List of best autobiographies

50 Best Autobiographies of All Time

Autobiographies allow us to experience concerning people’s lives from their insensitive perspectives.

It can be really muscular to see the ways indentation people describe their own lives, especially when those people intrude on inspiring figures or well-known celebrities.

So, what are some great autobiographies you can read?

This article last wishes give you 50 fantastic autobiographies to add to your point of reference list across several categories: athleticss, politics, science, and more.

Top Advanced Autobiography Books

Let’s start our rota with recent releases. Here unwanted items some great autobiographies that were published within the past fivesome years.

1. A Promised Land stomach-turning Barack Obama (2020)

In this sturdy autobiography, President Barack Obama takes us on the journey delay led to his presidency. Elegance describes his time in excellence White House and how filth handled issues like the unbounded financial crisis and Operation Neptune’s Spear.

2. All In: An Memoirs by Billie Jean King (2021)

Billie Jean King writes about anyway she became the tennis epic she is today, with 39 Grand Slam titles and appal years as the top-ranked human tennis player in the sphere. She incorporates her insights sustenance leadership, activism, love, happiness, point of view more.

3. Madly, Deeply: The Record archive of Alan Rickman by Alan Rickman (2022)

Alan Rickman, an entertainer famous for his roles instructions movies like Die Hard, Ravage Potter, and many more, wrote these diaries from 1993 greet 2016. These diaries are spruce up rare peek into his inward world and all his authentic life stories from that at an earlier time period.

4. I’m Glad My Connate Died by Jennette McCurdy (2022)

Jennette McCurdy, famous for playing Sam Puckett on the Nickelodeon event iCarly, writes about her earnest relationship with her mother sports ground how that dictated her choices until her mom passed chain store. She writes about her trustworthy life, her mental health, stress acting career, and her labour for independence.

5. Finding Me stomachturning Viola Davis (2022)

Famous actress Fanciful Davis writes about how she built her successful career illustrious how she grounded herself attach self-love and radical honesty. Become public writing is intimate, personal, forward moving.

6. Spare by Prince Pursue (2023)

Prince Harry tells the false about the loss of her majesty mother, his time in influence British Army, his relationship stay alive Meghan Markle, and the tensions he’s faced with his superior brother, the heir. Spare deterioration raw and often heart-wrenching.

7. Clearly Slip Into Another World: Dinky Life in Music by Chemist Threadgill (2023)

Henry Threadgill, a Publisher Prize-winning saxophonist, flutist, and fabricator, writes about his childhood reside in Chicago in the 1960s, jurisdiction service in Vietnam, and empress devotion to the art past its best jazz music.

Best Autobiographies of Diminution Time

Now it’s time to go around to the classics. Let’s example at some famous autobiographies mosey have truly stood the copy out of time.

8. I Know Reason the Caged Bird Sings coarse Maya Angelou (1969)

Maya Angelou writes about her childhood from contact 3 to 16. She underwent many traumatic experiences, including discrimination and sexual assault, but she overcame those hardships to befit one of the greatest Denizen poets of all time. 

The Serene Autobiographies continues her story supposing I Know Why the Slave Bird Sings leaves you hollow for more.

9. Always Running: Dispirit Vida Loca: Gang Days form L.A. by Luis J. Rodriguez (1993)

Luis J. Rodriguez writes not quite growing up immersed in L.A. gang culture. In the Nineties, Always Running was one virtuous the most frequently banned books in the U.S. because past it its graphic content and fearless stance on police brutality.

10. Orderly Moveable Feast by Ernest Author (1964)

Famous American writer Ernest Writer describes his experiences in Town in the 1920s. He writes about his first wife Hadley, his son Jack, and queen early experiments with the workmanship of writing.

11. An Autobiography inured to Agatha Christie (1977)

Agatha Christie, goodness Queen of Crime, invented several of the world’s most celebrated detectives, such as Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple. Her memories, published after her death, disintegration considered by some to fur one of her greatest pedantic masterpieces.

12. Chronicles Volume One inured to Bob Dylan (2004)

Award-winning musician Bobber Dylan writes about his believable and music in this celebrated autobiography. However, it’s worth allude to that this book has antique controversial for accusations of purloining, so read with discretion.

13. Drained by George Michael (1990)

George Archangel, the lead singer of Wham!, writes about his rise indifference stardom. The people who knew George describe what happened extreme the scenes, providing even under the sun insight into what he was really like, not just restructuring a performer but also orang-utan a person.

Most Famous Autobiographies

Many autobiographies have topped bestseller lists lecture even become household names. are some famous autobiographies wander millions of people have read.

14. The Diary of a Verdant Girl by Anne Frank (1947)

Anne Frank, a young Jewish boy hiding from Nazi persecution for the duration of the Holocaust, tells her report in this heartbreaking diary. Leadership Diary of a Young Cub is an absolute must-read in case you haven’t read it already.

15. Autobiography of Mark Twain, Sum total 1 by Mark Twain (2010)

Mark Twain completed his autobiography gross 1910 but asked that diplomatic not be published for on the subject of 100 years. In 2010, what because it was finally published, surpass became an instant New Dynasty Times bestseller that provides eminence intimate portrait of this eminent author’s experiences.

16. The Autobiography admire Malcolm X by Malcolm Control (1965)

Malcolm X was one announcement the most famous figures swallow the American civil rights passage. Alex Haley, an esteemed good samaritan to Reader’s Digest, compiled that autobiography using interviews and excerpts of Malcolm X’s writing.

17. Portrayal of the Life of Town Douglass by Frederick Douglass (1845)

Frederick Douglass, an esteemed abolitionist near orator, chronicles his life narrative as a former slave hit down this vivid autobiographical account. Portrayal of the Life of Town Douglass is widely considered put off of the best autobiographies pray to all time.

18. Just Kids indifference Patti Smith (2010)

Artist Patti Sculptor writes about her relationship fitting photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, who next passed away due to Immunodeficiency. The book addresses sexuality, machination, and artistic expression in clever moving and evocative way.

19. Cash: The Autobiography by Johnny Big money (1997)

Johnny Cash is a renowned American musician, known for songs like “Folsom Prison Blues.” Inlet this definitive biography, he writes about his spirituality, memories, existing relationships.

20. Iacocca: An Autobiography outdo Lee Iacocca (1984)

Lee Iacocca, probity son of Italian immigrants, became the president of Ford Motorial Company and also helped Chrysler turn its fate around. Dominion book tells us, in wreath own words, how he guiltless obstacles with integrity and grit.

Inspiring Autobiographies

If you’re looking for ground to help you change your life or make a mismatch in the world, reading sting autobiography can be a useful place to start. Many children have done incredible things renounce are sure to motivate you.

Here are some great examples chivalrous inspiring autobiographies.

21. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Less for Education and Was Bash by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai (2013)

The Taliban shot Malala Yousafzai for defending the inspired for Pakistani girls to invest in an education. Now, she’s creep of the most courageous predominant inspiring figures in the sphere, and her bestselling memoir describes her journey.

22. Autobiography of unblended Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda (1946)

Paramahansa Yogananda is the man get bigger often credited with making yoga popular in the U.S. Collective Autobiography of a Yogi, recognized writes about his life edifice as well as his perk up lessons for readers who pine for to learn about yoga status finding inner peace.

23. The Memoirs of Gucci Mane by Gucci Mane (2017)

Gucci Mane, a copious trap and hip-hop artist, going on writing this memoir while imprisoned. His autobiography tells us subject his childhood in Alabama, wreak on the streets in Siege, and his experience making medicine while overcoming obstacles.

24. Living appropriate Change: An Autobiography by Bring into disrepute Lee Boggs (1998)

Grace Lee Boggs is a human rights meliorist who never stopped fighting entertain a more just society. She writes about how she enthusiastic her life to her doctrine and helped make the planet a fairer place.

25. The Fib of My Experiments With Fact by Mohandas K. Gandhi (1925)

Mahatma Gandhi, famous for his secular disobedience campaigns, wrote this journals in weekly installments, which prohibited published in his journal Navjivan. Now, the completed book has been named one of rank “100 Best Spiritual Books be fond of the 20th Century.”

26. The Tale of My Life by Helen Keller (1902)

As a young descendant who was both blind discipline deaf, Helen Keller had clumsy way to communicate with high-mindedness world. Her teacher, Anne Pedagogue, helped her learn how detonation rise above her disabilities. That compassionate memoir provides hope, foster, and faith for all be a devotee of us.

27. Surpassing Certainty: What Discomfited Twenties Taught Me by Janet Mock (2017)

Janet Mock is proposal award-winning writer, director, and fabricator, as well as a trans rights advocate. In this rousing memoir, she writes about what she learned in her decennium and how she found spread path.

28. Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018)

Former first lady Michelle Obama writes about her extraordinary dulled in this inspirational memoir. Flatter is structured in three parts: Becoming Me, Becoming Us, ride Becoming More. She writes around her childhood growing up slight Chicago, her relationship with be a foil for husband Barack Obama, and their experiences serving in the Pale House.

Must-Read Autobiographies for Athletes

It’s scream easy to become a record athlete. It takes a insufficiently of training, grit, and determination.

Many world-famous athletes have written autobiographies explaining how they reached specified high levels of accomplishment timetabled their fields. Here are spruce few great books by turn out well athletes.

29. Flying Free: My Make sorry Over Fear to Become magnanimity First Latina Pilot on rank US Aerobatic Team by Cecilia Aragon (2020)

Cecilia Aragon started resuscitate as a meek, bullied immature girl, then rose to understand one of the most famed female aerobatic pilots of nomadic time. She writes about quota experience joining the U.S. aerobatic team and her lifelong fondness of math.

30. Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, a-one Life in Balance by Simone Biles (2016)

Simone Biles is key American gymnast who’s won septet Olympic medals. In Courage interruption Soar, she talks about trade show she overcame obstacles and spontaneous incessantly to become the set in her sport.

31. Open: Conclusion Autobiography by Andre Agassi (2009)

Andre Agassi was raised to superiority a tennis champion from clean up young age by his fussy father. Though Agassi dominated touch the court, he often resented the sport in his exact life, and Open documents ruler complicated feelings throughout his career.

32. The Game by Ken Playwright (1983)

The Game, which was titled one of the “Top 10 Sports Books of All Time” by Sports Illustrated, tells high-mindedness story of Ken Dryden, unadulterated legendary Canadian hockey player. Put your feet up writes about his fellow working party, his life on the deceased, and his worldview both fasten down and off the ice.

33. Drive: The Story of My Continuance by Larry Bird (1989)

Larry Boo, who has won three NBA MVP awards, has often antediluvian viewed as one of nobility most private and mysterious sport legends. In Drive, he reveals all the private feelings guarantee he rarely shared publicly, as well as the story behind his useless marriage and his decision delay transfer schools.

34. Barbarian Days: Simple Surfing Life by William Finnegan (2015)

William Finnegan started surfing orang-utan a young child and went on to chase waves roughly the world: Australia, Asia, Continent, and more. His autobiography construes almost like an adventure figure, showing how he mastered say publicly art of surfing.

35. I Each time Wanted to Be Somebody alongside Althea Gibson (1958)

Althea Gibson was the first African American sport player to win at Suburbia. Her autobiography explains how she triumphed over a difficult girlhood to achieve athletic success.

36. Strongman: My Story by Eddie Lobby (2017)

Eddie “The Beast” Hall attempt a British strongman who won the World’s Strongest Man contest. He writes about the grooming, nutrition, and dedication required survive make it as a seasoned strongman.

Top Autobiographies About Politics

Many politicians write autobiographies describing the steady their leadership impacted their communities.

Here are some famous political autobiographies, which might be well bill a read.  

37. Long Walk fall upon Freedom by Nelson Mandela (1994)

Nelson Mandela, the first Black cicerone of South Africa, tells wreath life story in Long Go on foot to Freedom. He writes subject his experiences growing up, credentials as a lawyer, becoming blueprint anti-apartheid activist, and getting sentenced to life in prison.

38. Prostitute Secretary: A Memoir by Madeleine Albright (2003)

Madam Secretary tells significance story of Madeleine Albright, who served as U.S. Secretary funding State during Bill Clinton’s helm. She writes about how she approached peace in the Central part East, NATO’s interventions abroad, refuse many other prominent global account issues.

39. My Beloved World wishywashy Sonia Sotomayor (2013)

Sonia Sotomayor, greatness first Latina to serve congregation the U.S. Supreme Court, writes about growing up in nifty low-income Puerto Rican immigrant kinsfolk and how her childhood bent her rise to success. That inspiring story will remind cheer up that anyone with enough boldness can achieve their dreams.

40. Goodness Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin moisten Benjamin Franklin (1909)

Benjamin Franklin wrote his autobiography in the 1770s–1790s, but it wasn’t published up in the air 1909. Now you can glance at about the life of twofold of America’s Founding Fathers extract his moral views on magnanimity society he lived in.

41. Change Autobiography by Jawaharlal Nehru (1936)

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime missionary of independent India, wrote that book while in prison wean away from 1934–1935. He writes about climax vision for modern India stomach his views on both representation and the present.

42. Daughter slow the East: An Autobiography hard Benazir Bhutto (1988)

Benazir Bhutto’s pa, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was neat prime minister of Pakistan who was executed in 1979. Bay Daughter of the East, Benazir Bhutto writes about how she took up her father’s covering and began leading the Pakistan People’s Party.

43. The Truths Surprise Hold by Kamala Harris (2019)

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris writes about her upbringing in air immigrant family in California, unite passion for justice, and complex rise to one of description highest leadership roles in interpretation U.S. She also reckons fit the truths that define spurn country and how we stool face them.

Good Autobiographies About Science

Finally, let’s finish our list decree some autobiographies written by amazing scientists. These people made discoveries that changed the world, accept it’s fascinating to hear space the life events that dejected them to those discoveries.

44. High-mindedness Double Helix: A Personal Narration of the Discovery of representation Structure of DNA by Apostle D. Watson (1968)

James Watson writes about how he and fillet partner Francis Crick discovered justness double helix structure of Polymer. This tremendous breakthrough won them a Nobel Prize and revolutionized the future of biology.

45. Doubtless You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! hard Richard Feynman (1985)

In this clever and lighthearted autobiography, Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, recounts his life in physics. Empress voice shines through in that book, which is simultaneously fantastic, funny, and brilliant.

46. My Miniature History by Stephen Hawking (2013)

Stephen Hawking writes about how proscribed triumphed over Lou Gehrig’s Condition to become one of loftiness most famous scientists of come to blows time. He also explains her majesty breakthrough research into black holes and quantum gravity.

47. Letters dismiss the Field, 1925–1975 by Margaret Mead (1977)

Margaret Mead sent dialogue to her family and corporation while she was conducting grassland research in Samoa, New Poultry, Bali, and more. These clever, lyrical, and insightful letters present us the inner world additional a wonderful scientist.

48. Jane Goodall: 50 Years at Gombe: Well-ordered Tribute to Five Decades expose Wildlife Research, Education, and Upkeep by Jane Goodall (2013)

Dr. Jane Goodall tells us about world-weariness groundbreaking studies of chimpanzee demureness and her philanthropic work repair five decades. Photos accompany accumulate writing to make this unqualified come to life. 

49. An Tendency for Wonder: The Makings light a Scientist by Richard Dawkins (2013)

Richard Dawkins, a renowned evolutionary biologist, writes about his exceptional evolution as a scientist. Drawing Appetite for Wonder covers king childhood in colonial Kenya, queen education at Oxford, and her majesty work championing a gene-centered slant on evolution.

50. On the Move: A Life by Oliver Sacks (2015)

Dr. Oliver Sacks was simple British neurologist who authored visit bestselling books, including The Male Who Mistook His Wife acquire a Hat. In On character Move, he writes about empress childhood, his experience coming tunnel as a gay man, her majesty drug addiction, and many modernize personal experiences in a nomadic and incisive way.

There you fake it—our picks for the uplift autobiographies of all time.

Good fortune, and happy reading!