The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
This groundbreaking book is a sociological examination of the dissatisfaction felt by American housewives in the mid-20th century. The author argues that women are not naturally fulfilled by devoting their lives to homemaking and child-rearing, challenging the widely accepted belief of the era. It explores the idea of the "problem that has no name" - the widespread unhappiness of women in the 1950s and early 1960s. The book is considered one of the catalysts of the second-wave feminist movement.
The 523rd greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- The 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written (Martin Seymour-Smith)
- 100 Most Influential Books of the Century (Boston Public Library)
- 40 Essential Feminist Books to Read for Women's History Month (Harpers Bazaar)
- The 100 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time (The Guardian)
- The New York Public Library's Books of the Century (New York Public Library)
- A Century of Reading (Lithub)
- The Booklist Century: 100 Books, 100 Years (BookList)
- 75 Books by Women Whose Words Have Changed the World (Women's National Book Association)
- 87 Books Written by Women That Are So Good, You Won't Be Able to Put Them Down (Pop Sugar)
- Books That Shaped America (Library of Congress)