9 Inspiring Books to Read by Influential Women

1. A Repurposed Life by Ronni Kahn

Life throws us mysterious ingredients. If we are brave enough to put the recipe aside and experiment, it's right there that things get interesting.

A Repurposed Life is the story of Ronni, renown founder of food rescue non-profit OzHarvest, discovering her voice and how she found her deepest calling. Ronni's inspiring story starts in South Africa during the brutal apartheid era, and follows her journey to Australia where she began to work towards her dream and found a new and passionate way of living. A Repurposed Life is a truly heartfelt exploration how one woman found her purpose, sharing it with humour and warmth that will make you smile.

2. Reckoning by Magda Szubanski

Equal parts heartbreaking, joyous and intimate, Magda opens up and shares her story.

In this extraordinary memoir, Magda describes her journey of self-discovery from childhood to adulthood and her need to find out the truth about herself and her family. With courage and compassion she tackles her own frailties, fears, and questions about life and the shadows we inherit. If you love Magda as much as we do, pour yourself a cuppa and get lost in her amazing story.

3. Phosphorescence by Julia Baird

A beautiful, intimate and inspiring book to help us find that essential quality of internal happiness.

So many of us strive to find happiness outside of ourselves, leading to disappointment and a feeling of being out of control. Julia Baird's beautiful, inspiring, and deeply moving book is precisely the book we need right now to help us banish the darkness and find our own living happiness in everyday life. An absolute must-read for these uncertain times.

4. The Weekend by Charlotte Wood

A jewel of a book - sharp and hilarious, it's a true celebration of friendship.

What happens when we grow up and we're forced to confront the lies we tell ourselves? The Weekend tackles this heavy theme in an hilarious ride into adulthood and beyond, celebrating friendship and tenderness in a story that is nothing short of a masterpiece. The perfect book to lose yourself in this weekend, from one of Australia's most thought-provoking authors.

5. This One Wild and Precious Life by Sarah Wilson

Wake up and reclaim your one wild and precious life.

Many of us feel spiritually disconnected as a result of the turbulent world around us. However according to New York Times best-selling author Sarah Wilson, this sense of sadness and disconnection is actually what unites us - that deep inside, we are all searching for a new way of living, and we all ultimately want the same thing.

A truly inspirational book, This One Wild and Precious Life will open your eyes to how we got here, and offers a radically hopeful path forward to living the life you deserve.

6. Daring to Fly by Lisa Millar

The TV star on facing fear and finding joy on a deadline.

Lisa Millar has spent her whole life showing up, getting things done and making things happen. As a child she dreamed of a big life - and she made it happen as a foreign correspondent. However 'making it' for Lisa also came with confronting the worst of humanity. Three decades of witnessing tragedies had a huge cost on her life. In this inspirational book, Lisa shows us that we are all stronger and more resilient than we give ourselves credit for - and how you can face your fears and flourish.

7. You’re Doing it Wrong by Kaz Cooke

An outrageously funny tour of centuries of bad advice given to women.

Bad advice for women over the centuries has known no bounds, from sex & romance, paid work, fashion & beauty, health advice, housework, and a motherlode of mad parenting instructions. You’re Doing It Wrong examines what women are supposed to do (change shape, be quiet, own the housework), and what we’re not supposed to do (frown, have pockets, lead a country) with the humour and wit of Kaz Cooke that will stir the feminist in us all.

8. After Story by Larissa Behrendt

Ambitious and engrossing, After Story celebrates the extraordinary power of words... but are we ready to hear?

When Indigenous lawyer Jasmine decides to take her mother Della on a tour of England's most revered literary sites, Jasmine hopes it will bring them closer together and help them reconcile the past.

As Jasmine immerses herself in the world of her literary idols, Della is inspired to rediscover the wisdom of her own culture and storytelling. But sometimes the stories that are not told can become too great to bear. A thought-provoking novel that will have you asking yourself questions you might never have have known to ask.

9. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

Daring Greatly is not about winning or losing. Its about courage.

If you aren't familiar with Brene Brown, this inspirational book is the perfect introduction to the best-selling author, American research professor, lecturer and podcast queen.

In Daring Greatly, Brene fearlessly steps back to examine our lives, where we find that nothing is as uncomfortable, dangerous, and hurtful as wondering what it would be like if we had the courage to put ourselves out there; whether it's a new relationship, career, delving into creative process, or experiencing a difficult conversation - if we don't have the courage to dare ourselves, living with the regret is often so much worse than if we'd tried and failed. Daring Greatly will inspire you to practise a powerful new way towards great things.