Best Memoir / Biography / Autobiography
NOTE: This list is for non-fiction only.
Heather
977 books
164 friends
164 friends
Kate
4809 books
1498 friends
1498 friends
Nikhil P.
7840 books
195 friends
195 friends
Russellino
524 books
2 friends
2 friends
Chriss
298 books
415 friends
415 friends
Jennifer
8880 books
45 friends
45 friends
Tracy H.
729 books
39 friends
39 friends
Asli
285 books
23 friends
23 friends
More voters…
Comments Showing 1-50 of 75 (75 new)
FYI: "What is the What" is not a memoir. Nor is "Sarah's Key." Both are great books, but they're fiction.
add:Time To Be In Earnest: A Fragment Of Autobiography|3831], P. D. James
This is fabulous. six stars
This is fabulous. six stars
Hannibal
by Thomas Harris and
Death of a Salesman
by Arthur Miller are both fiction, and I removed them.
Sue T wrote: "Wow, I'm seeing a lot of fiction on this list."
Can we get them removed? One of the reasons I came to look at this list was to find good biographies to add to my TBR list, so I want to be sure I'm not reading a book I think is a biography then discover it was fiction.
Can we get them removed? One of the reasons I came to look at this list was to find good biographies to add to my TBR list, so I want to be sure I'm not reading a book I think is a biography then discover it was fiction.
Linda wrote: "Sue T wrote: "Wow, I'm seeing a lot of fiction on this list."
Can we get them removed? One of the reasons I came to look at this list was to find good biographies to add to my TBR list, so I want ..."
Please don't remove them - even those are fiction-biography books, this list is still gorgeous.
Can we get them removed? One of the reasons I came to look at this list was to find good biographies to add to my TBR list, so I want ..."
Please don't remove them - even those are fiction-biography books, this list is still gorgeous.
Thank you so much for creating this list Heather! I have been looking for 'Oh the Glory of it all." for years but I couldn't remember the name, thought I knew I would recognize the cover. I found it on your list and now I can read it again! Your awesome!
"The Friday Night Knitting Club" is fiction. Why do people put fiction titles on non-fiction lists??
Here's a real fun wild and crazy memoir about the movie biz and about finding true love...please vote for this cover - Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot :)
No one even mentioned A Playboy Virgin's Manifesto by Atticus Rockefellar. Oh, the humanity!
http://www.amazon.com/Playboy-Virgins...
http://www.amazon.com/Playboy-Virgins...
The following are fiction:
#113 A Thousand Splendid Suns
#128 Memoirs of a Geisha
Shall I delete? Any others that need to go?
#113 A Thousand Splendid Suns
#128 Memoirs of a Geisha
Shall I delete? Any others that need to go?
I added a list description:
NOTE: This list is for non-fiction only.
Hopefully, this will stop the tide of fiction.
NOTE: This list is for non-fiction only.
Hopefully, this will stop the tide of fiction.
Too bad one can only have 100 books on a list. I've read so many more great ones than are on my list.
Also Brick Lane and Pope Joan are novels as well. Laura Ingallss Wilder's books are generally classified as fiction
Amazon has added: 'From Viking Press
In regards to the 60 Minutes episode that aired April 17, 2011: "Greg Mortenson’s work as a humanitarian in Afghanistan and Pakistan has provided tens of thousands of children with an education. 60 Minutes is a serious news organization and in the wake of their report, Viking plans to carefully review the materials with the author."'
In regards to the 60 Minutes episode that aired April 17, 2011: "Greg Mortenson’s work as a humanitarian in Afghanistan and Pakistan has provided tens of thousands of children with an education. 60 Minutes is a serious news organization and in the wake of their report, Viking plans to carefully review the materials with the author."'
If we start judging memoirs and biographies on their truthfulness, it will open a huge can of worms, and so far as I know, librarians haven't been given any guidance on the issue.
Removed for being children's fiction: Little House on the Prairie
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
NONE of the "Little House" series is autobiography. When confronted by a journalist about the scene in one of the books in which a family member is chased by ravenous wolves, which of course is not something wolves do to humans, LIW replied with great dignity that she had not intended to write history; she intended to write stories for children.
This author does have an actual memoir, but it doesn't, at least in my opinion, hold the charm and interest level that her children's series commands.
Oh wow...I'm going to find that whole series here, aren't I? Removed from #124, see above, Farmer Boy:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...
..and less than 1 minute later, I find the entire series in one boxed set; I wasn't so clairvoyant as to see it coming, but expected to find it one title at a time...and likely I still will. Anyway, gone from #194:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
From #466 On the Banks of Plum Creek:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
Also from page 5, The Long Winter:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
P.6 Little Town on the Prairie
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
Also from p6 Those Happy Golden Years
and The First Four Years
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
p. 10, By the Shores of Silver Lake:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
#744, removed for being fictional, Great Expectations:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
NONE of the "Little House" series is autobiography. When confronted by a journalist about the scene in one of the books in which a family member is chased by ravenous wolves, which of course is not something wolves do to humans, LIW replied with great dignity that she had not intended to write history; she intended to write stories for children.
This author does have an actual memoir, but it doesn't, at least in my opinion, hold the charm and interest level that her children's series commands.
Oh wow...I'm going to find that whole series here, aren't I? Removed from #124, see above, Farmer Boy:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...
..and less than 1 minute later, I find the entire series in one boxed set; I wasn't so clairvoyant as to see it coming, but expected to find it one title at a time...and likely I still will. Anyway, gone from #194:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
From #466 On the Banks of Plum Creek:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
Also from page 5, The Long Winter:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
P.6 Little Town on the Prairie
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
Also from p6 Those Happy Golden Years
and The First Four Years
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
p. 10, By the Shores of Silver Lake:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
#744, removed for being fictional, Great Expectations:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
#221, removed for being fictional, Sherman Alexie's Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Travel book removed from #209:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Removed:
The Winds of War, fiction:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
and Good Grief, also fiction:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Travel book removed from #209:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Removed:
The Winds of War, fiction:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
and Good Grief, also fiction:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The ones by McCullough on Truman and John Adams are not memoirs. They are extremely well researched biographies. A memoir is a non -fiction book written from personal experience. Or a written account of one's memory of certain events or people. One could write a memoir of a person to whom one is or was very close as a spouse, or child. I agree - a lot of fiction on this list as well!
Cheryl wrote: "The ones by McCullough on Truman and John Adams are not memoirs. They are extremely well researched biographies. A memoir is a non -fiction book written from personal experience. Or a written accou..."
Take another look at the title of the listopia. Memoir, biography, autobiography. McCullough is dull as dirt, imho, but his books are clearly within the parameters of the listmaker.
If you see fiction and want me to pull it, give me titles and tell me what page each is on, and I'll be happy to do it. I have a little time right now and will check the list to see what jumps out at me.
Take another look at the title of the listopia. Memoir, biography, autobiography. McCullough is dull as dirt, imho, but his books are clearly within the parameters of the listmaker.
If you see fiction and want me to pull it, give me titles and tell me what page each is on, and I'll be happy to do it. I have a little time right now and will check the list to see what jumps out at me.
Can someone help me find the name of this memoir I read once? (I was expecting to find it on this list)
It was a memoir by an Iranian?-I think- woman who was imprisoned and coerced into marrying her prison guard for a while and now lives in Canada. I wanted to show my mum it, but I can't remember the name of it. I recall it had a picture of a woman looking off a building on the front cover. If anyone can help that'd be awesome. Thanks.
It was a memoir by an Iranian?-I think- woman who was imprisoned and coerced into marrying her prison guard for a while and now lives in Canada. I wanted to show my mum it, but I can't remember the name of it. I recall it had a picture of a woman looking off a building on the front cover. If anyone can help that'd be awesome. Thanks.
Jean wrote: "please add my book. country life. true story in my own words. full of shocks? & surprises! please share it. click here new on kindle--https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_......"
This constitutes spam, and is inappropriate for a Goodreads listopia discussion. I have flagged the comment.
This constitutes spam, and is inappropriate for a Goodreads listopia discussion. I have flagged the comment.
Related News
Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day, according to early...
Anyone can add books to this list.
by MARK MILLHONE
Beautiful, honest memoir that appeals to both men and women which is so rare. It is very funny, but have your kleenex near by and the phone numbers of family members handy to tell them you love them and value them