The Big Issue publishes new Letter to My Younger Self book, this time featuring inspirational women

The Big Issue today proudly publishes a second Letter to My Younger Self book, featuring advice and wisdom from some of the most famous and influential women in the world today.

Following the global success of the first Letter to My Younger Self collection, which arrived in 2019, this new collection is also published by Bonnier Books. The first book sold tens of thousands of copies in the UK and has been published in Brazil, Portugal, Greece, Germany and is set to appear soon in China.

Following its huge success, the need for a second volume became obvious.

Letter to My Younger Self: Inspirational Women is a collection of interviews with interesting, clever, funny women of substance conducted for The Big Issue magazine over the last 15 years. Readers will discover fascinating life stories, tales of extraordinary courage and tenacity, and some very funny and unique words with some of the most inspiring women in the world.

• 7 lessons from inspirational women: Wisdom from the new Letter To My Younger Self book
• Why ‘inspirational women’ was an obvious theme for our new Letter To My Younger Self book

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Jane Graham created the idea of a ‘Letter to my Younger Self’ interview feature for Big Issue in 2007. The interviews began as a single column in the Scottish edition of The Big Issue magazine, then became a full page, then went into the UK wide magazine, doubling in size. 

It has since become an institution and key part of Big Issue identity. It is the place in the magazine where new truths about interesting people are found: experiences, frustrations, aspirations, regrets. Regardless of race, culture or creed, the interviews show people contemplating openly what is truly important in life.

The names are brilliant and eclectic, from Queen of Country Dolly Parton to reluctant national treasure Alison Steadman, from legendary Avenger Honor Blackman to primetime TV star Alesha Dixon, from movie rule-breaker Gurinder Chadha to acting royalty Glenda Jackson. The common themes are revealing: lack of self-esteem, appearance anxieties, complicated relationships with mothers and approaches to relationships and loss.

You can buy Letter to My Younger Self: Inspirational Women from Bookshop.org, which helps to support The Big Issue and independent bookshops.