In search of something special to read? We’ve come up with a whole list of inspiring and empowering books about women and for women. These ladies were far ahead of their time, they were free from stereotypes and willing to change our world for the better. You’ll love learning more about them!
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
If you’ve seen the movie but haven’t read the book yet … well, you should! It’s the true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space. It’s hard to believe that in the days before computers they could only use pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.
Who knows if Neil Armstrong would ever have made it into the history books without these brave, smart and extremely hard-working ladies!
The Woman Who Would Be King by Kara Cooney
The captivating story of the longest-reigning female pharaoh in Ancient Egypt. Hatshepsut is almost forgotten now, as most of the monuments and artworks devoted to her were destroyed long time ago in an attempt to hide any evidence of her unprecedented rule. She was a master strategist, cloaking her political power plays in the veil of piety and sexual reinvention. Just as women today face obstacles from a society that equates authority with masculinity, Hatshepsut shrewdly operated the levers of power to emerge as Egypt’s second female pharaoh.
Who ran the world? Girls!
Rosalind Franklin by Brenda Maddox
In 1962 a group of male scientists received the Nobel Prize, but it was Rosalind Franklin’s data and photographs of DNA that led to their discovery.
This single-minded, forthright, and tempestuous young woman decided she was going to be a scientist at the age of 15. And nothing could stop her. Only, she was airbrushed out of the greatest scientific discovery of the 20th century for far too long.
Time to shine a spotlight on Rosalind Franklin!
Hedy’s Folly by Richard Rhodes
Richard Rhodes has written a remarkable story of how a ravishing film star and an avant-garde composer invented the spread-spectrum radio, the technology that made wireless phones, GPS systems and many other devices possible.
Hollywood’s golden era, the history of Vienna, 1920s Paris, weapon designs, music, a tutorial on patent law, and a brief treatise on transmission technology all come bundled in this scientific and exciting book.
Nancy Wake: SOE’s Greatest Heroine by Russell Braddon
Nancy Wake is one of the many heroines of World War II. This book tells her extraordinary story.
Born in New Zealand, Nancy was living in Marseille when the Germans invaded. She smuggled messages and food to underground groups in Southern France and helped refugees flee to Spain. By 1943 she was on the Gestapo’s “most-wanted” list.