Welcome to The #bossbabe Book Club!
This club is for you if:
You, like us, have very little time but want to make the most of your in between moments.
You are a boss babe/ you know a boss babe/ you want to learn more about being a boss babe.
You want to!
For the latest information, and to participate in discussions and find meeting links, you can join our Facebook group.
Glad we're all here, representing 4 continents!
This season's books are:
May: The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir by Samantha Power
June: The Art of Gathering: How we meet and why it matters by Priya Parker
July: Chris Guillebeau month. Check out your choice of:
The Happiness of Pursuit (can recommend!) OR
The Art of Non Conformity OR
The Money Tree OR
Side Hustle OR
The $100 Startup OR
Listen to some of his daily “Side Hustle School” podcast episodes
August: World Leader Month
Read a book authored by the world leader of your choice – a current or former president, prime minister, or monarch. We’ll swap stories about their anecdotes, approaches to leadership, compare their experiences before they took office, and their political strategies when we gather on our call. Choose whoever you like, but we’ll look at these public figures through the lens of the Boss Babe Book Club.
September: Untamed by Glennon Doyle.
April 25, 2020 - Enough As She Is by Rachel Simmons
March 28, 2020 - Educated by Tara Westover
February Discussion Questions:
February 22, 2020 - For the Love of Men by Liz Plank
Liz discusses many venues where toxic masculinity shows up, such as in fatherhood, partnerships, the work place, among peers, etc. She also describes the impact this has on women, as she outlines the way that "being a man" is often considered being distinctly "not feminine." How did these examples and descriptions of masculinity resonate/land for you?
Which of the topics in the book did you feel you have experienced/witnessed most in your life?
Do you see a place where you could get involved/make a difference for men in your life/community? Paternal leave? Incarceration issues? Nurturing emotional intelligence?
Other takeaways, or thoughts on the book? What were your ah-ha moments? Were there places you disagreed with Liz?
January Discussion Questions:
January 23, 2020 - Little Women by LM Alcott
Your general thoughts on this book. Had you read it before?
Did anything in particular stand out to you reading it in the context of a "boss babe book club"? Do you think LM Alcott pushed any envelopes of her time with this work? What did you think of the book after reading the others so far?
What parallels could you draw between the lives of the March sisters/mother and your life - what themes stand true in a modern context?
Were there any particular characters/scenes/quotes that resonated with you - and why?
December discussion questions:
December 28, 2019 - The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist
What did you think of the ideas shared in Chapter 5 "Money is like water" -- had you ever considered money and flow in this way before?
Was there a particular anecdote or example Lynne Twist gave during her travels and work that stood out to you/especially resonated?
One takeaway for me was the idea of affirming 'sufficiency' rather than 'abundance' (abundance is a word I feel is thrown out a lot as a way to manifest more or to counteract a state of scarcity/lack) -- was there a shift for you in how you approach something re: money?
Any other thoughts, reflections, comments?
November discussion questions:
November 30, 2019 - No one is too small to make a difference by Greta Thunberg
Share your general thoughts on Greta's delivery of her message and approach to tackling the climate crisis she outlines - how does she articulate her position? How does she enlist others to join her?
Who is someone committed to environment/conservation/climate who inspires you? Do they have a similar style to Greta? Why does their message/approach resonate with you?
Identify one thing you could do on an individual level to make a difference (related to climate/environment), and one thing you could do within your greater community. Did this book or Greta's message spark any new ideas for you?
Greta believes that just one person can make a big difference. Her climate strike movement has included millions of participants across the world. Are there applications to other parts of your life where you seek to make a difference, on a small or large scale (perhaps not related to climate specifically)?
October discussion questions:
October 19, 2019 - Maya Angelou month! Choose your own adventure and either check out I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings OR if you've already read it, have a go at The Heart of a Woman
Which book did you read?
What was something new you learned about Maya's life that struck you? How did it make you reflect on something in your own life?
Did you enjoy Maya's writing style?
What was your takeaway from Maya's experiences and reflections? How might you incorporate this into your own experiences, interactions, work?
September discussion questions:
September 26, 2019 - Becoming by Michelle Obama
Which anecdote stood out to you most in this book? Was it because you found it relatable? Surprising? Inspiring?
These next two questions I pulled from an online list: In thinking about the students who acted out in her second-grade classroom, Mrs. Obama writes, ‘Kids know at a very young age when they’re being devalued.’ Is this a dynamic you’ve witnessed in your own community? How do you make the children in your life feel valued?
As a young professional, Mrs. Obama seemingly had it all – a great job, a great wardrobe, and a clear path to great things in a top-notch Chicago law firm. But she writes, ‘In my blinding drive to excel, in my need to do things perfectly, I’d missed the signs and taken the wrong road.’ She decides to change careers to focus on public service – a move that surprises some who were close to her. What is the value of listening to that little voice that suggests you might be on the wrong path even though the world thinks you are doing exactly the right thing? How do you support someone who decides to follow their own path or create a new one?
Michelle writes, "Friendships between women, as any woman will tell you, are built of a thousand small kindnesses . . . swapped back and forth and over again." How do you see this type of sisterhood/support present in your life?
Anything else to add on this book? What else did you reflect on while you read it?
August discussion questions:
August 27, 2019 - The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
On page 26, Melinda writes "Whenever you include a group that's been excluded, you benefit everyone. And when you're working globally to include women and girls, who are half of every population, you're working to benefit all members of every community. Gender equity lifts everyone." Can you think of an example where you've seen this play out successfully in your own life, community, or witnessed it in another? How was inclusion/equity achieved or actively addressed? Where do you currently see the greatest need for this?
My focus area has been on educating girls, while for Melinda, it all began with contraceptives and family planning. What chapter or issue resonates most with you? How are you currently involved/how could you take action?
What were your takeaways from the "Women in the Workplace" chapter, especially in light of reading Brene Brown's Dare to Lead last month and following the other books on our summer list?
Anything else you'd like to share about this book?
JuLY discussion questions:
July 27, 2019 - Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
What was one favourite takeaway from reading this book?
Which part of this book most resonated with you?
- Rumbling with vulnerability
- Living into our values
- Braving trust
- Learning to rise
What did you think of Brene's BRAVING Inventory p. 224-233? Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault, Integrity, Nonjudgment, Generosity? How did this help you reflect on your own self-trust?
How might you put a specific practice from this book into action in your own work/life/home space?
June discussion questions:
June 28, 2019 - Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
Welcome back!
Share your name and one thing that went well this month.
What was your favourite chapter of this book?
What did you think of the part where Rachel takes issue with the term 'girl boss'? (p. 91) Do you see any merit in using terms like this (e.g. boss babe, lady boss) among women? Among men?
Which of the six "skills to acquire" resonated most with you, based on where you are right now in pursuing a goal? Planning, confidence, persistence, effectiveness, positivity, lead-her-ship...
What do you find is currently the #1 barrier to "going all in" on your goal(s)?
Any other takeaways, comments on the book?
May discussion questions:
May 30, 2019 - The Latte Factor by David Bach
The first meeting of The #bossbabe Book Club
Welcome!
Share your name, where you live, and one #bossbabe who inspires you :)
In the chat, share whether you liked reading this book.
What did you think of the part where Zoey’s boss Barbara shares statistics about women related to earning/saving? “You have to be your own Prince Charming, Zoey.” p. 73-74.
Did you draw any connections to other parts of your life? Family, friends, health, pursuing your dreams…
What part of this book stood out most to you? What was your takeaway?
