Nine books that should be read when you are over 40

There are simply books that take you further in life. Because they have a very special message, because we can learn something from them or because they are really fun. We picked out seven very special and really good specimens that actually always go – but will be of particular interest to women around or over 40.

1. "My gentle twin" from Nino Haratikvili. Why? Because it is incredibly well written and with the story about the siblings of Ivo and Stella you get three things delivered at once: a thriller, a thriller and a love story. Great drama and deep abysses, the extent of which you probably only understand from a certain age.

2nd "Fuck Beauty" from Nunu Kaller. Why? Because it is a clever book that explains why we are as beautiful as we are – and why we should not be told otherwise. Although this is constantly being tried. 96 percent of all women worldwide have something to complain about, only four percent find themselves really beautiful. Reading could help.

3rd "Anna Karenina" from Leo Tolstoy. Why? Because it's a classic that's worth it. Also much easier to read than something like "war and peace". It still sounds smart when you know him and is also a really, really thrilling story.

4th "From the end of loneliness" from Benedict Wells. Why? Because it is infinitely sad, but so wonderful that you miss something if you haven't read it. The fact that the author was just 30 when this book was published is absolutely secondary, because the book contains so many wisdoms that one can hardly believe that the guy is even a day younger than we are.

5. "Single Mom: What it really means to be a single parent" from Caroline Rosales. Why? Because, of course, it is particularly interesting for single parents, but also for everyone who wants to become one or doesn't want to. And most of them separate between 30 and 40. It is also honest, entertaining and at the same time encourages.

6. "There Are No Grown-Ups. A Midlife of Coming-of-Age-Story" from Pamela Druckerman. Why? We have known that Pamela Druckerman is a bank when it comes to smart entertainment, at the latest since "Why French children are not a nuisance". Anyone who knows and likes this should definitely read the new book by Druckerman. – but everyone else too. It is very wise, funny and extremely sincere about life as "Fortysomething". We even do this in English, at least as long as the whole thing is not yet in German, at least.

7. "My brilliant friend" from Elena Ferrante. Why? For those who have not yet started the quadrology around the two Italian friends: Now is the right time. And best of all, there are three others that you can read right after.

8th. "Down around free" from Margarete Stokowski. Why? You should actually be reading this book at 14 and not at 40. Unfortunately, that didn't exist yet. Spiegel online columnist Margarete Stokowski tells what it is like to grow up as a girl in Germany. A really provocative plea for change that we can then give to our daughters.

9. "Mommy needs a drink. Diary of an exhausted mother" from Gill Sims. Why? The title alone is very inviting and understanding, isn't it ?! Aren't we all a bit exhausted? And don't we (almost) all need a drink? Well, then you know about it.

And if you prefer to listen to some books besides reading a lot, you can find them at Audible numerous audio books that entertain and inspire you.