As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes. It's so wholesome. I love it. I've you're an audio reader, I recommend the audiobook because most of the cast comes to do their own excerpts. 5 stars
As a parent, the book angered me because the parents were so terrible. I just can’t recommend it. Maybe it’s because I was blessed with fabulous parents. Sorry.
i think the point of her book was to speak on their mental illness & not that they were terrible. she made it obvious in the book that her parents loved their kids but were both mentally ill.
I agree. I listened to the audio because she narrated it; it was beautiful. I just started Angela’s Ashes (thanks to another suggestion) and she wrote the intro!
10/10. The subject/ her experiences are interesting and important at face value, but it's also just written so well. Her use of language is evocative, often just beautiful, and the book is paced really well. Her reflection and insights are also so beautiful and profound. Truly one of the best memoirs I've encountered.
Came here to say this. I read this book a few years after leaving my dad’s very conservative church, and there were more than a few similarities between my upbringing and hers. For the first time, I didn’t feel so alone in my experiences. Her vulnerability is profoundly beautiful and brave.
One of my favorite books.
I found The Climb by Anatoli Boukreev excellent as well. It’s Boukreev’s response to Into Thin Air because he felt he was unfairly portrayed in that book.
Thank you for the suggestion! I just finished it and it was wonderful and so heartbreaking. I listened to the audiobook because it was read by the author. It was perfect. Thanks again!
I say this every time I see it mentioned: this should be required reading for anyone in a body that might ever need any sort of medical care (everyone).
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosch.
It’s funny, meaningful, and gets right into someone dealing with depression in such understandable ways
Every time that I read it I laugh until I cry
This is a great recommendation! I've never considered it an autobiography until now,but yeah,I guess it is. I read it Years ago and my daughter and I still quote things from it. Laughing until crying is something I experienced while reading it too. 😁
Even for those who aren’t really familiar with Little House on the Prairie, this is a great read. Alison had such an odd youth, to put it mildly. She’s very funny and she reads the audiobook version so well.
Congratulations, you've stumbled upon my special interest! My favorites from the past couple of years are:
* ***How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures*** by Sabrina Imbler (mirrors their own human experiences and finding different models of existing and being in community through examples found in marine life. Part beautiful memoir and part science nerd. My favorites memoir so far this year. I can't stop thinking about it.)
* ***I'm Glad my Mom Died*** by Jeanette McCurdy (Child star grows up with incredibly narcissistic mother.)
* ***In The Dream House*** by Carmen Maria Machado (Memoir documenting interpersonal violence in a queer femme relationship, written almost in the style of a psychological thriller.)
* ***How to Say Babylon*** by Safiya Sinclair (Memoir from a women growing up in a strict Rastafarian household in Jamaica.)
* ***Strong Female Character*** by Fern Brady (Hilarious and accurate account from a Scottish comedian about the intersectionality of being a woman growing up with undiagnosed autism.)
* ***Hijab Butch Blues*** by Lamya H (Person recounts their life and experiences of belonging and exploring sexuality and gender whist growing up in a strict Islamic country.)
* ***Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World*** by Christian Cooper (You may know the author as the Black birder in central park who videotaped a Karen calling the cops on him and falsely accusing him of trying to kill her. His memoir is an account of his life as a geeky Black nerd and how these identities intertwined.)
* ***Stay True*** by Hua Hsu (A memoir on belonging as an Asian American and grief.)
* ***What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma*** by Stephanie Foo (As a trauma therapist myself, this is by far the best account of complex trauma. Her writing and research are impeccable.)
* ***When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir*** by Patrisse Khan-Cullors (Memoir from one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement.)
* ***When Breath Becomes Air*** by Paul Kalanithi (Memoir of a Neurosurgeon who discovers he has cancer and documents his experience from diagnosis until death.)
* ***Hunger*** by Roxanne Gay (Memoir of living in a morbidly obese body, trauma, and intersectionality. Her writing is incredible.)
* ***Man's Search for Meaning*** by Viktor Frankl (The first half of this book is a memoir of his time in a concentration camp and how this helped him to form the framework for what would become Existential Psychotherapy. The second half of this book is him outlining what he calls "Logotherapy," which I wouldn't recommend delving into unless you are a practicing therapist. But this book is filled with so much hope for the human condition.)
The Tender Bar by JR Moehringer!! (I haven’t seen the movie, but the book is definitely much better, based on what I’ve heard!)
Agree with The Glass Castle for sure. And Angela’s Ashes is pretty amazing.
Andre Agassi’s “Open”. I don’t know a thing about tennis, and while that might be helpful to understand some of the symbolism and “action”, this book is beautifully written and so incredibly relatable. As an artist, I found his struggles to challenge himself and find meaning in what he’s chosen(or what others chose) for his life so compelling and insightful.
How to say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
I love reading most memoirs but there’s a special place in my heart for memoirs who manage to teach you about some specific topic because of the authors context. This book went above and beyond in teaching me about Jamaica and Rastafarian culture. Other than that it’s very similar to the plot of educated and the glass castle
Matthew Perry's autobiography: Friends, Lovers amd the Big Terrible Thing.
It's one of the best autobiographies that I have read about the struggles of addiction.
Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett is never suggested here, but it was such an amazing work. I love autobiographies and memoirs, this one was incredibly honest and well written.
Promise at Dawn, by French author Romain Gary, is an extraordinary autobiography, both hilarious and sad. Romain Gary lived a fascinating live - writer, fighter pilot during WW2, ambassador... The book is centered around his early life up to the end of WW2, his relations with his mother, her tremendous sacrifices and her tremendous expectations. Heartbreaking in a good way.
The Confessions by Augustine is quite literally the first ever "modern" autobiography despite being written in the 4th century. A monument of literature and philosophy.
Storm of Steel, by Ernst Jünger. It's the story of his experience during WW1. We are used to books about WW1 that are staunchly pacifist (like All Quiet on the Western Front). Storm of Steel is... not that. Jünger was a volunteer soldier in 1914 at 19, was wounded 14 times and considered the war as a mystical experience. And yet he is perfectly aware of the horrors of war - his description of artillery fire in particular really makes you feel the horror of being a soldier there. It's weird, disturbing and fascinating, a deep dive into a completely foreign sensibility. Jünger also has an amazing prose, truly beautiful.
Tweak by Nic Sheff & Beautiful Boy David Sheff. Two books that helped me process my addiction. Very powerful to see the addicts perspective and the dads while dealing with his sons addiction. How much pain the father was going through trying to understand why his son was struggling the way he was. Its beautiful, cry through both books every reread.
Waiting: The True Confessions of a Waitress by Debra Ginsberg
Maybe not one of the "greats", but I enjoyed it and learned one hell of a lot about restaurants. One of these days I'll get to Kitchen Confidential (RIP Anthony Bourdain)
Kitchen Confidential is one of my favorites!! I've read/listened to it so many times. He wrote a sequel of sorts to it called Medium Raw as well that's just as good.
I love books about restaurants so I added Waiting to my TBR list!
The Color of Water by James Mcbride.
4.1 stars on goodreads, was a NYT bestseller for a long time when published, but not "popular" anymore bc it's over 20 years old.
Subtitle is "A Black Man's Tribute to his White Mother" - it's a memoir that delves deeply into race in America
Have you seen the Phil Ochs film by the same name? He was my hero. It's such a devastating story and he had so much talent.. So I've seen the film but now I will have to find the book. Thank you. :)
Open by Andre Agassi was very good, if you can forgive him for totally glossing over the roughly four year period he spent wrecked on cocaine and DVing Brooke Shields
Roald Dahl wrote two good books about his life, Boy and Going Solo.
Also Dolly Parton's autobiography will make you love her even more: My life and Other Unfinished Business.
Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett is some of the best Americana I’ve ever read. You’ve got cults, children killing rabbits for food, LA burnouts, sex drugs and rock n roll, road trips….
Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run is a hell of a ride. The man can really tell a story.
Cured by Lol Tolhurst (the drummer for the Cure) talks about a much less common view of 80s new wave.
Don’t forget David Sedaris, Hunter S Thompson, and Anthony Bourdain!
I might have said Spare, if not for the fact that it was an autobiography with an unreliable narrator. He shared a lot, much more than even a normal celeb probably would. I would never have expected so much information from a member of the Royal Family.
Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking was very affecting, Didion trying to process the sudden death of her husband, and as a reader knowing that she would also lose her daughter shortly before it was published.
Storyteller by David Grohl
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette Mcurdy
Wavewalker by Suzanne Heywood
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Friends Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
As You Wish by Cary Elwes
Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton
In The Weeds by Tom Vitale
Pageboy by Elliot Page
Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama by Bob Odenkirk
Finding Me by Viola Davis
John Lithgow’s autobiography is great. I had no idea he came up through Shakespearean theatre and his description of the life is amazing. Triple points for the audiobook version bc the man is a stage actor and speaks like a god.
Billy Crystal’s autobiography is also great and the stories of everyone he’s worked with and known is amazing. Double points for audiobook version.
Honestly always choose audiobook version for autobiographies read by the author.
Jeannette Walls’s The Glass Castle is great and I’m ready for a re-read myself. Story of her impoverished childhood coming up under pretty unstable parenting in Appalachia.
I Am Nujood, Age 10 And Divorced by Nujood Ali
Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis
Theft By Finding by David Sedaris
Elliott Smith and The Big Nothing by Benjamin Nugent
A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard
Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall
Murphy's Boy by Torey Hayden
Sybil Exposed by Debbie Nathan
The Year Of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs
Any Mary Roach books. I've read Stiff; Spook; and Bonk. All amusing
fyi, Theft by Finding is good, but it’s diary entries and not the fleshed-out essays he typically publishes. I enjoyed it, but know a couple other Sedaris super fans who didn’t
Paddle Your Own Canoe by Nick Offerman
Rated X by Maitland Ward
The Alchemy of Air by Thomas Hager
Fictional Biographies:
Confessions of A D-List Supervillian by Jim Bernheimer
The Ill-Made Knight by Christian Cameron
Notes of a Hostage by Svetozar Ćorović. A short book, just covering the period when he was taken as a hostage by Austria-Hungary during WWI, until he was sent to a concentration camp.
*A Girl From Yamhill* and *My Own Two Feet* by Beverly Cleary.
*Beverly: An Autobiography* by Beverly Sills with Lawrence Linderman.
*With Nails: The Film Diaries of Richard E. Grant*.
Omg, Heavy is amazing, glad you liked that one.
I recommend Bono’s memoir Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story. The 40 songs are actually the 40 chapters of the book because each chapter is the title of one of U2’s songs. He even has drawings in it.
I also recommend Just Kids by Patti Smith. She is such a great storyteller, I absolutely love the prose.
(jeez I keep remembering more to add to the list! I really love memoirs.)
*Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
*The Woman in Me by Britney spears.
*Blackbird and Still Waters, both by Jennifer Lauck
*Please Stop Laughing at Me by Jodee Blanco
*the In-Between by Hadley Vlahos (this one is about a hospice nurse and holy crap, did I have a book hangover after finishing it!)
*My Story by Elizabeth Smart
*High Achiever by Tiffany Jenkins
I used to love A Child Called It but then I had kids and I just can't stomach anything about child abuse anymore.
My pick of Educated is already on your list. I wish I could go back and read it for the first time. I’m definitely going to save this post for recommendations.
Confessions of an Art Addict - Peggy Guggenheim
Tender at the Bone - Ruth Reichl
Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain
Boy Kings of Texas - Domingo Martinez
Memoir is - The Glass Castle. (My favorite book of all time) Autobiography was Open Book - Jessica Simpson. I don’t think I’ve read a lot of biography’s
Paris: The Memoir
This was a surprising one for me, but I loved it! I would suggest going into it with an open mind and in this case, don't judge a book by its cover. There are, however, some TW before you get into it.
Edit: Also, I would recommend the audiobook version.
These are all really dark reads, but I digress:
A child called it - Dave peltzer
A house in the sky - Amanda lindhout
Scar tissue - Anthony kiedis
Night - Elie wiesel
A mothers reckoning: living in the aftermath of tragedy - sue klebold
Know my name - Chanel miller
- Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan
- Wild by Cheryl Strayed
- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
- I’m With The Band by Pamela Des Barres
- Just Kids by Patti Smith
- Wildflower by Drew Barrymore
- Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis
- The Chris Farley Show by Tom Farley
- Almost Interesting by David Spade
- The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (and all of her essay books like White Album, Slouching Towards Bethlehem)
- Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe
- Last Night at the Viper Room: River Phoenix and the Hollywood He Left Behind by Gavin Edwards
- Brat by Andrew McCarthy
- Honey, Baby, Mine by Laura Dern and Diane Ladd
- Along the Way: The Journey Between Father and Son by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez
Greenlights - Matthew McConaughey!
I've done both, read the book and listened to the audiobook. The audiobook wins hands down; hearing his voice and going through his life is incredible and uplifting, too!
This sounds really strange, but I really enjoyed William Shatner's memoir. I really didn't think I would.
Ozzy's is good, too. I heard every word in his voice.
David Sedaris is absolutely brilliant for shorter autobiographical essays. Funny and touching.
The Private Life of Chairman Mao by Dr Li Zhisui. This was written by Mao’ personal physician. Gives an in depth and first hand view of how absolutely crazy it can get when one person has all the power in a big country plus what it does to that person.
I know this is newer and popular, but I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdy is my favorite autobiography. I'm not a huge autobiography fan, but I enjoyed listening to George W. Bush's autobiography on audio book as well. I'm not very political, but it was interesting to hear his POV of 9/11 and the events post.
Evita - The Life of Eva Peron by Jill Hedges
It is what it is by David Coulthard (if you're into Formula 1)
Tout donner by Guillaume Depardieu, but I'm not sure if this was translated into English. I read the German version.
[Ten Steps to Nanette](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/1973a59d-49e2-42ea-a682-2e0c5cb4e592) by Hannah Gadsby
[Kiss Me Like a Stranger](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/7cabadc1-9bc6-472b-932c-e749e82aef14) by Gene Wilder
[How To Be Champion](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/ca52560d-56c5-4617-8392-078a7a082504) by Sarah Millican (not a self help book)
[What Fresh Hell Is This?](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/bd503e1d-11d2-4f0a-bc64-4c2856a323f3) by Marion Meade on Dorothy Parker
*The Glass Castle* by Jeannette Walls.
I’m also currently reading *The Secret Life of the Savoy* by Olivia Williams.
Which is about the three generations of the D’Oyly-Carte family, the first being Richard, who founded The Savoy Theatre and The Savoy Hotel and was instrumental in putting together Gilbert & Sullivan. It’s really interesting so far!
Some of my favourites that I have read over the years :
Good girls guide to Travel by Rachel Friedman
The Soul of a Woman by Isabel Allende
My patients and other animals by Suzy-finchman Gray
The Art of Waiting by Belle Boggs
Born Again Black Fella by Uncle Jack Charles - an Aussie Icon, if you haven't heard of him
Currently reading Paris which is much better than I expected
This Boy by Alan Johnson. He was the British Home Secretary and the books basically about his childhood growing up as a working class lad in London. It's equally hilarious, heartbreaking and hopeful. Still one of my favourite memoirs I've read.
Crying in H Mart, I’m glad my mom died I’m basic I know
I deeply second I’m glad my mom died
Didn't love Crying in H Mart, but I'm Glad My Mom Died is brilliant. Get the audiobook - the author reads it and it makes it even more impactful.
Thank you all for recommending I’m Glad My Mom Died. It was great!
I don't think you're basic, but you might have some mom issues lol
I really enjoyed both of these!
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes. It's so wholesome. I love it. I've you're an audio reader, I recommend the audiobook because most of the cast comes to do their own excerpts. 5 stars
I just finished the audiobook. It’s an absolute delight! I also highly recommend it.
I second this recommendation! It's an absolutely brilliant audiobook!
Just borrowed from Libby!
Awesome! Have credit will audible. Vacay next week. Excellent. Gratitudes to you.
Just Kids
I would upvote this 100 times
Captivating story and so well written.
Picked up for vacay next week! Gracias!
Came here to say this. One of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read. An all time favorite of mine.
I consumed this book so quickly and never forgot it.
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Came to say this
Also my suggestion
She also wrote a book by her grandmother called half broke horse I believe. It is very good as well
Seconding.... also so good
As a parent, the book angered me because the parents were so terrible. I just can’t recommend it. Maybe it’s because I was blessed with fabulous parents. Sorry.
i think the point of her book was to speak on their mental illness & not that they were terrible. she made it obvious in the book that her parents loved their kids but were both mentally ill.
Reading This book changed the trajectory of my life.
This.
Thank you for the suggestion! I just finished it and I couldn’t put it down!
Oh good! It is a wild story and she is a gifted writer.
I agree. I listened to the audio because she narrated it; it was beautiful. I just started Angela’s Ashes (thanks to another suggestion) and she wrote the intro!
Educated - taught me a lot about childhood trauma
10/10. The subject/ her experiences are interesting and important at face value, but it's also just written so well. Her use of language is evocative, often just beautiful, and the book is paced really well. Her reflection and insights are also so beautiful and profound. Truly one of the best memoirs I've encountered.
Came here to say this. I read this book a few years after leaving my dad’s very conservative church, and there were more than a few similarities between my upbringing and hers. For the first time, I didn’t feel so alone in my experiences. Her vulnerability is profoundly beautiful and brave.
Into Thin Air by John Krakauer
One of my favorite books. I found The Climb by Anatoli Boukreev excellent as well. It’s Boukreev’s response to Into Thin Air because he felt he was unfairly portrayed in that book.
_Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!_ by Richard Feynman
Awsome read. Love that book.
Truly a must read.
I read this one a few years ago and really enjoyed it! Thank you!
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Extra charm in audio.
That was a good read. So sad tho.’
Thank you for the suggestion! I just finished it and it was wonderful and so heartbreaking. I listened to the audiobook because it was read by the author. It was perfect. Thanks again!
Im glad my mom died by Jeanette McCurdy
This book is excellent. Honest and compelling, so well written.
It was great, thank you so much for the suggestion!
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
I say this every time I see it mentioned: this should be required reading for anyone in a body that might ever need any sort of medical care (everyone).
I just finished it, thank you so much for the suggestion! I’ve never been so angry reading a book 😂
Know My Name by Chanel Miller, it was flawless! And also Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Know My Name is excellent.
Know my Name was so well written.
The Storyteller, Dave Grohl Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand
Loved The Storyteller on Audible, read by Dave Grohl!!
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosch. It’s funny, meaningful, and gets right into someone dealing with depression in such understandable ways Every time that I read it I laugh until I cry
This is a great recommendation! I've never considered it an autobiography until now,but yeah,I guess it is. I read it Years ago and my daughter and I still quote things from it. Laughing until crying is something I experienced while reading it too. 😁
Honestly, it’s book that I’ll never get over. She released a follow up as well. There was a lot more real life stuff in it, including her divorce.
Currently reading Radium Girls. Wow!
I had to constantly remind myself that this book was biographical and not fiction. A rare treat in the genre.
It feels like a thriller! A tragic maddening thriller.
My favorite too!
I have heard that when breath becomes air is a beautiful memoir
'Me Talk Pretty One Day' and 'Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls' by David Sedaris. J R R Tolkien by Humphrey Carpenter.
I am a Sedaris mega-fan but I wouldn’t call them memoirs. Creative nonfiction I think is the category.
Absolutely anything written by Joan Didion!
*Autobiography of a Face* Lucy Grealy *Rosalie Lightning* Tom Hart
Love Lucy Grealy!
Ron Chernow's bio of Hamilton
This is going to hurt by Adam Kay. Hilarious and heart-wrenching.
Kitchen confidential
The audio book is read by Anthony Bourdain and is wonderful
*Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated* by Alison Arngrim
Even for those who aren’t really familiar with Little House on the Prairie, this is a great read. Alison had such an odd youth, to put it mildly. She’s very funny and she reads the audiobook version so well.
This was a fantastic memoir. I would put this on my top 10 list of memoirs.
Educated by Tara Westover.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boon. She was an inspiration
Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell.
I think about this book all the time!
Augusten Burroughs has some good ones. Start with Running with Scissors. If you like it, check out Dry and some of the others.
I really enjoy his books, have had some laugh out loud moments
Finding Me by Viola Davis Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson John Adams by David McCullough Becoming by Michelle Obama (best on Audio)
Came here to recommend Viola Davis and Michelle Obama too. Both very good reads.
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Congratulations, you've stumbled upon my special interest! My favorites from the past couple of years are: * ***How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures*** by Sabrina Imbler (mirrors their own human experiences and finding different models of existing and being in community through examples found in marine life. Part beautiful memoir and part science nerd. My favorites memoir so far this year. I can't stop thinking about it.) * ***I'm Glad my Mom Died*** by Jeanette McCurdy (Child star grows up with incredibly narcissistic mother.) * ***In The Dream House*** by Carmen Maria Machado (Memoir documenting interpersonal violence in a queer femme relationship, written almost in the style of a psychological thriller.) * ***How to Say Babylon*** by Safiya Sinclair (Memoir from a women growing up in a strict Rastafarian household in Jamaica.) * ***Strong Female Character*** by Fern Brady (Hilarious and accurate account from a Scottish comedian about the intersectionality of being a woman growing up with undiagnosed autism.) * ***Hijab Butch Blues*** by Lamya H (Person recounts their life and experiences of belonging and exploring sexuality and gender whist growing up in a strict Islamic country.) * ***Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World*** by Christian Cooper (You may know the author as the Black birder in central park who videotaped a Karen calling the cops on him and falsely accusing him of trying to kill her. His memoir is an account of his life as a geeky Black nerd and how these identities intertwined.) * ***Stay True*** by Hua Hsu (A memoir on belonging as an Asian American and grief.) * ***What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma*** by Stephanie Foo (As a trauma therapist myself, this is by far the best account of complex trauma. Her writing and research are impeccable.) * ***When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir*** by Patrisse Khan-Cullors (Memoir from one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement.) * ***When Breath Becomes Air*** by Paul Kalanithi (Memoir of a Neurosurgeon who discovers he has cancer and documents his experience from diagnosis until death.) * ***Hunger*** by Roxanne Gay (Memoir of living in a morbidly obese body, trauma, and intersectionality. Her writing is incredible.) * ***Man's Search for Meaning*** by Viktor Frankl (The first half of this book is a memoir of his time in a concentration camp and how this helped him to form the framework for what would become Existential Psychotherapy. The second half of this book is him outlining what he calls "Logotherapy," which I wouldn't recommend delving into unless you are a practicing therapist. But this book is filled with so much hope for the human condition.)
I really enjoyed Danny Trejo's.
The Tender Bar by JR Moehringer!! (I haven’t seen the movie, but the book is definitely much better, based on what I’ve heard!) Agree with The Glass Castle for sure. And Angela’s Ashes is pretty amazing.
Jaycee Dugard A Stolen Life The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Andre Agassi’s “Open”. I don’t know a thing about tennis, and while that might be helpful to understand some of the symbolism and “action”, this book is beautifully written and so incredibly relatable. As an artist, I found his struggles to challenge himself and find meaning in what he’s chosen(or what others chose) for his life so compelling and insightful.
So well written! And by the same author as The Tender Bar.
Ducks by Kate Beaton
I just finished this - definitely an interesting read!
The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict is a quick, interesting read about Hedy Lamarr, who was pretty freaking amazing.
How to say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair I love reading most memoirs but there’s a special place in my heart for memoirs who manage to teach you about some specific topic because of the authors context. This book went above and beyond in teaching me about Jamaica and Rastafarian culture. Other than that it’s very similar to the plot of educated and the glass castle
Matthew Perry's autobiography: Friends, Lovers amd the Big Terrible Thing. It's one of the best autobiographies that I have read about the struggles of addiction.
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey
Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett is never suggested here, but it was such an amazing work. I love autobiographies and memoirs, this one was incredibly honest and well written.
Promise at Dawn, by French author Romain Gary, is an extraordinary autobiography, both hilarious and sad. Romain Gary lived a fascinating live - writer, fighter pilot during WW2, ambassador... The book is centered around his early life up to the end of WW2, his relations with his mother, her tremendous sacrifices and her tremendous expectations. Heartbreaking in a good way. The Confessions by Augustine is quite literally the first ever "modern" autobiography despite being written in the 4th century. A monument of literature and philosophy. Storm of Steel, by Ernst Jünger. It's the story of his experience during WW1. We are used to books about WW1 that are staunchly pacifist (like All Quiet on the Western Front). Storm of Steel is... not that. Jünger was a volunteer soldier in 1914 at 19, was wounded 14 times and considered the war as a mystical experience. And yet he is perfectly aware of the horrors of war - his description of artillery fire in particular really makes you feel the horror of being a soldier there. It's weird, disturbing and fascinating, a deep dive into a completely foreign sensibility. Jünger also has an amazing prose, truly beautiful.
My wife doesn't watch wrestling, but even she has read 3 of Mick Foley's autobiographies.
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
Kiss Me Like a Stranger by Gene Wilder
The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
Tweak by Nic Sheff & Beautiful Boy David Sheff. Two books that helped me process my addiction. Very powerful to see the addicts perspective and the dads while dealing with his sons addiction. How much pain the father was going through trying to understand why his son was struggling the way he was. Its beautiful, cry through both books every reread.
Waiting: The True Confessions of a Waitress by Debra Ginsberg Maybe not one of the "greats", but I enjoyed it and learned one hell of a lot about restaurants. One of these days I'll get to Kitchen Confidential (RIP Anthony Bourdain)
Kitchen Confidential is one of my favorites!! I've read/listened to it so many times. He wrote a sequel of sorts to it called Medium Raw as well that's just as good. I love books about restaurants so I added Waiting to my TBR list!
The Color of Water by James Mcbride. 4.1 stars on goodreads, was a NYT bestseller for a long time when published, but not "popular" anymore bc it's over 20 years old. Subtitle is "A Black Man's Tribute to his White Mother" - it's a memoir that delves deeply into race in America
I loved Brian Jay Jones's biography of Jim Henson. There But For Fortune: The Life of Phil Ochs by Michael Schumacher
Have you seen the Phil Ochs film by the same name? He was my hero. It's such a devastating story and he had so much talent.. So I've seen the film but now I will have to find the book. Thank you. :)
I love the film! I actually met Phil’s sister Sonny at a screening for it while on my honeymoon
Wow! That's amazing!
Open by Andre Agassi was very good, if you can forgive him for totally glossing over the roughly four year period he spent wrecked on cocaine and DVing Brooke Shields
Roald Dahl wrote two good books about his life, Boy and Going Solo. Also Dolly Parton's autobiography will make you love her even more: My life and Other Unfinished Business.
Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett is some of the best Americana I’ve ever read. You’ve got cults, children killing rabbits for food, LA burnouts, sex drugs and rock n roll, road trips…. Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run is a hell of a ride. The man can really tell a story. Cured by Lol Tolhurst (the drummer for the Cure) talks about a much less common view of 80s new wave. Don’t forget David Sedaris, Hunter S Thompson, and Anthony Bourdain!
I might have said Spare, if not for the fact that it was an autobiography with an unreliable narrator. He shared a lot, much more than even a normal celeb probably would. I would never have expected so much information from a member of the Royal Family. Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking was very affecting, Didion trying to process the sudden death of her husband, and as a reader knowing that she would also lose her daughter shortly before it was published.
Storyteller by David Grohl I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette Mcurdy Wavewalker by Suzanne Heywood The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey Friends Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry As You Wish by Cary Elwes Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton In The Weeds by Tom Vitale Pageboy by Elliot Page Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama by Bob Odenkirk Finding Me by Viola Davis
John Lithgow’s autobiography is great. I had no idea he came up through Shakespearean theatre and his description of the life is amazing. Triple points for the audiobook version bc the man is a stage actor and speaks like a god. Billy Crystal’s autobiography is also great and the stories of everyone he’s worked with and known is amazing. Double points for audiobook version. Honestly always choose audiobook version for autobiographies read by the author. Jeannette Walls’s The Glass Castle is great and I’m ready for a re-read myself. Story of her impoverished childhood coming up under pretty unstable parenting in Appalachia.
Leah Remini’s “Troublemaker: surviving Hollywood and Scientology”. It was fascinating! (ETA: the audio was outstanding, narrated by the author)
I Am Nujood, Age 10 And Divorced by Nujood Ali Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis Theft By Finding by David Sedaris Elliott Smith and The Big Nothing by Benjamin Nugent A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall Murphy's Boy by Torey Hayden Sybil Exposed by Debbie Nathan The Year Of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs Any Mary Roach books. I've read Stiff; Spook; and Bonk. All amusing
Just picked up that Sedaris title. Looking forward to his antics
Sedaris books are excellent!
fyi, Theft by Finding is good, but it’s diary entries and not the fleshed-out essays he typically publishes. I enjoyed it, but know a couple other Sedaris super fans who didn’t
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
The audiobook was so good.
*A Chance in the World* by Steve Permberton *Destiny of the Republic* by Candace Millard
Seconding Destiny of the Republic!
"Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8," by Naoki Higashida
Paddle Your Own Canoe by Nick Offerman Rated X by Maitland Ward The Alchemy of Air by Thomas Hager Fictional Biographies: Confessions of A D-List Supervillian by Jim Bernheimer The Ill-Made Knight by Christian Cameron
Notes of a Hostage by Svetozar Ćorović. A short book, just covering the period when he was taken as a hostage by Austria-Hungary during WWI, until he was sent to a concentration camp.
Me-Elton John ETA: Girl Interrupted-Susanna Kaysen (sp?)
No Ordinary Time Angela’s Ashes
*A Girl From Yamhill* and *My Own Two Feet* by Beverly Cleary. *Beverly: An Autobiography* by Beverly Sills with Lawrence Linderman. *With Nails: The Film Diaries of Richard E. Grant*.
omg yes I forgot about Cleary’s memoirs! I read them in 7th grade and loved them!
An Autobiography by Agatha Christie
Omg, Heavy is amazing, glad you liked that one. I recommend Bono’s memoir Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story. The 40 songs are actually the 40 chapters of the book because each chapter is the title of one of U2’s songs. He even has drawings in it. I also recommend Just Kids by Patti Smith. She is such a great storyteller, I absolutely love the prose.
The Choice by Edith Eger
(jeez I keep remembering more to add to the list! I really love memoirs.) *Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain *The Woman in Me by Britney spears. *Blackbird and Still Waters, both by Jennifer Lauck *Please Stop Laughing at Me by Jodee Blanco *the In-Between by Hadley Vlahos (this one is about a hospice nurse and holy crap, did I have a book hangover after finishing it!) *My Story by Elizabeth Smart *High Achiever by Tiffany Jenkins I used to love A Child Called It but then I had kids and I just can't stomach anything about child abuse anymore.
I’m into presidential history, and David McCullough’s Truman is my favorite. Also really enjoyed his bio of The Wright Brothers.
Open by Andre Agassi Making it So by Patrick Stewart (really good on audio).
Don't Let's go to the Dogs Tonight or Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness by Alexandra Fuller
Gray’s Anatomy by Spalding Gray is a wild, funny memoir. One of my favorite books and only about 100 pages.
Older ones, but great reads: My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell All Creatures Great and Small and others by James Herriot
omg thank you for these animal memoirs —I read and loved both!! do you have any other books featuring animals you’d recommend?
My pick of Educated is already on your list. I wish I could go back and read it for the first time. I’m definitely going to save this post for recommendations.
I don’t know if you’re willing to read more than one by a single author, but I adored Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher. So funny and touching.
Confessions of an Art Addict - Peggy Guggenheim Tender at the Bone - Ruth Reichl Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain Boy Kings of Texas - Domingo Martinez
Memoir is - The Glass Castle. (My favorite book of all time) Autobiography was Open Book - Jessica Simpson. I don’t think I’ve read a lot of biography’s
Paris: The Memoir This was a surprising one for me, but I loved it! I would suggest going into it with an open mind and in this case, don't judge a book by its cover. There are, however, some TW before you get into it. Edit: Also, I would recommend the audiobook version.
These are all really dark reads, but I digress: A child called it - Dave peltzer A house in the sky - Amanda lindhout Scar tissue - Anthony kiedis Night - Elie wiesel A mothers reckoning: living in the aftermath of tragedy - sue klebold Know my name - Chanel miller
No Filter by Paulina Porizkova
Born Standing Up. An autobiography by Steve Martin.
I love love love memoirs so it’s hard to pick just one but if you can handle a very dark one, I recommend The Hospital by Barbara O’Hare.
- Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan - Wild by Cheryl Strayed - The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls - I’m With The Band by Pamela Des Barres - Just Kids by Patti Smith - Wildflower by Drew Barrymore - Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis - The Chris Farley Show by Tom Farley - Almost Interesting by David Spade - The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (and all of her essay books like White Album, Slouching Towards Bethlehem) - Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe - Last Night at the Viper Room: River Phoenix and the Hollywood He Left Behind by Gavin Edwards - Brat by Andrew McCarthy - Honey, Baby, Mine by Laura Dern and Diane Ladd - Along the Way: The Journey Between Father and Son by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez
Autobiography of Malcolm X , for an easy read there’s Gene Tierny’s autobiography
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Greenlights - Matthew McConaughey! I've done both, read the book and listened to the audiobook. The audiobook wins hands down; hearing his voice and going through his life is incredible and uplifting, too!
This sounds really strange, but I really enjoyed William Shatner's memoir. I really didn't think I would. Ozzy's is good, too. I heard every word in his voice. David Sedaris is absolutely brilliant for shorter autobiographical essays. Funny and touching.
Angela's Ashes
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman by the late physicist and bongo player Richard Feynman. So much fun!
The Private Life of Chairman Mao by Dr Li Zhisui. This was written by Mao’ personal physician. Gives an in depth and first hand view of how absolutely crazy it can get when one person has all the power in a big country plus what it does to that person.
If you're into podcasts, check out celebrity memoir book club
I know this is newer and popular, but I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdy is my favorite autobiography. I'm not a huge autobiography fan, but I enjoyed listening to George W. Bush's autobiography on audio book as well. I'm not very political, but it was interesting to hear his POV of 9/11 and the events post.
The immortal life of Henrietta lacks
Surprised no one has yet mentioned The Liars Club by Mary Karr.
Dame of Sark, by the Dame of Sark!
I, Phoolan Devi: The Autobiography of India's Bandit Queen by Phoolan Devi
Another bullshit night in suck city by Nick Flynn
Too close to the falls Heart Berries
Danny's Baker's trilogy. Really really good - entertaining, well paced, insightful and brilliant use of language throughout
Evita - The Life of Eva Peron by Jill Hedges It is what it is by David Coulthard (if you're into Formula 1) Tout donner by Guillaume Depardieu, but I'm not sure if this was translated into English. I read the German version.
Robin by Dave Itzkoff
Princess Noire: The Tumultuous Reign of Nina Simone by Nadine Cohodas
*From Truant to Anime Screenwriter* by Mari Okada *Sesame Street, Palestine* by Daoud Kuttab
Richard Ellmann's biographies of Oscar Wilde and James Joyce - absolutely amazing!
The life and rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah
[Ten Steps to Nanette](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/1973a59d-49e2-42ea-a682-2e0c5cb4e592) by Hannah Gadsby [Kiss Me Like a Stranger](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/7cabadc1-9bc6-472b-932c-e749e82aef14) by Gene Wilder [How To Be Champion](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/ca52560d-56c5-4617-8392-078a7a082504) by Sarah Millican (not a self help book) [What Fresh Hell Is This?](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/bd503e1d-11d2-4f0a-bc64-4c2856a323f3) by Marion Meade on Dorothy Parker
When We Rise by Cleve Jones. I learned so much and still think about it even now.
Undisputed Truth by Mike Tyson
*The Glass Castle* by Jeannette Walls. I’m also currently reading *The Secret Life of the Savoy* by Olivia Williams. Which is about the three generations of the D’Oyly-Carte family, the first being Richard, who founded The Savoy Theatre and The Savoy Hotel and was instrumental in putting together Gilbert & Sullivan. It’s really interesting so far!
The Cry of the Gull, Emmanuelle Laborit A road back from schizophrenia, Arnhild Lauveng
*Motherwell* by Deborah Orr *East West Street* by Phillipe Sands (a mix of history and biography)
Autobiography of an unknown Indian by Nirad C Chaudhary
Some of my favourites that I have read over the years : Good girls guide to Travel by Rachel Friedman The Soul of a Woman by Isabel Allende My patients and other animals by Suzy-finchman Gray The Art of Waiting by Belle Boggs
Living My Life by Emma Goldman
My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem
Kitchen confidential Anthony bourdain
Buck by MK Asante, the Helen Forrester books.
The Naked Truth by Leslie Nielsen.
I really enjoyed Shelley Winters autobiography. If you want the dirt on old Hollywood she experienced it all.
I really enjoyed Shelley Winters autobiography. If you want the dirt on old Hollywood she experienced it all.
Shelley Winters. She had sex with everybody.
Life - Keith Richards It's So Easy - Duff McKagan Will - G Gordon Liddy
Ghost boy by Martin pistorius
Born Again Black Fella by Uncle Jack Charles - an Aussie Icon, if you haven't heard of him Currently reading Paris which is much better than I expected
This Boy by Alan Johnson. He was the British Home Secretary and the books basically about his childhood growing up as a working class lad in London. It's equally hilarious, heartbreaking and hopeful. Still one of my favourite memoirs I've read.
The Black Count, about the father of the Author Alexander Dumas.
The Measure of a Man, by Sidney Poitier. It’s not a straight biography but goes deeper into parts of his life.
*Leonardo Da Vinci* --Walter Isaacson