Recs if you like A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II...

Niche nonfiction books that dads are still likely to enjoy that either 1) are not military history at all or 2) a niche area of a war that is not military history

books about the second world war that investigate race, class, and gender and/or the human cost of the war. these aren’t the pop history books you buy your dad for christmas, i promise.

primarily (but not exclusively) academic history books read during my history MA program! consequently some may be a bit dense and/or dry.

(Auto)Biographies, memoirs, and stories of influential women, both well and lesser known

I have been collecting (and reading) a long list of memoirs, autobiographies and biographies about women who had fascinating lives. I thought I might as well make it a list! A lot of them I have read and enjoyed, some are from my TBR. I am especially fascinated by 18th-19th century women's stories, so there will be a lot of those. And women from diverse backgrounds. Open to suggestions!

Nonfiction history books focusing on a specific topic or area but follow a narrative structure

Intimate, sometimes harrowing true stories from women who served, documented, or survived wars. A mix of frontline voices and survivor accounts for every interest.

Women were integral to the Allied war effort. They served as nurses, spies, test pilots, mechanics, builders, farmers, and even snipers. The Allies could not have won without them, but there’s little to no spotlight on their contributions. Here are some of their stories!

For nonfiction readers with ✨ specific ✨ interests 🤓

A combination of dystopian fiction and historical nonfiction that are very much a comment on our current situations.