome-ness."

If you're an introvert and haven't read this book yet, it will change your life. This game-changing book from author Susan Cain (whose TED Talk dispels some incorrect notions about introversion) points out how to harness the quiet powers that make you different from extroverts. One of our favorite takeaways: that in the workplace, it's not necessarily the loudest person in the room who is the most effective or smartest. Introverts tend to be more perceptive and see other points of view, which can lead to out-of-the-box thinking and innovation.

Why we love it: This book dispels the notion that being quiet isn't powerful. Cain helps introverts love who they are, including the traits that may have been previously seen as weaknesses.

Amazing Grace Adams is the funny, touching, unforgettable story of an invisible everywoman pushed to the brink―who finally pushes back.

Why we love it: Funny and heartbreaking at the same time, Fran Littlewood is able to bring all of the character's feelings to life.

Editor's Note: This title is available for pre-order now and will be released on September 5, 2023.

The Illustrated Woman is a tender and intelligent collection about what it means to live in a female body.

Why we love it: Helen Mort is able to capture the complexity that is being a woman with shorts that speak to everyone.

Life can be overwhelming, especially with news cycles and social media presenting dark times in an increasingly chaotic world. Katherine May helps us get back to basics with elements from the natural world.

Why we love it: Through May's inspiring prose, the reader is moved to reawaken the innate sense of wonder and awe from being grounded.

In this commencement-speech-turned-book, actor Lauren Graham imparts sage advice for anyone going through a transitional phase in their life.

Why we love it: Gilmore Girls star Graham reflects on growing up and pursuing your dreams in a funny, authentic, and relatable way.

This new memoir from Iliana Regan follows her life as a forager, spanning her ancestry in Eastern Europe, her childhood in rural Indiana, and her new life set in the remote forests of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Why we love it: A simple story about foraging turns out more than just mushrooms. Regan's story delves deep into family dynamics and her journey of growth.

This story follows the happenings of a charming bookseller who runs two tiny bookshops in the remote village of Manapouri in Fiordland, in the deep south of New Zealand.

Why we love it: This story can make you laugh and cry, all while artfully telling a tale of grief and redemption.

This sweeping novel from the author of A Long Petal of the Sea tells the epic story of Violeta Del Valle, a woman whose life spans one hundred years and bears witness to the greatest upheavals of the twentieth century.

Why we love it: This epic tale is both fiercely inspiring and deeply emotional.

Andrea Owen is a life coach and her self-improvement book won't be like any you've ever read before. It'll teach you to stop listening to your inner critic and empower yourself to live a more fulfilling life.

Why we love it: It's not your average life advice. Instead, it's like reading a book from a best friend who will tell you the honest truth on how to succeed — and not beat around the bush.

Authors Katty Kay and Claire Shipman assert that confidence is the primary reason men have more career success than women in this New York Times bestseller. This practical book by the authors of Womenomics is a guide to confidence women can use at any age or stage to achieve results at work.

Why we love it: It shares the stories of women who've used confidence to succeed to illustrate exactly how it's done.

Feminist icon Gloria Steinem shares her experiences on the road while fighting for women's rights in the '70s and '80s.

Why we love it: Reading a first-hand experience of a woman who has been at the forefront of the nation's most progressive, feminist moments is as inspiring as it gets.

You can't help but seek validation from others. It's not a trait you're proud of, but it rears its ugly head nonetheless. In this book, Brené Brown reminds us to not seek it, and instead accept our flaws and embrace who we are.

Why we love it: It helps us accept ourselves—insecurities and all. We also appreciate how Brown's interpretation of research gives us takeaways to act on in our daily lives.

Merging the scientific with emotional, this book — co-written with Oprah — clues us into how our behavior is shaped by our past. Through examining what happened to us previously, we can then better understand who we are today and how we react to certain situations today.

Why we love it: This book inspires us and allows us to revisit the past the way Oprah does throughout. In it, she shares her own stories and experiences, and analyzes her present and future as a way to heal what needs to be healed.

If you watch This Is Us (or even if you don't) this book from Chrissy Metz, who plays Kate on the show, is a must-read. She talks about the lessons she's learned and takes readers on her own personal journey to self-acceptance.

Why we love it: It's raw, honest, and will make you love this actress even more than you already did, all while getting some inspirational, life-bettering advice in the process.