Biographies and memoirs offer unique insights into the lives of remarkable individuals, often shedding light on personal journeys, struggles, and achievements that resonate universally. These 20 biographies and memoirs capture lives both ordinary and extraordinary, revealing universal themes of resilience, growth, and discovery. Each offers a unique perspective on the human experience and is worth a place on any bookshelf. Here’s a list of the 20 best biographies and memoirs of the century, each with a glimpse into why they’re worth reading and tips to make the most out of each one.
“The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls (2005)
Details: Walls recounts her unconventional, often chaotic childhood in a family struggling with poverty and mental illness.
Tips: Be prepared for emotional highs and lows, and pay attention to Walls’ resilience as she navigates hardship with unflinching honesty.
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“Educated” by Tara Westover (2018)
Details: A young woman escapes her survivalist family to pursue education and find her voice.
Tips: Reflect on how education can be transformative and how Westover balances love for her family with her need for independence.
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“Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson (2011)
Details: The authorized biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, drawing from hundreds of interviews.
Tips: Isaacson doesn’t shy away from Jobs’ flaws, making this a rounded portrait of a complex visionary. Look for insights into his approach to creativity.
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“Becoming” by Michelle Obama (2018)
Details: Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s story of growing up, finding her purpose, and adjusting to life in the White House.
Tips: Read with an eye toward Obama’s journey of self-discovery and the challenges she faced as a public figure and a mother.
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“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot (2010)
Details: Explores the story of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells were taken without consent and used in scientific research.
Tips: Skloot blends biography with scientific history, offering a thought-provoking read on ethics and human dignity.
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“When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi (2016)
Details: A neurosurgeon’s reflection on life and mortality after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Tips: Kalanithi’s prose is poetic and deeply personal. Reflect on his insights about purpose and the intersection of life and death.
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“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou (1969)
Details: Angelou’s powerful memoir of growing up Black in the American South.
Tips: This classic work is lyrical and evocative, addressing themes of identity, resilience, and hope.
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“Bossypants” by Tina Fey (2011)
Details: A humorous and honest account of Tina Fey’s journey from comedy clubs to Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock.
Tips: Fey’s wit shines here. Enjoy her humor, but also note her insights into the challenges facing women in entertainment.
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“Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah (2016)
Details: Noah’s account of growing up as a mixed-race child in apartheid South Africa.
Tips: This book combines humor with poignant reflections on race, identity, and resilience. Noah’s mother is an unforgettable figure.
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“The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion (2005)
Details: A moving memoir of loss and grief after the sudden death of Didion’s husband.
Tips: This memoir offers an intimate look at grief. Didion’s prose is restrained yet powerful—note her ability to convey deep emotion with subtlety.
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“Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow (2004)
Details: The biography that inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, detailing the life of one of America’s Founding Fathers.
Tips: Chernow brings history alive. Pay attention to Hamilton’s ambition and contradictions, which shaped his legacy.
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“Open” by Andre Agassi (2009)
Details: Tennis legend Andre Agassi’s candid memoir about his career and struggles with identity.
Tips: Agassi’s raw honesty about his love-hate relationship with tennis is compelling. Look for the themes of resilience and redemption.
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“The Wright Brothers” by David McCullough (2015)
Details: A detailed look at the lives of Orville and Wilbur Wright, pioneers of aviation.
Tips: McCullough’s narrative style brings history to life. This is a story of perseverance and the quest for innovation.
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“The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank (published 1947; enduring classic)
Details: Anne Frank’s diary is a firsthand account of her experiences hiding during the Holocaust.
Tips: Read with an appreciation for Anne’s insightfulness at such a young age. This is both a historical document and a poignant look at adolescence under extraordinary circumstances.
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“Wild” by Cheryl Strayed (2012)
Details: Strayed’s journey hiking the Pacific Crest Trail as a way of healing from personal tragedy.
Tips: A powerful story of self-discovery. Notice how Strayed’s physical journey mirrors her emotional one.
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“Dreams from My Father” by Barack Obama (1995)
Details: Obama’s memoir about his early life, identity struggles, and journey to find his roots.
Tips: Obama’s writing is introspective and thoughtful, providing insight into his early perspectives on race and identity.
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“The Argonauts” by Maggie Nelson (2015)
Details: An experimental memoir exploring gender, sexuality, and family.
Tips: Nelson’s style is poetic and unconventional. Look for her meditations on identity and relationships.
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“Angela’s Ashes” by Frank McCourt (1996)
Details: A memoir about growing up poor in Limerick, Ireland.
Tips: McCourt’s prose is both humorous and heartbreaking. Appreciate his resilience and wit amidst adversity.
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“This Boy’s Life” by Tobias Wolff (1989)
Details: A coming-of-age memoir set in the 1950s, detailing Wolff’s turbulent relationship with his stepfather.
Tips: Wolff’s story is engaging and relatable. It’s a masterclass in memoir writing, blending humor with poignant reflection.
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“My Life on the Road” by Gloria Steinem (2015)
Details: Steinem’s account of her years as a journalist and activist, constantly on the move.
Tips: This memoir gives insights into the feminist movement and Steinem’s role in it. Notice her reflections on the importance of listening and connection.
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