March 26, 2025, 9:00am
Today, the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction—founded last year “to amplify female voices, whilst celebrating books that inform, challenge, disrupt, and offer solace and connection”—announced its 2025 shortlist: six books, whittled down from a longlist of 16, that span subjects from history to science to memoir.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to announce six books on our 2025 shortlist from across genres, that are united by an unforgettable voice, rigour, and unique insight,” said Kavita Puri, Chair of Judges, in a statement. “Included in our list are narratives that honour the natural world and its bond with humanity, meticulously researched stories of women challenging power, and books that illuminate complex subjects with authority, nuance and originality. These books will stay with you long after they have been read, for their outstanding prose, craftsmanship, and what they reveal about the human condition and our world. It was such a joy to embrace such an eclectic mix of narratives by such insightful women writers – we are thrilled and immensely proud of our final shortlist.”
The winner will be announced on June 12, and will receive £30,000 and a limited-edition artwork known as the “Charlotte,” gifted by the Charlotte Aitken Trust.
Here’s the shortlist:
Neneh Cherry, A Thousand Threads
Citation from judge Kavita Puri: “A story of a remarkable life and the many threads that made it. This is a book about belonging, family, how we find our place in society and, of course, music. The writing is exceptional, and effortless. It’s a complex portrayal full of warmth, honesty and integrity, and how Neneh came to be who she is today.”
Rachel Clarke, The Story of a Heart
Citation from judge Dr Elizabeth-Jane Burnett: “This book combines the author’s expertise with the emotional resonance of the subject to bring together an extraordinary story. It shows how advances in medical science and nursing care made it possible for one family to donate to another a gift that can never be repaid – the gift of life. It moves effortlessly between disciplines and is meticulously researched and superbly written.”
Chloe Dalton, Raising Hare
Citation from judge Elizabeth Buchan: “This is a beautiful meditation on the interactions between the human and the natural world that takes you under its spell. I really like how the book opens up questions of wildness; how do we let the wild into our lives, and what can we do in our own spaces to cultivate a relationship between us and the natural habitat?”
Clare Mulley, Agent Zo: The Untold Stories of Courageous WW2 Resistance Fighter Elżbieta Zawacka
Citation from judge Dr Leah Broad: “This is a masterfully written biography that brings Elżbieta’s extraordinary story to life in exceptional detail. Phenomenally well researched, it’s a window into World War Two stories that aren’t often told, seen through the life of an inspiring and powerful protagonist. The book follows Elżbieta right into the 21st century, showing the complexity of post-war politics – this is history that still resonates today.”
Helen Scales, What the Wild Sea Can Be: The Future of the World’s Ocean
Citation from judge Emma Gannon: “A heartfelt exploration of the deep sea, from coral to whales, to emperor penguins to kelp. The writing is urgent, spellbinding and gripping, showing the ways humans have accelerated climate change and how we can fight for a better future. This book is a delight and will make you appreciate how magical and fragile life is – and how we need to appreciate the life-giving nature of the Earth’s oceans.”
Yuan Yang, Private Revolutions: Coming of Age in a New China
Citation from judge Kavita Puri: “This book traces a moment of transition in China through the lives of four women who were growing up in the years after Tiananmen Square. These coming-of-age stories are ones you rarely hear of: individuals who want different lives from their parents and who are battling the system in the hope of a better life. It’s eye-opening, beautifully written and carefully researched.”