Women, it's time to read your way to career success. At Where Women Work, we've compiled a list of five most sought-after books that provide salient and thought-provoking knowledge. In many ways, each of these brilliant books can help propel your thinking and hopefully support your career advancement.

The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates

A debut from Forbes' third most powerful woman in the world, this book is a timely and much-needed call to action for women's empowerment. And it comes from a woman who knows her stuff - Melinda has been working with women around the world for many years. Her journey as a feminist and a women's advocate, as charted in The Moment of Lift, celebrates the women who have inspired her and driven this urgent call for a fair and equal society.

Within the pages of this compelling book, Melinda interweaves her own personal narrative with hard-hitting data about current issues affecting women, from child marriage to lack of access to contraceptives to gender inequity in the workplace.

And through it all is the important message: When we lift others up, they lift us up, too.

Dare to Lead by Brené Brown 

Brené Brown is a New York Times bestselling author and a household name for career-minded women. Dare to Lead was born out of Brené's seven year study on brave leadership conducted with fellow leaders, change makers, and culture shifters. Leadership is not about titles or the corner office. It’s about the willingness to step up, put yourself out there, and lean into courage.

Named one of the best books of the year by Bloomberg, Dare to Lead is a skills-based and actionable playbook for women who want to be more daring in leadership. In her book, Brené emphasizes the need for a humanistic approach to leadership - for vulnerability, empathy, connection, and courage that, for all the new technological developments, only people can achieve.

As Brené says, the world is desperate more than ever for brave leaders: will you be one of them?

I’d Rather Be in Charge by Charlotte Beers 

In the highly competitive and often cutthroat world of advertising, Charlotte became the first female ever to head two giant, multinational advertising agencies. In I'd Rather Be in Charge, Charlotte guides women who face their own challenges in achieving positions of leadership and influence.

This intimate and honest read tracks Charlotte's own journey to success, alongside valuable advice for women wanting to follow in her footsteps. And, with this honesty, comes Charlotte's admittance that even a successful leader like herself can make mistakes. But mistakes are no bad thing. They are the only way to find your own leadership style and make a personal and long-lasting mark in an ever-evolving workplace.

So, if you'd rather be in charge, it's time to take a masterclass from a woman who has already shattered her own glass ceiling.

Wolfpack: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game by Abby Wambach

"If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing it would be this: You were never Little Red Riding Hood, you were always the wolf," writes Abby Wambach in her book Wolfpack.

Abby became a champion because of her incredible talent as a soccer player. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, she holds the world record for international goals for both female and male soccer players. As the co-captain of the 2015 Women’s World Cup Champion Team, Abby helped transform a group of individual women into one of the most successful, powerful, and united Wolfpacks in sporting history.

Now, you can become a wolf and a game-changer too thanks to Abby's uplifting and compelling message to all women. That if we keep playing by the old rules, we will never change the game. 

Get a Life, Not a Job: Do What You Love and Let Your Talents Work For You by Paula Caligiuri, PhD 

We're told all too often that a job isn't, and shouldn't be, fun. Paula Caligiuri smashes this assumption in her book Get a Life, Not a Job. She calls for women to take back control of their careers and to not settle for anything but the best.

Whether an entrepreneur or working in a company, Paula teaches her readers how to achieve a fulfilling career with a greater work-life balance, financial security, and control over your own future. Discover powerful career techniques, from identifying the perfect role to allocating more time to tasks you enjoy, all while keeping up personal relationships and your mental health.

Don't let other people control your future - the answers are between the pages of Paula's compelling book.

Find a career you love with an employer who values your work

Be inspired by these pioneering women and their writing to find the career you love and the life fulfillment you deserve.

Need help discovering that perfect company? Search and apply for jobs with our Prime Employers today.

Find out more