10/10/2026
Two remarkable women. Two books worth reading
With the recent passing of Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem, these two books feel especially worth sharing.
✨ Ain’t Nobody’s Fool — A fascinating look beyond Dolly’s glam, rhinestones and music to the determination, resilience, business savvy and generosity behind her extraordinary life. It follows Dolly from her childhood in the Smoky Mountains to her life in Nashville, where she faced rejection before becoming a singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman and philanthropist.
✨ My Life on the Road — Part memoir, part travel story, this book tells Steinem’s story through the people and places she encountered during decades spent traveling, listening, organizing and advocating for change. From her early experiences in India to journalism, political campaigns, the founding of Ms. magazine and the women’s movement, Steinem shows how much we can learn when we get outside of our own world and truly listen to other people. Interestingly, she never got a driver's license. She took a driver’s ed class as a teenager and initially viewed having a license as a symbol of independence. But ultimately never pursued it, as she preferred traveling as a passenger. She explained that being a passenger was part of how she experienced the world—she could talk with taxi drivers, fellow travelers, hosts and organizers, listen to their stories, and observe what was happening around her.
Different paths. Different voices. But both women refused to let others define who they should be.
Two books worth adding to your reading list. I loved them and hope you will too!
