Whether you listen in the car, at the gym, while cleaning the house, or at the beach, audiobooks are an awesome way to pass the time.

We would all love to have the time to read every book on our must-read list, but listening to audiobooks is a much more realistic way to enjoy everything from the classics to titles on The New York Times’ Bestseller List for us busy AF folks.

How to Listen to Audiobooks

If you are new to the world of listening to audiobooks there are a variety of ways to enjoy them –from listening on your phone, tablet, computer, and on most devices and speakers using Bluetooth. The least expensive option is borrowing audiobooks from your local library. Most libraries use Overdrive to manage downloading and listening. Of course, you can buy audiobooks from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Apple Books. My favorite way to listen is via Audible. Audible offers monthly plans that fit your listening profile and there’s an app for it as well. Need a place to get started? Check out The New York Times Bestsellers on Audible.

Listen to Celebs Read Audiobooks

The perfect storm of any audiobook is the intersection between a compelling story and a great narrator. And while there are a plethora of incredible narrators out there in the audiobook marketplace, why not listen to a tale told by some of our favorite celebs? You might be surprised at the A-list celebrities who are also audiobook narrators. Narration is a form of acting, so it’s really not that much of a stretch that actors are naturals at narration.

11 Amazing Audiobooks Read by Celebrities

Here are just a few of the recommended audiobooks read by some or your favorite actors. Check them out and get listening.

1. “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, narrated by Jake Gyllenhaal

2. “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, narrated by Claire Danes

3. “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë, narrated by Thandie Newton

4. “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy, narrated by Maggie Gyllenhaal

5. “The Princess Diarist” by Carrie Fisher, narrated by Carrie Fisher

6. “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, narrated by Sissy Spacek

7. “The End of the Affair” by Graham Greene, narrated by Colin Firth

8. “Dracula” by Bram Stoker, narrated by Alan Cumming and others

9. “Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov, narrated by Jeremy Irons

10. “Death in a White Tie” by Ngaio Marsh, narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch

11. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, narrated by Rosamund Pike

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A bisexual author wrote the famous children’s book “Goodnight Moon” and her story is pretty timely.

Yes, it’s true. “Goodnight Moon” author Margaret Wise Brown was queer. And Blanche Oelrichs, a writer and playwright who wrote with the pen name Michael Strange, and was also Brown’s on-again-off-again partner, inspired Brown to write the story.

The history of “Goodnight Moon”

Brown’s 1947 children’s classic started as a poem she wrote while recuperating from surgery and her recent breakup with Strange.

Brown was living in Maine in a home she called “The Only House” and started to think how a girl would feel if she had to move from her peaceful home to a bustling city. Those thoughts became the poem “Goodnight Room.”

“Years later, while back in Strange’s arms, the poem returned to her in a dream along with images of her downstairs neighbor’s apartment—its bright green walls, red furniture with yellow trim. The result was ‘Goodnight Moon,’ which initially published to positive press and moderate sales. In 1953, 1,500 copies were sold — today it’s 800,000 copies a year,” The New York Post reports.

The love behind the book

Although Brown and Strange’s relationship was fraught with issues—Strange was moody and Brown was needy. Also: Strange was married.

The relationship came to an end when Strange blamed her cancer diagnosis on her “bad behavior,” aka her romantic relationship with Brown. Strange’s sad, misguided—but totally understandable for the time.

The couple’s Earthly relationship ended in a bittersweet way, too: Strange called for Brown on her death bed. Brown, holding vigil for her sick lover outside Strange’s hospital room, heard Strange call for her as she slipped away.

“Before Strange’s death, Margaret promised that she would memorialize her in writing,” the Post adds.

“In one diary entry—a rare quote in this book that uses far too few of Brown’s words—she wrote of her lover: ‘One who has dared to be gloriously good and gloriously bad in one life. No limbo for her.’”

Dang.

More than a writer

While we love discovering new information about one of our favorite children’s book authors, we’re also stoked that Brown is now noted as one of the most famous, and talented, bisexual women in history. Take that, patriarchal white authors!

Read more about Brown’s wonderful life at The New York Post and Autostraddle. Each piece contains a ton of awesome information about Brown and her work.

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People who have never read a romance book tend to roll their eyes at the genre.

But this thriving book industry is full of authors who are smart and incredibly accomplished. The video below is the trailer for a new documentary about romance writers. Get a preview of “Love Between the Covers” below.

Love Between the Covers – Official Trailer from Laurie Kahn on Vimeo.

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Old, used books can be transformed into cool DIY home decor with these repurposing projects.

Are you a book lover or do you know someone who is? Play on your love of books and utilize used books to create unique home decor projects. From DIY planters to building a bookshelf out of books, we’ve got some really creative ideas on how to repurpose used books that are destined for the recycling bin.

Now, some folks are never going to be okay with this idea, but as long as you are using books that are just going to end up being recycled into recycled paper products, we think it’s okay to recycle used books into useful and decorative repurposing projects.

15 Clever Repurposing Projects for Used Books

1. Book Planters – Have some used books that have been water damaged? Dry them out and turn them into practical planters.
2. Book Clock – Turn a book into a functional and decorative clock.
3. Little Golden Books Birdhouse – Remember Little Golden Books? If you come across your childhood stash, consider turning them into a decorative birdhouse as a way to preserve them.
4. Telephone Book Chair – Old telephone books aren’t good for much else, so you might as well turn them into a chair if you come across a stash of them.
5. Window and Book Coffee Table – Repurpose an old window and used books into a cool coffee table.
6. Book Bookcase – Utilize used books to make a bookcase for your books.
7. Book Headboard – Turn old books into a practical and romantic headboard.
8. Book Vase – Turn old book covers into a vase cover.
9. Phone Charging Station – Hide those cords away with this clever idea.
10. Wreath – Transform book pages into a stunning wreath.
11. Book Lamp – Form and function combine is this project for creating a book lamp.
12. Decoupaged Dresser – Turn a boring dresser into an homage to your favorite books by decoupaging book covers to the front.
13. Book Frames – Used books make great photo frames.
14. Garland – Whether for everyday or a special occasion, use old book pages to DIY a paper garland.
15. Coat Rack – Transform used books into a coat rack with this DIY how-to.

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Powell’s, Shakespeare & Co. and Strand bookstore – all places any literary lover should put on their travel list. 

While many claim that print is dead, there’s still nothing like the feel of a book in your hand. But it’s not just the book that’s special; it’s the process of buying it. Bookstores are treasure troves, and in a day and age where large online retailers and box stores are pushing out the smaller guys, making sure they get your business is even more important.

Are you a lover of books? Then why not devote your next trip to checking out the independent bookstore scene wherever you are? You never know what you’re going to find. For inspiration, we’ve rounded up a list of bookstores that are worth a visit.

1. Strand – New York City, New York

Around since the 1920s, Strand is an iconic part of not only New York City’s bookstore culture, but simply general culture overall. Visiting NYC without visiting Strand bookstore is simply a missed opportunity. In all, the store boasts 18 miles of used and rare books, which is enough to make you get lost in book aisles for days and days.

2. Powell’s – Portland, Oregon

If Strand is the iconic bookstore in the east, then Powell’s is its counterpart in the west. Opening in the 1970s, today it has five different locations within the Portland area, the downtown main one called “City of Books.” And when you enter, it does in fact feel like a city, the aisles are like little streets that wind you through the many rooms. The best part about Powell’s? You can grab a stack of books, take them to the in-store cafe and peruse them while drinking a coffee.

3. Parnassus Books – Nashville, Tennessee

Leave it to an author to ensure that the local book scene stays alive. When Nashville lost its only bookstore, Ann Patchett stepped in, a firm believer that people should be able to buy their books at a brick and mortar, and helped open Parnassus. This neighborhood bookstore revival is born out of Patchett’s desire for a store “that valued books and readers above muffins and adorable plastic watering cans.” Yes, please.

4. BookPeople – Austin, Texas

BookPeople happens to be Texas’ largest independent bookstore, and it’s so popular that it was voted Bookstore of the Year by Publisher’s Weekly in 2005. But beyond all the literary works housed in this space, there’s another reason to visit: all the books on Texan and Southern cooking, so you can be sure to beef up on your bbq knowledge.

5. The Elliott Bay Book Company – Seattle, Washington

Seattle is known for a lot of rain, and what do you want to do when it’s gray and rainy? Curl up with a good book. Which might be why Seattleites have such a wonderful bookstore at their disposal. The Elliott Bay Book Company is home to more than 150,000 titles. And because it’s Seattle, Elliott Bay’s other claim to fame is that the Elliott Bay Cafe was Seattle’s first bookstore cafe.

6. Shakespeare and Company – Paris, France

The literary crowd will always have a love affair with Paris, and for those there is no place higher on the destination list than Shakespeare and Company. Paris has always attracted writers, and the bookstore is known for supporting the works of both well-known authors and the yet undiscovered ones. Located on the Left Bank it has managed to maintain its quaint, cozy ambiance.

7. Politics and Prose – Washington, D.C.

The name of Politics and Prose is fitting in the U.S. capital. Here you find a community gathering space, with plenty of author events, and lots of unusual books. The bookstore has even started hosting trips, taking book lovers around the world.

8. Bertrand Bookstore, Lisbon, Portugal

While today Bertrand runs over 40 bookstores around Portugal, it’s worth a mention on a list of bookstores has it has one thing going for it that no other place has: it’s the oldest bookstore in the world. In fact, if you’re feeling down about the state of books, there’s nothing to bring your spirits up like a place that has been selling written works since 1732.

9. McNally Jackson – New York City, New York

The Strand bookstore isn’t the only thing NYC has to offer. The literature in the store is arranged by nation, and hoping to bring more great works to the rest of the world, they even offer self-publishing services.

10. The Last Bookstore – Los Angeles, California

While younger than many bookstores, The Last Bookstore is California’s largest independent one and perhaps the most unique. It began in 2005 in a small loft space and now takes up about 20,000 square feet. There are books everywhere, often part of the interior design of the space, making it just as much a museum of books as a bookstore.

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It’s already close to the middle of 2014 and you’re in need of some mid-year inspiration. Here are 5 inspirational books that will give you the extra nudge you need to boost your mood and your outlook. Enjoy!

1. “Adulting”, Kelly Williams Brown

You may age in number but still feel like a kid. Many of us encounter this sentiment, but is it something we should fight or embrace? “Adulting“reconciles our desire to feel young and the need for us to fulfill the adult role in everyday life. This book was inspired by Brown’s blog, which helps people become adults in 468 easy(ish) steps.

2. “The Art of Tinkering”, Karen Wilkinson and Mike Petrich

This book features all the activities, workshops and quirky experiments that pay homage to the activity of tinkering. Defined as taking things apart, exploring tools and materials and building science/technology art, tinkering is about fooling around with tools, materials and concepts – learning through doing. For the handy reader with a knack for fun-filled, innovative projects, “The Art of Tinkering” will keeps things fresh and whimsical.

3. “The Gift of Adversity”, Normal E. Rosenthal

Contrary to popular belief, difficulties do more for us than cause us trouble. “The Gift of Adversity” sheds light on how adversity can strengthen and motivate us. Rosenthal helps readers understand why it is important to encounter struggle in our everyday lives.

4. “Stumbling on Happiness”, Daniel Gilbert

Written by a Harvard psychologist, “Stumbling on Happiness” explains to us how our thoughts limit our understanding of the future and the satisfaction levels. The book reminds us how little we really know about the people we are bound to become.

5. “Steve Jobs”, Walter Isaacson

The title speaks for itself. Steve Jobs was a visionary, a perfectionist, and someone who changed the course of many industries, including music, personal computers, phones, animated movies, digital publishing, tablet computing and so much more. This book was written off of 40 interviews conduction with Steve Jobs over the course of two years. What better way to be inspired than by one of the greatest tech leaders of our time?

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10 good books, from food and public radio essays to photos about living in a van.

A lot of writers (even really good ones) often struggle with the pile of rejection letters from major publishing houses, but in the day and age of the internet, finding a small, independent publisher that’s willing to take on the title, or even branching out and self-publishing is getting easier and easier.

That being said, the market is saturated, and there are certainly as many bad books out there as their are good ones. But if you’re looking to support the small scale, independently minded authors and publishers, here are ten titles that are worth some space on your bookshelf:

1. “Bikeonomics: How Bicycling Can Save the Economy”

Cycling author and activist Elly Blue has written the book that any bike lover has been dreaming of. “Bikeonomics: How Bicycling Can Save the Economy” is essentially the guide to why bikes will save the world. Because if you ever thought that bicycling was just something that made people feel good, think again. It creates jobs, helps the environment and provides opportunities for expanding public space.

For the reader who: wants a good argument the next time someone at a dinner party asks if there are really any good reasons to ride a bicycle. 

2. “Eat Awesome”

If you have ever debated on going vegan, or simple sticking to a more plant-based diet, Paul Jarvis’ “Eat Awesome” should set you off on the right foot. His self-published e-book is a hassle-free, down to earth guide on eating well, and makes a plant-based diet not seem intimidating in the slightest.

For the reader who: always wanted to know how to make cashew cream.

3. “The New American Road Trip Mix Tape”

Thirty-two years old and post-breakup, writer Brendan Leonard is debating on what to do with his life. He sets off to do what many before him have done: go on a journey. A climber, he makes his way across the West, living out of his car, staying on couches, spare beds and many a National Park ground. While “The New American Road Trip Mix Tape” is certainly written by a lover of climbing, even if you’ve never gone near a rock wall you can still find the beauty in this book, because ultimately it’s an exploration of what it means to be human, have relationships and create a meaningful life no necessarily bound by the constrictions of normal society. And yes, there is an actual mix tape.

For the reader who: is dreaming of dropping everything and living simply.

4. “Women on Wheels”

From biking to work to biking with kids, “Women on Wheels” by April Streeter a guidebook intended for women. The pocket book is small enough so you can stash it in your purse or backpack, and ensure that you have all the cycling tips you need no matter where you are.

For the reader who: wants to live a two-wheeled lifestyle but just needed the know-how. 

5. “Home is Where You Park It”

If you have ever drooled over glorious photos of Airstreams, then you need this book. “Home is Where You Park It” is a collection of photos by Foster Huntington. When he himself left his job in 2011 and bought a VW Vanagon, he started meeting travelers that had done the same, and he decided to document them. This book shows some of his favorites, highlighting the true beauty in living simply and taking part in, as Huntington calls it, “van life.”

For the reader who: really is focused on the TINY in “tiny living” and loves cabin porn. 

6. “Choose Yourself”

In a changing world where the economy has tanked and jobs have disappeared, how do you move forward? It’s a new world, and in “Choose Yourself”, James Altucher wants to remind us that in this day and age, success is not about connections or credentials, it’s about you and how much you are willing to believe in yourself to succeed, both inward and outward. Don’t wait for someone else to make you happy, do it yourself, and start doing it today.

For the reader who: needs a kick in the pants to get inspired and move forward. 

7. “APE”

This book gets back to the first paragraph of this article: we live in a time of self-publishing, but how do you make that publishing successful? “Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur” by Guy Kawasaki is essentially a guidebook for how to succeed at self-publishing, not just building a career as an author, but as an entrepreneur. This is no get-rich-quick-scheme, this is a guide to navigating the world of self-publishing and helping you put in the hard work to make yourself successful.

For the reader who: has ideas, wants to write about them and wants their words to be read.

8. “Bouquet”

With limited edition reprints of wine and food books, Eat Drink is certainly a niche publisher, but “Bouquet” is sure to resonate with any bon vivant. It’s the account of G.B. Stern (1890-1973), an author, playwright, and critic, and her four-month tour of vineyards in France in 1926. Beautifully bound and printed on FSC-certified paper, this isn’t just a book, it’s a work of art.

For the reader who: needs a book that’s more impressive than their wine collection. 

9. “All the Dancing Birds”

Winner of the 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards, “All the Dancing Birds” by Auburn McCanta is a story told from the perspective of a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. A look into dementia in a way that only words can do.

For the reader who: simply needs a good, heart-wrenching book for the reading list. 

10. “Just Three Minutes, Please? Thinking Out Loud on Public Radio”

Why are stories on Public Radio so compelling? Because the people that put them together manage to get a lot of information and emotion into a very short amount of time. “Just Three Minutes, Please? Thinking Out Loud on Public Radio” by Michael Blumenthal is a collection of those kinds of stories, poignant essays, all commissioned by West Virginia Public Radio. To get a message, and often complex messages, across in a matter or minutes and a matter of words is a skill that deserves our respect.

For the reader who: never turns off NPR and spends Sundays on the couch listening to archived “This American Life” episodes. 

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The short story is one of my favorite art forms. It’s precise, to the point and extremely powerful. Here are 15 inspiring stories you can read in one sitting.

A short story always reminds me of Pablo Picasso’s sketches of a bull, because the art is reduced to it’s bare minimum–only the essentials. Each sentence, each word and each image is so concise and purposely placed. Through these inspiring stories, authors teach us so much while explaining so little.

Can’t sit down to read a short story? Take it with you. The New Yorker Fiction podcast is a great way to experience inspiring stories on the go. In each episode, an author published in the New Yorker, chooses a short story from the magazine’s archives.

Regardless of how you consume them, here are 15 inspiring stories to read this week.

1. “Gertrude Talks Back” by Margaret Atwood

2 .”A Hunger Artist” by Franz Kafka

3. “Teddy” by J.D. Salinger

4. “Roy Spivey” by Miranda July

5. “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

6. “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Gabriel García Márquez

7. “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor

8. “The Daughters of the Moon” by Italo Calvino

9. “Voices Lost in Snow” by Mavis Gallant

10. “A&P” by John Updike

11. “Eve’s Diary” by Mark Twain

12. “Love” by William Maxwell

13. “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” by Ernest Hemingway

14. “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck

15. “The Dead” by James Joyce

Did we miss one of your favorites? Tell up in the comments below!

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As a lifelong bookworm, I have always relished book shopping, from second-hand stores to famous indie bookstores. And even though it’s been years since I’ve been a student, I still like to get a few new books to read at the beginning of each autumn.

Here are five of my favorite independent book stores around the country, where the staff picks always make my to-read list grow ever longer, the events make me want to pack up and relocate, and the aisles make me lose track of time. 

Book People, Austin

Warm and welcoming, Austin’s Book People has a great selection of books, periodicals, and gifts spread out over two floors. A sunny, well-lit atmosphere and comfy chairs encourage a slower pace of browsing, as does the on-site coffeehouse and staff recommendations placed throughout the store. The kids’ section is particularly well-curated, with a wide selection of books for all ages, in addition to plenty of space both for playing and reading. Upcoming events include weekly book club discussions, kids’ story time sessions, and readings from authors both traditional and unconventional (e.g., Kenny Rogers is scheduled for late September). And in keeping with the local motto to “Keep Austin Weird,” you’ll find a wide variety of gag gifts, novelties, and unique jewelry to supplement your new reading material.

City Lights Books, San Francisco

Both a book store and publisher, City Lights is a San Francisco landmark celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Known for its pivotal role in the Beat movement, City Lights today is a bustling literary institution and cultural network, with regularly scheduled readings both in-house (for visiting authors) and on the road (for the press’s authors). If you’re not in San Francisco, you can still take part in all the happenings, live or on your own schedule, by downloading the Live from City Lights podcast.

Politics and Prose, Washington, D.C.

Democrat, Republican, Independent – no matter your affiliation, you’ll find a friendly place to recharge, get inspired, or undertake new research at Politics & Prose. The book store’s new print-on-demand service, Opus, enables visitors to request rare finds, out-of-print titles, and eclectic staff suggestions while you wait (depending on length, the service takes anywhere from five to 10 minutes). Readings take place both at the store and at various cultural institutions throughout the city, and it isn’t unusual to see the monthly calendar packed with local politicians, visiting literati, and international scholars peddling their latest books.

Powell’s City of Books, Portland, Oregon

The name alone is utopian – a city of books – and Powell’s certainly lives up to this lofty ideal. All readers can find what they seek here, with new and used books intermingled throughout the store, including rare editions and out-of-print titles adjacent to new arrivals and discounted remainders. Browsing here is like a treasure hunt – one never knows what can be discovered on any shelf. In addition to its commitment to selling used books, Powell’s has a host of other ongoing green initiatives, including composting at the on-site coffee shop, using biodiesel fuel in its delivery fleet, and partnering with wind and solar companies to supply the store’s energy.

The Strand, New York City

Give yourself a few hours at The Strand – like New York City itself, it’s sprawling, packed with things to see, and (at times) overwhelming. The official motto is “18 Miles of Books” and it certainly seems immense – I’ve gone countless times and always discover a new wing or corner that I hadn’t encountered before. There are more than 2.5 million books here, in addition to gifts, tchotchkes, and more. Make your trip worthwhile by focusing your attention on one or two sections, and taking your time to browse at your own pace.

Which independent book stores do you love to visit? Share your favorites by leaving a comment below!

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14 books to read that inspire empowerment, induce laughter, build solidarity, keep us aware, and to simply remind us of why it’s great to be alive.

Reading lists are a complicated thing. How can we ever compile a list of “best of” when everyone has different reading tastes? Books strike a chord not just because they are well written, but because they appeal to something inside of us; different books are meaningful at different times in life. We read, we learn and when we’re in need of something comforting, we return to the books we love. And there are always some books that stick out, that speak to you no matter where you are in life.

These are those books.

Just 14? There are hundreds of books out there that could make their way on to this list. This list of books to read is simply a good starting point. It’s a list that was put together thanks to a few female friends that believe in empowerment, speaking out, building community and being real. If you’re a woman, this isn’t required reading, but hopefully it’s a list of inspiration.

Some are written by women, some are written by men, but ultimately, these are the kind of books that remind you of who you are and inspire you to be better. And, if you’re a man? These books are just as meaningful; we should all be gathering around women’s rights and empowerment no matter what our gender.

Now get to reading.

1. “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity For Women Worldwide” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

There is a Chinese proverb that says “Women hold up half the sky.” But if we look at today’s world, women are unfortunately rarely treated as such. Rape, genital mutilation, lack of education; the list of obstacles many women around the world are up against is endless. The book, written by husband-and-wife team Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn is a call to action, to wake most of us up and inspire us to do something. To ensure that we deal with the issue of women’s rights, which as Kristof calls it, is “the paramount moral challenge.” A collection of stories about women from all corners of the globe, covering topics of rape to maternity to prostitution. But ultimately, as the title indiciates, this is a book about opportunity, if we choose to accept the wake up call for all of us to step up and do something.

2. “Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions” by Gloria Steinem

Since coming out in 1983, “Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions” is one of Gloria Steinem’s most popular and timeless collection of essays, a feminist classic so to say. It includes some of Steinem’s most famous essays like “Erotica vs. Pornography” and “I Was a Playboy Bunny,” a story depicting the time she went undercover to expose the reality of the working conditions females enjoyed to work in the male fantasy world. A book that is a reminder of what it means to be a woman, in intellect and in humor.

3. “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed

What do we do in order to heal ourselves? In her mid-20s, Cheryl Strayed had lost her mother and her marriage, so decided to take off on an epic journey: a 1,100-mile hike on the Pacific Trail, from the Mojave Desert to the Washington-Oregon border. Along the way she is forced to deal with her personal struggles, giving us all a lesson in the power of pure will and what it means to go through a process of healing.

4. “The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver

Colonialism, religion and cultural superiority; these are all complicated topics to tackle in nonfiction, and they all come together in Kingsolver’s bestselling novel “The Poisonwood Bible.” A story of a missionary family from Georgia who is stationed in the heart of the Belgian Congo in 1959, it is an intimate depiction of the realities of the post-colonial era. Having lived during her early childhood in the Congo, she only later in life learned of the CIA-backed coup against elected Patrice Lumumba, and his murder in 1961 which resulted in the installation of dictator Joseph Mobutu. The book is in turn a question of power and complicity in the face of horrendous events.

5. “How to Be a Woman” by Caitlin Moran

Do we need lessons in how to be women? We do if we have forgotten how to stand up for ourselves. Moran’s “How to be a Woman” is an effort to take back the word ‘feminist.’ “Do you have a vagina?” she writes. As she writes, ‘“Do you want to be in charge of it?” If you said yes to both, “Congratulations! You’re a feminist.”’And as such it is a look into all the modern day things about being a woman, from bikini waxes to wearing stilettos. A modern appeal to anyone that needs to be reminded of the ingrained sexism that surrounds us on a daily basis, and makes us laugh while doing so.

6. “Desert Solitaire” by Edward Abbey

Abbey might not appear to be the obvious choice for this list, but one of his most well known works, “Desert Solitaire”, is the kind of book you read when you need to remember how to see. A series of vignettes from Abbey’s time in the southwestern U.S. as a national park ranger, it is a reminder that it is important to be alone, to find solace in nature, and to fight to protect the things you love. It is a book about questioning society, and not taking life for granted, encouraging you to embrace the wildness around you.

7. “The Art of Happiness” by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler

Who better to teach us about the beauty of living than His Holiness the Dalai Lama? His teachings are simple yet profound, highlighting that the state of our happiness is more influenced by our state of mind than our circumstances; the kind of thing that we can always come back to no matter where we find ourselves, physically or mentally.

8. “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” by Joan Didion

Taking its title from “The Second Coming” by W. B. Yeats., “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” is a collection of Didion’s essays, a portrait of American, and more specifically, Californian, life in the 1960s. It is a book that covers a place and era that have become the subject of many a novel and movie, a time and space that we as Americans often obsess over.

9. “My Life in France” by Julia Child

If you think “My Life in France” is a cooking memoir, think again. This is a book full of lessons in adventure from a wild woman born in a different age. Even if you’re not food inclined, this book is worth a read, because ultimately it’s about a woman that chose to live life her way. Funny, intelligent and perseverant, Child is the kind of woman that we can all look up to, no matter whether we have a way with copper pots or not.

10. “The Long Walk to Freedom” by Nelson Mandela

As a friend put it, “this book inspires being a badass in the most extreme way possible.” She’s right. We have a lot to learn from this revered and loved world leader, South African President Nelson Mandela. Born out of his 27 years of imprisonment under the apartheid regime, “Long Walk to Freedom” is ultimately about Mandela’s strong and unwavering spirit, something that we can all aspire to as we seek to do better for humanity.

11. “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin

What do you want from life? Author Gretchen Rubin asked herself that question and realized that all she really wanted was to be happy. In fact many of us may have that response, but how do we actually get there? Rubin sought out to do just that, taking on a year-long project that combined age-old wisdom, current scientific research and lessons from pop culture on exactly what it requires to be happy.

12. “Persepolis: The Story of Childhood” by Marjane Satrapi

What most people know as an animated film was actually based off of Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical graphic novel. It is a coming of age book, but while most of us did our coming of age in the western world, Satrapi deals with all the issues of going from girl to women with the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution. Originally written in French, the first two volumes of the graphic novel were paired together for the U.S. market, and cover Satrapi’s childhood in Teheran as she watches the Islamic Revolution take place. A story of how we carry on, even in the unthinkable.

13. “Red Azalea: Life and Love in China” by Anchee Min

The memoir of Chinese American writer Anchee Min, “Red Azalea” was written in during her first eight years in the United States. Attempting to write it in her mother tongue, she found that only through her new English language could she freely express what she wanted to say. The memoir documents her coming of age, from working at a labor collective to a secret love affair with another woman, during the Cultural Revolution.

14. “The Favored Daughter” by Fawzia Koofi

Afghanistan’s first female Parliament speaker Fawzia Koofi is a woman breaking many barriers, documented in her memoir “The Favored Daughter.” The nineteenth daughter of a local village leader in rural Afghanistan, she was left to die after her birth, but such a tragic beginning hasn’t stopped her from pushing through in a world where women’s rights are far from given, and nowadays she is a renowned activist for women and children, having worked as a Child Protection Officer for UNICEF. Koofi herself has two daughters and the memoir is peppered with a series of letter she wrote to them before each political trip, describing the future that she dreams for them. An inside look at the hope that manages to stay alive in a country of strife and pain.

Have your favorite books to read that you think should be on every woman’s reading list? Add them in the comments below.

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Images: Half the Sky, Cheryl Strayed, Random House

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