Women's Biographies and MemoirsLike this list

15 items

• Shakespeare

  the Man Who Pays the Rent

  Dench, Judi, 1934-

  Add Shakespeare to your for later shelf

  Conversational and funny, this book is made up of a series of interviews between Dench and actor Brendan O'Hea. A fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of the career of an amazing actress.

• Ida B. the Queen

  the Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells

  Duster, Michelle,

  Add Ida B. the Queen to your for later shelf

  Written by her great-granddaughter, this is a warm and fascinating look at the life of activist Ida B. Wells. Packed with history and plenty of photos and historic documents, it's an interesting and informative read.

• A Woman of No Importance

  the Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II

  Purnell, Sonia,

  Add A Woman of No Importance to your for later shelf

  Traces the story of mid-20th century spy Virginia Hall, detailing her pivotal role in coordinating Resistance activities in Europe that helped change the course of World War II.

• Mainline Mama

  a Memoir

  Harris, Keeonna

  Add Mainline Mama to your for later shelf

  When the father of her child was sentenced to twenty-two years in prison, Harris became a "mainline mama," or parent raising a child with an incarcerated partner, overnight. This memoir draws readers into systemic injustice, struggle and resilience.

• I Miss You When I Blink

  Essays

  Philpott, Mary Laura,

  Add I Miss You When I Blink to your for later shelf

  The Emmy Award-winning co-host of "A Word on Words" offers a memoir that lightheartedly addresses the conflicting pressures of modern adulthood, revealing how periodic self-reinventions can offer necessary renewal and healthy perspective.

• Daughter of Daring

  the Trick-riding, Train-leaping, Road-racing Life of Helen Gibson, Hollywood's First Stuntwoman

  O'Meara, Mallory,

  Add Daughter of Daring to your for later shelf

  With a Hollywood career lasting more than 45 years and encompassing hundreds of films, Helen Gibson was a pioneer in the field of movie stunts. Pick up this intriguing read to uncover the history of a true Hollywood icon.

• This American Woman

  a One-in-a-billion Memoir

  Garg, Zarna,

  Add This American Woman to your for later shelf

  A memoir full of laughs and big stories, Garg's debut book covers everything from running from an arranged marriage to 17 years as a stay-at-home mom to a successful career as a stand-up comic. Messy and inspiring in equal measures!

• This Body I Wore

  a Memoir

  Goetsch, Diana,

  Add This Body I Wore to your for later shelf

  Poet and essayist Goetsch traces her life across decades, including her later in life gender transition, in this beautiful and emotional memoir.

• Freedom

  Memoirs 1954-2021

  Merkel, Angela, 1954-

  Add Freedom to your for later shelf

  A chronicle of the former chancellor of Germany's life and work, this detailed memoir looks at the political and personal aspects of her remarkable and ongoing journey.

• The Many Lives of Mama Love

  a Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing

  Hardin, Lara Love,

  Add The Many Lives of Mama Love to your for later shelf

  Redemptive and gripping, this memoir takes readers through Hardin's addiction, incarceration and journey to becoming a successful ghostwriter. A story of resilience and self-forgiveness.

• The Body Is a Doorway

  a Memoir : a Journey Beyond Healing, Hope, and the Human

  Strand, Sophie, 1993-

  Add The Body Is a Doorway to your for later shelf

  In this lyrical, radically expansive self-portrait, Strand explores the intersecting spaces of her own chronic illness, the complex ecology of a changing world and the very nature of the stories. 

• The Hollow Half

  a Memoir of Bodies and Borders

  Aziza, Sarah,

  Add The Hollow Half to your for later shelf

  A brush with death. An ancestral haunting. A century of family secrets.

• Hollow

  a Memoir of My Body in the Marines

  Williams, Bailey,

  Add Hollow to your for later shelf

  When Williams joined the Marine Corps, the first language they taught her wasn't Arabic, Farsi or Dari. It was how Marines spoke to and about women.

• As a Woman

  What I Learned About Power, Sex, and the Patriarchy After I Transitioned

  Williams, Paula Stone,

  Add As a Woman to your for later shelf

  As a father of three, married to a wonderful woman and holding several prominent jobs within the Christian community, Dr. Paula Stone Williams made the life-changing decision to physically transition from male to female at the age of 60.

• Personalized Recommendations — Just for You!

  View on jeffcolibrary.org

  This list was created by JCPL staff. Need a good book, movie or TV show? Recommendations are one of our favorite things to share! Tell us about your preferences, and a real librarian will create a custom list just for you.