On the topic of unknown wives of famous men, there's a book by a Croatian author Slavenka Drakulić called "Mileva Einstein, Theory of Sadness". It's about Einstein's first wife who was also a physicist, but gave up her promising career to be his wife and then got tossed aside by him. Even though it's not strictly non-fiction, it definitely made me rethink Einstein.
Just to clarify, the book about Naomi Klein's doppelgänger is not about another woman with the same name. The other Naomi is Naomi Wolf, a former liberal feminist icon turned anti-vax conspiracist.
As an autistic woman who went to college for History and mainly tends to finish non fiction books (no matter how many times I try to finish fiction books,) I am ELATED at this new category! I want to read most of these books. I am often frustrated at how publishers disregard such a huge demographic if they've never tried to cater to them at all or publish authors within it.
I just had a very demoralizing day of research (for context I am in grad school focusing on women's history), but this video made MY DAY and lifted up my spirits that my efforts aren't fruitless! So excited the prize is covering these and I was obsessed with Wifedom too, so I hope you love it :)
For some reason I though this wouldnt really interest me but basically every single one of the sounds like "I'll just drop everything and start reading". Maybe most interested in Naomi Klein's book? But also so many other ones
I looked up the thing about pelvises a while back and, at least per the article I found, it’s basically not that c-sections alter the pelvises of the pregnant people who have the procedure, but just that they promote the survival (and potential further reproduction) of people whose pelvis size might have endangered their lives and/or the lives of their babies. The average pelvis size of the population as a whole is very slightly smaller as a result, because more people with small pelvis bones are staying alive ❤
That’s funny because I’ve often thought about the fact that in the grand scheme of evolutionary stuff, I should not be here because I had three C-sections and the first kid should’ve killed me because he weighed almost 11 pounds and my body would not go into labor even with two days of Pitocin. I am living on borrowed time. That being said, my only daughter has chosen to not reproduce, so maybe that’s just as well.
@@twinnish I was delivered by C-section too. In this particular case, I believe it was blamed on me having a giant head, not on mom having a statistically small pelvis lol
Such great news! Commercial history needs to become less exclusive. Female academics do great work but so many commerical history books cover macho subjects from male povs like wars, emperors dictators, mainly from the twentieth century: they dominate library and bookstore history sections. The same stories over and over again. Female books also tend to be pigeonholed into works on medieval queens. Theres so much more to history than that! And men who read these books sometimes dont appreciate or respect women in the field as much bc they dont get that women can do good history research too. I once read a semi commercial book on early medieval england and the author referred to a general anon historian as 'he' 😫 (in the cintext of if a historian looks closely, he will find...) and that book wasnt even that old 😢
Ooooh I've been looking forward to this video! Not gonna lie Leena if you said Women's Prize for Non-Fiction in the title it would have been the first thing I watched this evening, the title scared me a little 😅 I'm interested in reading A Flat Place and Finding Eden was already on my list and now Matresence will join it, I was interested in the concept even before you mentioned the author! And The Britannias sounds right up my street too! Also I'm interested in but cautious of Eve, I'd love to hear people's thoughts once they read it or listen to a podcast about it first. Looking forward to hearing what you think of the books you've picked out! And excited to see the eventual shortlist 🙌🏻✨
My GR "want to read" just got a workout. I had it open in a different tab and added as we went! lol So happy to learn about the women's prize in nonfic. Thanks for spotlighting it. Note: Naomi Klein is the author, Naomi Wolf is the antivaxxer &c. Even with that "big" a difference in their names, Klein still got conflated with Wolf. I think likely because she's more pop culturally well known, and it trickled down from there.
There are so many good books here by the looks of things! I definitely want to read the flat place, that sounds really good! It's funny when you were reading all the facts about why we need a women's prize I was thinking about all the books I've read recently and how most books I read are women's non fiction. You are right though, a lot of them, whether it be science or history, end up covering mainly female dominated topics, perhaps out of a feeling of needing to tell the stories men haven't bothered to tell. Either way, there are some fantastic books out there! My faves are Laura Bates, Lucy Cooke Annabelle Hirsch
I'm most excited about Wifedom, How to Say Babylon, A Flat Place, All that She Carried and Vulture Capitalism! But now hearing you explain Doppelganger instead of the announcement livestream that also sounds fascinating!!
I've immediately added Eve and Matrescene to be tbr. Endlessly fascinated with the history of motherhood and how it's been twisted out of shape in the modern day and fucks us all over. Maybe a bit too passionate about it 🤣 must get back to work and not deep dive further.
I'm most excited (in no particular order) about Intervals, Thunderclap, and a Flat Place. Which also all happen to be the shortest books, so that totally fits in with my general reading habits. And as it was easily available to me, I've started reading The Dictionary People first. I really am a sucker for all things language related.
Delft is apparently a difficult name for foreigners. Consider yourself lucky you didn't have to say Scheveningen, Groningen, or Haarlemmermeer.😄 Delft is a beautiful little city though, and full of interesting history. Well worth a visit.
I'm actually super interested in Shadows at Noon. I hadn't heard about it, and I'm always interested in reading about Partition history (as a child of Bangladeshis). Immediately sent a request to the library for it as I was watching your video, lol.
I just finished Wifedom; I read it in less than 24 hours. It is one of the most readable and compelling books of nonfiction I've read in recent memory. You must read it!
I have already started Eve...so good and readable! I will also read Code Dependent because I think we need to face this phenomenon, Vulture Capitalism, and Wifedom (of course!). Maybe young queens...and intervals as it will hit close to home for me.
I love this episode and am intrigued by several including the slave/quilt story and the queens and the British islands. The funny thing about the British islands is that whenever anybody is talking about visiting the UK that’s where I want to go in the lake country. I’ve not a lot of interest in London. I mean I’m sure I’ll go there someday but I’m a lot more interested in the islands Scotland. I like having a handy-dandy reading list for in case I get ambitious.😊
Ooh, that's so cool, I'm so excited! I love me some non-fiction and as a woman myself I'am totally aboard supporting female writers. Most of these sound so intriguing as well! If only there were more hours in the day...
Absolutely love a Leena-loves-a-book-prize video 😅 really enjoyed your commentary on each of these but hilarious that not a single one of my "oooh i want to read that one" made it to your top. I love how we all lean into dif things and there are tons for all of us 😂❤
There is something incredibly evil in sending someone who loves to read great books for a thing that has a casual timing behind it. Of course, we want to read it all! Also heard great things about How to Say Babylon
Are you really legally not allowed to talk about what you saw in Publishing or is it more of a polite way of keeping a way in for your own books or something like that? The stories from behind the scenes would definitely be very interesting and helpful for others in similar careers.
I did an audible "what" when Leena said she didn't know George Orwell had a wife (2 in fact, lol, but you know what I mean). I am in no way a non-fiction reader, I'm selfish, I prefer to fall or skulk into a fictional world when I'm reading. But in uni I had a few literature profs that insisted we read at least one non-fiction of each fiction writer we were reading, so like if we're reading Hadji Murat (which actually historical fiction, not a novel) we had to read something like Confession at the same time for Tolstoy. For Orwell we read Homage to Catalonia the same time as Animal Farm. His wife was mentioned in it quite often.
I had to immediately stop and look up Intervals, having just come from visiting my mother, who was diagnosed with primary progressive MS in her mid-40s and is now 64. She's now in a care home rather against her will, having been deemed unable to live independently (even with my help) after a series of falls and dangerous incidents (she recently catapulted herself out of her wheelchair into a main road, fracturing her skull). Not sure if I will actually be able to read the book but I think I'd better try
Question about the writer’s pay gap: is this a UK or international stat? Also, do you know the stats on women negotiating their pay for books? From my own experience: when I was sent my first book contract I agreed to a small amount and for my name not to be on the cover, because I was so grateful anyone would even hire me to write anything. Later I found out the man who was writing a book in the same series negotiated for something different. I wonder now if this kind of thing (not negotiating, getting a worse deal) happens a lot.
All the sources are linked in the description for UK and international stats :) I’m curious if you had an agent because they usually help with a buffer for that sort of thing, but it obviously doesn’t work all the time cus well.. we can see it in the stats! Sigh x
I did not. I was a lowly masters student desperate for some money and had never ventured into publishing before. A woman approached me to write a book for women on how to study and meditate on the Bible. It was with a well established Christian publishing house. It was in a larger series of Christian books for women so they said “this is the norm of what all these writers have been paid and how they’ve been credited.” I thought the credit thing wouldn’t matter. Spoiler alert it does matter for my CV, a lot. I thought my pay was fair. Spoiler alert other folks got more money than me. I feel sad for my baby self I said yes to this stuff! Now I teach all my students to always always negotiate pay.
Worth noting that many (I'd say most but I haven't personally done the math) bestselling history books are not actually written by trained historians. They're frequently written by journalists, which produces both problems and benefits. Academic historians mostly publish with academic presses because those are the only publishers that guarantee proper peer review and fact-checking processes, which you need for tenure and promotion. Downside is that most academic presses are not very good at marketing to the general public (and the general public is really put off by books with footnotes, which are essential to how historians show our work!). Would be happy to talk about this if you want to dive more into history books and publishing.
Wifedom is excellent - it’s the only one on the list I’ve read so far. The Dictionary People has been on my wish list for a few months so I bit the bullet and ordered it today 😀 I’m also interested in A Flat Place.
I’ve just started reading The Britannias - I loved Albinia’s fiction (based on this research) Cwen about an island ruled by women - I also plan to read Eve and Matrescene (I’m a retired midwife) but you’ve tempted me with How to Say Babylon. Il definitely read the winner whatever it is.
This list is so fascinating. Every year I look at the fiction list and plan to read my way through it, but never do. This year I think the non fiction books might get me. PS. I think the doppelganger is Naomi Wolf. I remember reading on the website formerly known as Twitter "if it's Klein, then you're fine; if if it's wolf, oof".
One I'm excited about is WHO COOKED THE LAST SUPPER?: THE WOMEN'S HISTORY OF THE WORLD by Rosalind miles. I heard someone cite it in a video essay and it sounded fantastic.
ooh excited for Wifedom. I recently read Orwell's Roses by Rebecca Solnit and she wrote a bit about Orwell's wife, and at the time I was thinking where is THAT book? Now here it is :)
@Leena, I’m almost finished with Doppelgänger and trust me, this is a great book that is right up your alley! It explains the mindset of the far right and left, and it ties it all back into history so beautifully! I will reread it for sure!
I’m not a strong non-fiction reader, but a lot of those sound really interesting! Also shout out to Where Are Your Boys Tonight? which I can see on your shelf in the background.
I watched a webinar with Safiya talking about her book and it looks brilliant and intense! That blurb didn't do it justice and I think you'd probably love it!
Definitely reading Code Dependent (I work in computer science education). Like you I'm also interested to hear Orwell had a wife - so definitely reading Wifedom too. Thank you for all the stats at the start - very interesting and also personally motivating (I've been dallying a bit about what to do).
Really excited about Wifedom, Thunderclap and Young queens! The Dictionary People indeed sounds a bit more gimicky so I might see if I can get to that on audio!
ohhh, what a great video! love the stats at the beginning and absolutely thrilled to read some non-ficition now (but first, gotta finish pod, thanks for that recommendation)!
i had 'all that she carried' recently recommended to me, heard that it's fascinating and awesome how much it does with the history of the central fabric bag - excited to see it on this list and have high hopes for it!!
I want to start with How to Say Babylon and then we’ll see 🤓 I really really want to read one off the longlist (for both nonfic and fic) before the shortlist is announced. I fell short of this goal last year, so I’d like to try again.
This is so exciting that this is happening! I love non-fiction by women but struggle to know about it. I’ve read and loved both Eve and All That She Carried (both have been out in the US for a little while) and Code Dependent and Matrescence sound fascinating. Happy reading!
Yeeeeeeeeeees what a good topic for a video and for an award love love love to see it! Without diminishing that I'll also add that your hair looks so so cool I love it!
I know we **just** got a Women's Prize longlist for non-fiction, but I'm now hoping they'll eventually add longlists for both short fiction and translated literature. 📚👀I'm currently listening to the audiobook of Eve (it's fascinating) and will soon be picking up How to Say Babylon. I would also consider Doppleganger as well as Wifedom, but we'll see. I'm trying to hold out for the fiction longlist because money is tight.
10:46 the old Dutch city with the big gunpowder explosion of 1654, that killed the 🇳🇱 32 year old/young upcoming painter Carl Fabritius (pupil of Rembrandt van Rijn), is indeed the same 'Dutch Golden Age' creator of that famous little painting 'The Goldfinch'. On which the Donna Tartt book centers. Her novel made the tiny (damaged by the gunpowder explosion) painting even more famous. So much so that the museum 'Het Maurits Huis' (which also houses 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring') in The Hague, sells her novels in their gift shop. I bet this new novel 'Thunderclap' will be sold soon there as well...if it becomes a hit. The city Fabritius died in, is called: Delft - which also is the city that lends it's name to the famous/expensive 'Royal Delft Blue Pottery', which has been manufactured there since 1653. So the city name is pronounced like you would the famous "Blue Ware"/pottery. ✌🏻😊 I'm totally going to buy & read that new novel 'Thunderclap'. Love novels that are centered around art and history. 👋🏻from 🇳🇱.
My top 4 : Code Dependent Eve Vulture Capitalism Matrescence (another child-free woman who reads a lot about motherhood 😂) That Eve book, though - that's so up my alley I think I may have to purchase it 😬 (I've been on a book buying ban since Jan 01, 2023 successfully....it was a good run.)
Damn it Leena, you made me add three more books to my already exceedingly long "to be read" pile... Thank you for that! These sound amazing: Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution Matrescence The Britannias: An Archipelago's Tale
Whenever you have a new book video, I always pull my my story graph, haha (and that's because of you, too!). It's filled pretty exclusively with the books you recommend and I love it.
As a woman who writes nonfiction (about being a woman), I’m so freaking excited for the Women’s Nonfiction Prize! New goal unlocked: have Leena unbox my book someday 😆🫶🏻
Wow. Though I am interested in NF, I typically gravitate towards fiction. This list looks awesome! Eve, Intervals, All That She carried, A Flat Place, Thunderclap, A Flat Place - all look so interesting!
I'm absolutely excited about this prize. I love non fiction! 'The Britannias', 'Young Queens', 'All that she carried', and 'Wifedom' have definitely made it on my TBR-list. 📚 Thank you so much for sharing the long list with us.
They all look amazing! So sad that Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History by Philippa Gregory didn't make the list - been absolutely loving that book
I'm picky when it comes to fiction so I never really follow awards, but I'm just terrible at keeping up with newer nonfiction releases, so this is a really great list for me. I think I'm most excited about Wifedom, All That She Carried, Young Queens, and The Britannias.
On the topic of unknown wives of famous men, there's a book by a Croatian author Slavenka Drakulić called "Mileva Einstein, Theory of Sadness". It's about Einstein's first wife who was also a physicist, but gave up her promising career to be his wife and then got tossed aside by him. Even though it's not strictly non-fiction, it definitely made me rethink Einstein.
Oooh I read something else from her. I didn't really like it (😂) but this sounds interesting
Really makes you wonder how many of our historical heroes are going to turn out to be riding on the coattails of their wives.
I am so glad Mileva is getting more recognition. There are also claims that she contributed to his work, but was never quoted as author.
When will Leena be a judge already *shakes fist at sky*
Just to clarify, the book about Naomi Klein's doppelgänger is not about another woman with the same name. The other Naomi is Naomi Wolf, a former liberal feminist icon turned anti-vax conspiracist.
Most famous for writing The Beauty Myth
Leena, you must have such strong wrists 😂 some of those books are bone-breakers!
As an autistic woman who went to college for History and mainly tends to finish non fiction books (no matter how many times I try to finish fiction books,) I am ELATED at this new category! I want to read most of these books.
I am often frustrated at how publishers disregard such a huge demographic if they've never tried to cater to them at all or publish authors within it.
i just truly love your women's prize content, thank you so much for keeping on!
You and Ariel must read Wifedom together!!!! I need to hear you two discuss this
Yes yes yes!! @arielbissett
I just had a very demoralizing day of research (for context I am in grad school focusing on women's history), but this video made MY DAY and lifted up my spirits that my efforts aren't fruitless! So excited the prize is covering these and I was obsessed with Wifedom too, so I hope you love it :)
For some reason I though this wouldnt really interest me but basically every single one of the sounds like "I'll just drop everything and start reading". Maybe most interested in Naomi Klein's book? But also so many other ones
I looked up the thing about pelvises a while back and, at least per the article I found, it’s basically not that c-sections alter the pelvises of the pregnant people who have the procedure, but just that they promote the survival (and potential further reproduction) of people whose pelvis size might have endangered their lives and/or the lives of their babies. The average pelvis size of the population as a whole is very slightly smaller as a result, because more people with small pelvis bones are staying alive ❤
That’s funny because I’ve often thought about the fact that in the grand scheme of evolutionary stuff, I should not be here because I had three C-sections and the first kid should’ve killed me because he weighed almost 11 pounds and my body would not go into labor even with two days of Pitocin. I am living on borrowed time. That being said, my only daughter has chosen to not reproduce, so maybe that’s just as well.
@@twinnish I was delivered by C-section too. In this particular case, I believe it was blamed on me having a giant head, not on mom having a statistically small pelvis lol
Finding this such a fascinating conversation. Don't have anything to add just very interested.
"Jeanette Winterson says it's good, and that's good enough for me." And so say we all.
Such great news! Commercial history needs to become less exclusive. Female academics do great work but so many commerical history books cover macho subjects from male povs like wars, emperors dictators, mainly from the twentieth century: they dominate library and bookstore history sections. The same stories over and over again. Female books also tend to be pigeonholed into works on medieval queens. Theres so much more to history than that! And men who read these books sometimes dont appreciate or respect women in the field as much bc they dont get that women can do good history research too. I once read a semi commercial book on early medieval england and the author referred to a general anon historian as 'he' 😫 (in the cintext of if a historian looks closely, he will find...) and that book wasnt even that old 😢
Sorry Leena you have to just read them all.
Ooooh I've been looking forward to this video! Not gonna lie Leena if you said Women's Prize for Non-Fiction in the title it would have been the first thing I watched this evening, the title scared me a little 😅
I'm interested in reading A Flat Place and Finding Eden was already on my list and now Matresence will join it, I was interested in the concept even before you mentioned the author! And The Britannias sounds right up my street too! Also I'm interested in but cautious of Eve, I'd love to hear people's thoughts once they read it or listen to a podcast about it first.
Looking forward to hearing what you think of the books you've picked out! And excited to see the eventual shortlist 🙌🏻✨
My GR "want to read" just got a workout. I had it open in a different tab and added as we went! lol So happy to learn about the women's prize in nonfic. Thanks for spotlighting it.
Note: Naomi Klein is the author, Naomi Wolf is the antivaxxer &c. Even with that "big" a difference in their names, Klein still got conflated with Wolf. I think likely because she's more pop culturally well known, and it trickled down from there.
Leena: ...another woman named Naomi Klein...
Me: No! No!!
Orwell's Roses, by Rebecca Solnit, talks a bit about his wife. Also a good read, if you are into Orwell as subject matter.
There are so many good books here by the looks of things! I definitely want to read the flat place, that sounds really good! It's funny when you were reading all the facts about why we need a women's prize I was thinking about all the books I've read recently and how most books I read are women's non fiction. You are right though, a lot of them, whether it be science or history, end up covering mainly female dominated topics, perhaps out of a feeling of needing to tell the stories men haven't bothered to tell. Either way, there are some fantastic books out there! My faves are Laura Bates, Lucy Cooke Annabelle Hirsch
I haven't read A Flat Place (yet) but Noreen Masud was my teacher for a semester and she's so lovely! It's so cool that the book got nominated
@@wolfsherz3279 that's so cool!
I'm most excited about Wifedom, How to Say Babylon, A Flat Place, All that She Carried and Vulture Capitalism! But now hearing you explain Doppelganger instead of the announcement livestream that also sounds fascinating!!
I'm not a big non-fiction reader but you make everything sound so fascinating. I'm being influenced haha
I've immediately added Eve and Matrescene to be tbr. Endlessly fascinated with the history of motherhood and how it's been twisted out of shape in the modern day and fucks us all over. Maybe a bit too passionate about it 🤣 must get back to work and not deep dive further.
Code Dependent! My PhD work is in preaching, feminism and AI this sounds right up my alley!
Wifedom has been huge in Australia (Anna Funder is Aussie), can’t wait to see the author speak next month!
I'm most excited (in no particular order) about Intervals, Thunderclap, and a Flat Place. Which also all happen to be the shortest books, so that totally fits in with my general reading habits.
And as it was easily available to me, I've started reading The Dictionary People first. I really am a sucker for all things language related.
Delft is apparently a difficult name for foreigners. Consider yourself lucky you didn't have to say Scheveningen, Groningen, or Haarlemmermeer.😄 Delft is a beautiful little city though, and full of interesting history. Well worth a visit.
I'm actually super interested in Shadows at Noon. I hadn't heard about it, and I'm always interested in reading about Partition history (as a child of Bangladeshis). Immediately sent a request to the library for it as I was watching your video, lol.
I wonder what would happen if fiction authors were all anonymous... 🤔
Yes! That is the same Goldfinch as the Tartt novel
Flatlands sounds like a bit of me!
I think ‘A Murder of Memoir’ sounds like a pretty interesting book concept! 5:15
Hah! I noticed that too 😉
I just finished Wifedom; I read it in less than 24 hours. It is one of the most readable and compelling books of nonfiction I've read in recent memory. You must read it!
Oh that’s so good to hear! Even more reason to get to it asap!!
I have already started Eve...so good and readable! I will also read Code Dependent because I think we need to face this phenomenon, Vulture Capitalism, and Wifedom (of course!). Maybe young queens...and intervals as it will hit close to home for me.
I love this episode and am intrigued by several including the slave/quilt story and the queens and the British islands. The funny thing about the British islands is that whenever anybody is talking about visiting the UK that’s where I want to go in the lake country. I’ve not a lot of interest in London. I mean I’m sure I’ll go there someday but I’m a lot more interested in the islands Scotland. I like having a handy-dandy reading list for in case I get ambitious.😊
Ooh, that's so cool, I'm so excited! I love me some non-fiction and as a woman myself I'am totally aboard supporting female writers. Most of these sound so intriguing as well! If only there were more hours in the day...
the Code Dependent and Matriscience are now in my TBR! Thanks for doing this video
Damn. I started crocheting while watching this video, but had to put my project down to write these recommendations 🧐😆
Absolutely love a Leena-loves-a-book-prize video 😅 really enjoyed your commentary on each of these but hilarious that not a single one of my "oooh i want to read that one" made it to your top. I love how we all lean into dif things and there are tons for all of us 😂❤
There is something incredibly evil in sending someone who loves to read great books for a thing that has a casual timing behind it. Of course, we want to read it all! Also heard great things about How to Say Babylon
really didn't come into this expecting to add to my tbr....added all that she carried and doppergänger though, what can you do.
Are you really legally not allowed to talk about what you saw in Publishing or is it more of a polite way of keeping a way in for your own books or something like that? The stories from behind the scenes would definitely be very interesting and helpful for others in similar careers.
Nope a lot of employment contracts literally have it built in, plus I can’t afford libellous cases I’m afraid 😂
😮@@leenanorms
Eve and Wifedom sound the most interesting - I didn't realise I was so much into women's narratives
I did an audible "what" when Leena said she didn't know George Orwell had a wife (2 in fact, lol, but you know what I mean). I am in no way a non-fiction reader, I'm selfish, I prefer to fall or skulk into a fictional world when I'm reading. But in uni I had a few literature profs that insisted we read at least one non-fiction of each fiction writer we were reading, so like if we're reading Hadji Murat (which actually historical fiction, not a novel) we had to read something like Confession at the same time for Tolstoy. For Orwell we read Homage to Catalonia the same time as Animal Farm. His wife was mentioned in it quite often.
I had to immediately stop and look up Intervals, having just come from visiting my mother, who was diagnosed with primary progressive MS in her mid-40s and is now 64. She's now in a care home rather against her will, having been deemed unable to live independently (even with my help) after a series of falls and dangerous incidents (she recently catapulted herself out of her wheelchair into a main road, fracturing her skull). Not sure if I will actually be able to read the book but I think I'd better try
Also, I'm super excited about The Britannias, I loved Cwen which I think was Albinia's first book
Question about the writer’s pay gap: is this a UK or international stat? Also, do you know the stats on women negotiating their pay for books? From my own experience: when I was sent my first book contract I agreed to a small amount and for my name not to be on the cover, because I was so grateful anyone would even hire me to write anything. Later I found out the man who was writing a book in the same series negotiated for something different. I wonder now if this kind of thing (not negotiating, getting a worse deal) happens a lot.
All the sources are linked in the description for UK and international stats :) I’m curious if you had an agent because they usually help with a buffer for that sort of thing, but it obviously doesn’t work all the time cus well.. we can see it in the stats! Sigh x
I did not. I was a lowly masters student desperate for some money and had never ventured into publishing before. A woman approached me to write a book for women on how to study and meditate on the Bible. It was with a well established Christian publishing house. It was in a larger series of Christian books for women so they said “this is the norm of what all these writers have been paid and how they’ve been credited.” I thought the credit thing wouldn’t matter. Spoiler alert it does matter for my CV, a lot. I thought my pay was fair. Spoiler alert other folks got more money than me. I feel sad for my baby self I said yes to this stuff! Now I teach all my students to always always negotiate pay.
Worth noting that many (I'd say most but I haven't personally done the math) bestselling history books are not actually written by trained historians. They're frequently written by journalists, which produces both problems and benefits. Academic historians mostly publish with academic presses because those are the only publishers that guarantee proper peer review and fact-checking processes, which you need for tenure and promotion. Downside is that most academic presses are not very good at marketing to the general public (and the general public is really put off by books with footnotes, which are essential to how historians show our work!). Would be happy to talk about this if you want to dive more into history books and publishing.
getting all that she carried right now!! hoping it isnt based in my hometown 🥴
Wifedom, All that she carried, and The Britannias would be on my shortlist - so many interesting and inclusive reads.
Wifedom is excellent - it’s the only one on the list I’ve read so far. The Dictionary People has been on my wish list for a few months so I bit the bullet and ordered it today 😀 I’m also interested in A Flat Place.
Leena, you sounded like Winnie the Pooh finding a pot of honey when you opened that box 😭
I’ve just started reading The Britannias - I loved Albinia’s fiction (based on this research) Cwen about an island ruled by women - I also plan to read Eve and Matrescene (I’m a retired midwife) but you’ve tempted me with How to Say Babylon. Il definitely read the winner whatever it is.
I should just say good bye to my money now because quite a few of the books struck a chord with me 💸💸💸
WHO NEEDS MONEY WHEN YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE, eh?
This list is so fascinating. Every year I look at the fiction list and plan to read my way through it, but never do. This year I think the non fiction books might get me.
PS. I think the doppelganger is Naomi Wolf. I remember reading on the website formerly known as Twitter "if it's Klein, then you're fine; if if it's wolf, oof".
The oxford dictionary book sounds like my cup of tea. also I loved it when you saud.. I`m not made of time.. Every readers chant that.
One I'm excited about is WHO COOKED THE LAST SUPPER?: THE WOMEN'S HISTORY OF THE WORLD by Rosalind miles. I heard someone cite it in a video essay and it sounded fantastic.
Wifedom is so great!!! So glad it’s on the list.🎉
ooh excited for Wifedom. I recently read Orwell's Roses by Rebecca Solnit and she wrote a bit about Orwell's wife, and at the time I was thinking where is THAT book? Now here it is :)
@Leena, I’m almost finished with Doppelgänger and trust me, this is a great book that is right up your alley! It explains the mindset of the far right and left, and it ties it all back into history so beautifully! I will reread it for sure!
I had enough to read, now I've got 6 more on my list... I've already been waiting 3 months for Doppelganger from the library haha😂
I use these videos as recommended reading lists, as it is my 2024 goal to read more non fiction
thank you for talking about this!! we need more nonfiction books published that are written by women.
Wifedom is amazing, enjoy!
I’m not a strong non-fiction reader, but a lot of those sound really interesting! Also shout out to Where Are Your Boys Tonight? which I can see on your shelf in the background.
I watched a webinar with Safiya talking about her book and it looks brilliant and intense! That blurb didn't do it justice and I think you'd probably love it!
Definitely reading Code Dependent (I work in computer science education). Like you I'm also interested to hear Orwell had a wife - so definitely reading Wifedom too. Thank you for all the stats at the start - very interesting and also personally motivating (I've been dallying a bit about what to do).
Really excited about Wifedom, Thunderclap and Young queens! The Dictionary People indeed sounds a bit more gimicky so I might see if I can get to that on audio!
this is so exciting i find so many new books through your women prize videos :D (I also replay them for comfort listening sometimes hehe)
Wow so many of those sound interesting but im definitely adding Matrescence to ky basked and maybe Eve as well as they sound right up my street.
Doppelgänger is so good!!
All these books sound really cool, but, as a Dutchie, both Thunderclap and your pronunciation of Delft sound particularly interesting.
😂
ohh I would love a video of you reading all (or most) of these! they all sound so fascinating :)
As usual I prefer the US cover of How to Say Babylon, give it a look
MAY-TREE-ESSENCE. Love that word 🌷💕
The book Eve sounds very very interesting!🤩And absolutely loved this video.
Hi could you do a review of my short film script if I send it to you ? Its based on the Magus by John Fowles
could you send me your email so i can send it?
i got the book about the oxford dictionary for my father and he has been absolutley in love with it!!!!
cant wait for your opinion
ohhh, what a great video! love the stats at the beginning and absolutely thrilled to read some non-ficition now (but first, gotta finish pod, thanks for that recommendation)!
Aah this is great, my girlfriend loves non fiction, so many new gift ideas for her!
i had 'all that she carried' recently recommended to me, heard that it's fascinating and awesome how much it does with the history of the central fabric bag - excited to see it on this list and have high hopes for it!!
I want to start with How to Say Babylon and then we’ll see 🤓 I really really want to read one off the longlist (for both nonfic and fic) before the shortlist is announced. I fell short of this goal last year, so I’d like to try again.
This is so exciting that this is happening! I love non-fiction by women but struggle to know about it. I’ve read and loved both Eve and All That She Carried (both have been out in the US for a little while) and Code Dependent and Matrescence sound fascinating. Happy reading!
Yeeeeeeeeeees what a good topic for a video and for an award love love love to see it! Without diminishing that I'll also add that your hair looks so so cool I love it!
A Flat Place is an FANTASTIC book. It blew me away.
Code Dependant, Eve, and Some People Need Killing all sound intriguing. I'm not usually a big non-fiction reader, but I might give those a try
I know we **just** got a Women's Prize longlist for non-fiction, but I'm now hoping they'll eventually add longlists for both short fiction and translated literature. 📚👀I'm currently listening to the audiobook of Eve (it's fascinating) and will soon be picking up How to Say Babylon. I would also consider Doppleganger as well as Wifedom, but we'll see. I'm trying to hold out for the fiction longlist because money is tight.
Please, where is your top/dress from? 😩🩷
Oh no. Oh no oh no.... I want to read all but two of these... HELP!
10:46 the old Dutch city with the big gunpowder explosion of 1654, that killed the 🇳🇱 32 year old/young upcoming painter Carl Fabritius (pupil of Rembrandt van Rijn), is indeed the same 'Dutch Golden Age' creator of that famous little painting 'The Goldfinch'. On which the Donna Tartt book centers. Her novel made the tiny (damaged by the gunpowder explosion) painting even more famous. So much so that the museum 'Het Maurits Huis' (which also houses 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring') in The Hague, sells her novels in their gift shop. I bet this new novel 'Thunderclap' will be sold soon there as well...if it becomes a hit.
The city Fabritius died in, is called: Delft - which also is the city that lends it's name to the famous/expensive 'Royal Delft Blue Pottery', which has been manufactured there since 1653. So the city name is pronounced like you would the famous "Blue Ware"/pottery. ✌🏻😊
I'm totally going to buy & read that new novel 'Thunderclap'. Love novels that are centered around art and history. 👋🏻from 🇳🇱.
Looking forward to your vids about the Women's Prize shortlists, which I presume are imminent...
My top 4 :
Code Dependent
Eve
Vulture Capitalism
Matrescence (another child-free woman who reads a lot about motherhood 😂)
That Eve book, though - that's so up my alley I think I may have to purchase it 😬 (I've been on a book buying ban since Jan 01, 2023 successfully....it was a good run.)
Damn it Leena, you made me add three more books to my already exceedingly long "to be read" pile...
Thank you for that!
These sound amazing:
Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution
Matrescence
The Britannias: An Archipelago's Tale
Whenever you have a new book video, I always pull my my story graph, haha (and that's because of you, too!). It's filled pretty exclusively with the books you recommend and I love it.
As a woman who writes nonfiction (about being a woman), I’m so freaking excited for the Women’s Nonfiction Prize! New goal unlocked: have Leena unbox my book someday 😆🫶🏻
Wow. Though I am interested in NF, I typically gravitate towards fiction. This list looks awesome! Eve, Intervals, All That She carried, A Flat Place, Thunderclap, A Flat Place - all look so interesting!
I'm absolutely excited about this prize. I love non fiction! 'The Britannias', 'Young Queens', 'All that she carried', and 'Wifedom' have definitely made it on my TBR-list. 📚 Thank you so much for sharing the long list with us.
I added Intervals and Doppelganger to my TBR! Both sound so intriguing! Will probably watch again to write down a history title as well. :)
This is very annoying: they all sound fascinating!
They all look amazing! So sad that Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History by Philippa Gregory didn't make the list - been absolutely loving that book
I'm picky when it comes to fiction so I never really follow awards, but I'm just terrible at keeping up with newer nonfiction releases, so this is a really great list for me. I think I'm most excited about Wifedom, All That She Carried, Young Queens, and The Britannias.
Leena I love this! I read an Anna Funder book ages ago and loved it! Glad she is still at it and getting some acknowledgement.
I still find your book videos so RIVETING and I’m so looking forward to when you’ve read these!!
Looking forward to seeing what Leena thinks of the ones she reads