5 Books Like The First Ladies: Powerful Women and Presidential Politics

The President’s Wife: A Novel, Tracey Enerson Wood

This historical fiction novel is about Edith Wilson, detailing the life she lived before meeting her future husband, President Woodrow Wilson. A beautiful love story about a second chance at love and the historical events of their time in the White House. The book’s themes include the role of women in history and the challenges of being First Lady.

Eleanor and Hick, Susan Quin

This biography details the somewhat unknown intimate relationship between the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt and her friend, Lorena Hickok. It was a friendship that spanned over three decades with thousands of letters being exchanged between the two. The book’s themes include the importance of friendship, the role women carry in society, and the power of love.

A Passionate Mind in Relentless Pursuit, Noliwe Rooks

This biography details the life of Mary Mcleod Bethune, an African American woman, who was an educator and activist who defied gender and racial roles of that time. A woman who dared to fight for equality, centering the progress for black women. The book’s themes include black women’s role in the struggle for equality, the importance of commemorating black achievements, and the power of a mind with a vision.

The Help, Kathryn Stockett

This is a good pic not only because it’s also in the mid-century timeframe, but, like The First Ladies, it’s also written with multiple first person narratives.

The Help is an illustrative tale of what it was like to be a black maid during the 1960’s civil rights era in Mississippi. It follows several African American maids working for rich, white households. The multiple POVs include: the maids Aibileen and Minny, and (white) budding writer Miss Skeeter.

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, Allison Pataki

Benedict’s whole vibe is fictionalized biographies of women who defy the culture and/or the odds. If you’d like more of that then check out Marjorie Post.

Marjorie was the American Post cereal heiress and a leader of the twentieth century high-society. In accordance with the book title, Marjorie Post really lived so many different lives over the course of her 86 years. And she lived it in accordance to a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard. The book covers some of the most important historical events of the 20th century…and, like The First Ladies, even includes some Presidential politics.

Read this one for book club and use our Marjorie Post discussion guide.