Good and Mad

Journalist Rebecca Traister traces the history of women's anger as political fuel in America, including office workers who walked out of their buildings after the Supreme Court confirmation of Clarence Thomas. Long before the Women's March and #MeToo, she argues, women's anger was politically catalytic but also politically problematic. Traister looks at anger aimed at men and at other women, anger between allies and between foes, and how differently anger is received depending on who expresses it. She also examines how society and the media condemn female emotion, especially rage, and a double standard women face from all sexes. It became a best seller, and the Washington Post put it among its ten best books of 2018.

Emma Watson picked it for Our Shared Shelf, her book club.