THE AWAKENED WOMAN

An African woman buries her written dreams in the dirt and makes them come true.

Trent, known as Oprah Winfrey's "all-time favorite guest," grew up poor in a small cattle-herding village in Zimbabwe. Married by 14 and a mother of three by 18, the author had little to look forward to other than a life of sexual, physical, and verbal abuse, grueling work, and more children. But when an American woman came to her village and dared to ask Trent about her dreams, this set in motion a series of steps that led Trent to bury her written dreams in the dirt near her home. By rooting her intentions firmly in the ground, she was able to work toward her goals and eventually got to the United States, where she earned a college degree, master’s degree, and a doctorate. With help from Winfrey, Trent fulfilled the final step of her dream: building a school in her village in Africa so that young girls could receive an education. The author intertwines her personal memoir of life in Africa with stories from her grandmothers, snippets of African history, and insights into the culture, and she then adds practical steps women can take to fulfill their own dreams. If a woman identifies and writes down what she truly hungers for, confronts her fears, visualizes her future unfolding as she plans each step, and gains the support of other women as she embarks on her journey, anything is possible. Trent's energy and conviction are evident throughout the book, and her story is invigorating, revitalizing, motivating, and encouraging. Although many women will never face the hardships Trent did, others will find her story highly resonant and be able to use her methodology to work toward their own goals.

An empowering story coupled with easy-to-navigate steps that can help any woman achieve her full potential.