10 Best Autobiographies That You Must Read
A first-person wait at a unlike point of view
Earlier diving into our list of best autobiographies, let'southward take a moment to go our autobiography definition sorted. When it comes to biography vs. autobiography, the distinction is piece of cake: Biographies are written past an author other than the field of study, and autobiographies are written by the field of study themselves. The difference between a memoir and an autobiography can be a little trickier. A general guideline is that an autobiography is the story of a life, while a memoir is a story from a life. In other words, a memoir focuses on a distinct period of fourth dimension or theme, while an autobiography runs through a person's life, and is usually told chronologically. Even an autobiography can't encompass a whole life though, equally the author is notwithstanding living it. Sometimes a series of memoirs is later on compiled and categorized as an autobiography. Other times there are books that straddle both genres.
Since we also take a roundup of memoirs anybody should read, for this list we tried to focus only on autobiographies, leaving out books that are labeled "a memoir" on the cover. Wanting to include some of the best books of all time, we looked not just to gimmicky bestsellers, but likewise to autobiographies that were groundbreaking, books that accept stood the test of fourth dimension, and books that accept lessons relevant for today'south readers. Similar the best biographies, autobiographies enlighten readers through the story of a person's life. Become prepare to learn about some boggling people, and while yous're at information technology, check out our best nonfiction books and best books by Black authors.
1. The Collected Autobiographies of Maya Angelou by Maya Angelou (2004)
Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is i of the most acclaimed and recommended memoirs and one of the best books for women. Information technology focuses on the writer'southward childhood and became the first of seven books chronicling the author's remarkable life and insight. Together, they class a complete autobiography, and 6 of them are included in this bestselling collection. Through the gorgeous and distinct voice that Angelou is known for, readers tin larn about her life through the first of her writing career in the books Assemble Together in My Name, Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas, The Heart of a Woman, All God's Children Demand Traveling Shoes, and A Song Flung Up to Heaven.
2. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin past Benjamin Franklin (1909)
Written by Franklin betwixt 1771 to 1790 and published in the early 1900s, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin details the Founding Father's early life and unique adulthood. I of the volume's almost notable sections describes Franklin's attempts to achieve "moral perfection" through the accomplishment of xiii virtues, including temperance, silence, and society. Although the book was written more than 200 years ago, Franklin's suggestions for bettering one's life remain as current and essential to humankind as ever.
3. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass (1845)
This celebrated piece of work of nonfiction is widely considered to be one of the all-time autobiographies ever written. It's a vivid retelling of Douglass' childhood and the torturous corruption he suffered at the hands of numerous slave-owners, as well every bit his harrowing escape to freedom, after which he became a respected orator and prominent abolitionist. As we grapple with the legacy of slavery in America, reading Douglass' firsthand feel is a painful and necessary footstep toward understanding the harm of the by and how information technology has shaped the present. Equally you shop for autobiographies, consider purchasing from one of these Black-endemic bookstores.
4. The Diary of a Young Daughter by Anne Frank (1947)
This autobiography, one of the most famous books about the Holocaust, takes the form of a collection of writings from the diary Anne Frank kept for the 2 years she was in hiding with her family during the Nazi occupation of kingdom of the netherlands. In daily writings, Frank shares intimate details well-nigh her family unit, crushes on boys, her religion, and the heartbreaking effects of the state of war. In light of her tragic expiry in a Nazi concentration camp at the age of xv, what makes this book and then remarkable is how Anne was able to remain hopeful about the goodness of humanity, despite the suffering her family unit endured. Most not published, The Diary of a Young Girl is now a must-read for students and adults alike.
5. Long Walk to Liberty by Nelson Mandela (1994)
In 1962, anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was arrested for conspiring to incite a strike and overthrow the government and was sentenced to life in prison. He would serve 28 years. Post-obit his release in 1990, he ascended to get the country'south start Black president, in the first presidency secured by democratic ballot. This autobiography recounts Mandela's remarkable life, from his childhood growing up in Mvezo, South Africa, to his formal pedagogy and training as a lawyer. Information technology as well chronicles his fourth dimension in prison and his unprecedented ascension to the presidency, farther cementing Mandela'due south place every bit one of the most notable leaders of our time.
vi. Living for Change: An Autobiography by Grace Lee Boggs (1998)
We listed the dual biography of Grace Lee Boggs and her husband James Boggs on our best biographies list, only even if y'all've read that account, the story of her life in her own words even so makes for a fascinating and enlightening read. Her life spanned 100 years and many pivotal social movements. In this expansive autobiography, Boggs details her evolution as an intellectual and an activist, working with other leaders similar Malcolm X and C. L. R. James, likewise as her hubby.
7. Autobiography of an Androgyne past Earl Lind (1918)
Written in 1918 for a clinical audience, this is not your typical autobiography but is all the more than important for its rarity. In clear prose, Lind both shares his life story and advocates for recognition of and respect for those who don't fit society'due south binary identities. Regarded equally a groundbreaking book for queer and transgender literature, Autobiography of an Androgyne stands as a reminder that there have been nonbinary, trans, and queer people for far longer than some are willing to recognize, and part of creating a more than just society is increasing representation of literature from this diverse community.
8. Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018)
Some people call the huge bestselling hittingBecoming a memoir, simply the way information technology spans First Lady Michelle Obama'south life hands makes information technology one of the best autobiographies of all time. Divided into three parts (Becoming Me, Condign Us, Becoming More), the volume takes the states through her babyhood in Chicago, the early days of her relationship with Barack, and their fourth dimension in the White House. Readers run into like never before the amount of turmoil and stress that accompanied this heavy responsibility, and how it could only exist handled with such grace past a woman as potent and total of good humor as Michelle Obama. The audio version is narrated by Obama herself, and is on our listing of all-time audiobooks.
9. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai (2013)
Malala is one of those rare figures in lodge recognized immediately by first name. She has go a symbol of strength, courage, equity in education, and the promise of her young generation. Her activism began with writing, so it is fitting that her story continues with this autobiography, telling her story up until 2013. At that place will surely be more autobiographies to come from this amazing immature woman who has already put her life on the line, championing girls. Y'all can too see Malala on our list of inspiring women.
ten. Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda (1946)
This truly remarkable book has been in continuous print since information technology starting time published in 1946, and is estimated to have printed over 4 million copies at present. Born in 1893, Paramahansa Yogananda is widely credited with popularizing yoga in the U.s.a.. His autobiography is both the story of his life, and a guide for readers on how to cultivate their inner lives. This book is and then beloved, Steve Jobs arranged for information technology to exist handed out to every invitee at his memorial service. Both its legacy and Yogananda's legacy are notwithstanding going strong.
11. An Autobiography by Agatha Christie (1997)
If yous're a fan of mysteries, you've likely read a volume by Matriarch Agatha Christie—it's possible you've even read a few dozen books by the prolific detective novelist. But even if you've never cracked open i of her novels or short story collections, you lot'll still enjoy this autobiography, published posthumously. Christie's voice is clever and witty every bit e'er in this detailed account of her life through age 75. Due to its length (over 500 pages), this isn't a book you're likely to finish in 1 sitting. Each time you read information technology though, you'll feel similar y'all had a chat with the writer, and learned how she thought of life and writing.
12. The Autobiography of Malcolm X past Malcolm Ten (1965)
"I'g for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no affair who information technology is for or against." This powerful quote comes from a letter Malcolm writes from Mecca, and is office of his must-read autobiography. The volume was put together by author Alex Haley, a longtime Reader'southward Assimilate contributor, taken from interviews with Malcolm X, and excerpts of his writing. Haley likewise provides an epilogue, afterwards Malcolm X was tragically assassinated in 1965. One of the nearly important activists and thinkers in the racial justice movement, Malcolm X's life will non be forgotten, and his autobiography is worth many reads.
13. Chronicles Volume 1 by Bob Dylan (2004)
Not only has Bob Dylan won multiple Grammy awards for his contributions to music, simply he also won a Quill Award for for this autobiography, as well equally a Nobel Prize in Literature. In his songs, Dylan is a gifted storyteller, and that gift doesn't fade in the mode he tells the story of his life. From Greenwich Village in 1961 to the recording studio in 1989, we run across the people and places that infuse themselves into his work. This book is not without controversy though. Over the years, some phrases were discovered to be the words of other artists including Ernest Hemingway, Mezz Mezzrow, and Marcel Proust. This intertextuality was not properly attributed, leading to complaints of plagiarism.
14. Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A. by Luis J. Rodríguez (1993)
This accolade-winning book is considered a classic in the autobiography/memoir category. Information technology was also i of the near oft banned books in the 1990s. Former Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis Javier Rodríguez has written xvi books and won all manner of accolades, but there was a time in his life when this was inconceivable. E'er Running is an unsparing look at the Fifty.A. gang life that Rodríguez was immersed in growing up. His hard-won boxing out is a gripping and important story, written as a fashion to save his own son from gang life, and read and needed by many.
15. Autobiography of Marker Twain, Book 1 by Mark Twain (2010)
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, meliorate known every bit Mark Twain, was a master of the written word. Of course, Twain was known for great American novels such asThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. His autobiography was his last work simply wasn't published until 2010—100 years subsequently his death, equally he directed. Information technology instantly became a bestseller. Unlike conventional autobiographies, the story of Twain'due south life doesn't follow a chronological, predictable order; rather, it serves as a drove of ruminations near his exceptional experiences, based on 5,000 pages of memoirs he left in the care of the University of California at Berkeley before his death.
16. Becoming A Visible Homo past Jamison Greenish (2004)
Jamison Green is an author, educator, and transgender rights activist. His autobiographical account of his trans experience has served as a reflection for many in the female to male person (FTM) community, and as a resource for allies of the trans community who want to better understand some of the challenges of this journey. Informative and even academic at times, Green blends theory, personal stories, and a history of activism. Though some progress has been made since this book first came out, representation of trans masculine people is still sorely lacking. Some terminology in this book is a chip dated, but if you desire some historical context for the fight for trans rights, this autobiography is a proficient place to start.
17. Greenbacks: The Autobiography by Johnny Greenbacks (1997)
Johnny Greenbacks is often seen as troubled, haunted by a sure darkness, always dressed in black. There is more to him than that, though. In this autobiography, he brings to life pivotal moments in his famous musical career, revisits never before written memories, discusses his spirituality, and muses on the state of music and culture. If you enjoyed the 2005 film Walk the Line well-nigh the life of Johnny Cash, this book will give you even more insight into the mind of the man who gave us songs such equally "Ring of Burn" and "Folsom Prison Blues."
18. Redefining Realness and Surpassing Certainty by Janet Mock (2014, 2017)
New York Times bestseller and winner of multiple awards, Janet Mock's debut book is a coming-of-age story that you don't want to miss. In 2011, she told her story for the kickoff time in a Marie Claire profile, coming out as transgender and proud, with null more than to hide. She followed upward the success of her first empowering volume with Surpassing Certainty: What My Twenties Taught Me. Any immature person struggling to find their path will be inspired past how Mock became the powerhouse she is today. She is an Emmy-nominated writer, manager, and executive producer of shows such asPose and Hollywood, and a fierce advocate for trans rights.
nineteen. Flight Free: My Victory over Fear to Get the First Latina Pilot on the Usa Aerobatic Team past Cecilia Aragon (2020)
A remarkable and uplifting story of how a shy, bullied girl followed her interests and harnessed her abilities to literally soar in a higher place us all. Cecilia Aragon felt excluded and fearful during babyhood, but had a special forcefulness in math. When a coworker introduces her to flight as an developed, something clicks into place and she can't get plenty, starting time learning the basics then venturing into aerobatics. She uses math to overcome any fears, calculating each tricky maneuver ahead of time. In these pages, she takes united states of america on not bad loops through the air, and a journey where it feels similar not even the sky is the limit. This is an especially nifty read for girls who love math, LatinX authors, or anyone looking to overcome fears.
20. Courage to Soar: a Body in Motion, a Life in Residual by Simone Biles (2016)
Reading this book is similar sitting and listening to the greatest of all time, Simone Biles, tell you virtually her life lessons. And who wouldn't want to do that? In a friendly, generous, and empowering vocalization, Biles shares stories of her obstacles and how she works to overcome them. She has made it through foster intendance, dubiety, and the most rigorous training to grow beyond even what this book holds. Information technology's a perfect read for young girls, athletes, or anyone wanting a footling encouragement and inspiration.
Originally Published: November 05, 2021
Source: https://www.rd.com/list/best-autobiographies/
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