4 of my Favorite Female Authors
And their books that changed my life!
While I do enjoy reading books from any gender; sometimes I want a perspective from someone like myself to relate to, while other times I desire a perspective from someone different than myself to expand my perspectives.
For this particular post, I share my favorite 4 female authors whose books changed my life.
The typical books I read on hardcover (if that’s an option) or listen to on Audible are educational and/or some type of self improvement. These particular female authors focus largely on self improvement. I’m not just talking mental health, although that’s a major subject as well. These ladies touch upon general self-improvement, spiritual, abundance mindset, financial and creative expansion to name a few. I could re-read the authors and books mentioned in this post over and over again and probably continue to learn something new each time.
Gabrielle Bernstein
This first favorite female author is where my healing journey first began. During the darkest times of my mental health in my early twenties, a dear friend witnessed my struggles and gifted me a hardcover of May Cause Miracles: A 40-day Guidebook of Subtle Shifts for Radical Change and Unlimited Happiness by Gabrielle Bernstien. She calls herself Gabby for short. My life has forever changed for the better since this book. “May Cause Miracles” did exactly as the title and subtitle imply. This book broke me in the best way possible. Prior to May Cause Miracles, I had never experienced a book that had me on the ground in tears releasing years of emotional turmoil. My first dark night of the soul was guided to light because of this book. It’s from this book that I would seek out to lay the foundation for my spiritual path and inner peace.
I will provide a more detailed review of this particular book in another blog post. I have read almost all of Gabby’s books since then and have even joined her digital coaching app.
I am currently working through her latest book “Self Help” which is based on a therapy modality called ‘Internal Family Systems’ or IFS. I can’t wait to share my journal entries for this here on Substack!
Here are some of my favorite books by Gabby:
May Cause Miracles: A 40-day Guidebook of Subtle Shifts for Radical Change and Unlimited Happiness
Judgement Detox: Release the Beliefs that Hold You Back From Living a Better Life
Super Attractor: Methods for Manifesting a Life Beyond Your Wildest Dreams
The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith
Self Help: This is Your Chance to Change Your Life
Marianne Williamson
Gabrielle Bernstein mentioned
in one of her books. I hadn’t realized I already heard Marianne Williamson’s work before — and you probably have too.You may recognize the following quote:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
- Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the principles of “A Course In Miracles”
This famous quote was reiterated in a speech given at my high school graduation. Of course I hadn’t bothered to look further into the quote or its origins at the time. The lightbulb in my head went on when I read it Gabby’s book and made the connection. I was convinced I had to read Marianne’s books also.
So far, I have read two of her books, although she has many. I have some of her other books on my shelf waiting for my time and attention. I do enjoy reading her Substack and listening to her talks on other social media platforms.
Nevertheless, Marianne Williamson is another one of my all-time favorite female authors.
Check out my favorite two books from Marianne below:
A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course In Miracles”
The Law of Divine Compensation: On Work, Money and Miracles
“A Return to Love” taught me a lot about relationships with both myself and with others. She provides real life examples on how to see through the lens of love in probable situations.
This book is what inspired me to take the leap of reading “A Course In Miracles” and now I am both a student and teacher of the course.
“The Law of Divine Compensation” taught me about an abundance mindset. This helped me with navigate my career path.
I still have these two books and would most definitely read them again. I only keep books that I would want to read again.
Elizabeth Gilbert
is another one of my favorite female authors. Although, I’ve only read two of her books as well, both of those books had a profound affect on my life. Somehow, each of her books made their way to me at the exact time that I needed them.These are the two books:
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
By the time I read the Eat, Pray, Love book, it was already a movie. I still have not watched the movie, but I’m not much a movie person to begin with. I was in my early twenties at the time. I was going through a rough patch with my long-term boyfriend then, whom I would break up with shortly after. I read “Eat, Pray, Love” before I took my deep dive into self-improvement books. “Eat, Pray, Love” taught me about other possibilities. It opened my eyes to different spiritual paths. It also gave me hope that there would be light at the end of the tunnel after a break up.
I came across “Big Magic” at a time when I felt being a corporate employee was no longer serving me. I wanted to forge a different career path. One that would align with what brings me joy. Big Magic thoroughly illustrated exactly what creativity is and how the spirit of inspiration operates. This is the book that planted the creative seed in my soul.
She has a couple more recent books that I can’t wait to dive into!
Rachel Rodgers
Boss babe: that’s the term that comes to mind when I think of
. I came across her book a few years ago and she became an instant favorite female author for me.Her book “We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power” is a game changer for women and especially for women of color. I could and probably will give a full book review of this one at a later time. I actually came across this title on Audible. I can’t wait to read the physical version, but it was definitely helpful to listen to the book in Rachel’s own voice.
This is the success book every woman, woman of color and MOM needs to have if they are trying to build their own financial wealth. Just trust me on this one. All the other success books I have read are difficult to apply to my everyday mom life. It’s just not realistic to my specific lifestyle and obligations. I felt like I finally found a successful woman who gets me.
From Rachel’s book, I started to listen to her podcast. She interviews some amazing like-minded entrepreneurs. Rachel has released a few Audible exclusive audiobooks and they do not disappoint!
And there you have it!
Gabrielle Bernstein, Marianne Williamson, Elizabeth Gilbert and Rachel Rodgers are 4 of my favorite female authors whose books changed my life in one way or another. I can’t wait to share more with you all.
If you can’t wait either, check out the list below of my favorite life changing books that you can get for yourself right away! CLICK HERE