Best Autobiographies: 20 Influential Women Share the Books That Inspired Them to Dream Big

The best autobiographies can feel like the key to a secret kingdom. After all, their subjects—from celebrities, to icons, to founders of huge corporations—can feel superhuman. But when they tell their story in their own words, it makes them relatable and somehow even more inspiring. By reading their words, we too can start to dream bigger and more boldly, using them as guideposts as we chase after our own goals.

It can be hard to know where to start when looking for the best autobiographies to inspire you, whether that’s in your personal or professional life. Glamour is here to help. We reached out to 20 women who inspire us—CEOs, authors, journalists, founders, influencers, and more—to ask them which women’s autobiographies have challenged them, made them dream bigger, or helped them feel more confident to carve their own paths. The list of books they provided is just as diverse and varied as the women themselves.

From the stories of icons in fashion and beauty, to a woman’s examination of her own family dynasty, to ordinary women’s stories of redemption, pick up any of these titles the next time you need a boost.