19 must-read non-fiction books of 2024 so far selected by Front & Female
Source: Tatler Asia
June saw the announcement of the winners of a number of book prizes, including some specifically for women. Among them were the prestigious Women's Prize For Fiction, which this year went to American author V. V. Ganeshananthan for her novel Brotherless Night, and the inaugural Women's Prize for Non-Fiction, awarded to Naomi Klein for her book Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World, both of which were announced on June 13.
Earlier in the month, the Sports Book Awards recognised former professional mountain bike racer Lee Craigie, whose book Other Ways To Win was named winner of the Vikki Orvice Award for Women's Sports Writing.
The year to date has seen many more books outside the long- and shortlists of these awards and others worth celebrating—and reading. From books that capture and consider the female experience, to career-focused tomes, books that shed light on various aspects of woman- and motherhood, and memoirs, manifestos and tributes, this is Front & Female's selection of our favourite non-fiction works of 2024 so far.
See also: 12 books that explore motherhood, mother-child dynamics, and bonds that boost and those that burn
AI Needs You by Verity Harding
Who is AI for? In this manifesto from one of the most influential people in AI, Verity Harding argues that society needs everyone to answer this urgent question to ensure that as the power of AI grows, so does its promise to be peaceful in its intent, and to serve a purpose and the public. Drawing on lessons from other technology revolutions, including the space race, the development of IVF and the dawn of the internet, through AI Needs You: How We Can Change AI's Future and Save Our Own, Harding wants to empower everyone to join the AI conversation and influence its future.
All in Her Head by Elizabeth Comen
Written by Dr Elizabeth Comen, All in Her Head: The Truth and Lies Early Medicine Taught Us About Women's Bodies and Why It Matters Today introduces women to their bodies and what has been unaddressed, highlighting the ways that they have been at once objectified but also overlooked, idealised yet ignored, and how women's health was written by men, with little input from those it primarily concerned, and that it's high time for fresh conversation.
There is No Ethan by Anna Akbari
In 2011, Anna Akbari was one of a number of women taken in by Ethan Schuman. There is No Ethan: How Three Women Caught America's Biggest Catfish is the gripping account of her experience, alongside that of two other accomplished women, and an exploration inside the mind of a catfisher. The book also considersthe bigger picture—that technology has made it so easy to manipulate words and images, making the truth so hard to grasp. There are lessons here for everyone.
In Her Nature by Rachel Hewitt
In this award-winning tome that combines memoir, history and social commentary, author Rachel Hewitt interweaves her personal experiences as a long-distance trail runner with the story of Lizzie Le Blond, a pioneer in winter sports and founder of the Ladies' Alpine Club. Groundbreaking progress for women in sport was made in the late 1800s, before a backlash drove them out of sports and public space. Hewitt questions whether we are living through a similar backlash now, as she tries to outrun grief and reclaim her space in a world that feels hostile to women.
The Future-Proof Career by Isabel Berwick
Post-pandemic, the world of work has changed irreversibly. In The Future-Proof Career: Strategies for thriving at every stage, Isabel Berwick, host of the award-winning Financial Times 'Working It' podcast, taps experts for their analysis and advice and highlights the big workplace trends and how to ride them, from the four-day working week to quiet quitting and the great resignation, not to mention achieving workplace equality, walking the talk on diversity and inclusion, and even micro-dosing for creativity. It's a comprehensive guide to navigating both the present day and future workplace, to succeed now and to prepare for what's to come.
The Unexpected by Emily Oster
Most modern parents or parents-to-be will probably at least have heard of Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong—and What You Really Need to Know, Emily Oster's groundbreaking guide to pregnancy, which gave women data-driven information that allowed them to make their own decisions. Since Expecting Better was published a decade ago, the professor of economics has also written Crib Sheet and The Family Firm, data-driven guides to parenting. Her latest book, The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications is written with Dr Nathan Fox, and seeks to demystify some of the complications that can occur during pregnancy, from miscarriage and preeclampsia to preterm birth and postnatal depression.
The Glass Cliff by Sophie Williams
What happens when women break through the glass ceiling? That's the question that Sophie Williams seeks to answer in The Glass Cliff: Why Women in Power Are Undermined and How to Fight Back. The book spins off a TED talk that Williams gave in 2021 about The Glass Cliff phenomenon, where research shows that woman are often hired into leadership roles when a business is already struggling, setting them up for failure. The talk has garnered 1.5 million views and inspired a wealth of accomplished women to share their own experiences with Williams. She hopes that by opening up the conversation, we can influence it and improve the world of work for women going forward.
Never Not Working by Malissa Clark
Are you a workaholic? And if so, what does that mean for you, those around you, and your company? Malissa Clark is a researcher on the culture of overwork, and her book Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture Is Bad for Business—and How to Fix It examines overwork, burnout and workaholism, busts the myths that surround these topics and shows readers how to escape the trap of putting work at the centre of everything, often at the expense of well-being and even performance.
When She's in the Room by Edwina Dunn
When She’s in the Room: How Empowering Women Empowers the World aims to demonstrate the impact of female empowerment on society and the workplace and share how to achieve lasting change in gender equality. By Edwina Dunn, a pioneer in data science research and founder of The Female Lead, and with a foreword by British businesswoman Martha Lane Fox, the book offers groundbreaking data and inspiring strategies to unlock women's potential and make the world work better for us all.
Burn Book by Kara Swisher
Burn Book: A Tech Love Story is a comprehensive commentary on the evolution of the tech world through the eyes and experiences of award-winning journalist Kara Swisher, who has been covering the industry since the early '90s. Over the last 30 years, Swisher has interviewed everyone who's anyone in tech, and here she chronicles the innovations they have made as well as the damage they have done. Overall, she remains optimistic about the potential of technology to change the world for the better—after all, this is "a tech love story"—as long as the industry makes better and more considered choices.
MILF by Paloma Faith
The acronymic title of Paloma’s Faith’s memoir stands for Motherhood, Identity, Love and F*ckery, and the book sees the English singer-songwriter and actress take readers through what it means to be a woman and a mother today. From her IVF journey to managing the invisible load of motherhood, Faith tackles identity and questions what it means to be a 'good mother' when sometimes women just need to put themselves first.
Trailblazer: The First Feminist to Change Our World by Jane Robinson
You may never have heard of Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon, but in the mid 19th century, the English educationalist and artist was a leading feminist and women's rights activist. Jane Robinson seeks to highlight Bodichon's achievements through her well-researched book, Trailblazer: The First Feminist to Change Our World, which celebrates the life of a woman who was the founder of Britain's suffrage movement, a campaigner for equal rights, and co-founder of Girton at the University of Cambridge, the first university college for women.
Women, Money, Power by Josie Cox
Financial journalist Josie Cox tackles women's fight for financial freedom in Women, Money, Power: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality, as she charts the challenges that women have faced when it comes to money and freedom, showcases the trailblazers who have helped overcome them, and highlights the obstacles that continue to persist in women's quest for equality.
Tits Up by Sarah Thornton
Did you know that the English language has more than 700 words or expressions for female mammary glands? Most of them are used by men. How we think about breasts was something that sociologist and journalist Sarah Thornton started to reflect on after undergoing a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. In Tits Up, she explores "what our beliefs about breasts reveal about life, love, sex and society".
Invisible Labor by Rachel Somerstein
One in three babies in the US is born via caesarean, and while the procedure is safe in most cases, there can be complications and significant consequences, as author Rachel Somerstein herself experienced. In Invisible Labor: The Untold Story of the Cesarean Section, she charts the history of the procedure, the failures and risks it presents today, and attitudes towards the operation, with a goal of making people more aware of the dangers, benefits and alternatives.
Why Women Don't Talk Money by Sharon Sim and Serena Wong
Finance professionals Sharon Sim and Serena Wong interviewed a wealth of women from different walks of life and varied backgrounds for their book, Why Women Don't Talk Money, discussing each one's personal journeys with money and their money mindset as well as how they value money and what wealth means to them. The goal of the book is to address the discomfort and financial insecurities that women face, share their wisdom and encourage others to break silence on the topic and develop this vital life skill.
BoyMom by Ruth Whippman
“Rapist, school-shooter, incel, man-child, interrupter, mansplainer, boob-starer, birthday forgetter, frat boy, dude-bro, homophobe, self-important stoner, emotional-labor abstainer, non-wiper of kitchen counters. Trying to raise good sons suddenly felt like a hopeless task,” writes journalist and mother of three boys Ruth Whippman in BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity, as she goes on to explore the complexities and challenges of raising boys amidst today's culture wars and politicised masculinity.
Women and the Piano by Susan Tomes
In Women and the Piano, concert pianist and writer Susan Tomes charts the lives of 50 women who, despite facing barriers pursued their passion to play piano. Tomes includes renowned names, such as German composer and pianist Fanny Mendelssohn, many of whose compositions were attributed to her brother, Felix, but also tells the tales of lesser-known women such as French musician Hélène de Montgeroult, whose piano skills saved her life during the French Revolution, and Trinidadian jazz pianist and singer Hazel Scott, who broke racial barriers by become the first Black performer to have a national TV show in the United States. The book demonstrates the important role of women in the history of the piano.
Money Talks by Ellie Austin-Williams
Finance writer, speaker and influencer Ellie Austin-Williams considers the role of money as part of overall well-being in her book Money Talks: A Lifestyle Guide for Financial Wellbeing. She tackles topics including societal expectations around money, the role of privilege, class and race in financial "success", how our childhoods influence our relationship with money, and the impact of things like comparison culture and social media, in a quest to improve the financial well-being of her audience.It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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