Put together by The Story Exchange for women everywhere.
For your summer reading, dive into these 7 inspirational books by and for women to help you succeed as an entrepreneur.
By Kristen Wong
for the Story Exchange
Sunblock? Check. Swimsuit? Check. Highly informative yet entertaining book about building your next business? Better take that with you, too. From can-do self-help mantras to tips of the capitalist trade, these diverse female authors offer valuable insights into the entrepreneurial world. Tan on the beach with Michelle Obama’s memoir in your hands, or lounge in an air-conditioned hotel room learning from Caroline Criado-Perez about how the world was designed for men. No matter how insufferable or how unforgettable your summer is, while you’re getting your Vitamin D pick up an ultra-boost of morale and a dose of good ol’ learning from these inspiring leading ladies.
1. Alpha Girls by Julian Guthrie
Guthrie’s fourth non-fiction book profiles a rare, if not endangered, breed: women who’ve made it as venture capitalists in Silicon Valley. Described on Guthrie’s website as “Hidden Figures meets The Social Network,” Guthrie weaves together a mesmerizing narrative of four female pioneers who planted their stake in a male-dominated cutthroat world — and succeeded. The women are Theresia Guow, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, who co-founded Aspect Ventures and now has a net worth of $500 million; Magdalena Yesil, a Turkish immigrant who became the first investor and board member of Salesforce; MJ Elmore, who backed and helped build the early computer and networking companies; and Sonja Perkins, who funded a number of big name communications companies. The book is currently being made into a television series.
2. Becoming by Michelle Obama
As intimate as it is inspiring, this former First Lady’s powerful memoir will shock you with its honesty. Divided into three sections, Obama intertwines the personal and the political to tell a story about a woman, her husband, and the family they raised. Oh, and the country they presided over for eight years. Released in November of last year, her memoir sold 725,000 copies the first day and became the top-selling book of the year in just 15 days. It’s Obama’s second book after American Grown, a book that promotes healthy living, and so far it’s possibly eclipsed even her husband’s public persona. It’s rumored that Barack Obama will publish his own memoir later this year, but he’s got some major shoes to fill.
[Related: Learn about Michelle Obama’s impressive record of accomplishment]