At a recent InterVarsity conference, the Women in the Academy & Professions team handed out a list of books we've found helpful in caring for women in academia — and we thought you might like to see it as well. We'd also welcome hearing about books you've found helpful. Add your reading recommendations in the comments section below.

On Career Challenges

Bateson, Mary Catherine. Composing a Life. New York: Grove Press, 1989.

Bateson’s book is a classic look at the lives of academic women that continues to provide helpful guidance and wisdom to modern day scholars.

Hewlett, Sylvia Ann. Off-Ramps and On-Ramps: Keeping Talented Women on the Road to Success. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 2007.

Business woman and researcher Hewlett explores the ways in which companies can keep capable women in their organizations by offering options for getting off and on the career path.

Philipsen, Maike Ingrid. Challenges of the Faculty Career for Women:Success and Sacrifice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2008.

A secular book based on interviews of women faculty members, Philipsen presents a realistic picture of the challenges of life in academia for women.

On Motherhood and Career

Mason, Mary Ann & Eve Mason Ekman. Mothers on the Fast Track: How a New Generation Can Balance Family and Careers. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.

This mother and daughter team traced career paths of women in academia, law, medicine, business, and the media in order to create a guide for how to balance a successful career with family. The book gives a helpful look at current secular wisdom on this topic.

Stone, Pamela. Opting Out: Why Women Really Quit Careers and Head Home. Los Angeles: University of California Press, Berkeley, 2007.

Interviewing women who have chosen to leave their active career path to be at-home moms, Stone looks behind surface explanations to the deeper issues influencing their decisions.

Working with Men

Barton, Ruth Haley. Equal to the Task: Men and Women in Partnership. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1998.

Barton provides a helpful discussion on men and women partnering. Emphasizing biblical truth and practical insight, she includes chapters on sexuality, marriage and parenting, workplace challenges, and ministry applications.

Feldhahn, Shaunti. The Male Factor: The Unwritten Rules, Misperceptions, and Secret Beliefs of Men in the Workplace. New York: Random House, 2009.

Feldhahn has produced a mainstream book which compiles her interviews of a large sample of men on their perceptions and attitudes in the workplace, particularly in regard to female colleagues. Her research provides insight into how male colleagues interpret female behavior, communication styles, and dress. A version which includes a Christian-specific chapter is available.

Theology of Women and Women’s Roles

Gundry, Stanley N., James R. Beck, Linda L. Belleville, Craig L. Blomberg, Craig S. Keener, Thomas R. Schreiner. Two Views on Women in Ministry. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005.

A thoughtful and civil comparison of complementarian and egalitarian positions, the book presents essays from male and female theologians supporting each view.

James, Carolyn Custis. Lost Women of the Bible: Finding Strength and Significance Through Their Stories. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005.

Dallas Seminary graduate James puts her theology training to good use looking at familiar female Bible characters and revealing profound truth for all of us. Based on her interpretation of the Hebrew term “ezer” she challenges women to think of themselves as needed soldiers in the spiritual kingdom serving alongside their brothers.

Stackhouse, John G. Finally Feminist: A Pragmatic Christian Understanding of Gender. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing, 2005.

Stackhouse describes his process of becoming a feminist Christian and maps out his understanding of the theology and ministry concerns behind this decision.

Speaking to Women

Mathews, Alice P. Preaching That Speaks to Women. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing, 2003.

A seminary professor and gifted preacher, Mathews has written this book for those who want to improve their ability to effectively reach a female audience. The book presents summaries of research regarding gender differences and practical suggestions on how this might impact the delivery of a message to women.