96 Nonfiction Books to Read this Women's History Month

Posted by Cybil on March 1, 2023



March is Women’s History Month, celebrated in the U.S. by just about every major institution in the country. Click around a little, and you’ll find all kinds of interesting things going on. For instance, on March 30, the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will posthumously receive the National Museum of American History's signature honor, the Great Americans Medal.
 
Here at Goodreads, we like to stick to our lane, and our lane is books. As such, we have collected below 96 nonfiction titles on women in history, recommended by Goodreads regulars and divided into two broad categories: Histories and Biographies, and Memoirs. Each of the books listed here is relatively recent, published within the past ten years.
 
The authors below have developed a wide range of different approaches to the topic. You’ll find specific profiles of pioneering women—doctors, say, or rocket scientists. Other books chronicle entire historical eras, even some in which women ruled the world. One author has narrowed the focus to particularly treasured anatomical specifics.
 
Autobiographically speaking, we’ve got Black artists, First Nation writers, pioneering comics, and more. You’ll also find last year’s most talked-about memoir.
 
Click around and see what you like, add anything interesting to your Want to Read shelf, and feel free to make further recommendations in the comments section.

 

Top Histories and Biographies for Women's History Month

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Top Memoirs for Women's History Month

 



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

Comments Showing 1-50 of 111 (111 new)


message 1: by Elsary (new)

Elsary A Ghost in the Throat

A GHOST IN THE THROAT SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST AND I AM SO ANGRY IT ISN'T

It's beautiful, heartbreaking, insightful, and one of the most strongly feminine texts I've ever read.


message 2: by Mackenzie (new)

Mackenzie Marrow Helen Macdonald is non-binary :)


message 3: by Kaya W. (new)

Kaya W. Wake is not about women-led revolts. It is about the author's search and lack of information she was able to find on the topic. The title is misleading.


message 4: by dany (new)

dany Kaya W. wrote: "Wake is not about women-led revolts. It is about the author's search and lack of information she was able to find on the topic. The title is misleading."

I think the effort the author put into the idea would be enough to still qualify it for women's history month and this list; the author is a woman and her topic was women, and the lack of information is relevant.


message 5: by Lossecorme (new)

Lossecorme I'm disappointed that The Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women by Nancy Marie Brown isn't on this list. The discovery that some warrior skeletons in Viking graves are female are re-writing history and women's role in it.


message 6: by Carole (new)

Carole Mackenzie wrote: "Helen Macdonald is non-binary :)"

via her twitter, it says She/They.

Therefore having her in a female list is ok.


message 7: by Katie (new)

Katie Might be too new but Maame should be on this list


message 8: by Gabriel (new)

Gabriel Noel Carole wrote: "Mackenzie wrote: "Helen Macdonald is non-binary :)"

via her twitter, it says She/They.

Therefore having her in a female list is ok."


thats not at all how being nonbinary works -_-


message 9: by Gabriel (new)

Gabriel Noel Katie wrote: "Might be too new but Maame should be on this list"

that is a fiction book, this list is non fiction


message 10: by Tanu (new)

Tanu I count two books that are not set in the UK or Europe. Where is the diversity on this list? Why so many stories about Americans?


message 11: by Maureen (new)

Maureen Broad Strokes: 15 Women Who Made Art and Made History

Bridget Quinn written in 2017 should be included too.


message 12: by CJ (new)

CJ Tanvi wrote: "I count two books that are not set in the UK or Europe. Where is the diversity on this list? Why so many stories about Americans?"
Goodreads is an American site, based in San Francisco, and nearly half of its users are Americans. Of course it's going to focus on our writers more than others.


message 13: by Louisa (new)

Louisa CJ wrote: "Tanvi wrote: "I count two books that are not set in the UK or Europe. Where is the diversity on this list? Why so many stories about Americans?"
Goodreads is an American site, based in San Francisc..."


That means over half of its users are not American, as in, the majority. That the company is based in the US shouldn't mean much since it caters to an international audience and has millions of non-American books on its site. Someone researched and compiled this list, they could have easily done so and include more stories from and about women in other parts of the world.


message 14: by Tanu (new)

Tanu @CJ a) Europe is not in America, last I checked.

b) GR's fiction lists usually have diversity, so I was quite disappointed in this one as I was wanting non-fiction books that focused on women globally. We
make up half the planet and IWD is in March. I realise WHM is largely American - however this does not preclude a celebration of women worldwide.


message 15: by Natalie (new)

Natalie Can we as a society please chill with the WWII books? It’s been done to death in every genre


message 16: by dany (new)

dany The Unwomanly Face of War An Oral History of Women in World War II by Svetlana Alexievich
The Unwomanly Face of War: An Oral History of Women in World War II

One of the best history books I have ever read


message 17: by CJ (last edited Mar 01, 2023 08:13PM) (new)

CJ Louisa wrote: "CJ wrote: "Tanvi wrote: "I count two books that are not set in the UK or Europe. Where is the diversity on this list? Why so many stories about Americans?"
Goodreads is an American site, based in S..."


Louisa wrote: "CJ wrote: "Tanvi wrote: "I count two books that are not set in the UK or Europe. Where is the diversity on this list? Why so many stories about Americans?"
Goodreads is an American site, based in S..."


Sounds like you don't know much about how percentages work. There is no other country that even comes close to the U.S. in numbers of users. Yes, the non-Americans are slightly more than half - because it includes the entire rest of the world, hundreds of different countries, each making up a tiny slice of the pie. Most of which publish books that aren't in English and aren't going to be featured prominently on a site that, again, is an American site and used mostly by English-speakers. If you want books that are more relevant to your country, maybe you should find a site based in that country, or start one yourself.


message 18: by CJ (new)

CJ Tanvi wrote: "@CJ a) Europe is not in America, last I checked.

True, which makes it especially odd that in your first post you said you counted 2 books that aren't based in the UK or Europe, then complained about how American the list was. I didn't try to parse the logic.


message 19: by Tracy (new)

Tracy Dawson Let Me Be Frank: A Book About Women Who Dressed Like Men to Do Shit They Weren't Supposed to Do

Wish my 2022 book was on this list. Happy Women's History Month!


message 20: by Claire (new)

Claire Urgh - I was interested to read this list until I realised most of the books are American - like history happened nowhere else. Now I know GR is an American co. and the users are 1 in 2. but that doesn't mean you can't expand your reading to the outside world.

Also every second book on this list is about WW2 - history is 1000's of years - maybe a bit more diversity, yeah?


message 21: by Tanu (new)

Tanu @CJ - yes, I meant to say that every non-American book is in Europe, except the two Egyptian ones - both on the same topic and by the same author.

Regardless, my point still stands. You obviously understood the point well enough, yet chose to take issue with my wording and harp on about how America this, that and the other.


message 22: by PotatoUnicoorn (new)

PotatoUnicoorn Jääkäriliikkeen naiset by Elina Virtanen

This one is in finnish, but it's very good


message 23: by Monika (new)

Monika I'd recommend to add to this list:
- The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
- I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai & Christina Lamb
- Not without my daughter by Betty Mahmoody


message 24: by Henny (new)

Henny It's WHM, not American WHM. You can't ignore all of Asia...
I recommend "Cixi: The Concubine who launched modern China" by Jung Chang.


message 25: by Jagdeep (new)

Jagdeep Sehmbi Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary. By Anita Anand.

Very disappointed this book is not on the list.


Me, My Shelf, & I Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
by Caroline Criado Pérez

I highly recommend this book. And while the author is from the UK, she does bring in data from around the world (Japan, India, etc). I think the Transportation chapter was my favourite. <3


message 27: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Who were the Goodreads regulars that were asked? It would be cool to be one one day :)


message 28: by Sharon, Goodreads employee (new)

Sharon Mackenzie wrote: "Helen Macdonald is non-binary :)"

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We reached out to the author and have removed their book on their request.


message 29: by Yorick (new)

Yorick First of all, please clarify what a woman is. I am afraid that goodreads is bigot, and excludes some women, because they are not "real women". Thanks


message 30: by CJ (new)

CJ Sharon wrote: "Mackenzie wrote: "Helen Macdonald is non-binary :)"

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We reached out to the author and have removed their book on their request."


I love Helen Macdonald's writing, but that just seems idiotic. Why would you want your book to get less exposure and be read by fewer people? It's not like there's a separate non-binary month to be featured in. I guess maybe June for Pride month?


message 31: by CJ (new)

CJ Tracy wrote: "Let Me Be Frank: A Book About Women Who Dressed Like Men to Do Shit They Weren't Supposed to Do

Wish my 2022 book was on this list. Happy Women's History Month!"


Tracy wrote: "Let Me Be Frank: A Book About Women Who Dressed Like Men to Do Shit They Weren't Supposed to Do

Wish my 2022 book was on this list. Happy Women's History Month!"

Lol, that's such a great title. Added to my want-to-read list.


message 32: by CJ (new)

CJ Tanvi wrote: "@CJ - yes, I meant to say that every non-American book is in Europe, except the two Egyptian ones - both on the same topic and by the same author.

Regardless, my point still stands. You obviously ..."

Okay fine, looking at the list again (I just skimmed it yesterday) I agree that it's bizarrely lacking in books about other cultures. There are so many about women that could be featured. Just off the top of my head,Last to Eat, Last to Learn: My Life in Afghanistan Fighting to Educate Women and Between Good and Evil: The Stolen Girls of Boko Haram.


message 33: by Tara (new)

Tara Elsary wrote: "A Ghost in the Throat

A GHOST IN THE THROAT SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST AND I AM SO ANGRY IT ISN'T

It's beautiful, heartbreaking, insightful, and one of the most strongly feminine tex..."


I absolutely agree!


message 34: by Barbara (new)

Barbara CJ wrote: "I love Helen Macdonald's writing, but that just seems idiotic. Why would you want your book to get less exposure and be read by fewer people? It's not like there's a separate non-binary month to be featured in. I guess maybe June for Pride month?"

Exactly. I don't understand why lists like that can't be "women and nonbinary writers"; I've seen feminist anthologies, etc. that follow that. Ughh. But I guess if the author doesn't want to be included, idk. It just seems like a tricky situation to put an author in.


message 36: by Katie (new)

Katie Helen MacDonald’s profile page on Goodreads calls them “she.” I hope Goodreads corrects this


message 37: by devon (last edited Mar 03, 2023 01:07PM) (new)

devon marie CJ wrote: "I love Helen Macdonald's writing, but that just seems idiotic. Why would you want your book to get less exposure and be read by fewer people?"

Gosh, I have no idea why someone wouldn't want to be misgendered. It's not like gender identity is all that important, right? Not when compared to book exposure!

/s

That being said, this reminds me that I really, really need to read H is for Hawk. Been on my TBR for way too long.


message 39: by L.L. (new)

L.L. I am literally rolling my eyes to this thread of posts. The point is celebrating women. Maybe next year will have more European and all the other wonderful women of all the wonderful countries that are feeling underrepresented on this list. I have read lots of books representing women that are not in my country; as well as books not set in and not about my country. Isn’t there something more constructive to talk about. Those that feel underrepresented, please suggest some titles about the women in your country. I would truly appreciate it. I’m interested in learning and reading about all women.


message 40: by Ant (new)

Ant Monika wrote: "I'd recommend to add to this list:
- The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
- I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yous..."

oh I'm shocked that I Am Malala is not on here!


message 41: by Ant (new)

Ant Tracy wrote: "Let Me Be Frank: A Book About Women Who Dressed Like Men to Do Shit They Weren't Supposed to Do

Wish my 2022 book was on this list. Happy Women's History Month!"


thanks for mentioning this! never heard of it, but now will check it out! esp. it's illustrated!


message 42: by Ant (last edited Mar 04, 2023 03:44AM) (new)

Ant CJ wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Mackenzie wrote: "Helen Macdonald is non-binary :)"

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We reached out to the author and have removed their book on their request."

I love..."


also confused, esp. if the author states they use "she/they", this is not "exclusive-women history month", so it seems to me if you use she, even if not exclusively, you would qualify to be featured here... just my take, but hey, if the author themselves doesn't want to be featured here, for whatever reason, who's to argue?!


message 43: by Ant (new)

Ant devon wrote: "CJ wrote: "I love Helen Macdonald's writing, but that just seems idiotic. Why would you want your book to get less exposure and be read by fewer people?"

Gosh, I have no idea why someone wouldn't ..."


it's a good book!


message 44: by Rachel (new)

Rachel Webb Full Bloom, a biography of Georgia O’Keeffe, and Savage Beauty, a biography of Edna St. Vincent Millay


message 45: by Emily (new)

Emily Natalie wrote: "Can we as a society please chill with the WWII books? It’s been done to death in every genre"

I could not agree more. So many of the kindle unlimited options here are centered around WWII as well. Don't get me wrong- it's definitely interesting and their stories should be told, but still.


message 47: by Morgan (new)

Morgan Invisible Women Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
An incredibly eye opening nonfiction book to read this month!


message 48: by Gaia (new)

Gaia At first I thought, “Maybe it is only Women’s History Month in the USA,” but I then saw that it is celebrated this month in the UK, too.

World War II relied on women in many capacities that they were precluded from before the War, so I understand the many books listed, and personally welcome stories from that period.

I like the way people put suggestions in the comments for books that others may not find on their own, as suggested by Cybil.

Cybil also mentioned that these books were recommended by “Goodreads regulars” and “published within the past ten years”. It has been narrowed accordingly.


Rosa | mewshmallow_ Elsary wrote: "A Ghost in the Throat

A GHOST IN THE THROAT SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST AND I AM SO ANGRY IT ISN'T

It's beautiful, heartbreaking, insightful, and one of the most strongly feminine tex..."


Thank you, this sounds exciting. I added it to my want-to-read!


message 50: by Aleen (new)

Aleen Katie wrote: "Might be too new but Maame should be on this list"

Maame is fiction this is a non fiction list ◡̈


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