In the Company of Women

In the Company of Women features over 100 interviews with female entrepreneurs, artists, and makers who have built creative businesses and careers. Grace Bonney, founder of Design*Sponge, photographs and profiles women across industries including design, food, media, and fashion. The book explores each subject's workspace, daily routines, and professional journey through candid Q&A-style interviews. These women share their inspirations, challenges, and advice for others pursuing independent creative work. The subjects represent diverse backgrounds, ages, locations, and fields - from tattoo artists to architects, chefs to ceramicists. Their stories highlight different paths to success and various definitions of achievement. This collection examines themes of perseverance, authenticity, and community among creative women entrepreneurs. The profiles reveal patterns in how these leaders approach risk, define success, and balance their personal and professional lives.

Readers appreciate the diverse representation of female entrepreneurs and creative professionals featured in the book, with many noting the value of seeing successful women from different backgrounds, ages, and industries. The photography and visual design receive frequent mentions for their quality and impact. Common praise focuses on the interview format providing practical business advice and relatable personal stories. Multiple reviewers highlighted specific insights about overcoming obstacles and building confidence. Main criticisms center on the interviews being too brief and surface-level, with some readers wanting deeper discussions of challenges and failures. Several reviewers noted redundant questions across interviews. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (500+ ratings) Representative review: "Beautiful photos and inspiring stories, but I wished the interviews dug deeper instead of staying so polite and positive. Still worth reading for exposure to so many different paths to success." - Goodreads reviewer

Bad Girls Throughout History by Sarah Shen This biographical collection features 100 revolutionary women who challenged societal norms and changed the course of history through art, business, politics, and science.

200 Women by Geoff Blackwell and Ruth Hobday This compilation shares stories of 200 women from different backgrounds who answer the same five questions about life, success, and their paths forward.

Vital Voices by Alyse Nelson The book profiles women leaders worldwide who have built movements, transformed communities, and created lasting change in business and social justice.

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés The text examines female power through multicultural myths, fairy tales, and stories that illuminate women's experiences and creative forces.

We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers This guide presents strategies and frameworks used by women entrepreneurs who built successful businesses while confronting systemic barriers.

🌟 Grace Bonney founded Design*Sponge, one of the most influential design blogs of the early 2000s, which ran for 15 years and reached nearly 2 million readers daily 📸 The book features over 100 influential women creatives, each photographed in their workspace alongside an in-depth interview about their career journey 🎨 The diverse group of women featured includes musicians, tattoo artists, architects, hoteliers, media titans, and ceramicists across multiple age groups, backgrounds, and locations ✨ The project was inspired by Bonney's own coming out journey and her desire to showcase LGBTQ+ business owners alongside other underrepresented groups in creative industries 📚 The book became a New York Times bestseller and inspired a follow-up interview series where Bonney traveled across the country hosting live conversations with women entrepreneurs