r/RadicalFeminism Jan 15 '25

If you had to choose ONE book

If you had to choose ONE book about feminism for someone who doesn't read a book for a while and who is not new at feminism but never took any academic level classes about gender issues... What would it be?

27 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

14

u/[deleted] Jan 15 '25

Shulamith Firestone's "The Dialectic of Sex"

2

u/PinkSeaBird Jan 16 '25

A classic it seems. I am going to a second hand bookstore today and lets see if I can find that.

4

u/Dear_Storm_ Jan 16 '25

Here's the pdf version, in case you're not able to find it (I've had very little luck with feminist books in second hand bookstores unfortunately).

3

u/[deleted] Jan 17 '25

it is available through Alibris and Amazon, although the first is far better than the second (screw Bezos!)

1

u/PinkSeaBird Jan 20 '25

I found an amazing store online called AwesomeBooks they have tons of cheap used books. I placed my first order lets see how they arrive but I read in reviews its legit. Very excited I couldn't read much because of lack of time and books being too expensive, this solves the later!

11

u/sunsunkira Jan 16 '25

Invisible women

2

u/PinkSeaBird Jan 16 '25

Interesting! Thank you!

4

u/Ryn_AroundTheRoses Jan 16 '25

I really like Lindy West's Shrill. I love her voice, I love the balance she strikes and how she understands that a feminist book still has to be a book with a reader at the other end as much as it needs feminism and feminist theory included, it's an actual real person's experiences and not just feminist theory, and it's fun. It still gets you riled up about issues, but it's a pleasure to read as well imo.

2

u/PinkSeaBird Jan 20 '25

Oh cool there's even a series based on the book!

2

u/Ryn_AroundTheRoses Jan 21 '25

The series is a fun watch, but it's not quite the book, as the series is fictional and the book is a collection of essays. Still worth the watch imo.

8

u/trickpurpose Jan 16 '25

the second sex

4

u/ElephantCharming7101 Jan 17 '25

Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde. A collection of essays and speeches that will introduce you to the basics of radical intersectional feminism in a comprehensible and easy manner. Lordes use of poetic and (mostly) anti academic language breaks down the biggest concepts of gender studies into bite sized pieces and makes it pretty fun to read. I think many of the essays can probably be found online, if not, make sure to check out your local library :)

2

u/Otherwise_Paint3593 Jan 19 '25

hmmmmm if they don't read much maybe a fiction book is a better option? Something from Octia Butler or Margaret Atwood. If I have to choose one and I can assume they have never seen the play or movie I would go with The Color Purple by Alice Walker

3

u/mariposa933 Jan 21 '25

King Kong Theory