Well i like one of the editor's books... Jessica Valenti's Full-Frontal Feminism. While the book is more geared toward younger women, i think that it's not too overbearing or confusing. It gives a simple definition of what she considers feminism and how it applies everyday. It only took me a day or two to get through, and it was really the book that made me identify myself as a feminist. Hope this helps....

Definitely Full Frontal Feminism, it is a great primer on feminist issues today. Jessica Valenti's 2nd book "He's a Stud, She's a Slut, and 49 Other Double Standards Every Woman Should Know" is also good at getting even a "non" feminist to realize all the sexist stuff that is still in our culture. Most of the other feminist books I've read are either history books or focused on a specific feminist issue (rape, abortion etc) so I don't know if she'd want to delve that deeply into specific issues.

How cool that your mom is interested in learning more about something you're passionate about! If my mom asked me the same question I would definitely recommend to her Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions by Gloria Steinem. I love Feministing, but I think Jessica's books are more geared to young feminists, and if I were to recommend her books to my mom, I don't think she'd be into them as much.

Katha Pollitt's Reasonable Creatures: Essays on Men, Women, and Feminism; if your mom doesn't mind some sometimes-dense psychology I'd recommend Carol Tavris' The Mismeasure of Woman; Backlash by Susan Faludi; I'm also unsure about Jessica's books for older readers but I will recommend Courtney's book Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters; and The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler is an amazing look at an often untouched part of American history.

Also, I have to put in a word for the mother of feminism, my patron Goddess Mary Wollstonecraft. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman is an amazing book even today, and it's strange to see that she wrote things in the 18th century that weren't put into place until the 20th and 21st.

Also, all of this is nonfiction, if your mom is more fiction-minded she should perhaps try Margaret Atwood or Toni Morrison's work.

Feminism is for Everybody by bell hooks is a good starter book! Sort of like Full Frontal but probably more age appropriate for a mom. Both are awesome, of course.

A book that I read in my Women's and Gender Studies class was Pink Think : Becoming a Woman in Many Uneasy Lessons by Lynn Peril. It's a very interesting and funny book that explores old ads, products, and books to show what it meant to be raised female in the 1940s-70s. I recommended it to my mother because I knew she'd remember at least a couple of the things the author mentioned. It's very tongue-in-cheek, an easy read, and a good laugh... but also a good insight on our society's double standards for boys and girls and the social construction of gender. The only thing is, it focuses more on gender issues than feminism, so if she wants a "intro to Feminism" type book, this may not be the first choice, but like I said, definitely worth checking out eventually.

I think I may re-read it..

definitely 'feminism is for everybody'. it's the best all-ages intro/primer i can think of.

I'll second what erin_amelia said about Pink Think. It's an easy and interesting read and it would probably be good for someone of your mom's generation.

And Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is a good fiction read that can help stir interest and lead into reading feminist non-fiction.

Although I liked Full Frontal Feminism, it is definitely geared toward younger women. It provides a good overview of feminist issues, but it can be a little too superficial and snarky. I wouldn't generally recommend it for an older or more mature audience.

Manifesta by Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards is a great feminist starter. Though it is subtitled "Young Women, Feminism, and the Future," I think it is a very accessable book for women (and men) of all ages.

http://www.manifesta.net/

I like the following:

"To Be Real," by Rebecca Walker.

"Listen Up: Voices From the Next Feminist Generation." In it, there is a wonderful piece about how feminism brought a mother and daughter back together.

"The Mommy Myth."

Jessica's "He's A Stud ..."

"The Subjugation of Women," John Stuart Mill.

I'd also recommend an actual WMST textbook on feminist theory - it covers everything from the 1700s until recently. I enjoyed it.

Also, "Feminine Mystique."

Wow, so many great suggestions! Thank you all so much! I think I'll be able to come up with a very good, diverse reading list for my mom with all of your recommendations.