Are you tired of business books by old men? Here’s my list of the best books for (female) entrepreneurs who want to build a successful business while making a positive impact on the world.
If women were the storytellers…
Books by Women are not just “Women’s Literature”
One of my favourite chapters is about “reading lists”. In this section, Elizabeth shares that the majority of books considered to be “the greatest of all time” are written by men about men.

Women reclaiming power – but for what purpose?
As Elizabeth says “Doing power differently is about fuelling leadership with the energy of love. Women can do this; men can do this; everyone can do it. And what is the point of women claiming power if we don’t show the way?”
The Best Books for Female Entrepreneurs & Business Owners
1. Best Business Book for (Female) Entrepreneurs
Read: ‘The Art of Gathering’by Priya Parker‘
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
Favourite Quote:
“An essential step along the path of gathering better is making peace with the necessity and virtue of using your power. If you are going to gather, gather. If you are going to host, host. And if you are going to create a kingdom for an hour a day, rule it — and rule it with generosity.”
2. Best Leadership Book for (Female) Entrepreneurs
‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ is a worldwide bestseller considered a self-help classic. And to this day, it’s still touted as a top leadership book. First published in 1989, it does feel quite aged and definitely gives me a ‘pyramid scheme meets cult’ vibe.
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
Favourite Quote:
“I define a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential.”
3. Best Book about Story Telling for (Female) Business Owners
Cassandra Speaks by Elizabeth Lesser
Favourite Quotes:
“So much of the sorry state of our world hangs on the excess of the so-called masculine virtues in our guiding storylines.”
“If all we do is immerse ourselves in the stories of bad people doing bad things to each other and the planet, we will sink under the weight of a lopsided story.”
4. Best Productivity Book for (Female) Entrepreneurs
Burnout by Emily & Amilia Nagoski
Favourite Quotes:
“You are not here to be “productive.” You are here to be you, to engage with your Something Larger, to move through the world with confidence and joy.”
“Human Giver Syndrome – the contagious belief that you have a moral obligation to give every drop of your humanity in support of others, no matter the cost to you – thrives in the patriarchy, the way mold thrives in damp basements.”
5. Best Book about Influence/ Communication For Business Owners
You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy
Favourite Quote:
“The most valuable lesson I’ve learned as a journalist is that everybody is interesting if you ask the right questions. If someone is dull or uninteresting, it’s on you.”
6. Best Book about Confidence/Success Mindset for Entrepreneurs
Playing Big by Tara Mohr
Favourite Quote:
“Playing big doesn’t come from working more, pushing harder, or finding confidence. It comes from listening to the most powerful and secure part of you, not the voice of self-doubt.”
7. Best Money Mindset Book for (Female) Entrepreneurs
by Bari Tessler
‘Think and Grow Rich’ is another classic from the 1930s and the OG “believe it and you will get it” type of money mindset book.
However, there are myriad problems with the “law of attraction” (first, it’s not a law…) and I would guess the only one who got rich from this book was the author himself.
The Art of Money by Bari Tessler
Favourite Quote:
“Enough” isn’t out there; it’s a relationship to what you already have. Unless you work on that first (or simultaneously with how you’re making money), you will never feel like you have enough, and you will always feel poor. The thing that changes is your relationship with “enough.”
8. Best Book about Minimalism/Boundaries for (Female) Entrepreneurs & Business Owners
Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu
Favourite Quote:
“Women need to support one another by being honest about the compromises we make and by speaking openly about the help we require from our partners and other support systems.”
9. Best Book about Starting a Business/Economy
Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth
Favourite Quotes:
“Today we have economies that need to grow, whether or not they make us thrive. What we need are economies that make us thrive, whether or not they grow.”“Inequality is not an economic necessity: it is a design failure.”“The Doughnut’s inner ring—its social foundation—sets out the basics of life on which no one should be left falling short.”
Conclusion
I hope you added a few books to your “to-read” pile 📚 and I hope they inspire you to actively seek out more books by female authors!
You can find all the books here on our Bookshop.org shelf.
