Author
‘Profoundly important … a book everyone should read.’
- Observer on Men Who Hate Women
MOST RECENTLY PUBLISHED
Sisters of
Sword and Shadow
New feminist Arthurian fantasy launched November 9th...
Introducing Laura Bates' fantasy debut, the first in a breathtaking and sweeping duology, exploring questions about power, courage and the stories we tell about the past.
Non-fiction books
Fiction books
Laura is the bestselling author of 8 books, which have been translated into 7 languages.
Her first book, Everyday Sexism, published by Simon and Schuster in 2014, was shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year and Polemic of the Year at the Political Book Awards. Her second book, Girl Up, a survival guide for teenage girls, was a Sunday Times bestseller. Men Who Hate Women, a ground-breaking undercover investigation into the world of incels and the terrorism nobody is talking about, was named one of the best books of the year by Waterstones in 2021 and named by Marie Claire as one of its ‘30 Books Every Woman Should Tick off her Reading List Before Turning 30’. Her most recent book, Fix the System, Not the Women, was published in May 2022 and named one of Waterstones’ Best Books of 2022.
Laura’s fiction for young adults is an extension of her activism. The Burning, published in 2019, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and deals with themes including revenge pornography, slut-shaming and witchcraft. It is an Amazon teacher’s pick for school years 1-9. The Trial, published in 2021, explores themes of consent, complicity, sexual violence and justice.
Laura has also contributed to numerous anthologies and other works, including This is How We Come Back Stronger, 30 Second Feminism and What is Right and Wrong?
Laura is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and a Vice President of the Hay Festival. She has judged the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the YA Book Award, the BBC Young Writers Award and the RSL Giles St Aubyn awards. She has been on the selection committee for the Children’s Laureate and frequently chairs literary events, interviewing authors from Gloria Steinem to Philippa Gregory.
Praise for Laura’s books
Praise for Men Who Hate Women
‘Laura Bates is showing us the path to both intimate and global survival’
— Gloria Steinem
‘Brilliantly fierce and eye-opening.’
— The Guardian
‘Profoundly important … a book everyone should read.’
— Observer
‘Excellent … has the power to spark social change.’
— The Sunday Times
‘Brilliant… a brave new book shows why we should all be afraid.’
— The Independent
Praise for Everyday Sexism
‘Often shocking, sometimes amusing and always poignant, everyday sexism is a protest against inequality and a manifesto for change. It's 'a game-changing book, a must-read for every woman.’
— Cosmopolitan
‘Laura Bates’ book Everyday Sexism is powerful and very effective. Going to become required reading for my boys.’
— Stephen Dunbar-Johnson, President of International at The New York Times
‘Thrilling, intelligent, accessible, uplifting and empowering. Read the book.’
— Stylist
‘Shocking, powerful, passionate.’
— The Sunday Times
‘Will make most women feel oddly saner.’
— Caitlin Moran
Praise for The Burning
‘Everything Laura Bates writes is gold dust.’
— Abi Elphinstone, author of The Unmapped Chronicles
‘The Burning lights a fire in you - one that makes you want to fight for change and ignite sparks in others so the fire spreads and spreads. This is a book teen girls NEED to read.’
— Holly Bourne, author of the Spinster Club series
‘The Burning is raw, visceral, terrifying and empowering and should be read by every teenage girl, boy, parent and teacher.’
— Hannah Beckerman, author of The Impossible Truths of Love
‘Bates's powerful debut roars with feminist themes and #MeToo awareness... A smart, explosive examination of gender discrimination and its ramifications.’
— Publishers Weekly
‘A haunting rallying cry against sexism and bullying.’
— Kirkus Reviews
