STARRED REVIEW
March 3, 2025

7 books that celebrate trailblazing women

The first Black Rockette, the women who climbed Denali, Jane Austen’s muses and more star in our list of books to read this Women’s History Month.
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Daniel Stone shares the story of Alice Hamilton, the doctor and health advocate who spearheaded the investigation into the deadly effects of leaded gasoline in the 1920s.

Daniel Stone shares the story of Alice Hamilton, the doctor and health advocate who spearheaded the investigation into the deadly effects of leaded gasoline in the 1920s.

Biographer Mayukh Sen celebrates Merle Oberon, the first actor of color to receive a performance nomination for an Academy Award, and reveals the complicated history of race exclusion in Hollywood.

Biographer Mayukh Sen celebrates Merle Oberon, the first actor of color to receive a performance nomination for an Academy Award, and reveals the complicated history of race exclusion in Hollywood.

Susan Polgar, the awe-inspiring first female Grandmaster and only player to earn all six crowns in history, charts how she defied the odds and became one of the most decorated chess champions in the world.

Susan Polgar, the awe-inspiring first female Grandmaster and only player to earn all six crowns in history, charts how she defied the odds and became one of the most decorated chess champions in the world.

Cassidy Randall recounts the adventures of the “Denali Damsels”—the first all-woman team to ascend North America’s tallest mountain peak.

Cassidy Randall recounts the adventures of the “Denali Damsels”—the first all-woman team to ascend North America’s tallest mountain peak.

In her vulnerable memoir, Jennifer Jones maps her emotional, trailblazing journey of becoming the first Black Radio City Rockette.

In her vulnerable memoir, Jennifer Jones maps her emotional, trailblazing journey of becoming the first Black Radio City Rockette.

Historian Nancy Goldstone documents how the empresses of France and Austria, Eugénie and Elisabeth, rebelled against tradition and ruled during the tempestuous 19th century.

Historian Nancy Goldstone documents how the empresses of France and Austria, Eugénie and Elisabeth, rebelled against tradition and ruled during the tempestuous 19th century.

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