Meghan Markle's Favorite Books Are The Perfect Inspirational Reading List

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, often finds herself at the center of the spotlight and is frequently the recipient of both high accolades and harsh criticisms.  Nevertheless, Markle is an inspirational woman, recognized for her humanitarian work and championing causes such as social justice, gender equality, and mental health awareness. As a UN women's advocate for political participation and leadership, Markle gave empowering and motivational speeches. Yet, despite her busy schedule, the Duchess of Sussex always finds time to read.

In fact, Markle is an avid reader, and glimpses of her home during interviews and photoshoots catch bookshelves adorned with all sorts of inspirational books. Many of the books she's read have helped shape who she is today, and she is known for recommending her favorite books to her fans worldwide. She also contributed her own ideas in the writing of a 2017 book titled "The Game Changers: Success Secrets From 40 Women At The Top: How To Become A Fearless, Fabulous Girl Boss." 

Markle is a proper bookworm, and while publishing her former blog The Tig, made honest reviews of the books she read, including the famous "Badass Reading List" in 2016. "To me, a badass is one who is strong of spirit, brave and fearless, self-aware yet selfless, and always striving to be the best version of themselves," she wrote (via Radical Reads). So, if you find yourself in a reading slump, Markle's favorite books are the perfect inspirational reading list to get you, well, inspired to pick up reading again or pick up the next book to help overcome your book hangover.

The first book that Meghan Markle included in her "Badass Reading List" is "The Motivation Manifesto" by Brendon Burchard. Published in 2014, the book is hailed by Paulo Coelho as "a triumphant work that transcends the title, lifting the reader from mere motivation into a soaringly purposeful and meaningful life." In this self-help book, Brendon Burchard gives his nine declarations for personal improvement using prominent historical figures as examples and giving practical ideas for implementing these declarations in one's life.

According to the book, only two enemies hold us back: society and our own doubts and fears. Learning to move past your doubts and overcoming your fears while reclaiming your life is something that deeply resonates with the duchess, who candidly admitted her suicidal thoughts during her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. "I just didn't want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought," Markle said in the interview, parts of which were posted to YouTube by ITV News.

Markle revealed that "this book is a must-have for waking up your inner badass, and being the very best version of yourself," as Burchard guides his reader towards achieving personal growth and self-empowerment through freedom from self-doubts and a positive, resilient mindset (via Meghan's Mirror).

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

"When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi is a worldwide bestseller and Amazon editor's pick in the category of best biographies and memoirs. The New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize finalist by the late neurosurgeon Kalanithi is an uplifting book that shows that even in the prospect of death, there are still places to search for beauty and hope in one's life.

Kalanithi, a medical student on his way to a brilliant career as a neurosurgeon, was diagnosed with inoperable stage IV lung cancer at the tender age of 36. The memoir follows his heartwrenching — yet utterly inspiring — "transformation from a medical student asking what makes a virtuous and meaningful life into a neurosurgeon working in the core of human identity — the brain — and finally into a patient and a new father."

The book, which has over 6,500 reviews on Goodreads and an average rating of 4.7 stars on Amazon, has not left Meghan Markle untouched. She shared her recommendation for it on her Instagram account before deactivating it. If you are looking for a book that examines the profound intricacies of life, "When Breath Becomes Air" stands as an exceptional choice, backed up by the duchess herself, making Kalanithi one of the Kindle authors you should be reading right now. 

"The Little Prince" by Antoine De Saint-Exupery is a timeless, classic fable that, despite being a children's book, actually touches on the deeper meanings of life and what it takes for someone to be truly happy. Seeing with your heart, for example, is a secret to happiness shared in the book: "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye" and "The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart."

Few books have left such a profound impact worldwide. With over 200 million copies sold, the 1943 book has been translated into 571 languages and dialects, making it one of the most universally cherished children's books of our time.

The Duchess of Sussex has not been left untouched by the beauty of this fable and its symbolism. She wrote in her "Badass Reading List" that she has "long been obsessed with this book, and specifically with The Little Fox. Even if I don't revisit the entire existential text (masked as a children's book), the chapter of The Little Fox unearths a truth in me that is always worth the check-in," (via Radical Reads). So, if you are looking to inspire yourself or warm the hearts of little children and ignite the young minds around you, this one is definitely worth looking into.

Written in 1950, "The Four-Chambered Heart" by Anaïs Nin unfolds the real-life affair the author shared with café guitarist Gonzalo Moré in 1936. Set against the backdrop of a rented houseboat on the Seine, the story revolves around the characters Djuna and Rango as they navigate their complex relationship. The novel delves into Nin's concern for the impact of the external world on one's inner life, with Djuna expressing a fear of shallow living and a desire to delve into the depths.

The book had a profound impact on Meghan Markle, who admitted in her guest editor letter for the September 2019 British Vogue issue that the book has a "quote that has always resonated with me: 'I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.' For this issue, I imagined, why would we swim in the shallow end of the pool when we could go to the deep end? A metaphor for life, as well as for this issue. Let's be braver. Let's go a bit deeper."

While not a contemporary by all means, Nin's novel touches on issues of resilience, fears, doubts, and the transformative power of embracing opportunities and letting go of things that hold us back. The allegorical nature of "The Four-Chambered Heart" comes as a timeless exploration of the human experience, offering insights into self-discovery and our ability to overcome internal obstacles to be the best and happiest version of ourselves.

In our pursuit of happiness, we are always in a perpetual search of something better, bigger, fancier. The grass is always greener on the other side, and we all want to do better for ourselves: find love, get a better job, achieve financial security, and be acknowledged for what we do. This leads us to a never-ending rat race and unexpected changes, much like the four characters of "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson, who are trapped in a maze continuously hunting for cheese.

Johnson gives us a concise, easy-to-read book that is more than meets the eye. At first glance, the book might not seem like much. In fact, its inclusion in Meghan Markle's top list might come as a surprise. She, herself had a similar reaction when she was asked to read it during college. "A professor at Northwestern University had this book on our list of required reading for an Industrial Engineering class I took my junior year of college," Markle said in her "Badass Reading List" (via Radical Reads). "It was a seemingly odd choice, but at the end of the day, the takeaway was a self-empowerment and motivational bent that I apply to decision making in my life to this very day. It's an invaluable quick read."

"Who Moved My Cheese?" is a delightful book that shares practical strategies for handling change, minimizing stress, and defining personal success. It's a book that will certainly inspire you and help you step outside of the maze that we — sometimes — willingly put ourselves into.