As Warren Buffet says, “the best investment you can make is an investment in yourself… The more you learn, the more you’ll earn.” But you don’t need a lecture from me, do you? You’re here to find the best books for female entrepreneurs because you want to better yourself. You’re an ambitious lady and you want to soak up as much valuable knowledge as possible. So, let’s just jump into it!

My Favorite Personal Development Books for Women

I personally love purchasing the Kindle or Audible versions of books because they’re easier to travel with and are often cheaper, but you do you, boo! Under each book, you’ll find a description of what I got out of it / why I loved it!

I also linked each book to make it easy for you to purchase. I want to be upfront that I am an Amazon Associate, which means any purchases from these links may result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost to you). That said, I only share items I truly love and think you’ll enjoy too!

1. Own Your Everyday by Jordan Lee Dooley

This was a super quick and easy read that I completed on a flight to and from Nashville! Jordan has a way of sharing important lessons in a story-telling format, which I personally LOVE!

Own Your Everyday was a great reminder that our purpose doesn’t always have to be attached to what we do. She breaks down how to find what we were made to do in a fun, approachable way and reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect to be impactful.

2. You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero

I read You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness & Start Living an Awesome Life YEARS ago when I was going through a quarter-life crisis of sorts. It gave me the exact push I needed at the time, so when I stumbled upon You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth a couple months ago, I was ecstatic.

Jen Sincero’s writing style is a little smart-assy and sarcastic – something I can relate to! Reading her books feels like talking to a friend. She doesn’t sugar coat anything yet carries a supportive tone, which I so appreciate!

You Are a Badass is great if you’re need a little helping the self-confidence department. She walks you though why you’re struggling to believe in yourself, how to change it, and ultimately, “how to kick some ass.”

You Are a Badass at Making Money is perfect for women who know they have a lot to offer the world, but don’t seem to have the finances to match. It was super helpful in opening my eyes to beliefs I had about money and changing them for the positive. While she talks about manifesting and abundance, she doesn’t do it in a woo-woo, praise the moon kind of way!

If you want fun books full of some tough love, look no further. On the other hand, if you want some quick, digestible money tips for entrepreneurs, head to this post co-written by my Certified Financial Planner friend.

3. Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines

Matt and I actually received this in the Audible version from a friend and listened to it together. Because it’s narrated by the familiar voice of Chip himself, I would go this route if I had to choose all over again.

We’re both entrepreneurs and I think the biggest lessons we learned from Capital Gaines were:

• You don’t have to have it all figured out to start.
• You don’t have to be good at everything; you just have to find people who are and give them room to become their best.

If you are at a point in your business where you are considering hiring people soon, there are some good management nuggets in here.

4. Start with Why by Simon Sinek

This is the PERFECT book for anyone who is finding themselves a little lost in their business. The entire book is full of case-studies of big companies who either nailed or failed at their why. My only complaint about this book is that it drags on a bit. I’m not a fan of repetition and I felt like he covered the same points multiple times.

That being said, Simon explains the importance of knowing your why, conveying your why, and staying true to your why (while giving real examples). If you need clarity or find yourself making inconsistent decisions about your business because you’re trying to be like someone else, read Start with Why now!

5. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

If you haven’t heard of Brene Brown, her TedTalk or her Netflix special, you’ve been living under a rock. The queen of shame herself wrote this amazing book about the importance and power of vulnerability.

Because vulnerability and courage play a huge role in creativity and leadership, I think this Daring Greatly is a must-read for any creative entrepreneur. Learn how to overcome shame and truly connect with others in this slam dunk of a book.

6. Make it Happen by Lara Casey

Lara Casey was the creator of Southern Weddings before starting Cultivate What Matters – a company that focuses on products that help women reprioritize to create the lives of their dreams.

In Make it Happen, Lara shares some of her own personal struggles to live a life of intention while also trying to achieve her business goals. The pages are full of gardening analogies and God references, so you’ll love this if you’re a Christian or green thumb!

While I don’t know that I’d call this a business book, it’s invaluable for busy entrepreneurs. After all, we won’t look back on our life and wish we had worked more.

7. The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware

Which is why this book also made the list. I received this one in the mail from a friend one day and didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. It’s honestly one of my most favorite books of all time.

Bronnie shares stories from her troubled past and her journey as an end-of-life caregiver. After years of working with dying patients, she found five common regrets they shared.

This book was so eye-opening to me and really made me take inventory of how I was spending my time. With my recent, unexpected surgery, I can look back at this book with even more admiration. The messages within the chapters are lessons I think everyone could benefit from sooner rather than later.

8. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k by Mark Manson

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k has a much different tone than any of the other books on this list. It’s abrasive, matter-of-fact, and a little bit of a slap to the face. Maybe it was growing up with three sarcastic brothers, but it was really easy for me to read and relate to.

There were moments in the book where I initially disagreed and then found myself wanting to punch the author because I knew he was right. He shares struggles from his own path much like the other authors, but puts a big emphasis on the fact that nothing will ever be perfect and the sooner we accept that the better off we’ll be.

In his mind, not giving a f**k applies to the things we can’t change. It means accepting what is and moving forward in a courageous, honest manner. Honestly, this book, as un-cushy as it is, can be extremely freeing if you let it.

9. The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein

Mark Manson is to abrasive as Gabrielle Bernstein is to woo-woo! Not in a bad way. She is all about the universe, energy, and manifesting, but the thing I love about how she writes it is that as a Christian, I don’t feel alienated.

In fact, throughout the entire book, you can pretty easily replace the word “Universe” with “God, ” which she does herself occasionally. This book is all about vibes, your role in your reality, the importance of certainty and having fun, and learning how to pay attention to signs around you!

She writes in a storytelling manner as well, which makes her books easy and fun to read!

10. Overcome Your Mental Blocks & Own Your Sh*t by Cassie Schmidt

Okay, humble brag here a little bit. Overcome Your Mental Blocks & Own Your Sh*t isn’t quite as much a book as the others, but I am still proud of it. It contains over 70 journal prompts covering the following topics:

• Overcoming Fear
• Overcoming Indecision
• Overcoming Self-Doubt
• Overcoming Comparison
• Power of Gratitude
• Money Mindset
• Your Future Life & Business Vision
• Aligned Actions
• Staying Disciplined

And at the end, I provide my daily journal process for when you’re feeling stuck and need a mental reboot! If you’re looking to overcome any of the following issues or get into journaling, but you don’t know where to start, this is a great way to do so!

My 2020 Reading List

This is a list of some of the best books for female entrepreneurs that I’m going to start with in 2020…

• Why She Buys by Bridget Brennan
• Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
• Super Attractor by Gabrielle Bernstein
• Get Rich, Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield-Thomas
• Maybe It’s You by Lauren Handel Zander

Have you read any of these? Which ones? And if you have any recommendations for me, let me know in the comments or over on Instagram! I need about 7-10 more to fill up my docket!