This morning the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction is announced. The six books in this shortlist cover a range of genres from history to memoirs, history and science to current affairs. However these six books are united by the themes of resistance and renewal. There is a focus on the power of hope and the necessity of resistance in order to initiate change. 

The 2025 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction Shortlist

The 2025 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction Longlist was announced last month, showcasing original, incisive and accomplished works of non-fiction written by women in the UK. The 16 strong longlist has now been narrowed down to six and those that have made the shortlist are:

A Thousand Threads by Neneh Cherry

The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke

Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton

Agent Zo: The Untold Stories of Fearless WW2 Resistance Fighter Elżbieta Zawacka by Clare Mulley

What the Wild Sea Can Be: The Future of the World's Ocean by Helen Scales

Private Revolutions: Coming of Age in a New China by Yuan Yang

About the 2025 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction Shortlist

The authors that appear in this year's shortlist all come from different professional backgrounds. Neneh Cherry, author of memoir A Thousand Threads is a singer, songwriter and producer. The Story of a Heart comes from palliative care doctor and author Rachel Clarke. Raising Hare author Chloe Dalton is a writer, political advisor and foreign policy specialist. Claire Mulley, who is shortlisted for Agent Zo is a writer and historian. Marine biologist and broadcaster Helen Scales created What the Wild Sea Can Be and Private Revolutions author Yuan Yang is a journalist who was also elected in 2024 as MP for Early and Woodley. Cherry, Dalton and Yang are all shortlisted for their first books.

The winner of the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction will be announced on the 12th June and they will receive a cheque for £30,000 as well as the limited edition artwork called the 'Charlotte'. Both prizes have been gifted by the Charlotte Aitken Trust. 

The inaugural winner of the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction was Doppleganger: A Trip into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein.

Thoughts on the Shortlist from the Chair of Judges

This year's Chair of Judges for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction is Kavita Puri. commenting on this year's shortlist she said: said: '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. 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.’

We're thrilled to have a Q&A with the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction Chair of Judges Kavita Puri. Click here to find out more about this year's judging process.