5 empowering feminist books everyone should read

“To be ‘feminist’ in any authentic sense of the term is to want for all people, female and male, liberation from sexist role patterns, domination, and oppression.”
bell hooks

Quote from Ain’t I a Woman – A classic work of feminist scholarship by bell hooks in an attempt to move us beyond racist and sexist assumptions. The result is nothing short of groundbreaking, giving this book a critical place on every feminist scholar’s bookshelf. The world is as yet dealing with inescapable and unpardonable gender disparity supported by bias and sexism, and research and health care is no special case.

As the #MeToo movement barrels forward, it’s currently a significant object of social talk — which has prompted some exceptionally confounding discussions in light of the fact that not everyone is familiar with or agrees on the basic terminology of feminism.

Despite decades of recognition, these problems have proved stubbornly persistent. Whatever your take on the matter is, the leaders of tomorrow need to be prepared.

Here’s the list of 5 empowering feminist books that everyone should read. We have created chapter-wise summaries of these books with our favorite quotes, key insights, what will you learn, and top recommendations. And we are offering this for free! Check out this clickable list to jump to any of these books.

Lean In

“Many, many women, young and old, elite and otherwise, will find it prescriptive, refreshing, and perhaps even revolutionary.”
—Anna Holmes, The New Yorker

Sheryl Kara Sandberg is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Facebook and a member of the board of directors at Facebook. This book guides women on how to find the perfect balance in life. It is pragmatic and is based on practical experience and academic research.

We Should All Be Feminists

“Inspiration for a future world of happier men and happier women who are truer to themselves.”
-Books of the Year, Independent

This book offers its readers a unique definition of feminism for the twenty-first century, one rooted in inclusion and awareness. Here is one remarkable author’s exploration of what it means to be a woman now – an of-the-moment rallying cry for why we should all be feminists.

The Moment of Lift

“A moral appeal, imploring each of us who reads it to look around – at our own families, our own workplaces, our own place in a gigantic, but highly connected, the world – and get to work making it more equal.”
—Chicago Tribune

A debut from Melinda Gates, a timely and necessary call to action for women’s empowerment. With present the issues that most need our attention―from child marriage to lack of access to contraceptives to gender inequity in the workplace.

Educated

“The extremity of Westover’s upbringing emerges gradually through her telling, which only makes the telling more alluring and harrowing.”
–The New York Times Book Review

Tara Westover and her family grew up preparing for the End of Days, but, according to the government, she didn’t exist. As she grew older, her father became more radical, and her brother more violent. At sixteen, Tara knew she had to leave home. In doing so, she discovered both the transformative power of education and the price she had to pay for it.

Good and Mad

“A rousing look at the political uses of this supposedly unfeminine emotion…written with energy and conviction…galvanizing reading.”
–The New York Times Book Review

The story of female fury and its cultural significance demonstrates the long history of bitter resentment that has enshrouded women’s slow rise to political power in America, as well as the ways that anger is received when it comes from women as opposed to when it comes from men.

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