These books are a must-read for every 21st-century woman

The ability to travel through time and space, to feel invincible and to send your imagination to the wildest places is made possible through books.

You can learn a new craft from books, so can you discover your purpose by reading the right books. They span from fiction, autobiographies to motivational pieces.

All books are unique, but every author has one goal – to feed your mind and expand your knowledge and to send you on a journey through their lenses.

Every 21^st-century woman must at one point in time read the under listed books to awaken their consciousnesses.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou

This powerful memoir by Maya Angelou chronicles her horrid abusive past. It often takes a lot of willpower not to be put down by all the terrible things that happen to us. Maya’s book is a clear example of finding your inner strength and letting go of all the bitterness that could weigh you down. The impact received from this book is invaluable to all its readers.

The Color Purple – Alice Walker

It is a story of a woman, Celie, who was abused by her father and husband. Celie’s series of letters recounts the story of 20 years of her horrid life, “beginning at age 14 when she is being abused and raped by her father and attempting to protect her sister from the same fate.” 

Beloved – Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison’s Beloved follows the life of Sethe, a slave who struggled to escape to Ohio but remained enslaved for eighteen years. She is haunted by all the horrors of her past and the present doesn’t seem so promising as her new home is also haunted by the ghost of her baby whose tombstone was inscribed, Beloved.

The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks – Rebecca Skloot 

This New York Times bestseller chronicles the life of Henrietta Lacks, the woman whose cells have contributed so much to science as we know it. Scientists refer to her as HeLa. The life of this poor tobacco farmer is retold, highlighting the clash between “ethics, race, and medicine; of scientific discovery and faith healing; and of a daughter consumed with questions about the mother she never knew.”

We Should All Be Feminists – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 

This is a long essay that got birthed from the critically acclaimed TEDx talk by the author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. She offers a new perspective on feminism for the 21st-century woman that revolves around ‘inclusion and awareness’. Her new perspective also draws inspiration from her personal experiences.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

This book is a memoir by the former first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. It chronicles the highpoints of her life from South Side Chicago to being a working mum and then the first lady of the U.S. She opens up about her triumphs and tribulations and hopes others can pick a few pointers along the way.