For our November 4 meeting, we decided to read a book that aligns with the EWTG annual conference theme, Embrace Your Power! All are welcome! Read one of these books or choose another that has inspired you. We’ll have a great discussion! 

Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are  

In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown, Ph.D., a leading expert on shame, authenticity, and belonging, shares what she’s learned from a decade of research on the power of Wholehearted Living – a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness. In her ten guideposts, Brown engages our minds, hearts, and spirits as she explores how we can cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, no matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough, and to go to bed at night thinking, yes, I am sometimes afraid, but I am also brave. And, yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable, but that doesn’t change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging. 

Valerie Jarrett, Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward 

When Valerie Jarrett interviewed a promising young lawyer named Michelle Robinson in July 1991 for a job in Chicago city government, neither knew that it was the first step on a path that would end in the White House. Jarrett soon became Michelle and Barack Obama’s trusted personal adviser and family confidante. Jarrett grew up in Chicago in the 60s as racial and gender barriers were being challenged. She found her voice in Harold Washington’s historic administration, where she began a remarkable journey and became one of the most visible and influential African American women of the twenty-first century. 

From her work ensuring equality for women and girls, advancing civil rights, reforming our criminal justice system, and improving the lives of working families, to the real stories behind some of the most stirring moments of the Obama presidency, Jarrett shares her perspective on the importance of leadership and the responsibilities of citizenship in the twenty-first century, inspiring readers to lift their own voices. 

Tara Mohr, Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead 

In her coaching and programs for women, Tara Mohr saw women “playing small” in their lives and careers, feeling frustrated, and wanting to “play bigger.” She has devised a proven way for them to achieve their dreams by playing big from the inside out.   

In the tradition of Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly, Playing Big offers real, practical tools to help women quiet self-doubt, identify their callings, “unhook” from praise and criticism, unlearn counterproductive good girl habits, and take bold action. Not all women aspire to the corner office, but every woman aspires to something. Playing Big offers tools to help every woman play bigger—whether she’s an executive, community volunteer, artist, or stay-at-home mom. 

The next meeting is Wednesday, November 4, at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. To join the book club and receive an email about the next book we’ll discuss, please email communications@ewtg.org. 

Submitted by Melissa Heild
EWTG Book Club Success Team Leader, 2026