64 Top Nonfiction Books to Read for Women's History Month

Posted by Cybil on February 26, 2022


March is Women’s History Month, dedicated to the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.
 
Some trivia for you—feel free to bust these nuggets out at your next gathering. Women’s History Month was established in 1987 after spending the previous five years as Women’s History Week. Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions extending the designation. Since then, the president has issued annual proclamations. So basically, the whole thing has to be officially re-upped every year.
 
All sorts of national institutions participate in Women’s History Month by offering various programs: the Library of Congress, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Smithsonian, even the National Park Service. Here at Goodreads, of course, we like books. And we like to pitch in.
 
Below, we’ve selected 64 books, published within the last ten years, that dig deep into the topic. We’ve divided the collection into two broad categories. First is Histories and Biographies; second is Memoirs and Autobiographies.
 
In addition to the deep and invaluable historical overviews, we’ve got specific studies on writers and thinkers, queens and spies, funny ladies and female pharaohs, first ladies and Supreme Court justices. We’ve also got your Rocket Girls, Radium Girls, Fly Girls, and Code Girls.
 
Click around and see what you like, and feel free to discuss further in the comments section.
 

Top Histories and Biographies

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Top Memoirs and Autobiographies

 



Have a great nonfiction read for Women's History Month? Be sure to share it with us in the comments below!

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Comments Showing 1-50 of 70 (70 new)


message 1: by Small Books (new)

Small Books No way


message 2: by Jen (new)

Jen Fantastic list! I can not wait to read some of these during March and the rest of the year.


message 3: by Rebecca (new)

Rebecca I recommend The Book of the City of Ladies by Christine de Pizan, the first history book about women, for women, by a woman in the French and or possibly even western literary canons.


message 4: by Elyse (new)

Elyse You can't even give Black people the whole month of the shortest month before you start the next month's "celebration?" Geez.


message 5: by Jane (new)

Jane Please add this amazing nonfiction story to the list. A woman who changed the course of WWII working within the most confining combination of early 20th century views of women and a top secret world:
The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies


message 6: by Saloni (new)

Saloni Porwal Found quite a few books here that interest me. Can't wait to try them out.


message 7: by Hannah (new)

Hannah Great list! There is definitely a few I really want to read.
It does bug me that a lot of these titles unintentionally belittle women. Like 'Fly Girls'.. Why this tendency to call bad-ass grown women 'girls'? I'm sure they could have come up with a title just as strong and compact that doesn't turn women into girls.


message 8: by chev ۫ ꣑ৎ (new)

chev ۫ ꣑ৎ It is a great list of books:) Will give it a try after reading my list of books! Add me as a friend if it interests you as much as me too.


message 9: by Kim (new)

Kim Great recs! Here's a few more:

Queen Victoria's Mysterious Daughter: A Biography of Princess Louise, by Lucinda Hawksley

Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter, by Kate Clifford Larson

Jefferson's Daughters: Three Sisters, White and Black, in a Young America, by Catherine Kerrison

Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior, by Catherine Hanley

The Princess Diarist, by Carrie Fisher


message 10: by alex. (new)

alex. Unwell Women by Elinor Clinghorn belongs on this list too! :)


message 11: by Elizabeth (new)

Elizabeth Faustina I've been wanting to read this book; excited to get around to it! :D The Privilege Of Being A Woman <3


message 12: by Libby (new)

Libby Willis Try Eleanor's Daughter, by June Hall McCash. June won a first-place award in the Chaucer competition of the Chanticleer International Book Awards for her latest historical novel, "Eleanor’s Daughter: A Novel of Marie de Champagne."


message 13: by Michael (new)

Michael women are real


message 14: by Annselm (new)

Annselm Please add "ArtemisSmith's VILNA JORGEN MORPURGO" published 6/10/2021 and now also in paperback.


message 15: by Jamie (new)

Jamie Dodge Looks like March is an exciting month!


message 16: by Michelle (new)

Michelle I'm so glad All the Single Ladies made this list. <3


message 18: by Julia (new)

Julia Not sure I would add The Witches: Salem, 1692 on this list lol. I haven't finished yet, but it's a pretty in depth look at Salem through a mostly legal perspective. It's truly fascinating, but not quite the feminist non-fiction I think they were hoping for. I mean there's some there, but it's mostly speculation.


message 19: by Nadia (new)

Nadia Tweedledum wrote: "Only in America…

Some to consider from this side of the pond : What Would Boudicca Do?: Everyday Problems Solved by History's Most Remarkable Women
[book:Rosalind Franklin: The Dar..."


Thanks for that! Some great selections!


message 20: by Nadia (new)

Nadia I'm very intrigued & excited about The Lady from the Black Lagoon & The Best We Could Do!


message 21: by Amy (new)

Amy D. What Is a Girl Worth?: My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics is written by Rachael Denhollander, a woman who helped crack open the Larry Nassar tragedy and resulting cover up. Although I don't share her faith (which is a part of the book), I am inspired by the story of a woman who never wanted to be in the spotlight but grew into a very powerful voice.

Perhaps including Maya Angelou is just too "obvious," but if anyone looking for a powerful female voice has not read any of her autobiographical books, add to your list.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Gather Together in My Name
Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas
The Heart of a Woman
All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes

Not fitting into the categories of History/Biography or Memoirs/Autobiographies, but worth considering:
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead


message 22: by Steven (new)

Steven Elyse wrote: "You can't even give Black people the whole month of the shortest month before you start the next month's "celebration?" Geez."

Perhaps they know that some people have to wait for library loans or shipped books to come in, and gave them the chance to get their hands on them. *shrugs*


message 23: by Kylie H (new)

Kylie H Between Two Kingdoms A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad
this is a wonderful autobiography about dealing with critical illness.


message 24: by Quinn (last edited Mar 01, 2022 09:42PM) (new)

Quinn Strange Hannah wrote: "Great list! There is definitely a few I really want to read.
It does bug me that a lot of these titles unintentionally belittle women. Like 'Fly Girls'.. Why this tendency to call bad-ass grown wom..."


That's a take on the term "fly boys," a very common term for pilots in WWII. It's not that deep.


message 25: by A Home Library (new)

A Home Library - Book Reviews The Five is such a great book. Glad to also see Dr Lucy Worsley on here!


message 26: by Andrea (last edited Mar 02, 2022 03:05AM) (new)

Andrea Irvin Hannah wrote: "Great list! There is definitely a few I really want to read.
It does bug me that a lot of these titles unintentionally belittle women. Like 'Fly Girls'.. Why this tendency to call bad-ass grown wom..."
I had the exact same reaction! Why are there so many books on this list with "girls" in the title?? No way that would happen with a non-fiction list of books about men!!


message 27: by Kat (new)

Kat Would love to see more titles written by women of color! Please give me suggestions!


message 28: by Margot (new)

Margot MacKay Adding some more to my Want to Read list. Thanks!


message 29: by skaifaya (new)

skaifaya Exactly what I needed, thank you !


Mama Cass aka Bookhugger Amy wrote: "What Is a Girl Worth?: My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics is written by Rachael Denhollander, a woman wh..."

Thank you for adding Maya, my favorite poetess and authoress.


message 31: by Kim (new)

Kim Caoimhin wrote: "Why no books by Women with penises?"

Because women do not have penises. If you are a trans female, stop waving your penis around. You are doing everything in your power to be female (if trans), so support women authors, period, regardless of their private bits.


message 32: by WSUgirl (new)

WSUgirl Elyse wrote: "You can't even give Black people the whole month of the shortest month before you start the next month's "celebration?" Geez."

Some black people are women. Think "Hidden Figures", Mayua Angelou and Michelle Obama. They are all on this list.


message 33: by [deleted user] (new)

I have just started A Mad Womens Ball, it seems okay. Based on a real asylum in France. Women were put in there for any reason, sometimes just because their husbands tired of them!


message 34: by Mperuto (new)

Mperuto 'Hatched" by Sharon Wallen has to be added! It's short; can be read in one sitting. Which is great because you'll want to read it again...Fun, inspiring and provocative!


message 35: by Tracey (new)

Tracey I see several I am going to read!


message 36: by Gerry (new)

Gerry The list has prompted me to read Frances Trollope's 'Domestic Manners of the Americans', a book I have long been determined to read as a committed Trollope family fan!


message 37: by Pam (new)

Pam Skelton What a lovely list. Can t wait to read some of these. Just wish my book "FIRST TO GO" was on the list. The life story of a young Irish girl born in 19th century. Thanks for keeping us updated.


message 38: by Xiti (new)

Xiti L Interesante estos títulos, me molesta que Goodreads siempre haga todo (listas, recomendaciones, sugerencias) en inglés.


message 39: by Envy (new)

Envy Schwartz Kim wrote: "Caoimhin wrote: "Why no books by Women with penises?"

Because women do not have penises. If you are a trans female, stop waving your penis around. You are doing everything in your power to be fema..."


if you're jealous that some women have penises and you don't, just say that


message 40: by Melissa (new)

Melissa Kathryn wrote: "Would love to see more titles written by women of color! Please give me suggestions!"

Anything by Alice Walker Zadie Smith Tiffany Midge Samantha Irby Isabel Wilkerson Roxane Gay


message 41: by Polly (new)

Polly Kim wrote: "Great recs! Here's a few more:

Queen Victoria's Mysterious Daughter: A Biography of Princess Louise, by Lucinda Hawksley

Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter, by Kate Clifford Larson

Jefferson..."

Thank you for this list! I would like to read the one about Jefferson's daughters.


message 42: by Terri (last edited Mar 03, 2022 09:11PM) (new)

Terri On the theme of Women's History Month, I would like to give a shout out to Australian women of history.

There's the Stella award winning The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka.
The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka by Clare Wright


message 43: by Jacqueline (new)

Jacqueline The Energized Self : A Journey to Interconnected Healing

Can you add this book? It's a memoir by a Mexican American author on how storytelling can be a healthy coping mechanism


message 44: by Sheena (new)

Sheena Quick Kathryn wrote: "Would love to see more titles written by women of color! Please give me suggestions!"

The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Beloved or The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

These books and authors are a great place to start x


Amanda Artist Cat Tweedledum wrote: "Only in America…

Some to consider from this side of the pond : What Would Boudicca Do?: Everyday Problems Solved by History's Most Remarkable Women
[book:Rosalind Franklin: The Dar..."


Thank you!!


message 46: by Karen (new)

Karen "The Woman They Could Not Silence," and "Radium Girls," both written by Kate Moore are two that I highly recommend that I have already read. Does anybody else have had read these two and loved them, please send me a friend request. I welcome any recommendations for books as well written and page turners that are so compelling you just can't put them down. Both Five Star Reads on this list. Looking for next one. Thank you!


message 47: by Dara (new)

Dara Harvey Elyse wrote: "You can't even give Black people the whole month of the shortest month before you start the next month's "celebration?" Geez."

LOL. The idea that anyone needs a single month to "celebrate" the existence of a group of people is juvenile and counterproductive. But here we are, pretending to be the most educated, enlightened, and "woke" in society. So stupid.


message 48: by Kim (new)

Kim Envy wrote: "Kim wrote: "Caoimhin wrote: "Why no books by Women with penises?"

Because women do not have penises. If you are a trans female, stop waving your penis around. You are doing everything in your powe..."


Envy wrote: "Kim wrote: "Caoimhin wrote: "Why no books by Women with penises?"

Because women do not have penises. If you are a trans female, stop waving your penis around. You are doing everything in your powe..."


Since when are we judging authors based on their private parts? Claiming we have to differenciate between female authors with or without a penis is setting ALL woman back. If a trans woman IS a woman, their penis is irrelivant!


message 49: by Hilsa (new)

Hilsa Hannah wrote: "Great list! There is definitely a few I really want to read.
It does bug me that a lot of these titles unintentionally belittle women. Like 'Fly Girls'.. Why this tendency to call bad-ass grown wom..."


I thought the same thing! So many books with "girls" in the title ... they are definitely women.


message 50: by Pen&Quill (new)

Pen&Quill  Read Great list. But why isn't Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson on this list?


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