Women's History Month Books - Biographies and Memoirs
Celebrate Women's History Month with these books by and about women in the performing arts.
Billie Eilish
Eilish, Billie, 2001- author.
2021
Legendary recording artist Billie Eilish shares an intimate inside look at her life - both on and off the stage - in this stunning, photo-filled book. Billie Eilish is a phenomenon. With distinctive visual flare and darkly poignant lyrics that are unparalleled among music icons of the 21st century, Billie is a musician who stands out from the crowd. Between her record-shattering award-winning music and her uncompromising and unapologetic attitude, it's no surprise that her fanbase continues to grow by millions month after month. She is that rare combination of wildly popular and highly respected for her prodigious talent, a once in a generation superstar. Now in this stunning visual narrative journey through her life, she is ready to share more with her devoted audience for the first time, including hundreds of never-before-seen photos.
But will you love me tomorrow? : an oral history of the '60s girl groups
2023
The Girl Group Sound, made famous and unforgettable by acts like The Ronettes, The Shirelles, The Supremes, and The Vandellas, took over the airwaves by capturing the mix of innocence and rebellion emblematic of America in the 1960s. As songs like "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," "Then He Kissed Me," and "Be My Baby" rose to number one, Girl Groups cornered the burgeoning post-war market of teenage rock and roll fans, indelibly shaping the trajectory of pop music in the process. But the story of the Girl Group Sound is also one of race and power. The women, most of whom were Black and many of whom were only teenagers when their first songs were recorded, were cultivated, packaged, and sold by a music industry that cut them out of the lion's share of their profits. And though the women's careers would take them on tour with Civil Rights leaders and to performances at some of the earliest desegregated concerts, many found themselves cast aside as trends shifted in favor of the largely white British Invasion of the mid to late '60s.
Dying of politeness : a memoir
Davis, Geena, author
2022
In this candid memoir, the Academy Award winner recalls her journey from a quiet and polite childhood to a screen icon who helped lead the way to gender parity in Hollywood.
Finding me
Davis, Viola, 1965- author
2022
This is Viola Davis' story, in her own words, and spans her incredible, inspiring life, from her coming-of-age in Rhode Island to her present day. Hers is a story of overcoming, a true hero's journey.
Just as I am : a memoir
Tyson, Cicely, author.
2021
Just As I Am is my truth. It is me, plain and unvarnished, with the glitter and garland set aside. In these pages, I am indeed Cicely, the actress who has been blessed to grace the stage and screen for six decades. Yet I am also the church girl who once rarely spoke a word. I am the teenager who sought solace in the verses of the old hymn for which this book is named. I am a daughter and mother, a sister, and a friend. I am an observer of human nature and the dreamer of audacious dreams. I am a woman who has hurt as immeasurably as I have loved, a child of God divinely guided by His hand. And here in my ninth decade, I am a woman who, at long last, has something meaningful to say.
Making a scene
Wu, Constance, 1982- author
2022
"Through raw and relatable essays, Constance shares private memories of childhood, young love and heartbreak, sexual assault and harassment, and how she "made it" in Hollywood. Her stories offer a behind-the-scenes look at being Asian American in the entertainment industry and the continuing evolution of her identity and influence in the public eye"-- Provided by publisher.
My name is Barbra
Streisand, Barbra, author
2023
Barbra Streisand tells her own story about her life and extraordinary career, from growing up in Brooklyn to her first star-making appearances in New York nightclubs to her breakout performance in Funny Girl to the long string of successes in every medium in the years that followed. This is frank, funny, opinionated, and charming as Streisand recounts her early struggles to become an actress, eventually turning to singing to earn a living.
Queen Meryl : the iconic roles, heroic deeds, and legendary life of Meryl Streep
Carlson, Erin, 1981-
2019
Shine bright : a very personal history of Black women in pop
Smith, Danyel, author
2022
From one of the preeminent cultural critics of her generation, a radiant weave of memoir, criticism, and biography that tells the story of black women in music - from the Dixie Cups to Gladys Knight to Janet, Whitney, and Mariah - as the foundational story of American pop.
Thicker than water : a memoir
Washington, Kerry, 1977- author.
2023
In this profoundly moving and beautifully written memoir, the award-winning actor and activist provides an intimate view into both her public and private worlds as she chronicles her life's journey thus far, sharing how she discovered her truest self and, with it, a deeper sense of belonging.
Unfinished : a memoir
Chopra Jonas, Priyanka author
2021
A remarkable life story rooted in two different worlds, this memoir offers insights into Priyanka Chopra Jonas's childhood in India; her formative teenage years in the United States; and her return to India. From her dual-continent twenty-year-long career as an actor and producer to her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, from losing her beloved father to cancer to marrying Nick Jonas, Priyanka's story will inspire a generation around the world to gather their courage, embrace their ambition, and commit to the hard work of following their dreams.
The woman in me
Spears, Britney, author
2023
In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history. Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.
You could make this place beautiful : a memoir
Smith, Maggie, 1977-, author
2023
The award-winning poet explores the disintegration of her marriage and her renewed commitment to herself, interweaving snapshots of a life with meditations on secrets, anger, forgiveness, and narrative itself and revealing how, in the aftermath of loss, we can discover our power and make something beautiful.