10 of the Best Feminist Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime

From Caitlin Moran's joyful bestseller to Doris Lessing's radical novel, we round-up the feminist titles to inspire and galvanise.

Words by Ella Alexander. All images are courtesy.

Women have achieved a great deal over the last 100 years, thanks in part to the great canon of feminist literature which has shone a light on gender inequalities. Whether you want to educate yourself, a partner or a backward-thinking relative (we all have one), our guide to the best feminist books will change the way you think about gender inequality and what it means to be a woman today. Some take the form of compelling manifestos, while others take the form of imaginative prose, but each one draws attention to the progress that needs to be made. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it is a start.

This article first appeared on Harper’s Bazaar UK

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Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

When Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ seminal feminist book was first released in 1992, it quickly became a literary sensation, spending 145 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list over a three-year span – a record at the time. Estés – herself a Jungian analyst and poet – explores the notion that the ‘wild woman’ has been repressed by a male-orientated value system which trivialises women’s emotions. But, she compellingly argues, it is this sense of wildness that is our strongest asset as women. This isn’t an easy read, but those who commit will be rewarded.
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