Nonfiction Feminist Books for Understanding the Women's Rights Movement

1. "The History of Woman Suffrage" by Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Matilda Joslyn Gage - This six-volume work, originally published between 1881 and 1922, is considered a seminal text in the history of the women's rights movement. It documents the struggles and achievements of suffragists in the United States and provides a comprehensive overview of the movement's history.

2. "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" by Mary Wollstonecraft - Originally published in 1792, this is considered one of the first works of feminist philosophy. Wollstonecraft argues for the equality of the sexes and the importance of education for women, and her writing continues to be widely read and studied today.

3. "The Yellow Wall-Paper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman - Originally published in 1892, this short story is considered a classic work of feminist literature. It is a powerful exploration of the ways in which societal expectations of women and the constraints of domesticity can lead to mental illness.

4. "The Women's Room" by Marilyn French - Originally published in 1977, this novel is a fictionalized account of the experiences of women during the second wave of feminism in the United States. It is a powerful exploration of the ways in which women are constrained by societal expectations and the ways in which they can find empowerment and liberation through the feminist movement.

5. "The Feminine Mystique" by Betty Friedan - Originally published in 1963, this book is considered a classic work of feminist literature and is often credited with sparking the second-wave feminist movement. It explores the ways in which societal expectations of women as domestic homemakers led to feelings of unhappiness and dissatisfaction among women, and encouraged them to seek greater opportunities and fulfillment outside the home.