I’ve collected some recommended books here that inspire me in all kinds of ways — career, business, money, life, and spirit. Everything I’ve listed is well-written, inspiring, and full of real-life depth. They’re also well suited to the sensibilities of introverts and highly sensitive people (HSPs), especially women.
I’ve put them into categories:
- Big Inspiration and Soulful Living
- Introvert Power and Inspiration
- Highly Sensitive People (HSPs)
- Authentic Business/ Self-employment/ Solopreneurs
- Career Clarity
- Work Mindset, Productivity, Creativity
- Leadership
- Speaking and Communication Ease
- Fear, Courage, Confidence
- Callings, Purpose, Inner Compass
- Mindfulness, Inner Peace, Self-compassion
- Feminism, Social Justice, Racial Justice
- Novels and Memoirs that Introverted Women Will Enjoy
Big Inspiration and Soulful Living
- A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage, and Wisdom in Any Moment, by Spring Washam
Real life stories and inspiration from a very wise soul who has faced a tough path and found a path that brings peace and courage, for herself and others. - Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World, by Jenn Granneman and Andre Sólo, 2023.
I love this book. It’s affirming of The Sensitive Way and high sensory gifts, and debunks the pervasive Toughness Myth. And shines a light on what’s possible for a better world. A good read for sensitives and anyone. - Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Liz Gilbert
A personal and inspiring look at facing fears and letting your creative juices flow, in a seemingly magical yet down-to-earth way. - God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time, by Desmond Tutu
Inspiration from Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu of South Africa, on how he stayed and stays positive through it all. He defines “God” in very broad, gender-free, and inclusive terms. - The Gift of Change, by Marianne Williamson
To help you embrace any change you’re facing. - Spontaneous Evolution: Our Positive Future and a Way to Get There From Here, by Bruce Lipton
Intriguing revelations from a scientist about how the body and mind work (different than most of us think), and how this awareness could help us turn toward something more honest, nature-aligned, and freeing. - Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl
A life-affirming classic, by a man who survived a concentration camp during WWII, and founded a new school of thought on finding meaning in life. There’s an interesting take on how the most sensitive seemed to survive best. - The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate, by Peter Wohlleben, 2016
I enjoyed this, and it helped me tap into deeper wisdom about the web of life. If you’re a big nature fan like me, you’ll enjoy this dive into the beauty and magic of it. - Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds, by adrienne maree brown, 2017.
Where to begin. Check this out when you’re ready for something deep and beyond the typical book.
Introvert Awareness, Power, and Inspiration
- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain
An entertaining story-driven, research-based look at introversion and what it means to us personally and what it means to our society. - Quiet Power: The Secrets Strengths of Introverted Kids, by Susan Cain
A simple look at the gifts of being an introvert, which can be a great confidence boost. (Useful for youth and adults.) - Quiet Influence, by Jennifer Kahnweiler
Want to have a say without having to be loud? This popular speaker/trainer outlines how to make it easier, in a short, easy-to-understand book. - The Introverted Leader, by Jennifer Kahnweiler
The assumption that leaders must be extroverted is debunked. Good insights for all leaders and organizations so we can benefit from the gifts that introverts bring. - Introvert Doodles
A playfully illustrated look at life as an introvert.
Highly Sensitive People (HSPs)
- Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World, by Jenn Granneman and Andre Sólo, 2023
- Dodging Energy Vampires: An Empath’s Guide to Avoiding Relationships that Drain You, and Restoring Your Health and Power, by Christiane Northrup
- Joyful, by Ingrid Fetell Lee (not about HSPs, but HSPs will have extra appreciation for this.)
Authentic Business/ Self-employment/ Solopreneurs
- Work That Matters: Create a Livelihood that Reflects Your Core Intention, by Maia Duerr (2018)
- Principles of Authentic Business (for solopreneurs or exploring it) by George Kao, 2019
- Marketing Like We’re Human, by Sarah Santacroce
- The Nature of Business: Redesign for Resilience, by Giles Hutchins
Applying the principles of biomimicry to the development of a new business paradigm. - People Before Profit: The Inspiring Story of the Founder of Bob’s Red Mill
About how and why he turned over the company to the workers and made them all happier and more successful. - Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One, by Jenny Blake
Especially relevant for those wondering about leaving a corporate job.
Career Clarity
- Designing Your Work Life: How To Thrive and Change and Find Happiness at Work (2020)
Concrete and wise career search and job search tips. - Work That Matters: Create a Livelihood that Reflects Your Core Intention, by Maia Duerr (2018)
- Becoming, by Michelle Obama
Her memoir is a great inside look at finding one’s purpose and career path. - Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World, by Jenn Granneman and Andre Sólo, 2023
Much of the book is dedicated to understanding the strengths of sensitive people and how to make good use of them. There’s even a good section (inside Chapter 8) on the art of crafting your current work into something that works better for you.
Work Mindset, Productivity, and Creativity
- Successful Women Think Differently, by Valorie Burton
- Quiet Is a Superpower: The Secret Strengths of Introverts in the Workplace, by Jill Chang.
- Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life, Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein, 2020
- Deep Work, by Cal Newport, 2016
- Originals, by Adam Grant, 2016
- Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown
- The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success that Feeds, not Crushes, Your Soul, by Brad Stulberg
- Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, by Oliver Burkeman
On why “keeping up” is hopeless, and what to do instead.
Money Issues
- The Law of Divine Compensation, by Marianne Williamson
- It’s Not Your Money, by Tosha Silver
I find this freeing and hopeful. It’s about unhooking yourself from money as something to get, but something that moves through you for the greater good. - Overcome Underearning, by Barbara Stanny
- Sacred Success: A Course in Financial Miracles, by Barbara Stanny
- Everything Is Figureoutable, by Marie Forleo
Good for all kinds of fears and maybe especially about career and business worries.
Leadership
- Co-Active Leadership: 5 Ways to Lead
– A short fun read painting a doable collaborative style of leadership. - Dare to Lead: Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts, by Brene Brown
– How to build the courage muscles needed for real leadership, from the heart, from a leading researcher and consultant on courage and vulnerability. - The Introverted Leader, by Jennifer Kahnweiler
– The assumption that leaders must be extroverted is debunked. Good insights for all leaders and organizations so we can benefit from the gifts that introverts bring. A short easy read that will boost your confidence. - Creating Introvert-Friendly Workplaces, by Jennifer Kahnweiler
- The Anti-Racist Organization, by Shereen Daniels, HR strategist.
- Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World, by Jenn Granneman and Andre Sólo, 2023
– The description of sensitive strengths is powerful, and the last chapter on using those for leadership is quite good.
Speaking and Communication Ease
- Speak without Fear: A Total System for Becoming a Natural, Calm Communicator
- Non-violent Communication, by Marshall Rosenberg
- Speaking Peace (audio), by Marshall Rosenberg
- How to Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere: The Secrets of Good Communication, by Larry King
- Successful Women Speak Differently, by Valorie Burton
Fear, Courage, Confidence
And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems, by Maya Angelou- Dare to Lead, by Brene Brown
- Positive Intelligence, by Shirzad Chamine
- Embracing Uncertainty, by Susan Jeffers
- Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, by Susan Jeffers
- The Secrets Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It, by Valerie Young
- Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Liz Gilbert
- Everything Is Figureoutable, by Marie Forleo
Callings, Purpose, Inner Compass
- Follow Your North Star, by Martha Beck
– a short audio similar to her books. I enjoyed hearing her very genuine voice. - Callings, by Gregg Levoy
– a deep look at what are callings, how to hear them, and what to do with them. - Trust Within, by Molly Carroll
- The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
An inspiring fable about how to hear your heart’s callings and live into your true path. - The Path Made Clear, by Oprah Winfrey
Inspiring snippets about finding your purpose.
Mindfulness, Inner Peace, Self-compassion
- True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart, by Tara Brach
- Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm and Confidence, by Rick Hanson
- The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook: A Proven Way to Accept Yourself, Build Inner Strength and Thrive, by Kristin Neff (2018)
Women, Feminism, Social Justice, Racial Justice
- A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage, and Wisdom in Any Moment, by Spring Washam
- Getting in Touch with Your Inner Bitch
Playful yet insightful comics for when you’re tired of apologizing for taking up space. This saved me from toxic niceness. - Men Explain Things to Me, by Rebecca Solnit, 2016
- Ain’t I a Woman?: Black Women and Feminism, by Bell Hooks
- So You Want to Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Oluo
- Mindful of Race, by Ruth King
- Healing Rage: Women Making Inner Peace Possible, by Ruth King
- How To Be an AntiRacist, by Ibram X Kendi (Dr. Kendi is a dedicated researcher and writer, who is an introvert, which seems to be part of his superpower.)
- Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson, 2020.
- The Anti-Racist Organization, by Shereen Daniels, HR strategist, 2022.
- How the Word Is Passed, by Clint Smith, 2021. (One of my favorite books ever. Such a beautiful thought-provoking read.)
Novels that Sensitive Women Can Love
The Alchemist, by Paolo Coelho
A bestselling story that deftly captures life lessons about following your heart.- The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Fantastic writing. Deep and intense coming-of-age story about a young woman who grew up in foster care who expresses herself in the language of flowers. - The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Spectacular writing and spectacular story about a quiet Black woman who finds her voice in tough times in the South. - Caucasia, by Danzy Senna
Beautiful writing. Coming-of-age story about invisibility, race, and family. Written from the perspective of a biracial girl who is forced to pass as white. - Joan Is Okay, by Weike Wang, 2022
A happily solitary woman in NYC, hard-working ICU doctor, and daughter of Chinese immigrants facing others’ opinions about her that make her question herself. “Deceptively spare yet quietly powerful, laced with sharp humor, Joan Is Okay touches on matters that feel deeply resonant…” ~Goodreads. - Calling Invisible Women, by Jeanne Ray
A light yet worthy story that captures the invisibility feeling that many women experience at middle age. - The Dictionary of Lost Words, by Pip Williams, 2021
Historical novel set during the height of the women’s suffrage movement in England. A timid young woman helping with the dictionary comes into her own awakenings. - The Flatshare, by Beth O’Leary
A rom-com novel with surprising depth. Main characters include an introverted man and an extroverted woman with PTSD. - The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse, 2019
A beautiful picture book for children with gentle depth, and great for sensitive adults too. Now an Oscar-winning film too.
Want more good books?
If you’re a book lover like me, especially of inspiring books for women, you’ll find more goodies at A Mighty Girl’s Books of the Year (something for all ages).
