It is something I have been thinking about lately, because apparently most men rarely read books by female authors. 85% of men never read books by women.
Not out of intention. More often it is habit. Or what gets recommended. Or what feels familiar.
But that is exactly how unconscious bias shows up.
So here is a simple invitation. Make a conscious effort to read more books by women. All genres. Fiction, non-fiction, memoir, sci-fi, business, everything.
You might discover new perspectives, different storytelling styles, and ideas you would not normally come across.
I talk about this on the latest episode of the Refigure podcast, and why it matters more than we think.
Curious to hear your answers. What is the last book you read by a woman?
Listen to latest episode here
“Really enjoyed “I who have never known men” by Jacqueline Harpman. Great bleak sci-find that doesn’t promise happily ever after endings.” Bill Hinchen
“Some people may dispute this in the conversation about “books” but I’ve just read the first 2 volumes of Absolute Wonderwoman by Kelly Thompson. I’ve been a comic reader since I was a kid and it was a very male dominated genre for many years. That has changed in the last 10 years (to a degree) and Thompson, Chelsea Cain, Rainbow Rowell, G Willow Wilson, Gail Simone and others have all done high profile writing I’ve really enjoyed. (loads of great women artists as well).” Dorian Rogers
“A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers, although I preferred her Wayfarers series of books. Another great female author I really like is Jenny Lawson, who basically just writes hilarious stories about herself and also writes a lot about mental health issues as well. Her new book, How To Be OK When Nothing is OK, is out soon and will be my next read.” Kevin Stafferton
“Interesting. I ran my own numbers. Last 10 books
Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver
Unsheltered – Barbara Kingsolver
No Straight Road takes you there – Rebecca Solnit
Surfacing – Margaret Atwood
The Hounds of the Baskervilles – Arthur Conan Doyle
Against the Machine – Paul Kingsnorth
What I Loved – Siri Hustvedt
A Mudlarking Year – Lara Maikem
The Blazing World – Siri Hustvedt
You Are Here – David Nicholls
So I was feeling pretty virtuous with 7 girls vs 3 boys. And only with Rebecca Solnit (who has an explicitly feminist perspective on the polycrisis) and Atwood (who a friend recommended as a feminist classic) did I even give a second’s consideration of their gender.
But then I went back over the 30 books before these and it swings the other way. 22m/8w.
So thats 5:3 over the past 40 books. Some room for improvement then.
I wonder if structural factors, such as the gender bias in publishing overall, or in the books which are specifically marketed to men is as much a factor as individual selection / personal recommendation bias.” Tom Bailey
Get out of your comfort zone and read books by people different to you. It could change your outlook.
