The Women’s Prize for non-fiction recently announced its 2025 shortlist. Covering a broad sweep of disciplines – from history, science and nature, to current affairs and memoir – the six books are united by the power of hope and the necessity of resistance to initiate change. In different ways, this shortlist exemplifies the irrepressible spirit of humanity and nature, and the capacity of both to reinvent in the face of adversity. These non-fiction works are written with passion, insight and authority, vividly and compellingly bringing to life their respective stories and subjects.
The 2025 shortlisted titles for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction are as follows:
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- A Thousand Threads by Neneh Cherry, published by Fern Press, Vintage, Pentguin Random House
- The Story of A Heart by Rachel Clark, published by Abacus, Little, Brown Book Group, Hachette
- Agent Zo: The Untold Stories of Courageous WW2 Resistance Fighter Elżbieta Zawack by Clare Mulley, published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, Orion Publishing Group, Hachette
- What the Wild Sea Can Be: The Future of the World’s Ocean by Helen Scales, published by Grove Press, Atlantic Books
- Private Revolutions: Coming of Age in a New China by Yuan Yang, published by Bloomsbury Circus, Bloomsbury Publishing
- Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton, published by Canongate Books
Over 30 years, the Women’s Prize for Fiction has changed the landscape of women’s writing. Building on this track record as one of highly-respected book prizes in the world, the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction was launched in 2024 to amplify female voices, whilst celebrating books that inform, challenge, disrupt, and offer solace and connection. Sponsored by Findmypast, the inaugural prize was won by Naomi Klein for Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World, her urgent examination of our polarized society. The winner of the 2025 Prize will be announced on 12 June.
Kavita Puri, Chair of Judges, said, “’It’s an absolute pleasure to announce six books on our 2025 shortlist from across genres, that are united by an unforgettable voice, rigor, and unique insight. Included in our list are narratives that honor 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.”
Combining passionate, expertly written prose, What the Wild Sea Can Be by Helen Scales, describes the evolution of the ocean and the impact of humans on its delicately balanced ecology, whilst charting a path to a more hopeful, sustainable world. Raising Hare also opens our eyes to the magic of reconnecting with nature and the wild within, as Chloe Dalton tells her transformative tale of rescuing a leveret during the pandemic. Likewise offering hope in a dark place, Rachel Clarke’s The Story of A Heart explores the modern miracle of a heart transplant, bestowing on the reader a profoundly moving story which reveals both the capabilities of the human body, the dedication of staff in the NHS and the single-mindedness of the medical profession who continue to pursue advances.
Neneh Cherry’s memoir, A Thousand Threads, bears witness to life’s complexities, whilst celebrating female resilience and creative autonomy; a lyrical journey through pain and joy that is also a testament to artistic reinvention. Agent Zo and Private Revolutions both describe other courageous women who show defiance in different ways. Clare Mulley’s meticulously researched biography of a female resistance fighter, Agent Zo is a remarkable story which restores this one unsung heroine to her rightful place in the record of the Second World War. Yuan Yang’s Private Revolutions is a compelling portrait of modern-day China told through four idealistic, tenacious women who refuse to submit to society’s expectations. Against the backdrop of rising state censorship, Yang gives a voice to young women searching for freedom and purpose.
Journalist, broadcaster and author Kavita Puri is joined on the judging panel by the writer and broadcaster Dr Leah Broad, whose work focuses on women’s cultural history; novelist and critic Elizabeth Buchan; writer and environmental academic Dr Elizabeth-Jane Burnett; and author and writer of The Hyphen newsletter on Substack, Emma Gannon.
The 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction winner will receive a cheque for £30,000 and a limited-edition artwork known as the ‘Charlotte’, both gifted by the Charlotte Aitken Trust.
