Besides all the hard work it takes to build a solid career in any field, women in tech also face bias, lack of references, and fewer incentives compared to men. We know it takes extra effort when you are a female professional trying to make it in tech or stem. We love seeing women move forward and grow. So put together a list of 10 great books for women in tech that will make you feel encouraged and inspired to keep fighting for what you deserve.
1 – Brave, Not Perfect
This one was written by Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani. The book discusses how from a very young age girls are taught to be quiet, gracious, polite, pretty, nice, friendly, the list goes on and on. The problem with reinforcing those (otherwise) positive values is that they leave no room for experimentation, taking risks, or making mistakes. The tech industry is especially connected to the principles of innovation and breaking barriers. Who can we have room to innovate if we were raised to be \”perfect\”? That\’s why Saujani argues for embracing mistakes, letting go of some of the stereotypes we grew up with, and working on being brave.
2 – The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World
Melinda Gates\’ book is a mix of memoir and manifesto. The computer scientist and philanthropist reminisces about her career while also talking about her beliefs. If Reshma Soujani\’s book is very much to the point, NPR called Gates\’ more of a \”whisper than a call to action\”. Still, it is interesting learning about how even if you are a white woman with money there is a lot to fight for (and accomplish).
3 – If Women Counted
If Women Counted was published in 1988 by New Zealand academic and former politician Marilyn Waring. This book is considered the \”founding document\” of what became known as feminist economics. Waring discusses how women\’s unpaid work is left out of any standard of measuring economic growth. Her work is so important it led the United Nations to reconsider how they assess a country\’s gross domestic product.
4 – Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One
Author Jenny Blake discusses one crucial issue: \”if change is the only constant, how can we get better at it?\”. Her book is great for anyone making career changes or important work decisions. But it is also interesting for every tech professional who wants to build a meaningful path in this ever-changing fast-pacing industry.
5 – Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators
A hands-on guide to helping women build a career in tech, Susanne Tedrick\’s book has won many awards since its first publication in 2020. Including the International Business Book from the 2021 Business Book Awards. Tedrick writes about how the tech industry can be a fun and diverse field with plenty of paths to choose from. Way beyond coding, working in tech may include many skills such as communication, public speaking, and networking. This book offers actionable steps women of different backgrounds and expertise can take to be successful in the tech world.
6 – Female Innovators at Work: Women on Top of Tech
Interviewing women in tech from different sectors, entrepreneur Danielle Newnham shows the experiences and successes of female innovators in this still largely male-dominated industry. The book highlights the varied life and career stories that lead these women to the top positions in the technology industry that they are in now. Chapters include stories from CEOs, founders, and inventors in mobile technology, e-commerce, online education, and video games.
7 – Life in Code: A Personal History of Technology
Twenty years after having published her now-classic Close to the Machine, pioneer programmer Ellen Ullman keeps chronicling the tech world. If her first book was about being one of the few women working in the industry during the computer revolution of the 80 and 90s, Life in Code tells the story of the decades after.
8 – Wolfpack
It\’s a short but powerful book about female leadership written by American two-time Olympic champion Abby Wambach. As captain of the US national female soccer team, Wambach learned a thing or two about guiding women to victory. Her book tears at the idea of \”women rivalry\” and talks about the incredible power that comes with relying on each other and working together. Also, the book brings a refreshing view of all the physical and mental strength we associate with athletes, from a female perspective.
9 – The H Spot
Lawyer and activist Jill Filipovic proposes an interesting idea in this book. She discusses women\’s equality from the point of view of happiness. What would the world look like if people\’s well-being were a priority and the ability to pursue their dreams were guaranteed? In that same tone, what would change for us women if we could orient our lives towards fulfilling our dreams and building our sense of happiness?
10 – Untamed
How many times have we asked ourselves \”Am I crazy?\” Women are taught to question their sanity whenever they are faced with situations that break the script of female stereotypes. \”I am too angry. Am I crazy?\”, \”I really want to follow that unconventional dream. Am I crazy?\”. In this book, writer and podcaster Glennon Doyle offers the answer: no you are not. Her premise is that women are a powerful force of nature that has been \”tamed\” by society. Whenever you feel \”crazy\”, maybe that\’s just a reminder that you need to be untamed.
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