12 books to help you find your purpose and make a difference

2. Kind Words for Unkind Days by Jayne Hardy – In these difficult times, taking care of your mental health should be a top priority. This guide will help you feel happier, healthier and calmer in 2021.

3. Make it Happen: A handbook to tackling the biggest issues facing the world in 2021 by Amika George – Amika successfully campaigned to get the government to fund free period products in every school across England. Her guide to being an effective activist is essential reading for aspiring changemakers.

4. Little Black Book: A Toolkit for Working Women by Otegha Uwagba – A practical handbook for the world of work filled with top tips and motivation for building the career you want.

5. No Such Thing As Normal by Bryony Gordon – This honest, down-to-earth book about mental illness and mental wellness offers support and advice to help you build resilience and feel less alone.

6. The Education of an Idealist by Samantha Power – From war correspondent in the Balkans, to the youngest ever US Ambassador to the United Nations, to her recent appointment to lead the US Agency for International Development, Samantha Power’s passion for human rights has shaped a remarkable career. Her story is an inspiring example of following your purpose and making a difference in the world.

7. All We Can Save: Truth, Courage. and Solutions for the Climate Crisis by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson – This anthology of women’s writings on climate change is an urgent, uplifting call to action. Showcasing the importance of community, creativity and compassion to heal our planet, it is brimming with a diversity of ideas and perspectives that are often missing from mainstream debates on climate change.

8. Stronger by Poorna Bell (coming in April 2021) – We can’t wait for this new book from award-winning journalist and author Poorna Bell. Part memoir, part manifesto, it follows Poorna's journey to get physically strong after her husband’s death, challenging social norms about women, strength and fitness along the way. Even if deadlifting isn’t your thing, this book promises to help you discover what being strong means to you, and feel empowered to reach your goals.

9. The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda Gates – As co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda Gates is one of the most influential philanthropists on the planet and a committed advocate for investing in women and girls to build a better future. In her first book, she shares stories and lessons she’s learned over two decades travelling the world championing gender equality and working on global development issues.

10. How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi – In his electrifying memoir, historian Ibram X Kendi explains that when it comes to racism, neutrality is not an option: until we become part of the solution, we can only be part of the problem. As well as sharing his personal journey of awakening, Ibram offers a clear, accessible analyis of systemic racism and practical resources for taking action to build a more equitable society.

11. The Fear-Fighter Manual: Lessons from a Professional Troublemaker by Luvvie Ajayi Jones (coming in March 2021) – In her second book, acclaimed author, activist, speaker and podcast host Luvvie Ajayi Jones urges us to become professional troublemakers: people who are committed to not letting fear talk them out of the things they need to do or say. Perfect for cultivating a fearless mindset and blazing a brave new path.

12. The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity and My Fight Against the Islamic State by Nadia Murad – Nobel Peace Prize-winner Nadia Murad brought the plight of the Yazidi people to the world’s attention and laid bare the devastating impact of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Her courage, resilience and determination to bring justice to fellow survivors is truly inspirational.

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