11 Empowering Books by Women to Get You Pumped for the Women's March

“Race has been a constant arbiter of difference, as have wealth, class, and gender—each of which is about power and the necessity of control.”

Morrison expertly dissects the nuanced conversations around race and why they matter.

“Daring to think that the rules do not apply is the mark of a visionary. It’s also a symptom of narcissism.”

Ariel Levy charts the highest and lowest points of her life as a journalist striving for independent success and imparts the wisdom she’s learned along the way.

“I don’t know if I am happy, but I can see and feel that happiness is well within my reach.”

Gay gets candid about her struggles with body image, confidence, food, weight, and love.

“Because you are a girl’ is never a reason for anything. Ever.”

The author who brought us We Should All Be Feminists is back to offer to the world advice on how to raise a feminist, addressed to one of her close friends. 

“Since I had only learned how to follow rules or social codes that were somehow more important than I was, I didn’t know what to do in a situation where no rules obtained and that required me to speak up on my own behalf.”

In this collection of essays, Gaitskill offers a nuanced and exceptionally thoughtful commentary on traditional feminist issues, from rule breaking to rape, politics, and pop culture.

"I’m hoping you’ll come to the conclusion I did—that being afraid to do something isn’t good enough reason to let yourself duck out of doing it.”

Alkon’s unconventional self-help book motivates with up-beat humor and data-driven advice. 

“So if I may be so bold, I straight up want this book to change your life. I personally was sick of being a mess and I’m also sick of your being a mess, so let’s get our shit together. Together.” 

2 Broke Girls co-creator Whitney Cummings gives us the low down on life as a female comedian—the good, the bad, and the funny.

“A free person tells her own story. A valued person lives in a society in which her story has a place.”

In this series of essays, Solnit explores how the patriarchy actually works and addresses various forms of silence.

“I heard the HR consultant’s words, ‘You will never succeed,’ and the team member’s words, ‘You are now the problem,’ and I realized they were right. But now I found it empowering: If they’d thought I was a problem before, I decided, they were going to see what a real problem they had created.”

The woman who shook up Silicon Valley igniting the conversation about discrimination against women, people of color, and others in the workplace has chronicled her experience from start to finish.

“This is my body. It’s going to be with me forever. For all the ways it’s failed me, it’s come through for me a million times more.”

Sidibe gives an honest take on what she’s learned from life's ups and downs.