The Best Health and Fitness Exercise Books for Women
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When it comes to health and fitness, women today have access to more information than ever. Social media is full of short clips, quick tips, and “try this workout!” trends that seem to change every week. But sometimes, the best place to find real, structured, research-backed advice is still inside a great book.
A good fitness book doesn’t just give you random moves. It gives you:
Full training plans
Clear explanations of strength training and weight training
Instruction on proper form
Support for injury prevention
Tools to build a strong body for life
Whether you want fat loss, muscle building, better energy, a lean body, or simply a healthier lifestyle, this list will help you find your next shelf-worthy read.
Below are the best fitness books for women, written in a friendly tone and packed with descriptions so you can find the perfect match for your goals.
1. Thinner Leaner Stronger – Michael Matthews
If you’re a woman who wants a simple, results-driven plan for fat loss, strength training, and building a lean body, this book is a standout choice. Written specifically for the female body, it breaks down what actually works without overwhelming you.
What This Book Covers
How to eat for weight loss without starving yourself
Why lifting heavier (not lighter) helps sculpt feminine curves
Weekly training plans
Clear explanations of calories, macros, and progressive overload
How women can build muscle without bulking up
Why Women Love It
It directly addresses fears many women have about weight training and explains the science behind building muscle, losing fat, and creating a strong body—not just a smaller one.
Perfect For You If…
You want structure, clarity, and a plan that respects your physiology and your fitness goals.
2. Bigger Leaner Stronger – Michael Matthews
Though originally written for men, many women love reading Bigger Leaner Stronger alongside Thinner Leaner Stronger. It offers deeper insights into lifting techniques, programming, and long-term strength development.
What You’ll Learn
How strength training actually works
The rules of weight training progression
How muscle grows and why intensity matters
Why building muscle is key to long-term fat loss
Why It Belongs on a Women’s List
The core concepts apply to anyone. Understanding strength from a broader perspective can help you unlock the basics of powerlifting, barbell training, and building confidence in the gym.
Perfect For You If…
You want a deeper dive into weight training and enjoy learning about the systems behind great results.
3. ROAR: Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Unique Female Physiology – Dr. Stacy Sims
This is the book every woman wishes she had read sooner. Instead of giving one-size-fits-all advice, Dr. Stacy Sims highlights the unique female physiology and teaches you how to tailor your workouts and nutrition around your hormones, cycle, and life stages.
What This Book Covers
How different menstrual cycle phases affect strength and endurance
How to fuel pre- and post-workout as a woman
How hormones impact hydration, recovery, and fat loss
Training strategies for perimenopause and menopause
Why It’s a Favorite
You’ll feel seen, understood, and empowered. It’s not just about fitness—it’s about long-term health, performance, and the best version of yourself at every age.
Perfect For You If…
You want your workouts to align with your body instead of fighting against it.
4. Strong Curves: A Woman’s Guide to Building a Better Butt and Body – Bret Contreras & Kellie Davis
If your goal is glute strength, posture improvement, and a lean, sculpted lower body, this book is gold. The glutes are powerful for strength, stability, and injury prevention—and this book teaches you how to train them effectively.
What This Book Covers
Training plans from beginner to advanced
Dozens of hip thrust, squat, and deadlift variations
Corrective exercises for glute activation
Step-by-step photos for clear form guidance
Full-body workouts with glute emphasis
Why Women Love It
Glute training is not just about looks—it’s about improving core-strength exercises, reducing back pain, and creating more powerful movement patterns.
Perfect For You If…
You want a stronger, rounder, more functional lower body and love structured programs.
5. Becoming a Supple Leopard – Dr. Kelly Starrett
Mobility, form, and injury prevention matter just as much as strength. This book is a massive resource designed to help you move better, lift better, and prevent pain.
What This Book Covers
How to assess your movement
How to identify mobility restrictions
Corrective exercises you can do anywhere
Safe positioning for major lifts
Injury-prevention methods for long-term success
Why It’s Important for Women
Women often juggle busy schedules, home workouts, work responsibilities, and family life. This book helps you perform strength training safely and teaches you how to maintain your body so you can keep training for years to come.
Perfect For You If…
You’ve struggled with mobility issues, nagging pain, or want to learn the “mechanics” behind safe lifting.
6. The Women’s Health Big Book of Exercises – Adam Campbell
If you love visual guides, variety, and building your own workouts, this giant book will be your new favorite. It’s one of the most complete exercise collections written for women.
What This Book Covers
Hundreds of exercises with step-by-step photos
Focused chapters for every muscle group
Routines for home workouts and gym workouts
Full-body, core, and body-part training templates
Why Women Love It
It’s incredibly easy to flip through when you’re bored with your routine or want to try something new. The photos make form simple to understand, and the workouts fit all levels.
Perfect For You If…
You love variety and want a huge library of exercises in one place.
7. Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training – Mark Rippetoe
Considered one of the most influential strength training books ever written, this title focuses on the foundational barbell lifts: squat, deadlift, overhead press, bench press, and power clean.
What This Book Covers
How to perform each lift safely
Form cues and mechanical explanations
How to build strength progressively
Beginner-friendly training templates
Why Women Should Consider It
Learning the basics of barbell training builds independence, confidence, and a strong body at any age. Barbell exercises also support bone density, posture, and long-term mobility.
Perfect For You If…
You want to master the essential lifts and feel confident stepping into the weight room.
8. The One-Minute Workout – Martin Gibala
Busy women rejoice — this book explains how short bursts of intense exercise can deliver huge results. If long workouts aren’t always possible, this is a refreshing and encouraging approach.
What This Book Covers
Science behind ultra-efficient interval training
Easy-to-follow HIIT templates
Short routines that require minimal equipment
Ways to adjust workouts to your fitness level
Why Women Love It
HIIT is perfect for women juggling kids, careers, or tight schedules. You can combine these workouts with strength training from other books for a balanced routine.
Perfect For You If…
Your biggest barrier is time and you want efficient workouts that still improve cardiovascular fitness.
9. The 4-Hour Body – Timothy Ferriss
This is one of the most unconventional fitness books ever written. It’s bold, experimental, and covers everything from rapid fat-loss to sleep hacks to techniques that affect overall quality of life.
What This Book Covers
Unique fat-loss strategies
Strength tricks and unconventional training
Approaches to better energy, better recovery, and yes… incredible sex
Nutrition protocols and self-experiments
Ways to measure progress efficiently
Why Women Enjoy It
It’s not a traditional “fitness book.” It’s more like a vault of experiments that may spark new motivation. Ferriss challenges mainstream ideas and encourages readers to think outside the box.
Perfect For You If…
You enjoy researching new approaches, want a fresh spark in your routine, or like trying alternative fitness methods.
**10. The Supple Leopard Companion Workbooks and Guides (Optional Add-Ons)
(For women who want deeper mobility work)**
Although not required, many women add on smaller companion guides that include mobility flows, stretching blueprints, and quick daily movement routines. These pair perfectly with strength training books like Thinner Leaner Stronger or Strong Curves.
11. The Female Body Breakthrough – Rachel Cosgrove
This is a motivational, empowering read that focuses on mindset and muscle. Cosgrove is known for helping women understand their strength potential while also breaking down myths about “toning” vs “training.”
What This Book Covers
A full 16-week strength program
Nutrition guidance
Mindset support and habit-building
How to shift from fear-based fitness to goal-based fitness
Why Women Love It
It’s a great balance of emotional empowerment and practical planning. The focus is on strength, confidence, and becoming the strongest version of yourself.
Perfect For You If…
You want a motivating book that addresses both the mind and the muscle.
12. Lift Like a Girl – Nia Shanks
Short, refreshing, and to the point, this book is all about empowering women to embrace strength without overcomplicating fitness.
What This Book Covers
Simple, effective strength training
How to ditch diet culture pressure
How to build healthy habits around exercise
Why strength creates confidence
Why It Stands Out
Shanks is relatable and down-to-earth. Many women read this book and feel instantly motivated to pick up a barbell or dumbbells—even if they’re beginners.
Perfect For You If…
You want simple, straightforward advice that helps you stop overthinking and start lifting.
13. Bodyweight Strength Training Anatomy – Bret Contreras
Sometimes you want strength training without equipment, and this book is one of the best visual guides for learning how to maximize home workouts.
What This Book Covers
Detailed illustrations showing muscles in action
Progressions for push-ups, squats, lunges, and glute moves
Core-strength exercises
Bodyweight training plans
Why Women Love It
You don’t need a gym to build a strong, capable body. This book proves that bodyweight training can be highly effective—especially when done correctly.
Perfect For You If…
You want to train at home, on vacation, or outdoors without relying on equipment.
14. Strength Training for Women – Various Authors (Multiple Editions)
Many publishers have released powerful, beginner-friendly books specifically designed for women entering the world of strength training.
What These Books Commonly Include
Beginner weight training plans
Intro to dumbbells, barbells, and resistance bands
Injury prevention tips
Confidence-building techniques
Why They’re Helpful
They’re excellent for women who feel intimidated by the gym or who want a soft introduction before diving into bigger books like Starting Strength.
Perfect For You If…
You’re brand new to lifting and want a gentle start.
Final Thoughts: Building the Best Version of You
The best fitness books aren’t the ones with the most complex science or the flashiest covers. They’re the books that help you take consistent action, build confidence, and feel proud of your progress.
Whether you want:
Strength training
Weight training
Rapid fat-loss ideas
A revolutionary approach to female physiology
Home workouts
Injury prevention
Better mobility
A lean body
A strong body
…there’s a book on this list that will support your goals.
Every woman deserves to feel strong, capable, and empowered. Use these books as tools to help you build lasting habits, healthier routines, and a fitness lifestyle that uplifts your quality of life every day.