The best books to improve your style, increase your cash, illuminate confidence from the inside out

Why am I passionate about this?

Throughout my journey, I’ve had to endure many challenges coming from humble beginnings so I wrote my book based on my experiences of being the 1st generational college graduate to overcoming many obstacles that affected my self-esteem while running a multimillion-dollar branch in the banking industry. Writing My Broken Stiletto allowed me to showcase that being resilient is a mindset that can be challenging but worth the reward when you get out of your own way.


I wrote...

My Broken Stiletto: A Woman's Guide to Up Leveling Your Faith, Finances, and Fashion

By Tereill Peay,

Book cover of My Broken Stiletto: A Woman's Guide to Up Leveling Your Faith, Finances, and Fashion

What is my book about?

My Broken Stiletto is your navigation guide on how to take calculated risks that matter the most to your success and leap confidently into your purpose. This book is an easy read and gives you the tools to increase your mindset, budget your finances, and improve your style so that you can land your dream job and feel good about yourself in the process. 

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person

Tereill Peay Why did I love this book?

This book gave me the inspiration that I could release the people-pleasing effect and learned to say yes to myself.

This book helped me to examine my belief system of how I approach my self-image and how that affected the people around me including my family and friends.

If you are a creative person, an entrepreneur, a mom, or someone struggling with balancing your life and tend to put yourself last, this book will help you shift your mindset and perspective to show up authentically for yourself first.

Having a list of demands on your neck can feel overwhelming and Shonda shows us how to handle it all from her mishaps all while looking amazingly stunning in the process. For me, it was allowing myself to relinquish control and say yes to the things that light me up.

Shonda’s journey of navigating Hollywood lets us know that we all have the same struggles but can overcome them when we say yes to ourselves in a big way. This by far is one of my favorite books and surprisingly filled with hilarious stories that make you feel human no matter your income level or background.

By Shonda Rhimes,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Year of Yes as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

As the mega-talented creator of Grey's Anatomyand Scandaland executive producer of How to Get Away with Murderand the single mom of three children, Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say NO when an unexpected invitation arrived. Hollywood party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No. [The side benefit of saying No for an introvert like her: nothing new to fear.]

Then Shonda's sister laid down a challenge: just for one year, try to say YES to the invitations that come your way. Shonda reluctantly agreed?and the result was nothing short of transformative. In YEAR OF YES, Shonda Rhimes…


Book cover of Better Than Good Hair: The Curly Girl Guide to Healthy, Gorgeous Natural Hair!

Tereill Peay Why did I love this book?

As a black woman who has had to explain my hair texture, color, and why my hair does what it does has affected my self-esteem at times. This process was simplified with the help of Curly Nikki’s,  Better Than Good Hair which is a must-read.

It doesn’t matter if you struggle with kinky, coiled, or straight having a hair problem can be problematic. This book has changed my life in the sense of how I show up in my truth. If you have ever second-guessed yourself or are in a pinch and unsure what to do with your hair, products, or styling this is your book to grab.

Curly Nikki has changed the game on how women are seen in corporate and not only that hair is an extension of our outfits but tied to our souls. Therefore, it is super important to protect your hair piece and your peace.

It doesn’t matter what ethnicity you are you will learn how to handle your hair care so that you are not feeling left behind. This comes with styling techniques, product recommendations, and the tools to look beautiful in a pinch.

By Nikki Walton, Ernessa T. Carter,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Better Than Good Hair as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A revolution is sweeping through the homes, offices, and salons of black American women. Relaxers are out. Weaves are so yesterday. Tired of the expense and damage of chemical treatments and artificial enhancers, women of color are going natural thanks to Nikki Walton of CurlyNikki.com, the natural hair blogger and expert on online hair therapy. In "Better Than Good Hair", this gifted curl whisperer educates women on how to transition from relaxed to completely natural hair, with advice and styles for every length, from fierce braid-n-curls to fancy faux buns. She also counsels those considering the big chop-cutting it all…


Book cover of The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

Tereill Peay Why did I love this book?

I was introduced to this book by a business mastermind which we all read together and discussed chapters on video.

Imagine twenty women from different countries trying to not only understand each other and implement at the same time. I’m not sure what was more entertaining our language barrier or our interpretations. Nevertheless, I was blown away by the amount of structure and stretches that this book presents.

We all agreed to do the stretches as they relate to our lives. One of the many to-do’s was making a list of things that are unfinished and getting to it no matter how big or small. Now I must warn you this is a pretty thick book and I use it as a reference whenever I need a pick-me-up when life seems chaotic.

Mostly I reference the chapters that I feel are in alignment with where I am struggling in day-to-day routines. Jack breaks down how to organize your thoughts with everyday habits. I knew this book was golden when I stopped judging myself for feeling bad when my house was out of order.

Jack gives tips on how to declutter your mind and personal space, but in a practical way so that you don’t feel overwhelmed. This is not only one of my favorite books but a good resource to reset when you are stressed or having hard moments.

By Jack Canfield, Janet Switzer,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked The Success Principles as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, a revised and updated edition of Jack Canfield’s classic bestseller with a brand new foreword and an afterword for succeeding in the digital age.

Since its publication a decade ago, Jack Canfield’s practical and inspiring guide has helped thousands of people transform themselves for success. Now, he has revised and updated his essential guidebook to reflect our changing times.

In The Success Principles, the cocreator of the phenomenal bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series, helps you get from where you are to where you want to be, teaching you how to increase your…


Book cover of Millionaire Success Habits: The Gateway to Wealth & Prosperity

Tereill Peay Why did I love this book?

Now this book was a Christmas gift from my daughter who was 23 at the time. I typically will submit a readers list to my family around the holidays but this one was not on my list believe it or not.

Little did I know that it would become one of my favorite books and here's why. Dean doesn’t sugarcoat his experience around what it takes to get to the next level. He gives you real examples and will challenge you to get out of your comfort zone very similar to Jack Canfield but with a totally different writing style.

The difference between Jack and Dean, in my opinion, is that Dean uses a more personal approach to storytelling so you feel like you are on the journey right along with him the good the bad, and the ugly.

He then goes into detail about the who, what, and why you should follow the road to success and how to manage your habits in an approachable manner.

My favorite exercise from the book is a 30-day stretch of no news of any kind. It is an adjustment and will test your abilities but a really fun way to challenge yourself to stay committed to your goals. Something you will get to exercise throughout the book without feeling like a failure.`

By Dean Graziosi,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Millionaire Success Habits as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'This book is packed with heart, energy and hard-won wisdom that will transform your life. A must-read for anyone who wants to take control of their life.' - Marie Forleo, entrepreneur, author, philanthropist and founder of MarieTV and B-School

Millionaire Success Habits is a book designed with one purpose in mind: to take you from where you are in life to where you want to be in life by incorporating easy-to-implement 'Success Habits' into your daily routine.

Legendary business coach Dean Graziosi has broken down the walls of complexity around success and created simple success recipes that you can quickly…


Book cover of Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time

Tereill Peay Why did I love this book?

If you are anything like me you might have a hard time with your to-do list. Typically I don’t have an issue with doing things that light me up it’s those boring tasks that suck the joy out of your day which then leads to procrastination.

Well, say no more to that notion once you dive into this book. Eat that Frog is a small but powerful book that will help you with productivity. I call this a golden egg because I’ve been able to implement many of his strategies into my everyday life with ease and flow.

The concept of the book is to do the thing that you wouldn’t want to do first and that would be eating the frog. Trust me on this it works and once you get going you might find yourself in a place that is unrecognizable in a good way.

This book is small but powerful and so easy to implement daily routines. I find many routines have now become a part of my everyday life which has increased my productivity.

By Brian Tracy,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Achieve work-life balance by conquering procrastination and get your most important work done, now with new chapters on technology and maintaining focus

The fully revised and expanded edition of the global bestseller with over 3 million copies sold world-wide

The saying goes: if the first thing you do each morning is eat a live frog, then you’re done with the toughest thing for the day. Eating that frog means tackling your most challenging task—and it’s also the one that can have the greatest positive impact on your life.

Productivity and time management coach Brian Tracy shows you how to organize…


You might also like...

Book cover of Benghazi! A New History of the Fiasco that Pushed America and its World to the Brink

Ethan Chorin Author Of Benghazi! A New History of the Fiasco that Pushed America and its World to the Brink

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Story-lover Middle East expert Curious Iconoclast Optimist

Ethan's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

Benghazi: A New History is a look back at the enigmatic 2012 attack on the US mission in Benghazi, Libya, its long-tail causes, and devastating (and largely unexamined) consequences for US domestic politics and foreign policy. It contains information not found elsewhere, and is backed up by 40 pages of citations and interviews with more than 250 key protagonists, experts, and witnesses.

So far, the book is the main -- and only -- antidote to a slew of early partisan “Benghazi” polemics, and the first to put the attack in its longer term historical, political, and social context. If you want to understand some of the events that have shaped present-day America, from political polarization and the election of Donald Trump, to January 6, the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russian expansionism, and the current Israel-Hamas war, I argue, you need to understand some of the twists and turns of America's most infamous "non-scandal, scandal.”

I was in Benghazi well before, during, and after the attack as a US diplomat and co-director of a medical NGO. I have written three books, and have been a contributor to The NYT, Foreign Affairs, Forbes, Salon, The Financial Times, Newsweek, and others.

By Ethan Chorin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Benghazi! A New History of the Fiasco that Pushed America and its World to the Brink as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

On September 11, 2012, Al Qaeda proxies attacked and set fire to the US mission in Benghazi, Libya, killing a US Ambassador and three other Americans.  The attack launched one of the longest and most consequential 'scandals' in US history, only to disappear from public view once its political value was spent. 

Written in a highly engaging narrative style by one of a few Western experts on Libya, and decidely non-partisan, Benghazi!: A New History is the first to provide the full context for an event that divided, incited, and baffled most of America for more than three years, while silently reshaping…


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