Sisterhood of the Squared Circle by Pat Laprade & Dan Murphy
From the carnival circuit of the late 1800s to today’s main events, this book offers a look at the business of women’s wrestling with its backstage politics, real-life grudges, and incredible personalities. With rare photographs and an exploration of women’s wrestling worldwide–including chapters on Japan, Mexico, England, and Australia–Sisterhood of the Squared Circle is a priceless contribution to the history of professional wrestling. Check out a copy here.
Witches, Midwives, and Nurses by Barbara Ehrenreich & Deirdre English
Ehrenreich and English argue that discrimination against female healers and sexism in the medical establishment began with the witch hunts. They back up their argument with a look at the roots of medical practice, the demonization of women healers, and the political and economic monopolization of medicine. Check out a copy here.
A Black Women’s History of the United States by Daina R. Berry & Kali N. Gross
This compilation reaches far beyond a single narrative to showcase Black women’s lives in all their fraught complexities. Berry and Gross prioritize many voices: enslaved women, freedwomen, religious leaders, artists, queer women, activists, and women who lived outside the law. The result is a starting point for exploring Black women’s history and a testament to the beauty, richness, rhythm, tragedy, heartbreak, rage, and enduring love that abounds in the spirit of Black women in communities throughout the nation. Check out a copy here.
Warrior Queens by Antonia Fraser
In this panoramic work of history, Lady Antonia Fraser looks at women who led armies and empires: Cleopatra, Isabella of Spain, Jinga Mbandi, Margaret Thatcher, and Indira Gandhi, among others. Check out a copy here.
What Would Cleopatra Do? by Elizabeth Foley & Beth Coates
What Would Cleopatra Do? shares the wisdom and advice on how to handle common problems women have encountered throughout history and still face today. Reminding us of inspiring feminists from the past, this audiobook tells their stories with warmth, humor, and verve. From sticking up for yourself, improving body image, deciding whether to have children, finding a mentor, getting dumped, feeling like an imposter, being unattractive, and dealing with gossip, we can learn a lot by reading motivational stories of heroic women who, living in much tougher times through history, took control of their own destinies and made life work for them. Check out a copy here.
All descriptions above are from the publishers.