We all know our share of powerful women. From mothers and grandmothers to teachers and leaders, the women in our lives shape us in ways both big and small. Their strength and wisdom are inspiring, and that’s exactly what Women’s History Month is about. It’s also the time to honor the trailblazers, activists and unsung heroes whose contributions helped to change the world. Our favorite way to celebrate at First? Diving into books that tell the stories of these remarkable women.
Here, we gathered up our favorite Women’s History Month books. With inspiring memoirs like My Own Words by the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg and glimpses into some of America’s most influential writers, including Sylvia Plath in Three-Martini Afternoons at the Ritz by Gail Crowther and Jane Austen in Rebecca Romney’s Jane Austen’s Bookshelf, there’s no shortage of uplifting women. Keep scrolling for our complete list of recommendations. Happy Reading!
Former First Lady Michelle Obama has lived a life full of accomplishments and purpose, making her one of the most compelling women of our era. In her memoir, a combination of reflection and narrative storytelling, she pulls readers into her world. From her childhood to her years as an executive balancing work and motherhood and everything in between, she describes her experiences with honesty, wit and passion.
What readers are saying: “Michelle’s writing is so descriptive and intimate that you feel like you’re sitting across from her while she flawlessly reveals her life story. I laughed out loud and sobbed throughout the book. There are so many poignant and heartfelt moments. So many memories and stories, woven together so well that it will inspire you to want to do more, to look outside of yourself, to want to make a difference, to want to make an impact on the world in a positive and tangible way.”
My Own Words, by the late, great Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is a collection of writings and speeches that reflect her life, values and career. This glimpse into one of America’s most influential women features essays, articles and public lectures that include her thoughts on various topics. These include gender equality, Judaism, law as an entity and the importance of looking past the U.S. Constitution. The book is told from Ginsburg’s point of view, with the help of biographers Mary Hartnett and Wendy W. Williams.
What readers are saying: “This book is a well-written example of how and why RBG was such a thoughtful, well-rounded and wise litigator. It gives insights into the things that made her one of the most important human beings of the 21st century. All in all, a great read about a great woman who did not believe in ‘glass ceilings’ but did however believe in justice and equality for everyone.”
In this intriguing book, part biography and part cultural analysis, readers get an inside look into the lives of two of America’s most influential writers: Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton. While studying at Boston University, the two women became friends, but their relationship later evolved into a rivalry based on respect and jealousy. Their lives were similar due to their struggles with mental health, self-doubt, and challenging relationships. The women shared a rivalry and respect—and also many martinis at a Boston hotel.
What readers are saying: “I confess I knew little about the lives of Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton – so I loved reading this excellent book! Informative and fascinating the tale of these two female poets struggling to be creative in the face of crushing patriarchy left me ultimately inspired. Crowther deftly weaves in and out of the timeline, comparing the two women’s lives and careers by common struggles, rather than going chronologically. Highly recommend!”
In this book, music journalist Rob Sheffield takes readers—and devoted Swifties—on an intimate journey through the life and career of one of modern pop’s most beloved icons, Taylor Swift. Having covered every twist and turn of Swift’s story over the years—from album releases and high-profile relationships to record-breaking tours—Sheffield brings his unique perspective and insider access to this heartfelt tribute. Blending sharp reporting with thoughtful criticism, he crafts a love letter to Swift’s fans, exploring every era, the stories behind the lyrics, her cherished friendships and so much more.
What readers are saying: “I loved this. Sheffield is a true fan but unlike most of us he has had far more access to Taylor over the years. His insight into how her music has changed pop music was insightful and interesting.”
This New York Times Bestseller and major motion picture tells the true story of the Black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space. Beginning in World War II and moving through the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement and the space race, Margot Lee Shetterly details the legacy of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden and their impact on NASA.
What readers are saying: “I particularly enjoyed how this book focused on the individual stories of each woman. I was so inspired by the sacrifice, determination and intelligence of these ladies.”
Known for being a rare book dealer and guest star on the hit TV show Pawn Stars, Rebecca Romney is also a huge fan of Jane Austen, and it’s that love that inspired her to pen this literary adventure. Jane Austen wrote during a time of experimentation for women writers, and tidbits about those women are seen throughout all of Austen’s work. However, those women were erased from history. In this book, Romney looks into the women who inspired Austen and reveals each of their stories and how they were forgotten. This will encourage you to look beyond the basics when it comes to your reading lists.
What readers are saying: “Rebecca has a way of captivating her audience and draws you into the story she is telling. I was excited to learn how these women influenced Jane Austen’s work. I had not heard of any of these women before. This book is great. Read it. Enjoy it. Collect it!”
This book tells the fascinating yet true story of women who worked in Oak Ridge, Tennessee—a town created in secret in 1942. It was home to more than 75,000 people, most of them young women who were brought over from various southern towns to work. The catch? The women didn’t know they were recruited to enrich uranium for atomic bombs. Through the lens of these women, Kiernan captures their everyday lives and the secrets they were unwittingly protecting. This book highlights themes of resilience and sacrifice and the unsung role women played during World War II.
What readers are saying: “The stories of these nine ladies (Helen, Colleen, Celia, Toni, Jane, Kattie, Virginia, Dot and Rosemary), each unique, yet each holding much in common, is bound together by Denise’s wonderfully talented skill as a writer. She paints a composite picture of Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project that will become a classic in the literature of this extraordinary historical accomplishment that has led to so many technological advances of the Nuclear Age. The book is a must-read.”
Science is front and center in this true story about the women who worked in radium factories during World War I. The Curies had just discovered radium, and at the time it was making headlines for being the star of the cosmetic and medical industry. And the girls working at the radium factories—covered from head to toe in the element—thought they were the luckiest in the world. That is until, they mysteriously start falling ill and the factories push their complaints to the side. Written in a captivating and engaging way, The Radium Girls explores the lives of the young girls exposed to the “wonder” element and how their strength and courage inspired a scientific revolution.
What readers are saying: “This book is a work of narrative nonfiction that was both fascinating and horrifying. It brought out the human side of the entire equation—not only the greed and apathy of corporate powers but it also brought to light the suffering of these women, while shining a light on their accomplishments, hopes and dreams.”
In this political biography, readers dive into the six-decade-long journey of Rosa Parks’ activism and her unexpected role in the civil rights movement. While everyone knows Rosa Parks as the quiet woman who changed history when she wouldn’t give up her seat on a bus, there’s much more to her than that. Theoharis shares insights into Parks’ politics and how she fought for over half a century to expose and eliminate the American racial-caste system.
What readers are saying: “I recommend this book to everyone because it reveals that Rosa Parks fought for justice all of her life. She was so much more than someone who refused to get out of a bus seat! The book is very well-researched and clearly shows how Mrs. Parks is a person worthy of all of the honor that we as a nation can give her!”