As time has passed, the massive world of online content has seen a drop in the number of people reading actual books. Yes, we’ve got it all at our fingertips, but there is something to be said about committing to a good read. We’ve rounded up a gang of our favourite inspiring women to share their best reads and why…
Our queen bee, Beyoncé:
In an interview with Glamour, Beyoncé shares: “I would love for my younger fans to read What Will It Take to Make a Woman President? by Marianne Schnall. It’s a collection of interviews and essays by great women, including Maya Angelou, Gloria Steinem, and Melissa Etheridge. They will inspire you to become a better leader.”
South African radio presenter and Expresso Show host: Zoe Brown
Speaking to Woman&Home Zoe shares: “A favourite read that I recently completed was Shoedog by Phil Knight, CEO and Founder of Nike. As a young entrepreneur with my own fitness brand, it was amazing to read about Phil’s journey and how Nike became what it is today. I took inspiration from Phil’s passion and style of leadership. He had a vision and his team shared the vision with him!
“Another life-changing book that I have read is Untamed by Glennon Doyle. My hard copy is full of sticky notes, pen scribbles and highlighted lines. I would highly encourage every woman to read it. If you tend to be a “people pleaser” like me, you will find this book helpful to start looking into yourself, find your inner-knowing, and to trust yourself. A beautiful book that should be re-read a couple of times!”
Physiotherapist to the national Springboks team: Rene Naylor
Rene shares that: “Reading Finding Me by actress and producer Viola Davis has been really inspiring. The book talks to me in so many ways. Viola speaks about all of the trauma and adversity she has had to face as a young black woman in order to obtain success. She speaks about how the adversities of being a woman of colour make you feel invisible. Your attitude, anger and competitiveness become your only weapons. Despite the challenges, Viola made a great success of her life and will continue to inspire women with her story.”
Actress, author and Founder of Goop: Gwyneth Paltrow
In an interview with Oprah, Gwyneth says: Goodnight Moon By Margaret Wise Brown! My mom, who has this very rich voice, would read this book to me when I was really little. I would lie there in bed, and she’d say, ‘Goodnight moon,’ and do the whole thing. So I associate this book with safety and love. My parents got me the French translation for Christmas a few years ago. I’ve always been a bit of a Francophile (obsessed with French culture) and I keep it by my bed. I just love the idea of blessing everything that’s near and dear to you before you go to sleep with a simple ‘Goodnight.’”
South African radio presenter: Elana Afrika
Elana says: “There’s one book in particular that I always go back to. What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid by Michal Oshman. Michal challenges you to explore what matters most in life and offers sustainable long-term solutions to your everyday hurdles. It’s one of the books that has inspired me the most and I would definitely recommend giving it a read if you’re low on inspiration.”
Article by: Savanna Douglas
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