I have an ongoing interest with the lives of women during the mid-century years. What work they found, the challenges they faced, their victories and their battles. 

If you enjoy non-fiction 20th century history with a focus on women, here are five stand-out non-fiction reads you won't want to miss. (All links go to Goodreads). 

When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion by Julie Satow

I had a career in fashion before turning not fiction, and that career started when I first walked into a Macy's and filled out an application. This book takes us back to the beginning of the 20th century when department store new and shares how retail became a female-dominated field. 

Expect Great Things: How the Katharine Gibbs School Revolutionized the American Workplace for Women by Vanda Kreft

It's darn near impossible to read historical fiction set in Manhattan and not have characters who attended the Katharine Gibbs School. This reveals the school's beginnings thanks to the drive of Katharine, and the legacy she left behind after her son took over. 

Claire McCardell: The Designer who Set Women Free by Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson

Even if you've never heard of Claire McCardell, you've been influenced by her designs. She gave women pockets! 

She-Wolves: The Untold Story of the Women of Wall Street by Paulina Bren

I loved Paulina Bren's book about the Barbizon Hotel for Women a few years back and knew she could deliver a well-researched book. This shakes some dust off of the idea that Wall Street is a man's world, but it does make you cringe at how badly men wanted to keep women out!

The Six: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush

If you know me, then you know I like astronauts and the space race. Add in my interest in non-fiction about women in mid-century America, and you can see why I picked up this book!