In March, in honor of Women’s History Month, Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel laureate and global advocate for girls’ education, shared her private reading list, which is made up of books written by inspiring women authors. Malala, whose life has been devoted to fighting for education and gender equality, used social media to turn out her recommendations about stories of resilience, courage, and empowerment.
Dream Count, the latest novel from acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, was picked up by Malala Yousafzai during her recent visit to Daunt Books in London. While Malala is a long-time admirer of Adichie’s feminist essays, she has not read any of the fiction until now. “I’ve just started reading it, so no spoilers, please!” Malala quipped in her post.
Another great highlight from her list is Mary Shelley, being a work titled Frankenstein. Malala confessed she was initially fascinated by the book cover but eventually made her way to appreciating Shelley as the trailblazing author of early science fiction.
“I didn’t know that Shelley’s mother was a philosopher of women’s rights, or that Shelley subtly wove feminist themes into her novels,” she explains with her quintessential panache. “It goes on to remind us that you can discover great things when you pick a book that looks interesting!”
She stressed that the voice of the Afghan woman still needs amplification, as they continue to be gravely oppressed under the Taliban regime. She drew attention to two powerful memoirs that tell the stories of the Afghan girls and women that inspire, uplift, and bring forth strength.
Sola Mahfouz’s Defiant Dreams covers her life from being an 11-year-old girl threatened by the Taliban for just going to school to a quantum computing student at Tufts University. While never allowed outside her house, Mahfouz studied English, theoretical physics, and philosophy on her own. “Her story is testament to the power of education and determination,” said Malala.
Malala Yousafzai Women’s History Month Reading List
- Dream Countby Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Frankensteinby Mary Shelley
- Defiant Dreamsby Sola Mahfouz
- My Beautiful Sistersby Khalida Popal
Through her reading list, Malala Yousafzai continues to inspire millions, proving that books can be powerful tools for education, empowerment, and change. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or simply a great read, these recommendations are a perfect way to celebrate Women’s History Month.
