Unleash the Girls: The Untold Story of the Invention of the Sports Bra and How It Changed the World (And Me)

by Lisa Z. Lindahl

THE BRA THAT CHANGED THE WORLD…

The 1970s saw women coming into their own, working hard to create new roles at home and in sports, culture, politics, and business. It was also the start of the “fitness revolution.” At this unique intersection of feminism and athleticism, Lisa Lindahl’s game-changing entrepreneurial journey began.

Book Clubs interested in a discussion guide for this book can host and download the discussion guide through Bookclubs.com. Here are a couple to peak your curiosity.

  • What role did adversity play in the development of the characters in this narrative?
  • How do you feel gender impacted the story’s unfolding?
"Lindahl delivers an inspiring narrative about changing the world through fearless innovation."-Publishers Weekly Booklife Prize
"The introduction of the sports bra did more than improve athletic performance. It represented a revolution in ready-to-wear clothing, and for many women athletes – past, present, and future – it actually made sports possible."
-Smithsonian Museum of American History Archivist Cathy Keen
"Love this engaging book. She just talks like we are friends over coffee but in doing so provides great insights, business advice, historical context etc. A great read to not only appreciate where an industry was born but also to question: what industry is ripe for disruption? Don't miss it!"
-Amazon Review
"...this book is an ode to women’s empowerment and drive in terms of overcoming adversity."
-Manhattan Book Review Read full review
"The sports bra was and is more than a piece of sporting equipment, it has become a symbol and a vehicle for women and girls to propel themselves forward without inhibition towards the future that they are creating. Prior to its inception, the concept of women running, jumping, lifting, competing, basically moving dynamically, caused reticence. NOW, WE RUN AND MOVE in every athletic space and then some. To say I don’t think about my sports bra anymore is to say that I am FREE to accomplish and go after anything I want. I am EMPOWERED TO EMBRACE OPPORTUNITY!" -Brandi Chastain, American retired soccer player, two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion, two-time Olympic gold-medalist, coach, and sports broadcaster
"A fabulous story of personal achievement with significant social and historical contexts.
Well written, an engaging, easy read!" -Amazon Review
An engrossing account of the entrepreneur—and the bra—that changed women’s sports. –Kirkus Reviews Read full review
Unleash The Girls: The Untold Story of the Invention of the Sports Bra and How It Changed the World (and Me) is an extraordinary narrative that should be added to every bookshelf. San Francisco Book Review Read full review

Beauty as Action: The Way of True Beauty and How Its Practice Can Change Our World

by Lisa Z. Lindahl

What Really Matters? Surprisingly, it is beauty—True Beauty.

We have all experienced moments of True Beauty—whether seeing a field of flowers, hearing a child laugh, or feeling in harmony with everything around us. Practicing True Beauty—not to be mistaken for glamour—puts us in synchronicity with the healing of our planet as well as on the path of spiritual evolution. Most importantly, by learning to engage with beauty more often, we can heal our cultural dysfunctions and transform our world and our role within it to be more positive and generative.

Beauty as Action is a Call to Action

"Lisa has a fluid way of presenting deep thoughts. Her vocabulary is spot on. I thoroughly enjoy this book, have referred it and gifted it; and I will keep my copy to refresh the ideas. Many who read this will have similar ideas, but to understand them with research and definition is quite profound. Highly recommended." -Amazon Review
"Such a thoughtful, well-researched look at the kind of beauty that really matters. Pulling from history, art, philosophy, and personal experience, Lindahl shares insights that will ring true to truth and beauty seekers. This is the kind of book you can pick up again and again, and find something new that speaks to you."
-Amazon Review
"We're surrounded by commercial products, gimmicks, procedures and enticements that promise to make us beautiful or bring beauty into our lives. But beauty can't be purchased. In this lovely book, in which Lisa Lindahl provides both inspiration and practical suggestions for those seeking inner beauty in a world in which much is superficial, the reader will discover paths to personal beauty but also ways to spread the solace and magic of spreading beauty and its healing power in the world." -Amazon Review