The Young Woman's Guide

"The Young Woman's Guide" by William A. Alcott is a 19th-century guidebook sharing advice with young women on how to be their best selves through moral growth, learning on their own, and understanding their important place in the world, mainly in their families, written as a companion to his book for young men, giving advice about women's roles and good qualities. The author starts off by defining important words like "excellence," which he sees as being the same as holiness, and explains why he wrote the book. He wants to help young women live good and moral lives. Alcott talks about how important it is for women to keep learning throughout their lives, not just in school; and also how that learning and influence could help build the future for generations to come through family and community.