Best Biographies, Autobiographies and Memoirs
- List of the Month
- January 2023 (see all)
- Description
- Our List of the Month for January is devoted to the Best Biographies, Autobiographies and Memoirs. Each participant may vote on ten titles. Please only downvote titles if they do not fit the theme.
1
9,923 members
519 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 80.52
Added 2023-01-16, 02:54 PM
- 25 Members
- ablachly, dimajazz, kaulsu, ecb06c, Micheller7, terran, bjappleg8, foof2you, sturlington, katemcangus, vwinsloe, ahef1963, nancykric, bookmary2, ReecerCreek, hallhope, ManWithAnAgenda, Wordslinger1919, cathy.lemann, Louanne, Tosta, WynneWages, javad114, Chanda.Leah, Csufgirl84,
- Explanations
- ReecerCreek: Fave in our book group. Bill Gates also posted a great interview
2
by Helene Hanff
5,883 members
354 reviews
4.2
Score 65.99
Added 2023-01-16, 01:28 PM
- 20 Members
- rosalita, BookDoc16, gbelik, kaulsu, Faradaydon, ecb06c, VenusofUrbino, mstrust, merrystar, perennialreader, souloftherose, ahef1963, Michael.Rimmer, bookmary2, Ravenk, barefootsong, rtoker, cathy.lemann, Tosta, Gayle4th
- Explanations
- perennialreader: Feel good book.
3
by Trevor Noah
6,208 members
362 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 64.38
Added 2023-01-17, 01:07 PM
- 21 Members
- karenb, rosalita, BookDoc16, bangerlm, kaulsu, camelama, bjappleg8, PaperbackPirate, sturlington, souloftherose, vwinsloe, peterveen, ahef1963, megbmore, Patchshank, fionaanne, barefootsong, hallhope, Brandy1411, Louanne, Chanda.Leah,bookmary2
4
7,933 members
138 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 63.03
Added 2023-01-16, 01:27 PM
- 21 Members
- Aquila, BookDoc16, harrietgate, camelama, bjappleg8, mstrust, cbl_tn, PaperbackPirate, atozgrl, PatsyMurray, perennialreader, Fjumonvi, miller.max, al.vick, AnneSteph, bookmary2, barefootsong, Karen74Leigh, Joy62, dave3pt0, Chanda.Leah
- Explanations
- cbl_tn: I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Christopher Timothy!perennialreader: Loved the whole series!
5
by Anne Frank
12,746 members
242 reviews
4.1
Score 55.14
Added 2023-01-16, 01:31 PM
- 19 Members
- timspalding, kaulsu, camelama, bjappleg8, mstrust, sundancer, merrystar, atozgrl, perennialreader, susanbooks, Patchshank, hallhope, Karen74Leigh, Brandy1411, Tosta, Nikkimf88, DoomLuz, Joy62, WynneWages
- Explanations
- perennialreader: Read this book when I was her age. It has haunted me ever since.
6
14,741 members
743 reviews
4.2
Score 52.11
Added 2023-01-17, 10:28 AM
- 19 Members
- BookDoc16, kaulsu, Micheller7, raidergirl3, VenusofUrbino, mstrust, PaperbackPirate, vwinsloe, gypsysmom, msemmag, bookmary2, Ravenk, hallhope, cathy.lemann, Louanne, Tosta, Joy62, WynneWages, Chanda.Leah,ahef1963
7
8,200 members
368 reviews
4.2
Score 51.52
Added 2023-01-16, 01:29 PM
- 16 Members
- Aquila, ablachly, lulaa, EerierIdyllMeme, lahochstetler, mstrust, Heather39, sturlington, Dilara86, nancykric, Ravenk, hallhope, ManWithAnAgenda, KurtWombat, Tosta, SOShea
8
- 16 Members
- timspalding, rosalita, BookDoc16, kaulsu, Cecrow, mstrust, PaperbackPirate, Bretzky1, harray, Patchshank, hallhope, ManWithAnAgenda, Louanne, Tosta, Joy62, WynneWages,bookmary2
9
5,280 members
152 reviews
4.2
Score 48.54
Added 2023-01-16, 01:46 PM
- 15 Members
- tardis, harrietgate, camelama, mstrust, CarltonC, azimrin, miller.max, Michael.Rimmer, bookmary2, Ravenk, barefootsong, Karen74Leigh, Louanne, myebooks, megstar111
10
2,982 members
156 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 37.77
Added 2023-01-17, 11:33 PM
- 13 Members
- brewergirl, rosalita, bangerlm, oregonobsessionz, foof2you, RBeffa, noveltea, Patchshank, bookmary2, bujeya, Tosta, KeithChaffee, Chanda.Leah
11
- 12 Members
- gbelik, oregonobsessionz, kaulsu, camelama, atozgrl, AbigailAdams26, harray, bookmary2, Wordslinger1919, Joy62, WynneWages, Chanda.Leah
- Explanations
- AbigailAdams26: One of the best biographies I have read, over the last ten years. The kick-off title of my Presidential Biography Book Club.
12
by Maya Angelou
14,865 members
224 reviews
4
Score 35.65
Added 2023-01-16, 01:37 PM
- 12 Members
- lahochstetler, jeshakespeare, camelama, PaperbackPirate, perennialreader, nancykric, Patchshank, hallhope, KurtWombat, Brandy1411, dave3pt0, megstar111
- Explanations
- perennialreader: Wonderful writing.
13
6,920 members
254 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 30.38
Added 2023-01-16, 01:19 PM
- 11 Members
- Aquila, stillramona, EerierIdyllMeme, bjappleg8, ahef1963, nancykric, Patchshank, hallhope, KurtWombat, Tosta, DoomLuz
14
by Isak Dinesen
2,115 members
22 reviews
4
Score 30.19
Added 2023-01-16, 01:27 PM
- 9 Members
- gbelik, camelama, merrystar, RBeffa, perennialreader, peterveen, Karen74Leigh, loulourevisited, Chanda.Leah
- Explanations
- perennialreader: Beautifully written.
15
- 11 Members
- lahochstetler, oregonobsessionz, ecb06c, raidergirl3, terran, foof2you, PaperbackPirate, RBeffa, nancykric, AnneSteph, SOShea
16
7,821 members
370 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 29.01
Added 2023-01-17, 08:06 AM
- 10 Members
- stillramona, rosalita, sturlington, nancykric, kristilabrie, Patchshank, msemmag, Ravenk, hallhope, Chanda.Leah
17
6,216 members
106 reviews
4.1
Score 26.67
Added 2023-01-16, 01:18 PM
- 9 Members
- gbelik, pitjrw, FAMeulstee, amanda4242, CarltonC, miller.max, nancykric, Ravenk, elahrairah
18
- 9 Members
- brewergirl, oregonobsessionz, kaulsu, camelama, Bretzky1, noveltea, AbigailAdams26, davidflem1984, Joy62
- Explanations
- AbigailAdams26: As someone named for Abigail Adams, I have been given biographies of various Adams family members many times. This was one of my last Christmas gifts from my father.
19
3,623 members
129 reviews
4.1
Score 25.71
Added 2023-01-16, 01:27 PM
- 9 Members
- gbelik, camelama, PatsyMurray, perennialreader, msemmag, bookmary2, Karen74Leigh, loulourevisited, Joy62
- Explanations
- perennialreader: Amazing woman.
20
10,274 members
146 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 25.15
Added 2023-01-17, 10:52 PM
- 9 Members
- sherryearly, raidergirl3, sundancer, cbl_tn, atozgrl, AnneSteph, slimikin, Joy62, WynneWages
21
- 9 Members
- languagehat, BookDoc16, ecb06c, thalassa_thalassa, msemmag, bujeya, Karen74Leigh, KurtWombat, elahrairah
- Explanations
- elahrairah: How not to survive the unsurvivable.
22
5,689 members
314 reviews
4.2
Score 22.31
Added 2023-01-16, 02:52 PM
- 6 Members
- stillramona, gbelik, nicolecervone, katemcangus, Louanne, PhebeQ
23
3,633 members
44 reviews
4.2
Score 22.19
Added 2023-01-17, 09:56 AM
- 7 Members
- timspalding, languagehat, lulaa, pitjrw, ecb06c, peterveen, nancykric
24
745 members
33 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 21.73
Added 2023-01-16, 01:26 PM
- 7 Members
- Aquila, anglemark, RBeffa, vwinsloe, noveltea, KeithChaffee, Chanda.Leah
25
- 7 Members
- brewergirl, bangerlm, raidergirl3, terran, lottpoet, nancykric, hallhope
26
by Allie Brosh
5,165 members
292 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 20.65
Added 2023-01-18, 02:00 PM
- 8 Members
- lahochstetler, camelama, Heather39, sturlington, Patchshank, Ravenk, elahrairah, SOShea
27
by Malcolm X
9,826 members
124 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 19.56
Added 2023-01-17, 02:27 PM
- 7 Members
- brewergirl, stillramona, kaulsu, foof2you, Patchshank, KurtWombat, Wordslinger1919
28
29
by Bill Bryson
6,569 members
235 reviews
3.9
Score 18.1
Added 2023-01-17, 06:45 PM
30
8,769 members
518 reviews
3.9
Score 17.05
Added 2023-01-16, 02:56 PM
- 5 Members
- PaperbackPirate, sturlington, katemcangus, StMatthewOCLibrary, mclevbrt756
31
- 6 Members
- hipdeep, pitjrw, PatsyMurray, RBeffa, Karen74Leigh, Louanne
32
12,327 members
595 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 16.49
Added 2023-01-17, 08:48 PM
33
- 6 Members
- sherryearly, oregonobsessionz, atozgrl, al.vick, Wordslinger1919, SOShea
34
- 6 Members
- kaulsu, PatsyMurray, Heather39, nancykric, kristilabrie, bookmary2
35
- 4 Members
- thorold, birder4106, Dilara86, Cansu_Jasmine_Otan
36
- 4 Members
- lulaa, minkscat, MLShaw, megstar111
37
by Eudora Welty
1,735 members
25 reviews
4
Score 13.44
Added 2023-01-16, 02:52 PM
- 4 Members
- dimajazz, katemcangus, AnneSteph, JustJune
38
- 4 Members
- kaixo, KarenFunt, JuliaMaria, sekinehnasiri
39
4,341 members
78 reviews
4
Score 13.02
Added 2023-01-19, 09:04 AM
- 4 Members
- rocketjk, susanbooks, Brandy1411, Cansu_Jasmine_Otan
40
4,807 members
55 reviews
4
Score 12.76
Added 2023-01-16, 01:17 PM
- 4 Members
- pitjrw, amanda4242, Karen74Leigh, sekinehnasiri
41
1,801 members
33 reviews
3.9
Score 12.68
Added 2023-01-19, 11:43 PM
- 5 Members
- brewergirl, BookDoc16, PaperbackPirate, merrystar, Fjumonvi
42
3,918 members
42 reviews
4.2
Score 12.08
Added 2023-01-17, 10:48 PM
- 4 Members
- sherryearly, PatsyMurray, JuliaMaria, Karen74Leigh
43
by Tom Reiss
1,696 members
111 reviews
4.1
Score 11.75
Added 2023-01-21, 09:03 AM
- 4 Members
- EerierIdyllMeme, souloftherose, noveltea, KurtWombat
44
- 4 Members
- harrietgate, abbottthomas, dewasus1, atozgrl
45
2,111 members
102 reviews
4.1
Score 11.5
Added 2023-01-18, 01:55 PM
- 4 Members
- nicolecervone, lahochstetler, elahrairah, SOShea
- Explanations
- elahrairah: Funny and sad.
46
4,891 members
63 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 11.42
Added 2023-01-19, 02:38 PM
- 4 Members
- oregonobsessionz, PaperbackPirate, ahef1963, SOShea
47
3,334 members
58 reviews
3.9
Score 11.33
Added 2023-01-17, 07:19 PM
- 4 Members
- princessgarnet, mstrust, peterveen, Karen74Leigh
48
1,308 members
94 reviews
4.1
Score 10.85
Added 2023-01-16, 01:29 PM
- 4 Members
- lahochstetler, Faradaydon, Heather39, perennialreader
- Explanations
- perennialreader: About a woman who is bedridden for a year or so and how she manages.
49
20,550 members
797 reviews
4.2
Score 10.85
Added 2023-01-20, 08:04 AM
- 4 Members
- lahochstetler, vwinsloe, AnneSteph, Louanne
50
by Edward Abbey
3,950 members
89 reviews
4.2
Score 10.79
Added 2023-01-20, 09:20 PM
- 4 Members
- oregonobsessionz, gypsysmom, miller.max, JustJune
51
1,991 members
87 reviews
4.1
Score 10.68
Added 2023-01-16, 04:18 PM
- 3 Members
- kaixo, JuliaMaria, miller.max
52
by Nien Cheng
1,486 members
20 reviews
4.2
Score 10.4
Added 2023-01-17, 10:49 PM
- 3 Members
- sherryearly, sssolstice, Louanne
53
903 members
22 reviews
4
Score 10.19
Added 2023-01-18, 06:01 PM
- 3 Members
- harrietgate, CarltonC, souloftherose
- Explanations
- CarltonC: Not so much an archaeological memoir, as a memoir about a time (1930's) and places (Orient Express, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq) that I imagine have changed beyond recognition. This memoir and travelogue clearly shows the author's happiness at that time, which she conveys so wonderfully in this brief book, so full of love and humour. There is little about archaeology, it is about the sights, sounds, smells and above all the people that she encountered. I was enchanted.
54
15,861 members
314 reviews
4.2
Score 10.09
Added 2023-01-18, 01:54 PM
- 4 Members
- bjappleg8, sundancer, msemmag, elahrairah
- Explanations
- elahrairah: How to survive the unsurvivable.
55
2,668 members
97 reviews
4
Score 9.87
Added 2023-01-16, 04:27 PM
56
4,734 members
244 reviews
½ 4.6
Score 9.82
Added 2023-01-17, 10:28 AM
- 4 Members
- hipdeep, barefootsong, Tosta, SOShea
57
3,691 members
159 reviews
4
Score 9.74
Added 2023-01-16, 01:28 PM
58
by Stefan Zweig
2,581 members
77 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 9.67
Added 2023-01-17, 09:03 AM
- 3 Members
- FAMeulstee, Ravenk, cipeciop
59
by Dani Shapiro
957 members
56 reviews
3.9
Score 9.61
Added 2023-01-16, 06:06 PM
- 3 Members
- Micheller7, Ravenk, Julie_in_the_Library
60
by Andrea Wulf
2,392 members
83 reviews
4.1
Score 9.4
Added 2023-01-24, 11:48 AM
- 3 Members
- sssolstice, peterveen, msemmag
61
3,074 members
101 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 9.35
Added 2023-01-20, 06:11 PM
- 3 Members
- nicolecervone, megbmore, Wordslinger1919
62
- 3 Members
- gypsysmom, DoomLuz, WynneWages
63
by Maia Kobabe
1,390 members
95 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 9.21
Added 2023-01-18, 04:29 AM
- 3 Members
- EerierIdyllMeme, Heather39, Michael.Rimmer
64
218 members
17 reviews
½ 4.6
Score 9.05
Added 2023-01-18, 10:26 AM
65
- 3 Members
- terran, timetunnel, Wordslinger1919
66
14,409 members
192 reviews
4
Score 8.63
Added 2023-01-23, 07:32 AM
- 3 Members
- BookDoc16, Dannysurtr, msemmag
67
- 3 Members
- dimajazz, Fjumonvi, Wordslinger1919
68
- 3 Members
- KarenFunt, thalassa_thalassa, loulourevisited
69
- 3 Members
- VenusofUrbino, PatsyMurray, miller.max
70
438 members
14 reviews
4.2
Score 8.25
Added 2023-01-16, 04:22 PM
- 3 Members
- kaixo, FAMeulstee, JuliaMaria
71
- 3 Members
- kaixo, ManWithAnAgenda, slimikin
72
3,556 members
142 reviews
4.2
Score 8.18
Added 2023-01-17, 11:33 PM
- 3 Members
- bangerlm, oregonobsessionz, sssolstice
73
- 3 Members
- karenb, susanbooks, ManWithAnAgenda
74
969 members
11 reviews
3.9
Score 8
Added 2023-01-28, 10:11 AM
76
by C. S. Lewis
6,918 members
54 reviews
3.9
Score 7.98
Added 2023-01-17, 09:59 AM
- 3 Members
- timspalding, atozgrl, AnneSteph
77
3,163 members
61 reviews
4.2
Score 7.81
Added 2023-01-16, 01:35 PM
- 3 Members
- EerierIdyllMeme, perennialreader, KurtWombat
- Explanations
- perennialreader: “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.”
78
by Joan Didion
10,330 members
292 reviews
3.9
Score 7.36
Added 2023-01-16, 03:00 PM
- 2 Members
- katemcangus, KurtWombat
79
225 members
3 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 7.36
Added 2023-01-16, 02:20 PM
- 2 Members
- paradoxosalpha, amanda4242
- Explanations
- paradoxosalpha: A stand-in for the full ten volumes in the excellent Trask translation.
80
6,506 members
270 reviews
4.1
Score 7.14
Added 2023-01-17, 08:08 AM
- 3 Members
- Cecrow, PaperbackPirate, barefootsong
81
571 members
20 reviews
4
Score 7.04
Added 2023-01-20, 06:36 PM
82
1,875 members
17 reviews
4.1
Score 7
Added 2023-01-20, 09:41 PM
- 3 Members
- oregonobsessionz, pitjrw, RBeffa
83
- 2 Members
- dimajazz, susanbooks
84
710 members
11 reviews
3.9
Score 6.83
Added 2023-01-18, 01:54 PM
- 2 Members
- Faradaydon, elahrairah
- Explanations
- elahrairah: Hilarious, touching, and honest.
85
- 2 Members
- Argenta_Library, AnneSteph
86
by Fawn Brodie
632 members
13 reviews
4.1
Score 6.68
Added 2023-01-23, 03:45 PM
87
- 2 Members
- brewergirl, VenusofUrbino
88
by Brian Boyd
366 members
2 reviews
½ 4.4
Score 6.56
Added 2023-01-17, 09:56 AM
- 2 Members
- timspalding, dimajazz
90
207 members
13 reviews
½ 3.5
Score 6.4
Added 2023-01-19, 09:47 AM
91
by Paul Collins
1,334 members
57 reviews
½ 3.6
Score 6.31
Added 2023-01-18, 10:26 AM
- 2 Members
- mstrust, barefootsong
92
- 2 Members
- sherryearly, Joy62
93
by Roxane Gay
2,259 members
121 reviews
4.2
Score 6.19
Added 2023-01-20, 06:16 PM
- 2 Members
- nicolecervone, sturlington
94
95
1,711 members
32 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 5.92
Added 2023-01-17, 08:07 AM
96
255 members
5 reviews
4.2
Score 5.92
Added 2023-01-18, 01:59 PM
97
by Roz Chast
1,659 members
120 reviews
½ 4.3
Score 5.87
Added 2023-01-17, 10:27 AM
- 2 Members
- lulaa, VenusofUrbino
98
by Chester Nez
543 members
15 reviews
4.1
Score 5.87
Added 2023-01-17, 08:37 AM
100
1,563 members
68 reviews
4.2
Score 5.84
Added 2023-01-18, 12:40 AM
- 3 Members
- nancyjune, souloftherose, Chanda.Leah,