6 Books About Ambitious Women
Getting your dose of ambitious women on television with The Morning Show, The Dropout (about Theranos’ Elizabeth Holmes), The Girls on the Bus, and Scandal but want to stock your nightstand with books about equally ambitious and intrepid women? These six books are a great start!
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Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win, by Jo Piazza
Timely and insightful, this book was a page turner for me as I rooted for Charlotte Walsh during her run for senate. Piazza throws all the challenges and obstacles at Charlotte who perseveres as the reader cheers her on. Plus the behind-the-scenes look into the world of politics was fascinating.
The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon
Inspired by actual midwife Martha Ballard who worked in late 18th century Maine, Lawhon weaves a story that is atmospheric, rich, and impossible to put down. I was equally intrigued by Lawhon’s accounts of Martha’s midwifery experiences as I was with the mystery that unfolds into a heart-stopping climax. Ballard is one of the original ambitious women in American history whose legacy lives on today.
The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, by Allison Pataki
Gorgeously written and meticulously researched, this historical novel recounts the extraordinary life of a strong woman who blazed trails in politics, business, philanthropy, and history itself. I constantly found myself astounded by each and every aspect of Marjorie Post’s life as it ran parallel to so many fascinating chapters in our country’s history.
She Said, by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
This is the true account of Kantor and Twohey’s groundbreaking investigation into Harvey Weinstein for the New York Times. And it’s one of the most fascinating and gripping works of nonfiction I’ve ever read due to the precise writing, rigorous research, and the human element that these two brave and consummately skilled journalists brought to their reporting. I so admire the work Kantor and Twohey did to bring Weinstein down and to change history in the realm of sexual violence against women.
State of Wonder, by Ann Patchett
This novel about scientist Dr. Marina Singh who must travel to the Amazon for her career has a firm position in my list of all-time favorite books. Perfectly crafted and evocative, Patchett has drawn an authentic and captivating character in Singh.This book will transport you to another world and enchant you with a story you won’t soon forget.
Anna Bright Is Hiding Something, by Susie Orman Schnall
Cinematic and page-turning, Anna Bright Is Hiding Something is a propulsive and ripped-from-the-headlines story that explores the fascinating world of female founders through the exploits of an earnest and bold journalist who exposes the fraud of an enigmatic founder on the eve of her company’s IPO. Set in the glossy worlds of Silicon Valley start-ups and New York City digital media, the novel is a love letter to hard-working businesswomen and a universal story about ambition, women in the workplace, and the true meaning of success.