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50 best autobiographies & biographies of all time

Enlightening and inspiring: these are the best autobiographies and biographies of 2024, and all time. .

Reading an autobiography can offer a unique insight into a world and experience very different from your own – and these real-life stories are even more entertaining, and stranger, than fiction . Take a glimpse into the lives of some of the world's most inspiring and successful celebrities , politicians and sports people and more in our edit of the best autobiographies and biographies to read right now.

• New autobiographies & biographies
• Inspiring autobiographies & biographies
• Sports autobiographies & biographies
• Celebrity autobiographies & biographies
• Political & historical autobiographies
• Literary autobiographies & biographies

The best new autobiographies and biographies

Sociopath: a memoir, by patric gagne.

The most unputdownable memoir you’ll read this year, Sociopath is the story of Patric Gagne, and her extraordinary life lived on the edge. With seering honestly, Patric explains how, as a child she always knew she was different. Graduating from feelings of apathy to petty theft and stalking, she realised as an adult that she was a sociopath, uncaring of the impact of her actions on others. Sharing the conflict she feels between her impulses, and her desire to live a settled, loving life with her partner, Sociopath is a fascinating story of one woman’s journey to find a place for herself in the world. 

Charles III

By robert hardman.

Meet the man behind the monarch in this new biography of King Charles III by royal expert and journalist Robert Hardman. Charting Charles III’s extraordinary first year on the throne, a year plighted by sadness and family scandal, Hardman shares insider details on the true nature of the Windsor family feud, and Queen Camilla’s role within the Royal Family. Detailing the highs and lows of royal life in dazzling detail, this new biography of the man who waited his whole life to be King is one of 2024’s must-reads. 

Naked Portrait: A Memoir of Lucian Freud

By rose boyt.

When Rose Boyt finds her old diary in a cardboard box in the summer of 2016, she is transported back to 1989 and her teenage years, a time she never remembered as especially remarkable. However, as Rose reads her accounts of sitting for her father, the painter Lucian Feud, she begins to realise how extraordinary and shocking her experiences truly were. In Naked Portrait: A Memoir of Lucian Freud , Rose Boyt explores her relationship with her father with fresh eyes, painting a vivid portrait of the brilliant, complex man he was. 

Air and Love

By or rosenboim.

When Or Rosenboim was growing up, she knew little of her family’s complex history, with her memories of family instead rooted in the traditional dishes her grandmothers prepared with love. After they had both passed away, she began to explore their recipe books, full of handwritten notes for how to make kneidlach balls in hot chicken broth, cinnamon-scented noodle kugel and stuffed vine leaves. There, Or learned of their shared past, one fraught with displacement and change. Interspersing her family’s story with their cherished recipes, Or Rosenboim’s Air and Love is a memoir about food, migration and family.

Lisa Marie Presley's memoir

By lisa marie presley.

Lisa Marie Presley was never truly understood . . . until now. Before her death in 2023, she’d been working on a raw, riveting, one-of-a-kind memoir for years, recording countless hours of breathtakingly vulnerable tape, which has finally been put on the page by her daughter, Riley Keough.

Went to London, Took the Dog: A Diary

By nina stibbe.

Ten years after the publication of the prize-winning  Love, Nina  comes the author’s diary of her return to London in her sixty-first year. After twenty years, Nina Stibbe, accompanied by her dog Peggy, stays with writer Debby Moggach in London for a year. With few obligations, Nina explores the city, reflecting on her past and embracing new experiences. From indulging in banana splits to navigating her son's dating life, this diary captures the essence of a sixty-year-old runaway finding her place as a "proper adult" once and for all.

Literature for the People

By sarah harkness.

When Daniel and Alexander Macmillan moved to London from the Scottish Highlands in 1830, little did they know that the city was on the brink of huge social change, and that they would change publishing forever. This is the story of the Macmillan brothers who, after an impoverished, working-class childhood, went on to bring Alice in Wonderland and numerous other literary classics and ideas to the world. Through meticulous research and highly entertaining storytelling, Sarah Harkness brings to life the two men who founded a publishing house which has stood the test of time for almost two centuries. 

Hildasay to Home

By christian lewis.

The follow-up to his bestselling memoir Finding Hildasay , in Hildasay to Home Christian Lewis tells the next chapter of his extraordinary journey, step by step. From the unexpected way he found love, to his and Kate's journey on foot back down the coastline and into their new lives as parents to baby Marcus, Christian shares his highs and lows as he and his dog Jet leave Hildasay behind. Join the family as they adjust to life away from the island, and set off on a new journey together. 

Life's Work

By david milch.

Best known for creating smash-hit shows including NYPD Blue and Deadwood, you’d be forgiven for thinking that David Milch had lived a charmed life of luxury and stardom. In this, his new memoir, Milch dispels that myth, shedding light on his extraordinary life in the spotlight. Born in Buffalo New York to a father gripped by drug-addiction, Milch enrolled at Yale Law befire being expelled and finding his true passion for writing. Written following his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s in 2015, in Life’s Work Milch records his joys, sadnesses and struggles with startling clarity and grace. 

Will You Care If I Die?

By nicolas lunabba.

In a world where children murder children, and where gun violence is the worst in Europe, Nicolas Lunabba's job as a social organizer with Malmö's underclass requires firm boundaries and emotional detachment. But all that changes when he meets Elijah – an unruly teenage boy of mixed heritage whose perilous future reminds Nicolas of his own troubled past amongst the marginalized people who live on the fringes of every society. Written as a letter to Elijah,  Will You Care If I Die?  is a disarmingly direct memoir about social class, race, friendship and unexpected love.

The best inspiring autobiographies and biographies

By yusra mardini.

After fleeing her native Syria to the Turkish coast in 2015, Yusra Mardini boarded a small dinghy full of refugees headed for Greece. On the journey, the boat's engine cut out and it started to sink. Yusra, her sister, and two others took to the water to push the overcrowded boat for three and a half hours in open water, saving the lives of those on board. Butterfly is Yusra Mardini's journey from war-torn Damascus to Berlin and from there to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Game. A UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and one of People magazine's 25 Women Changing the World, discover Yusra and her incredible story of resilience and unstoppable spirit.

Finding Hildasay

After hitting rock bottom having suffered with depression for years, Christian Lewis made an impulsive decision to walk the entire coastline of the UK. Just a few days later he set off with a tent, walking boots and a tenner in his pocket. Finding Hildasay tells us some of this incredible story, including the brutal three months Christian Lewis spent on the uninhabited island of Hildasay in Scotland with no fresh water or food. It was there, where his route was most barren, that he discovered pride and respect for himself. This is not just a story of a remarkable journey, but one of depression, survival and the meaning of home. 

The Happiest Man on Earth

By eddie jaku.

A lesson in how happiness can be found in the darkest of times, this is the story of Eddie Jaku, a German Jew who survived seven years at the hands of the Nazis. Eddie Jaku always considered himself a German first, and a Jew second. All of that changed in November 1938, when he was beaten, arrested and taken to a concentration camp. But through his courage and tenacity he still came to live life as 'the happiest man on earth'. Published at the author turns one hundred, The Happiest Man on Earth is a heartbreaking but hopeful memoir full of inspiration. 

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I know why the caged bird sings, by maya angelou.

A favourite book of former president Obama and countless others, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , recounts Angelou’s childhood in the American south in the 1930s. A beautifully written classic, this is the first of Maya Angelou's seven bestselling autobiographies. 

I Am Malala

By malala yousafzai.

After speaking out about her right to education almost cost her her life, Malala Yousafzi refused to be silenced. Instead, her amazing story has taken her all over the world. This is the story of Malala and her inspirational family, and of how one person's voice can inspire change across the globe. 

In Extremis: The Life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin

By lindsey hilsum.

In her job as a foreign correspondent, Marie Colvin reported from some of the most dangerous places in the world. It was a job that would eventually cost her her life. In this posthumous biography of the award-winning news journalist, Lindsey Hilsum shares the story of one of the most daring and inspirational women of our times with warmth and wit, conveying Colvin's trademark glamour. 

The best memoirs

This is going to hurt, by adam kay.

Offering a unique insight into life as an NHS junior doctor through his diary entries, Adam Kay's bestselling autobiography is equal parts heartwarming and humorous, and oftentimes horrifying too. With 97-hour weeks, life and death decisions and a tsunami of bodily fluids, Kay provides a no-holds-barred account of working on the NHS frontline. Now a major BBC comedy-drama, don't miss this special edition of This Is Going To Hurt including a bonus diary entries and an afterword from the author. 

The Colour of Madness

By samara linton.

The Colour of Madness  brings together memoirs, essays, poetry, short fiction and artworks by people of colour who have experienced difficulties with mental health. From experiencing micro-aggressions to bias, and stigma to religious and cultural issues, people of colour have to fight harder than others to be heard and helped. Statistics show that people from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds in the UK experience poor mental health treatment in comparison to their white counterparts, and are more likely to be held under the Mental Health Act. 

Nothing But The Truth

By the secret barrister.

How do you become a barrister? Why do only 1 per cent of those who study law succeed in joining this mysterious profession? And why might a practising barrister come to feel the need to reveal the lies, secrets, failures and crises at the heart of this world of wigs and gowns? Full of hilarious, shocking and surprising stories,  Nothing But The Truth  tracks the Secret Barrister’s transformation from hang ‘em and flog ‘em, austerity-supporting twenty-something to a campaigning, bestselling, reforming author whose writing in defence of the law is celebrated around the globe.

Is This Ok?

By harriet gibsone.

Harriet spent much of her young life feeding neuroses and insecurities with obsessive internet searching and indulging in whirlwind ‘parasocial relationships'. But after a diagnosis of early menopause in her late twenties, her relationship with the internet took a darker turn, as her online addictions were thrown into sharp relief by the corporeal realities of illness and motherhood. An outrageously funny, raw and painfully honest account of trying to find connection in the age of the internet,  Is This Ok? is the stunning literary debut from music journalist, Harriet Gibsone. 

A Letter to My Transgender Daughter

By carolyn hays.

This moving memoir is an ode to Hays' transgender daughter – a love letter to a child who has always known herself. After a caseworker from the Department of Children and Families knocked on the door to investigate an anonymous complaint about the upbringing of their transgender child, the Hays family moved away from their Republican state. In A Girlhood, Hays tells of the brutal truths of being trans, of the sacrificial nature of motherhood and of the lengths a family will go to shield their youngest from the cruel realities of the world. Hays asks us all to love better, for children everywhere enduring injustice and prejudice.

by Michelle Obama

This bestselling autobiography lifts the lid on the life of one of the most inspiring women of a generation, former first lady Michelle Obama. From her childhood as a gifted young woman in south Chicago to becoming the first black First Lady of the USA, Obama tells the story of her extraordinary life with humour, warmth and honesty. 

Kitchen Confidential

By anthony bourdain.

Regarded as one of the greatest books about food ever written, Kitchen Confidential lays bare the wild tales of the culinary industry. From his lowly position as a dishwasher in Provincetown to cooking at some of the finest restaurants across the world, the much-loved Bourdain translates his sultry, sarcastic and quick-witted personality to paper in this uncensored 'sex, drugs, bad behaviour and haute cuisine' account of life as a professional chef. Bourdain's tales of the kitchen are as passionate as they are unpredictable, as shocking as they are funny.

Everything I Know About Love

By dolly alderton.

Dolly Alderton, perhaps more than any other author, represents the rise of the messy millennial woman – in the very best way possible. Her internationally bestselling memoir gives an unflinching account of the bad dates and squalid flat-shares, the heartaches and humiliations, and most importantly, the unbreakable female friendships that defined her twenties. She weaves together personal stories, satirical observations, a series of lists, recipes, and other vignettes that will strike a chord of recognition with women of every age. This is a memoir that you'll discuss with loved ones long after the final page. 

The best sports autobiographies and biographies

By chris kamara.

Presenter, commentator, (sometimes masked) singer, footballer, manager and campaigner, Kammy's action-packed career has made him a bona fide British hero. Kammy had a tough upbringing, faced racism on the terraces during his playing career and has, in recent years, dealt with a rare brain condition – apraxia – that has affected his speech and seen him say goodbye to Sky Sports. With entertaining stories of his playing career from Pompey to Leeds and beyond; his management at Bradford City and Stoke; his crazy travels around the world; of  Soccer Saturday  banter; presenting  Ninja   Warrior ; and the incredible friendships he's made along the way,  Kammy  is an unforgettable ride from one of Britain's best-loved broadcasters.

Alone on the Wall

By alex honnold.

In the last forty years, only a handful of climbers have pushed themselves as far, ‘free soloing’ to the absolute limit of human capabilities. Half of them are dead. Although Alex Honnold’s exploits are probably a bit  too  extreme for most of us, the stories behind his incredible climbs are exciting, uplifting and truly awe-inspiring. Alone on the Wall  is a book about the essential truth of being free to pursue your passions and the ability to maintain a singular focus, even in the face of mortal danger. This updated edition contains the account of Alex's El Capitan climb, which is the subject of the Oscar and BAFTA winning documentary,  Free Solo .

On Days Like These

By martin o'neill.

Martin O’Neill has had one of the most incredible careers in football.   With a story spanning over fifty years, Martin tells of his exhilarating highs and painful lows; from the joys of winning trophies, promotion and fighting for World Cups to being harangued by fans, boardroom drama, relegation scraps and being fired. Written with his trademark honesty and humour,  On Days Like These  is one of the most insightful and captivating sports autobiographies and a must-read for any fans of the beautiful game.

Too Many Reasons to Live

By rob burrow.

As a child, Rob Burrow was told he was too small to be a rugby player. Some 500 games for Leeds later, Rob had proved his doubters wrong: he won eight Super League Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups, three World Club Challenges and played for his country in two World Cups. In 2019 though, Rob was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and given just two years to live. He went public with the news, determined to fight it all the way. Full of love, bravery and kindness, this is the story of a man who has awed his fans with his positive attitude to life.

With You Every Step, a celebration of friendship by Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield

At home with muhammad ali, by hana yasmeen ali.

Written by his daughter Ali using material from her father's audio journals, love letters and her treasured family memories, this sports biography offers an intimate portrait of one of boxing's most legendary figures, and one of the most iconic sports personalities of all time. 

They Don't Teach This

By eniola aluko.

In her autobiography, footballer Eni Aluko addresses themes of dual nationality, race and institutional prejudice, success, gender and faith through her own experiences growing up in Britain. Part memoir, part manifesto for change, They Don't Teach This is a must-read book for 2020. 

The best celebrity autobiographies and biographies

By adrian edmondson.

From brutal schooldays to 80s anarchy, through The Young Ones and beyond, Berserker! is the one-of-a-kind, fascinating memoir from an icon of British comedy, Adrian Edmondson. His star-studded anecdotes and outrageous stories are set to a soundtrack of pop hits, transporting the reader through time and cranking up the nostalgia. But, as one would expect, these stories are also a guaranteed laugh as Ade traces his journey through life and comedy. 

Beyond the Story

In honor of BTS's 10th anniversary, this remarkable book serves as the band's inaugural official release, offering a treasure trove of unseen photographs and exclusive content. With Myeongseok Kang's extensive interviews and years of coverage, the vibrant world of K-pop springs to life. As digital pioneers, BTS's online presence has bridged continents, and this volume grants readers instant access to trailers, music videos, and more, providing a comprehensive journey through BTS's defining moments. Complete with a milestone timeline, Beyond the Story stands as a comprehensive archive, encapsulating everything about BTS within its pages.

Being Henry

By henry winkler.

Brilliant, funny, and widely-regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood, Henry Winkler shares the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia and the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own. Since the glorious era of  Happy Days  fame, Henry has endeared himself to a new generation with roles in such adored shows as  Arrested Development and  Barry , where he’s revealed himself as an actor with immense depth and pathos. But Being Henry  is about so much more than a life in Hollywood and the curse of stardom. It is a meaningful testament to the power of sharing truth and of finding fulfillment within yourself.

What Are You Doing Here?

By floella benjamin.

Actress, television presenter, member of the House of Lords – Baroness Floella Benjamin is an inspiration to many. But it hasn't always been easy: in What Are You Doing Here?   she describes her journey to London as part of the Windrush generation, and the daily racism that caused her so much pain as a child. She has gone on to remain true to her values, from breaking down barriers as a Play School presenter to calling for diversity at the BBC and BAFTA to resisting the pressures of typecasting. Sharing the lessons she has learned, imbued with her joy and positivity, this autobiography is the moving testimony of a remarkable woman.

A Funny Life

By michael mcintyre.

Comic Michael McIntyre specialises in pin-sharp observational routines that have made him the world's bestselling funny man. But when he turns his gaze to himself and his own family, things get even funnier. This bracingly honest memoir covers the highs, lows and pratfalls of a career in comedy, as Michael climbs the greasy pole of success and desperately attempts to stay up there.

by Elton John

Elton John is one of the most successful singer/songwriters of all time, but success didn't come easily to him. In his bestselling autobiography, he charts his extraordinary life, from the early rejection of his work to the heady heights of international stardom and the challenges that came along with it. With candour and humour, he tells the stories of celebrity friendships with John Lennon, George Michael and Freddie Mercury, and of how he turned his life around and found love with David Furnish. Me is the real story of the man behind the music. 

And Away...

By bob mortimer.

National treasure and beloved entertainer, Bob Mortimer, takes us from his childhood in Middlesborough to working as a solicitor in London in his highly acclaimed autobiography. Mortimer’s life was trundling along happily until suddenly in 2015 he was diagnosed with a heart condition that required immediate surgery and forced him to cancel an upcoming tour. The book covers his numerous misadventures along his path to fame but also reflects on more serious themes, making this both one of the most humorous and poignant celebrity memoirs of recent years. 

by Walter Isaacson

Based on interviews conducted with Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson's biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is filled with lessons about innovation, leadership, and values and has inspired a movie starring Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet and Seth Rogen. Isaacson tells the story of the rollercoaster life and searingly intense personality of creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized the tech industry. Although Jobs cooperated with this book, he asked for no control over what was written and put nothing off limits, making this an unflinchingly candid account of one of the key figures of modern history.

Maybe I Don't Belong Here

By david harewood.

When David Harewood was twenty-three, his acting career began to take flight and he had what he now understands to be a psychotic breakdown. He was physically restrained by six police officers, sedated, then hospitalized and transferred to a locked ward. Only now, thirty years later, has he been able to process what he went through. In this powerful and provocative account of a life lived after psychosis, critically acclaimed actor, David Harewood, uncovers a devastating family history and investigates the very real impact of racism on Black mental health.

Scenes from My Life

By michael k. williams.

When Michael K. Williams died on 6 September 2021, he left behind a career as one of the most electrifying actors of his generation. At the time of his death, Williams had nearly finished his memoir, which traces his life in whole, from his childhood and his early years as a dancer to his battles with addiction. Alongside his achievements on screen he was a committed activist who dedicated his life to helping at-risk young people find their voice and carve out their future. Imbued with poignance and raw honesty,  Scenes from My Life  is the story of a performer who gave his all to everything he did – in his own voice, in his own words.

The best political and historical autobiographies

The fall of boris johnson, by sebastian payne.

Sebastian Payne, Whitehall Editor for the Financial Times, tells the behind-the-scenes story of the fall of former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. After being touted saviour of the Conservative Party, it took Johnson just three years to resign after a series of scandals. From the blocked suspension of Owen Patterson to Partygate and the Chris Pincher allegations, Payne gives us unparalleled access to those who were in the room when key decisions were made, ultimately culminating in Boris's downfall. This is a gripping and timely look at how power is gained, wielded and lost in Britain today.

by Sung-Yoon Lee

The Sister , written by Sung-Yoon Lee, a scholar and specialist on North Korea, uncovers the truth about Kim Yo Jong and her close bond with Kim Jong Un. In 2022, Kim Yo Jong threatened to nuke South Korea, reminding the world of the dangers posed by her state. But how did the youngest daughter of Dear Leader Kim Jong Il, his ‘sweet princess’, become the ruthless chief propagandist, internal administrator and foreign policymaker for her brother’s totalitarian regime? Readable and insightful, this book is an invaluable portrait of a woman who might yet hold the survival of her despotic dynasty in her hands.

Long Walk To Freedom

By nelson mandela.

Deemed 'essential reading for anyone who wants to understand history' by former US President, Barack Obama, this is the autobiography of one of the world's greatest moral and political leaders, Nelson Mandela. Imprisoned for more than 25 years, president of the African National Congress and head of South Africa's anti-apartheid movement, the Nobel Peace Prize winner's life was nothing short of extraordinary. Long Walk to Freedom vividly tells this story; one of hardship, resilience and ultimate triumph, written with the clarity and eloquence of a born leader. 

The Diary of a Young Girl

By anne frank.

No list of inspiring autobiographies would be complete without Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl . Charting the thirteen-year-old's time hiding in a 'Secret Annex' with her family to escape Gestapo detection, this book (which was discovered after Anne Frank's death), is a must-read, and a testament to the courage shown by the millions persecuted during the Second World War. 

The best literary autobiographies

Winner of Pulitzer Prize in Memoir, Stay True  is a deeply moving and intimate memoir about growing up and moving through the world in search of meaning and belonging. When Hua Hsu first meets Ken in a Berkeley dorm room, he hates him. A frat boy with terrible taste in music, Ken seems exactly like everyone else. For Hua, Ken represents all that he defines himself in opposition to – the mainstream. The only thing Hua, the son of Taiwanese immigrants, and Ken, whose Japanese American family has been in the US for generations, have in common is that, however they engage with it, American culture doesn’t seem to have a place for either of them. 

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

By rebecca skloot.

Born to a poor black tobacco farmer in rural Virginia in 1920, Henrietta Lacks died of cancer when she was just 31. However, her story does not end there, as her cancer cells, taken without permission during her treatment continued to live on being used for research all over the world and becoming a multi-million dollar industry, with her family only learning of her impact more than two decades after her death. In The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Rebecca Skloot tells the story of a woman who never knew of her lifesaving impact and asks: do we ever really own our bodies? 

A Fortunate Woman

By polly morland.

Funny, emotional and imbued with great depth, A Fortunate Woman is an exploration of the life of a country doctor in a remote and wild wooded valley in the Forest of Dean. The story was sparked when writer and documentary maker Polly Morland found a photograph of the valley she lives in tucked inside a tattered copy of John Berger’s  A Fortunate Man . Itself an account of the life of a country doctor, the book inspired a woman doctor to follow her vocation in the same remote place. And it is the story of this woman that Polly Morland tells, in this compelling portrait of landscape and community.

Father and Son

By jonathan raban.

On 11 June 2011, three days short of his sixty-ninth birthday, Jonathan Raban suffered a stroke which left him unable to use the right side of his body. Learning to use a wheelchair in a rehab facility outside Seattle and resisting the ministrations of the nurses overseeing his recovery, Raban began to reflect upon the measure of his own life in the face of his own mortality. Together with the chronicle of his recovery is the extraordinary story of his parents’ marriage, the early years of which were conducted by letter while his father fought in the Second World War.

Crying in H Mart

By michelle zauner.

This radiant read by singer, songwriter and guitarist Michelle Zauner delves into the experience of being the only Asian-American child at her school in Eugene, Oregon, combined with family struggles and blissful escapes to her grandmother's tiny Seoul apartment. The family bond is the shared love of Korean food, which helped Michelle reclaim her Asian identity in her twenties. A lively, honest, riveting read.

The Reluctant Carer

By the reluctant carer.

The phone rings. Your elderly father has been taken to hospital, and your even older mother is home with nobody to look after her. What do you do? Drop everything and go and help of course. But it's not that straightforward, and your own life starts to fall apart as quickly as their health. Irresistibly funny, unflinching and deeply moving, this is a love letter to family and friends, to carers and to anyone who has ever packed a small bag intent on staying for just a few days. This is a true story of what it really means to be a carer, and of the ties that bind even tighter when you least expect it. 

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Blog – Posted on Monday, Jan 13

50 best self-help books of all time.

For thousands of years, people have been writing down their wisdom and advice that have led them to greater health, happiness, and harmony. From creative inspiration to financial success to healthy living — you name it, somebody's shared the secret to understanding it.

Today, we may be the greatest benefactors: all of this guidance is right at the tip of our fingertips, if only we reach out and pick up the right book.

With the perfect self-help book at hand, you can become your own life coach and the master of your own growth. That's exactly what this post is here to help you achieve: in this post, we've listed the 50 best self-help books of all time, easily searchable by category. No matter what you’re looking to improve, there’s a book out there for you. Let's dive in!

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1. Gmorning, Gnight! by Lin-Manuel Miranda

You might know Lin-Manuel Miranda as the genius behind the international phenomenon Hamilton — but his 3 million followers on Twitter first knew him as the sweet, funny guy who Tweeted them original aphorisms and poetry at the beginning and end of every day. If you missed out on any of his daily affirmations, this book gathers all of them into one short and charming collection. Think of it like an assortment of pep talks. Some are light, some are serious — and all are kind, encouraging, and loving. Complemented by beautiful, quirky illustrations by Jonny Sun, Gmorning, Gnight! is the equivalent of a warm hug from a trusted friend, or a steaming mug of coffee on a cold winter day. And it might just be the quick, sure pick-me-up you need to lift yourself back up.  

2. Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

When you’re a lifestyle blogger like Rachel Hollis, tips for, well, life come easy! Girl Wash Your Face is adapted from her mega-hit site, TheChicSite.com , which is packed with wry yet wise advice on all kinds of practical matters. But what makes this popular self-help book most memorable is Hollis’ unflinching honesty and critique of cultural norms. She busts through beauty expectations that hold most captive and subverts them with actionables that you can immediately put to use. Each and every chapter addresses a ‘lie’ that Hollins once internalized (whether it be about gender, sexuality, or body image), and the tools and tactics she uses to combat it. Above all, she doesn’t take anything too seriously as she guides her devotees through it all to reach their goal of reinvention. 

3. You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

Self-help has never ever been more manageable with these 27 micro-chapters full of stories that will lift you up, Oprah-style. Or should we say, Sincero-style — since author Jen Sincero is never too afraid to drop a bomb to make a point? That said, You Are a Badass isn’t just a bunch of cheers and rants: she’s got some unique tips up her sleeve that will boost your self-confidence in seconds. How? Similar to Rachel Hollins’ Girl Wash Your Face , Sincero has her pulse on the mistruths that society thrusts upon us to stunt our growth. By identifying them, she asserts that you can change how you think about yourself — which will in turn change how you live your life. If you start there, the rest (especially career success) will follow. And always remember: You Are A Badass! 

4. Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

There are many schools of thought when it comes to understanding the root of human suffering. In this transformative self-help book, Tara Brach argues that the very belief that we’re flawed is what leads to unnecessary pain. So what’s our way out when we get stuck in a loop of negative patterns like toxic relationships, workaholism, self-doubt, or isolation? Radical Acceptance . Dr. Brach’s book not only draws upon her twenty years of experience as therapist, but her unique perspective as a Buddhist as well. Using a variety of media from meditations to case studies, she reminds us that we cannot always change the past or our circumstances, but we can change how we think about those things. The level of mindfulness required for radical acceptance may seem overwhelming, but under Dr. Brach’s guidance, it feels practical — possible even.

5. The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor

It would be easy to see the title of this one and think that it’s another feel-good book about accepting yourself for who you are — but you’d be wrong. By its own admission, The Body is Not an Apology will not teach you self-acceptance, because acceptance does not go far enough.

Instead, this book delves into the concept of radical self-love. And it goes so much further than just embracing your own skin. By breaking down the societal reasons why we fight with our bodies, we begin to realize that you cannot practice radical self-love without fighting the systemic systems that oppress all the bodies that don’t “fit” the socially approved mold. It’s a call to action, not just for improving our own lives, but for everyone’s. Through her powerful words, poet Sonya Renee Taylor has laid out a guidebook for truly improving ourselves — both inside our own minds, and out in our community.

6. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

In a world seemingly run by extroverts, it’s easy to feel like there’s something wrong with you if you’re not one of them. In Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking , Cain not only dispels that idea, but demonstrates the strengths that introverts have. With thorough research and tons of real-world examples, the book charts the rise of “the extrovert ideal,” and the way that this has shaped our perceptions of who is (and isn’t) destined to succeed. It’s an invaluable book for those of us who would rather work on our own than in a group, or are more comfortable talking one-on-one than presenting at a big meeting. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re so soft-spoken in a crowd, or how you can use your quietness to your own advantage, this is essential reading.

7. The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Anchor

According to Shawn Anchor’s research, we don’t find happiness, or even achieve it: we are happiness. In The Happiness Advantage , Anchor explains how positivity has neurological effects (the good kind). Moreover, he’s applied his research and his own years of experiences as a Harvard lecturer in nearly every possible environment known to man, from the high school locker room to chairman of the board. The ‘advantage’ of Anchor’s self-help book is its breathtaking ability to take us out of the mundanity of life and into what really matters: the joy of being. 

8. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

9. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert has been inspiring people to go out and find their happiness ever since the smash success of Eat, Pray, Love , but now she’s turned her sights a lot closer to home. In Big Magic , Gilbert explores the world of creativity — everything from her musings on where an idea comes from, to the inner fears of following up a creative success, to what it means to live a creative life. And lest you think you’re not “creative” enough for this self-help book, think again. Gilbert eloquently explains how anyone can benefit from living a creative life, even those of us who don’t normally apply that label to ourselves. Acting as both a memoir and an inspirational guide, this self-help book will show you how to nurture the playful, imaginative side of yourself, and how it can transform your life — if you stop getting in your own way and learn to listen to it.

10. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

There are some self-help books that touch people so deeply, that speak so universally, that they become staples in any discussion of the topic they’re about. For writers, one of those books is Bird by Bird . Twenty-five years after its initial publication, it’s still providing wisdom to authors around the world.

Told in intimate, off-the-cuff prose, this self-help book is like having dinner at the elbow of a wise aunt with a million stories to share. Her insights may make you laugh, or they may make you cry, but above all, they will tell the truth. The truth about what it really takes to dig deep inside yourself and bring forth a story—and how there’s no other way to tackle it but to just start and take things one step at a time. Bird by bird.

11. Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon

Let’s face it: life can get intense. Between personal setbacks and disturbing world news, it can be hard for anyone to keep their spirits up. And when you’re working in a creative field, that task becomes even harder. How do you keep drawing, keep singing, keep writing, when it feels like everything is falling to pieces around you?

The answer, like most of life, is both surprisingly simple and endlessly complex. But Kleon performs no small miracle in Keep Going by making it feel achievable. Told with his signature optimism and ability to distill big, scary, complex ideas into the soft-spoken advice you’d expect to hear from your best friend, it’s the guidebook we all need in order to navigate the choppy seas of our lives.

12. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

If you’d like something a little more step-by-step for finding your creative inspiration, look no further. Used by at least one of the other authors on our list, The Artist’s Way has been guiding people toward finding — and clearing — their creative blocks for years. Its eight-week program cleanly steps you through what Cameron calls “creativity recovery,” by helping you identify what’s been holding you back, and giving you the space, tools, and permission needed to reclaim your creative life. Whether you’re a writer, artist, or businessperson, the tools in this book will help you gain a sense of passion and purpose that may just change your life.

13. Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done by Charlie Gilkey ⭐ Indie Spotlight

How many of us have big ideas that we never seem to get to? (If only we could find the time and energy to follow them through, if only we had the money to invest in it, if only there weren’t other obligations getting in our way.) Everyone has big dreams, but making them actually happen? Now, there’s the part we all have trouble with.

Until now. In Start Finishing , Gilkey will take you through his 9-step method to take turn your ideas into projects, and give you the tools you need to break those projects down into achievable tasks. Chock-full of actionable tips and advice, this book doesn’t just give you inspirational speeches and leave you to figure out how to apply those principles to your life. Instead, it presents to you concrete solutions for just about every part of the process, from building a team of supporters, to identifying and working through “drag points,” all the way to a strong and successful completion of your goal. If you’ve ever struggled to see things through to the end, this is one self-help book you’ll want to get started on immediately.

Check out what Reedsy Discovery reviewer Bridget Doshi has to say about Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done !

14. Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic by Lisa Congdon

In any artistic field, you’re told that it’s important to have a “voice” — a style that is distinctly your own, that anyone familiar with your work can recognize. But how do you establish that? And what if you feel like you don’t have anything particularly unique to share?

Never fear. With straightforward, understandable prose, Congdon will walk you through exactly what it means to have an artistic voice, and what you’ll need to do to begin cultivating your own. But don’t just take her word: the pages of Find Your Artistic Voice are filled with interviews of a wide range of other artists as well, to provide you with a full understanding of the many ways that seeking voice works its way into people’s lives. Covering everything from practice, to influences, to navigating and moving beyond your fears, this is the one-stop tool you’ll need to finally learn how to make art that it is truly you.

15. 100 Demon Dialogues by Lucy Bellwood ⭐ Indie Spotlight

This title is a little different in that 100 Demon Dialogues is not going to tell you how to fix an aspect of your life. Instead, what Lucy Bellwood has done is create 100 comics in which she faces her inner demons — literally. All that creative self-doubt, all those pressures to constantly do more, better, faster — all that guilt when she takes time to balance her own needs with those of her artistic career, family, and fans.

The result is a collection equal parts funny, tender, and heartbreaking, but most of all, familiar. Watching Lucy battle wits, grapple with, and eventually come to not only respect but appreciate the side of her that’s constantly ringing alarm bells, is a journey that shows us it’s okay to have doubts — and that, ultimately, the only way to move forward is to learn to love every part of ourselves. Demons and all.

Relationships

16. talking to strangers by malcolm gladwell.

Understanding other people is one of the most fundamental aspects of being human and living in a shared community — and yet it’s also one of the hardest. (At least, one of the hardest to get right.) More often than not, we make assumptions, jump to conclusions, and fill in the blanks with whatever answer we’d like to see, rather than what’s necessarily there.

Talking to Strangers examines that. By taking us through case studies of some of the most well-known and interesting misunderstandings throughout history, Gladwell attempts to shed light onto exactly what sort of things lead to these disasters — and what kind of lessons we can take away from them in our own lives. It’s a fascinating examination of what we see in strangers that may just have you seeing yourself in a new light while you’re at it.

17. Networking Karma: How Today's Cutting Edge Networking Trends Can Help You Connect and Conquer by Gail Tolstoi-Miller ⭐Indie Spotlight

Let’s face it, networking is a big part of any successful career — and frankly, any successful life. After all, no man (or woman) is an island, and it’s often the connections we make with others that open the greatest doors in our lives. So why do we hate it so much?

Turns out, a big part of our struggles with networking is when we think it’s all about what we will get out of it. Our me-first attitude is holding us back, when in actuality we should approach networking from a place of giving. But Networking Karma does more than simply change the mindset of how we approach networking with others. In easy to understand steps, entrepreneur and CEO Tolstoi-Miller provides you with a wide range of tips covering everything from speed networking to body language to crafting strong elevator pitches, and even “one weird tip” for using fashion to make yourself appear more successful. If you’ve ever wanted to walk into a networking meeting feeling confident and walk out a star, this self-help book is for you.

18. Growing Influence by Ron Price and Stacy Ennis ⭐ Indie Spotlight

Sometimes seeing things in action is more powerful than simply being told how to do something. That’s what makes Growing Influence so powerful. Half business guide and half novel, it tells the story of Emily and David — one, a young woman driven to succeed but finding roadblocks at every turn, and the other a retired, upfront CEO. Throughout the course of the narrative, Emily applies the business principles she’s learning, allowing us to see the transformation for ourselves. This “business fable” demonstrates not only a number of important lessons that anyone can apply to their own work life, but also that a business book can be every bit as creative and unique as the approaches it has to teach us.

Check out what Reedsy Discovery reviewer Amanda Ciejko has to say about Growing Influence !

19. Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success by Adam Grant

So often in this world, we’re taught that we need to be ruthless in order to succeed. It’s the foundation of much of our thinking, from business to politics to relationships. But what if it wasn’t true?

In Give and Take , Grant examines the long history of givers, takers, and matchers — that is, people who give, people who take, and people who attempt to balance the two. What he’s found may just surprise you: throughout history, there is a long precedent for success among the givers. But even more important than their own personal success, Grant reveals that when givers win, so does everybody else. It’s only when we stop focusing on own self-interest and start ensuring that others within our community can succeed as well that we begin to truly reap the best rewards — for ourselves, as well as those around us. It’s a radical approach that has the power to transform not only your own life, but the whole world.

General success

20. the magic of thinking big by david j. schwartz.

If small thinking only leads to small lives, then it's time to think big! The Magic of Thinking Big is a classic catch-all self-help book — now over 30 years old and still standing strong — that will catapult the shyest of dreamers into the confident future they’ve been secretly hoping for. Under David Schwartz’s instruction, you’ll be comforted to know that intellectual prowess (or even talent) is not required when it comes to carving a new you. Regardless of whether or not you have already acquired the skills and smarts, Schwartz has some helpful tips on how to address common problems related to failure, lack of creativity, and negative thinking patterns, all the while training you to be a leader in your field (and your own life) by keeping goals in check. 

21. Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life … And Maybe the World by Admiral William H. McRaven

You may have cringed when your parents asked you to make your bed … but as adults, this simple act can be revolutionary. That’s what Navy Seal Admiral William H. McRaven argues in his life-changing self-help book, Make Your Bed . And it all started when his University of Texas at Austin commencement speech on the subject landed him 10 million plus viewers on YouTube ⁠— and the eyes of book publishers! After reading it, we can guarantee you’ll never think the same way about a top sheet again. A perfect gift for coming of age occasions, McRaven’s pearls of advice chart how completing the little things makes up a life. 

22. Grit by Angela Duckworth

According to Anglea Duckworth, we don’t need any more geniuses or prodgies, but instead people with Grit — those who are willing to stick around and get the job done, regardless of perceived talent or innate ability. Duckworth would certainly know herself: though she’s now a professor, she’s taken on almost every job under the sun. (For the stints she hasn’t taken on yet, she intensively researched them as case studies for the purposes of this book — including West Point Academy, a National Spelling Bee, and the United States public school system, to name a few.) With each uncovered story, Duckworth illuminates a recurring theme: the people who are patient and persistent enough in their passions are the ones that outstain the one-hit wonders and overnight successes. A saving grace for those who want to go beyond the “find your calling” dynamic. 

23. Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell

Failing has never been more popular — especially in Silicon Valley. As the motto (or badge of honor) goes: fail big, fail fast. The goal, however, is to fail so you can eventually succeed. That’s the key paradox that drives Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell, who knew the power of failing to succeed even before the tech boom. Maxwell sees the willingness to fail and the acceptance of failure as the difference between those who make great contributions to the world, and those who give up for good. By zeroing in on the lessons gained from catastrophe, Maxwell posits that failed proteges are more insightful about their futures. Will you be one of them? 

24. The Thinking Game: A Winning Strategy for Achieving Your Goals by Kara Lane ⭐ Indie Spotlight 

Problem: things fall apart. Solution: think your way out of it. It may sound easy, but often the simplest things are the hardest, right? CPA Kara Lane, author of The Thinking Game , is aware of this, and has expertly broken down how to change thought patterns in real time. By shifting your thinking, she argues that manifesting the things you want are more attainable. By playing Lane’s ‘game of thought,’ you’ll be able nail goal crushing, refine your discernment skills, focus on delight instead of dread, and prioritize the things that you have agency over instead of wasting time on things you don’t. If thoughts really do become things, then we’d suggest thinking about reading this self-help book.

Check out what Reedsy Discovery reviewer C.E. Flores has to say about The Thinking Game !

25. Street Smart Disciplines of Successful People by Mark Mullins and John Kuhn ⭐ Indie Spotlight

It’s one thing to carry on about the psychology of success, and it’s another to actually provide solid, accessible steps on how to attain it. That’s the goal of Street Smart Disciplines of Successful People , a no nonsense how-to guide on starting and maintaining your own business. In a fascinating rags-to-riches tale, they explain how their $1,000 start up became a multi-million dollar endeavor that sold to a Fortune 400 company. But it’s not just a story — as promised, they offer up seven actionable tools tested by real people from a variety of business backgrounds. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, CEO, or administrative assistant, their lessons are as immediately actionable as they are useful. With Street Smart Disciplines, you’ll soon learn you don’t have to go on Shark Tank, or pitch to a big wig like Elon Musk, to make it big. 

26. Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy

Like Angela Duckworth’s self-help book, Grit , Eat That Frog! upholds the same principal: in order to succeed, you gotta — in a sense — face the music. To Tracy, ‘eating your frog’ means finishing the most difficult task of your day done first, instead of putting it off until you feel like it. This is, of course, a fancy way to say that we all have to be better at prioritizing, but the process to accomplish it is actually much more complicated than just pointing to the meatiest assignment of the day. That’s why Tracy has broken down 21 ways to avoid ‘avoiding’ your own personal and professional commitments by sharpening your time management skills. Here, readers will learn why the ickiness of hard work can actually make life easier in the end.

27. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

28. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

29. Health At Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight by Linda Bacon

Have you ever wondered why diets just don’t seem to work for you? Or felt shame and guilt as you’ve put back the weight you have just worked so hard to lose? Turns out it’s not you that failed, but the diets — by design.

Health at Every Size turns the diet industry upside down. This self-help book will not tell you how to lose weight, because losing weight isn’t the point. Backed up by clinical studies, it lays out a case for shifting your perspective from being weight-focused to health-focused, and how you can achieve your health goals no matter what size and shape you are. You’ll learn about how joyful movement and truly pleasurable eating can transform your health and self esteem all at once. It’s an essential read for anyone who’s ever struggled with their weight or their body image.

30. Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski, PhD

For years, researchers have been trying to develop a “pink pill” — essentially, a Viagra for women — but to no avail. Why? It’s certainly not for lack of interest. What we’ve discovered instead is that cisgender women’s sexualities are simply too diverse and nuanced for a one-pill-fits-all solution.

But if this sounds like cause for despair, it’s actually not. Instead, what all this research has taught us is that there are plenty of other things that can be done to help women achieve their desired level of sexual satisfaction — if, indeed, there’s anything that needs to be changed at all. And with Come As You Are , Nagoski has gathered all that scientific data in one easy-to-find place. Explained in terms that anyone can understand, she takes us through a masterclass in women’s bodies, sexualities, and desires, playfully exploring all the reasons why sex does — and doesn’t — work for women. By the end, you’ll be sure to walk away with not just a better understanding of your body, but a newfound sense of assurance and control over your own pleasure.

31. Stick with Exercise for a Lifetime: How to Enjoy Every Minute of It! by Robert Hopper ⭐ Indie Spotlight ⁠

With Robert Hopper’s coaching, you’ll never think about exercising the same way ever again. That’s because, to Hopper, the word “exercise” means whatever you want to be — as long as it’s physical activity that you enjoy, and that you commit to it. Indeed, activities like Zumba, snowboarding, golf, soccer, bowling, croquet, and even ping pong all count as exercise according to this self-help book, as long as you have a personal connection to it. After all, what you love, sticks. 

Hopper would know, since writing Stick with Exercise for a Lifetime: How to Enjoy Every Minute of It! is informed by his years of work in wellness guidance and physiology. But he’s not just pulling advice from hobbyists: in each chapter, top performers in the athletic world share their secrets on how to sustain an exercise practice long-term for your life, rather than just moonlighting here and there. No matter where you are on your fitness journey, Hopper helps you find the Olympian within you on your own terms. 

32. Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark ⁠

Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark are the creators of the hit podcast My Favorite Murder . Now, they’re opening up more about their own lives with stories about how their mental health and addiction issues painted their world view, but also made them stronger. In Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide , both women illuminate how these pain points catapulted them into a deeper sense of self discovery, while also encouraging readers to do the same. Autonomy, they say, is way more important than people-pleasing — and knowing your boundaries while enjoying life is a dance we all must attempt. 

Mental health

33. declutter your mind by s.j. scott ⁠and barrie davenport.

Many of us experience an overwhelming rush of thoughts that distract us from living the life we want. And, sure, negative and intrusive thinking is normal — but it shouldn’t completely take over to the point of stopping us from achieving everyday tasks like house cleaning, our jobs, or caring for family. After reading S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport’s Declutter Your Mind , you’ll be on your way to unblocking those barriers through a series of mindful exercises. With each exercise, you’ll master how to be able to reframe negativity, work on healing your relationships, throw away distracted thinking, prioritize, and goal set — all with deep breathing and a clear head. 

34. Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb

Lori Gottlieb is a psychotherapist, national advice columnist, and a patient herself — a journey she records in this warm and laugh-out-loud funny memoir that offers a startling behind-the-scenes look at therapy. The premise of the self-help book is simple: Gottlieb, a professional therapist in Los Angeles, one day discovers that she might need to get therapy herself to get over a life-altering crisis. Cue chapters that invite us into the therapist’s world, as we get an illuminating glimpse of both her sessions with her patients and her sessions with her own therapist. 

As an author, Gottlieb is smart, compassionate, and humorous. More importantly, her years of professional experience means Maybe You Should Talk To Someone is able to provide a serious window into what therapy is like and the way good therapy works. Also containing character studies that brim with humanity, Maybe You Should Talk To Someone is a highly recommended book that both destigmatizes therapy and offers readers a rare chance to step into the pages of a therapist’s office. 

35. Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins

You might have seen David Goggins on the cover of Outside magazine — the same issue that named him as “The Fittest (Real) Man in America.” Yet you probably don’t know that The Fittest Man in America grew up in almost intolerable circumstances, enduring years of poverty, prejudice, and abuse. This is the inspiring story of how Goggins overcame the odds to become a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller. Pick up Can’t Hurt Me  to learn how to apply the same grit, resilience, and self-discipline to your own ventures, along with the 40% Rule: Goggins’ theory that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. 

36. Stress Pandemic: The Lifestyle Solution by Paul Huljich ⭐ Indie Spotlight

Are you stressed? Unless you're reading this post on a very sunny beach, chances are the answer is yes. Stress is unfortunately the #1 cause of mental illness, which afflicts an estimated 450 million people globally, and it’s become all the more exacerbated in our digital and ever-demanding modern world. 

But don’t worry— that’s when this instructive self-help book steps into the picture. Paul Huljich is a CEO and organic food pioneer who has firsthand experience with chronic stress. In Stress Pandemic , he breaks down in simple, accessible steps how to manage stress and improve your quality of life. In between, he delves into the causes and consequences of stress to help you understand this subtle pandemic that is disrupting the lives of billions of people around the world. Stuffed with practical advice, Stress Pandemic is a recommended read for anyone who has suffered from stress — so really, everyone. 

Self-improvement

37. the life-changing magic of tidying up by marie kondo.

This small self-help book has sparked a mega-popular Netflix show, an entire KonMari movement, and joy in thousands of households. And it boils down one simple thing: a clean home. In The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up , you’ll fall in love with the tidying passion of Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo. Her down-to-earth, gentle advice on how to build a positive space around you and evaluate the relationship you have with your earthly possessions has literally changed the lives of homes around the world. Liberating and wise, this book is as much a how-to guide as a philosophy that will enable you to live intentionally and start a new decluttered, happier life.

38. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

Sick of hearing how you have to be “positive” and “perfect” all the time? Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck might be the cure for that particular migraine. Make no mistake: this isn’t your typical self-help book. Manson doesn’t waste time trying to be nice or sugarcoat what it takes to be happy — instead, he cuts straight to the chase on how to realistically approach self-improvement and success (which don’t necessarily come hand-in-hand). In that respect, this self-help book is for anyone who would like a reality dose with a side of good old-fashioned swearing. Manson’s humor leans towards the profane and his talk tends towards the real — but sometimes that’s exactly what you need in order to get you off the couch and living your best life.  

39. Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip Heath

With the next decade upon us, you might already be thinking about reinvention and looking forward to putting a new you out there. But lasting change is truly hard to achieve, as many people with optimistic New Year’s resolutions soon find out. In Switch , Chip and Dan Heath examine just why this is. Story-driven and research-based, this self-help book is a revealing, informative inquest into the psychology and sociology of change. More than that, it’s a guide to how you can achieve permanent change — the kind with a capital C. Switch keeps this complicated subject simple and accessible, devoting its chapters to the three critical elements of change (the rational mind, the emotional mind, and the environment that influences our behavior). Indeed, change starts here — simply by reading this book. 

40. Year of Yes by Shonda Rimes

Shonda Rhimes has spearheaded some of the most beloved and innovative television series of our age. She produced How to Get Away With Murder . She created Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal — shows that have since gone on to define a generation. She was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 People Who Help Shape the World in 2007 . She has started important conversations about race, gender, and politics. She has led the fight for equal pay. So what can ’t Shonda Rhimes do? 

It turns out she couldn’t say “yes” to the things that scared her — namely, the hundreds of public appearances, media interviews, and speaking engagements that were asked of her. As an introvert, Rhimes went to extreme lengths to evade all such demands, until one day an offhand remark made by her sister challenged Rhimes to embark on the Year of Yes : an entire year where she would simply say “yes” to everything, instead of “no.” This is the candid story of what happened before, during, and after her Year of Yes . With Rhimes’ signature humor, it sparkles with wisdom, warmth, and the strength of self-empowerment. As for whether or not you should give this book a shot to inspire yourself, we simply say: yes. 

41. Atomic Habits by James Clear

Why do we make New Year’s resolutions at the start of every year? Why do we then always fail to keep them? This clear-cut self-help manual aims to illuminate the answer: habits. In Atomic Habits , bestselling author and entrepreneur James Clear draws upon the fields of biology, psychology, and neuroscience to explain how habits shape the way we make progress and achieve success. More than that, he provides you the practical tools needed in order to change your own habits for the better. Whether your goal is something as personal as quitting smoking or as grand as mastering a sport, this self-help book is designed to be the first stepping-stone you can take to reach it. 

42. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius: one of the greatest warriors, leaders, and Roman emperors who ever lived. In his lifetime, he overcame the hardest struggles — commanding the war against Parthia, overcoming the threat of Germanic tribes from the north, fighting the Antonine Plague, and ruling the Roman Empire with self-restraint, competence, and deep humanity. And during all of those wars and years of hardship, Aurelius would write studiously in his private journal, establishing himself as one of the paramount philosopher kings in history. 

Today, those private journals are what we have left of him. Written between 170 to 180 A.D., Meditations remains a towering monument of Stoic philosophy, documenting Aurelius’ personal writings, thoughts, and ideas on Stoicism. This is a book of actionable advice with teachings about self-discipline, duty, death, and how to live according to reason and kindness that are still overwhelmingly relevant more than a millennia later. If any book other than the Bible has stood the test of time, it is this one.

43. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle 

Arguably one of the best self-help books of all time, Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now takes mindfulness to a new level by helping readers get intimately in touch with their own thoughts, and how destructive they are sometimes. We may mock those who talk to themselves on the street or subway, he says, but ultimately we’re doing that internally each and every day! Tolle argues that the solution is to live in the present moment — and while we’ve heard that all before, this is one of the best, time-tested books to articulate how to do it. And it’s worked, as millions of people all over the world have benefited from his masterful way of conquering the enemy that is the mind.

44. A Course in Miracles by Drs. Helen Schucman and Bill Thetford

A seminal self-help text from 1975, A Course in Miracles is a do-it-yourself class, but in book form. In this class, you’ll work against the concept of isolation and separation, and focus instead on bridging connections to others (or a higher power if it suits your fancy). Removing the ice-cold protections we’ve created for ourselves ironically can help us survive longer, by letting go of the toxic behaviors that keeps us stressed. The key to all to this miraculous release? Forgiveness, as Drs. Schucman and Thetford say. Once achieved, A Course in Miracles promises a new state of being in which happiness and positivity is a norm, not a luxury. 

45. 10% Happier by Dan Harris

In 10% Happier , Harris talks about how he used meditation as a means of quieting that voice. Exploring neuroscience, network news, and the fringes of America's spiritual scenes, what Harris presents is his journey to contentment.

46. Kicking Financial Ass: Punch Debt in the Face, Invest for the Future, and Retire Early! by Paul Christopher Dumont ⭐ Indie Spotlight

The great thing about this self-help book is that Paul Christopher Dumont isn’t a self-proclaimed financial genius: he’s simply a person who’s been through a lot of the financial hardships with which many of us also struggle. Case in point: four years ago, he was over $50,000 in debt — but now he’s debt-free with multiple properties and a six-figure stock portfolio under his belt. In Kicking Financial Ass , he’ll teach you in a direct, no-nonsense way how to accomplish the same. What he imparts is not a scheme to get rich quick, but something better: a solid, foolproof method to get your finances in order and live a healthier financial life that can take you through to retirement.  

Check out what Reedsy Discovery reviewer Lauren Jones has to say about Kicking Financial Ass: Punch Debt in the Face, Invest for the Future, and Retire Early !

47. Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez

The question at the heart of this beloved self-help book, as personal finance blogger Grant Sabatier puts it, is simple: how much money are you willing to trade your life for? Work is essentially a swap of energy and time for money. How much does that mean to you? If you figure out this “why” behind your spending, it will enable you to easily lay down the stepping-stones for intelligent investment and budgeting decisions. 

Set down in 1992, this pioneering personal finance philosophy has since been endorsed by millions of people (including Oprah) for a clear reason: it works. Robin and Dominguez offer an expert-tested nine-step program in Your Money or Your Life to help people of all ages start saving, manage revenue streams, track their finances more efficiently, and invest in index funds. It has been hugely influential, giving birth in recent years to the rapidly-growing F.I.R.E. movement — an entire lifestyle philosophy that encourages people to gain financial independence and retire early (hence its acronym). So if you’re looking to change your relationship with money, this is the go-to book to read. 

48. The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich by David Bach

David Bach is the bestselling author of multiple trusted financial books, including Smart Couples Finish Rich , The Finish Rich Workbook , and Smart Women Finish Rich (which we also strongly recommend for its financial investment strategies geared specifically for women). In The Automatic Millionaire , he consolidates much of his advice into one very useful and compact book on how to end up rich at your finish line. But what makes The Automatic Millionaire stand out? Bach asserts that you can end up a millionaire without a budget, willpower, or interest in money. Discover just how in this immensely popular personal finance book. 

49. The Simple Path to Wealth: Your Road Map to Financial Independence and a Rich, Free Life by JL Collins ⭐ Indie Spotlight

The Simple Path to Wealth originated from a series of letters about money and investing that JL Collins wrote to his daughter. From such humble beginnings grew one of the most trusted, highest-rated personal finance books in recent years. Collins writes in a conversational, instructional style that immediately makes investment lingo accessible to everyone. His investment DIY approach is built on sound life principles and financial discipline that he proceeds to break down for you, step by step. Straightforward and clear, The Simple Path to Wealth will teach you how to think long-term, approach risk, fully diversify your portfolio — and, most importantly, how to amass “f*ck you” money. A must-read for both beginning and advanced investors whose end goal is to become financially independent.  

50. A Cat’s Guide to Money: Everything You Need to Know to Master Your Purrsonal Finances, Explained by Cats by Lillian Karabaic ⭐ Indie Spotlight

Let’s face it, finances aren’t always the most pleasant topic. But you know what makes it better? Cats! In A Cat’s Guide to Money , Karabaic has created a finance book for the rest of us: the ones without the steady 9-5, the ones who have side hustles, or operate within the gig economy, or are simply struggling to make ends meet. It explains, in simple terms that anyone can understand, the fundamentals of how savings, budgets, and retirement plans work — and more importantly, how our mindsets and relationships with money have been holding us back. And then it shows us how to make plans to change that, based on our goals and core values. All with the help of cartoon illustrations, David Bowie references, and of course … cats.

Want even more inspiration for the new year? Check out our lists of 35 Inspirational Books to Change Your Life or 60 Best Inspirational Books for Women , or reflect on the year gone by with the 50 Best Books of 2019 . Alternatively, go ahead and write your own self-help book !

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The best biographies to read in 2023

• Nik Rawlinson

Discover what inspired some of history’s most familiar names with these comprehensive biographies

The best biographies can be inspirational, can provide important life lessons – and can warn us off a dangerous path. They’re also a great way to learn more about important figures in history, politics, business and entertainment. That’s because the best biographies not only reveal what a person did with their life, but what effect it had and, perhaps most importantly, what inspired them to act as they did.

Where both a biography and an autobiography exist, you might be tempted to plump for the latter, assuming you’d get a more accurate and in-depth telling of the subject’s life story. While that may be true, it isn’t always the case. It’s human nature to be vain, and who could blame a celebrity or politician if they covered up their embarrassments and failures when committing their lives to paper? A biographer, so long as they have the proof to back up their claims, may have less incentive to spare their subject’s blushes, and thus produce a more honest account – warts and all.

That said, we’ve steered clear of the sensational in selecting the best biographies for you. Rather, we’ve focused on authoritative accounts of notable names, in each case written some time after their death, when a measured, sober assessment of their actions and impact can be given.

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Best biographies: At a glance

• Best literary biography: Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley | £20
• Best showbiz biography: Let’s Do It: The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood | £6.78
• Best political biography: Hitler by Ian Kershaw | £14

How to choose the best biography for you

There are so many biographies to choose from that it can be difficult knowing which to choose. This is especially true when there are several competing titles focused on the same subject. Try asking yourself these questions.

Is the author qualified?

Wikipedia contains potted biographies of every notable figure you could ever want to read about. So, if you’re going to spend several hours with a novel-sized profile it must go beyond the basics – and you want to be sure that the author knows what they’re talking about.

That doesn’t mean they need to have been personally acquainted with the subject, as Jasper Rees was with Victoria Wood. Ian Kershaw never met Adolf Hitler (he was, after all, just two years old when Hitler killed himself), but he published his first works on the subject in the late 1980s, has advised on BBC documentaries about the Second World War, and is an acknowledged expert on the Nazi era. It’s no surprise, then, that his biography of the dictator is extensive, comprehensive and acclaimed.

Is there anything new to say?

What inspires someone to write a biography – particularly of someone whose life has already been documented? Sometimes it can be the discovery of new facts, perhaps through the uncovering of previously lost material or the release of papers that had been suppressed on the grounds of national security. But equally, it may be because times have changed so much that the context of previous biographies is no longer relevant. Attitudes, in particular, evolve with time, and what might have been considered appropriate behaviour in the 1950s would today seem discriminatory or shocking. So, an up-to-date biography that places the subject’s actions and motivations within a modern context can make it a worthwhile read, even if you’ve read an earlier work already.

Does it look beyond the subject?

The most comprehensive biographies place their subject in context – and show how that context affected their outlook and actions or is reflected in their work. Lucy Worsley’s new biography of Agatha Christie is a case in point, referencing Christie’s works to show how real life influenced her fiction. Mathew Parker’s Goldeneye does the same for Bond author Ian Fleming – and in doing so, both books enlarge considerably on the biography’s core subject.

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1. Let’s Do It: The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood by Jasper Rees: Best showbiz biography

Price: £6.78 | Buy now from Amazon

It’s hardly surprising Victoria Wood never got around to writing her own autobiography. Originator of countless sketches, songs, comedy series, films, plays, documentaries and a sitcom, she kept pushing back the mammoth job of chronicling her life until it was too late. Wood’s death in 2016 came as a surprise to many, with the entertainer taking her final bow in private at the end of a battle with cancer she had fought away from the public eye.

In the wake of her death, her estate approached journalist Jasper Rees, who had interviewed her on many occasions, with the idea of writing the story that Wood had not got around to writing herself. With their backing, Rees’ own encounters with Wood, and the comic’s tape-recorded notes to go on, the result is a chunky, in-depth, authoritative account of her life. It seems unlikely that Wood could have written it more accurately – nor more fully – herself.

Looking back, it’s easy to forget that Wood wasn’t a constant feature on British TV screens, that whole years went by when her focus would be on writing or performing on stage, or even that her career had a surprisingly slow start after a lonely childhood in which television was a constant companion. This book reminds us of those facts – and that Wood wasn’t just a talented performer, but a hard worker, too, who put in the hours required to deliver the results.

Let’s Do It, which takes its title from a lyric in one of Wood’s best-known songs, The Ballad of Barry & Freda, is a timely reminder that there are two sides to every famous character: one public and one private. It introduces us to the person behind the personality, and shows how the character behind the characters for which she is best remembered came to be.

Key specs – Length: 592 pages; Publisher: Trapeze; ISBN: 978-1409184119

Let's Do It: The Authorised Biography of Victoria Wood

2. the chief: the life of lord northcliffe, britain’s greatest press baron by andrew roberts: best business biography.

Lord Northcliffe wasn’t afraid of taking risks – many of which paid off handsomely. He founded a small paper called Answers to Correspondents, branched out into comics, and bought a handful of newspapers. Then he founded the Daily Mail, and applied what he’d learned in running his smaller papers on a far grander scale. The world of publishing – in Britain and beyond – was never the same again. The Daily Mail was a huge success, which led to the founding of the Daily Mirror, primarily for women, and his acquisition of the Observer, Times and Sunday Times.

By then, Northcliffe controlled almost half of Britain’s daily newspaper circulation. Nobody before him had ever enjoyed such reach – or such influence over the British public – as he did through his titles. This gave him sufficient political clout to sway the direction of government in such fundamental areas as the establishment of the Irish Free State and conscription in the run-up to the First World War. He was appointed to head up Britain’s propaganda operation during the conflict, and in this position he became a target for assassination, with a German warship shelling his home in Broadstairs. Beyond publishing, he was ahead of many contemporaries in understanding the potential of aviation as a force for good, as a result of which he funded several highly valuable prizes for pioneers in the field.

He achieved much in his 57 years, as evidenced by this biography, but suffered both physical and mental ill health towards the end. The empire that he built may have fragmented since his passing, with the Daily Mirror, Observer, Times and Sunday Times having left the group that he founded, but his influence can still be felt. For anyone who wants to understand how and why titles like the Daily Mail became so successful, The Chief is an essential read.

Key specs – Length: 556 pages; Publisher: Simon & Schuster; ISBN: 978-1398508712

The Chief: The Life of Lord Northcliffe Britain's Greatest Press Baron

3. goldeneye by matthew parker: best biography for cinema fans.

The name Goldeneye is synonymous with James Bond. It was the title of both a film and a video game, a fictional super weapon, a real-life Second World War plan devised by author Ian Fleming, and the name of the Jamaican estate where he wrote one Bond book every year between 1952 and his death in 1964. The Bond film makers acknowledged this in 2021’s No Time To Die, making that estate the home to which James Bond retired, just as his creator had done at the end of the war, 75 years earlier.

Fleming had often talked of his plan to write the spy novel to end all spy novels once the conflict was over, and it’s at Goldeneye that he fulfilled that ambition. Unsurprisingly, many of his experiences there found their way into his prose and the subsequent films, making this biography as much a history of Bond itself as it is a focused retelling of Fleming’s life in Jamaica. It’s here, we learn, that Fleming first drinks a Vesper at a neighbour’s house. Vesper later became a character in Casino Royale and, in the story, Bond devises a drink to fit the name. Fleming frequently ate Ackee fish while in residence; the phonetically identical Aki was an important character in You Only Live Twice.

Parker finds more subtle references, too, observing that anyone who kills a bird or owl in any of the Bond stories suffers the spy’s wrath. This could easily be overlooked, but it’s notable, and logical: Fleming had a love of birds, and Bond himself was named after the ornithologist James Bond, whose book was on Fleming’s shelves at Goldeneye.

So this is as much the biography of a famous fictional character as it is of an author, and of the house that he occupied for several weeks every year. So much of Fleming’s life at Goldeneye influenced his work that this is an essential read for any Bond fan – even if you’ve already read widely on the subject and consider yourself an aficionado. Parker’s approach is unusual, but hugely successful, and the result is an authoritative, wide-ranging biography about one of this country’s best-known authors, his central character, an iconic location and a country in the run-up to – and immediately following – its independence from Britain.

Key specs – Length: 416 pages; Publisher: Windmill Books; ISBN: 978-0099591740

Goldeneye: Where Bond was Born: Ian Fleming's Jamaica

4. hitler by ian kershaw: best political biography.

The latter portion of Adolf Hitler’s life, from his coming to power in 1933 to his suicide in 1945, is minutely documented, and known to a greater or lesser degree by anyone who has passed through secondary education. But what of his earlier years? How did this overlooked art student become one of the most powerful and destructive humans ever to have existed? What were his influences? What was he like?

Kershaw has the answers. This door stopper, which runs to more than 1,000 pages, is an abridged compilation of two earlier works: Hitler 1889 – 1936: Hubris, and Hitler 1936 – 1946: Nemesis. Yet, abridged though it may be, it remains extraordinarily detailed, and the research shines through. Kershaw spends no time warming his engines: Hitler is born by page three, to a social-climbing father who had changed the family name to something less rustic than it had been. As Kershaw points out, “Adolf can be believed when he said that nothing his father had done pleased him so much as to drop the coarsely rustic name of Schicklgruber. ‘Heil Schicklgruber’ would have sounded an unlikely salutation to a national hero.”

There’s no skimping on context, either, with each chapter given space to explore the political, economic and social influences on Hitler’s development and eventual emergence as leader. Kershaw pinpoints 1924 as the year that “can be seen as the time when, like a phoenix arising from the ashes, Hitler could begin his emergence from the ruins of the broken and fragmented volkisch movement to become eventually the absolute leader with total mastery over a reformed, organisationally far stronger, and internally more cohesive Nazi Party”. For much of 1924, Hitler was in jail, working on Mein Kampf and, by the point of his release, the movement to which he had attached himself had been marginalised. Few could have believed that it – and he – would rise again and take over first Germany, then much of Europe. Here, you’ll find out how it happened.

If you’re looking for an authoritative, in-depth biography of one of the most significant figures in modern world history, this is it. Don’t be put off by its length: it’s highly readable, and also available as an audiobook which, although it runs to 44 hours, can be sped up to trim the overall running time.

Key specs – Length: 1,072 pages; Publisher: Penguin; ISBN: 978-0141035888

5. Stalin’s Architect: Power and Survival in Moscow by Deyan Sudjic: Best historical biography

Boris Iofan died in 1976, but his influence can still be felt today – in particular, through the architectural influences evident in many mid-century buildings across Eastern Europe. Born in Odessa in 1891, he trained in architecture and, upon returning to Russia after time spent in Western Europe, gained notoriety for designing the House on the Embankment, a monumental block-wide building containing more than 500 flats, plus the shops and other facilities required to service them.

“Iofan’s early success was based on a sought-after combination of characteristics: he was a member of the Communist Party who was also an accomplished architect capable of winning international attention,” writes biographer Deyan Sudjic. “He occupied a unique position as a bridge between the pre-revolutionary academicians… and the constructivist radicals whom the party saw as bringing much-needed international attention and prestige but never entirely trusted. His biggest role was to give the party leadership a sense of what Soviet architecture could be – not in a theoretical sense or as a drawing, which they would be unlikely to understand, but as a range of built options that they could actually see.”

Having established himself, much of the rest of his life was spent working on his designs for the Palace of the Soviets, which became grander and less practical with every iteration. This wasn’t entirely Iofan’s fault. He had become a favourite of the party elite, and of Stalin himself, who added to the size and ambition of the intended building over the years. Eventually, the statue of Lenin that was destined to stand atop its central tower would have been over 300ft tall, and would have had an outstretched index finger 14ft long. There was a risk that this would freeze in the winter, and the icicles that dropped from it would have been a significant danger to those going into and out of the building below it.

Although construction work began, the Palace of the Soviets was never completed. Many of Iofan’s other buildings remain, though, and his pavilions for the World Expos in Paris and New York are well documented – in this book as well as elsewhere. Lavishly illustrated, it recounts Iofan’s life and examines his work in various stages, from rough outline, through technical drawing, to photographs of completed buildings – where they exist.

Key specs – Length: 320 pages; Publisher: Thames and Hudson; ISBN: 978-0500343555

Stalin's Architect: Power and Survival in Moscow

6. agatha christie: a very elusive woman by lucy worsley: best literary biography.

Agatha Christie died in 1976 but, with more than 70 novels and 150 short stories to her name, she remains one of the best-selling authors of all time. A new biography from historian Lucy Worsley is therefore undoubtedly of interest. It’s comprehensive and highly readable – and opinionated – with short chapters that make it easy to dip into and out of on a break.

Worsley resists the temptation to skip straight to the books. Poirot doesn’t appear until chapter 11 with publication of The Mysterious Affair at Styles, which Christie wrote while working in a Torquay hospital. Today, Poirot is so well known, not only from the books but from depictions in film and television, that it’s easy to overlook how groundbreaking the character was upon his arrival.

As Worsley explains, “by choosing to make Hercule Poirot a foreigner, and a refugee as well, Agatha created the perfect detective for an age when everyone was growing surfeited with soldiers and action heroes. He’s so physically unimpressive that no-one expects Poirot to steal the show. Rather like a stereotypical woman, Poirot cannot rely upon brawn to solve problems, for he has none. He has to use brains instead… There’s even a joke in his name. Hercules, of course, is a muscular classical hero, but Hercule Poirot has a name like himself: diminutive, fussy, camp, and Agatha would show Poirot working in a different way to [Sherlock] Holmes.” Indeed, where Holmes rolls around on the floor picking up cigar ash in his first published case, Poirot, explains Worsley, does not stoop to gather clues: he needs only his little grey cells. Worsley’s approach is thorough and opinionated, and has resulted not only in a biography of Christie herself, but also her greatest creations, which will appeal all the more to the author’s fans.

As with Matthew Parker’s Goldeneye, there’s great insight here into what influenced Christie’s work, and Worsley frequently draws parallels between real life events and episodes, characters or locations in her novels. As a result of her experiences as a medical volunteer during the First World War, for example, during which a rigid hierarchy persisted and the medics behaved shockingly, doctors became the most common culprit in her books; the names of real people found their way into her fiction; and on one occasion Christie assembled what today might be called a focus group to underpin a particular plot point.

Worsley is refreshingly opinionated and, where events in the author’s life take centre stage, doesn’t merely re-state the facts, but investigates Christie’s motivations to draw her own conclusions. This is particularly the case in the chapters examining Christie’s disappearance in 1926, which many previous biographers have portrayed as an attempt to frame her husband for murder. Worsley’s own investigation leads to alternative conclusions, which seem all the more plausible today, when society has a better understanding of – and is more sympathetic towards – the effects of psychological distress.

Key specs – Length: 432 pages; Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton; ISBN: 978-1529303889

Buy now from Waterstones

Free Online Biography Books, Memoirs & Autobiographies in Pdf & ePub

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The fascinating lives of others are lived again

If you want to learn more about a famous person or just get into the detail of someone else’s life, then you can download a memoir or biography book (and autobiography books) from obooko.

Autobiography books give us the real account of what actually happened as the author is also the main character. We get a true window into someone else’s world. Take a look at Life in the Shadows of a Corporate Lawyer to get the story of the struggles of a lawyer with alcohol problems at time when getting corporate counsel positions was very difficult unless you were part of the old boy’s network.

Sometimes a biography will give us a perspective of a world changing event from someone who was there. Singing Magic tells the story of a Canadian girl who moved to South Africa during the ending of apartheid and brings us a fresh view of what real, normal people were going through at this time of change. We gain insight to what things were really like, unedited by news media.

There is no better way to satisfy your curiosity about other people than reading a book about them. Learn how they think and what drives them to do the things they do and use that knowledge to influence your own life – in some cases memoir books can be like having your own mentor, laying out the values to follow. In other cases, it might be a lesson in what not to do.

There are many biography books at obooko and this just gives a flavour of the diverse range of online story books that are available. Some will inspire you to want to do great things, others will make you sad and want to cry. Maybe some will make you angry enough to shout. What is certain is that you will get something to keep you wanting to turn the page and read more. Download these memoir and biography books from obooko today.

All titles in this category are legally licensed for free download in PDF ePub, & Kindle Formats.

• BookBub Partners Blog

Book Marketing & Publishing Tips

Writing Your Author Bio? Here Are 20 Great Examples. (Plus a Checklist!)

October 15, 2020 by Diana Urban

Writing your author bio can be a daunting task, but a well-crafted bio can help readers learn more about what makes you and your books so interesting. You should regularly maintain your bio on places like your BookBub Author Profile so fans and potential readers seeking you out can learn more about you and why they should pick up your latest book.

Stuck on what to include? While there is no one-size-fits-all formula, here are some examples of author bios we love so you can get some inspiration when crafting your own bio. We’ve also created an Author Biography Checklist with recommendations on what to include, as well as where to keep your author bio up to date online.

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1. Ramona Emerson

Ramona Emerson is a Diné writer and filmmaker originally from Tohatchi, New Mexico. She has a bachelor’s in Media Arts from the University of New Mexico and an MFA in Creative Writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts. After starting in forensic videography, she embarked upon a career as a photographer, writer, and editor. She is an Emmy nominee, a Sundance Native Lab Fellow, a Time-Warner Storyteller Fellow, a Tribeca All-Access Grantee and a WGBH Producer Fellow. In 2020, Emerson was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Film and Media Industries for the State of New Mexico. She currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she and her husband, the producer Kelly Byars, run their production company Reel Indian Pictures. Shutter is her first novel.

Why we love it: Ramona makes a splash as a new author by detailing her extensive experience in both writing and filmmaking. Her background makes an effective setup for her debut novel about a forensic photographer.

2. Courtney Milan

Courtney Milan writes books about carriages, corsets, and smartwatches. Her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly , Library Journal , and Booklist . She is a New York Times and a USA Today Bestseller. Courtney pens a weekly newsletter about tea, books, and basically anything and everything else. Sign up for it here: https://bit.ly/CourtneysTea Before she started writing romance, Courtney got a graduate degree in theoretical physical chemistry from UC Berkeley. After that, just to shake things up, she went to law school at the University of Michigan and graduated summa cum laude. Then she did a handful of clerkships. She was a law professor for a while. She now writes full-time. Courtney is represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.

Why we love it: Courtney concisely leads with her accolades and bestseller status before diving into more personal information with a witty tone. She also includes a call-to-action for readers to sign up to Weekly Tea, one of her mailing lists.

3. Adam Silvera

Adam Silvera is the number one New York Times bestselling author of More Happy Than Not , History Is All You Left Me , They Both Die at the End , Infinity Son , Infinity Reaper , and—with Becky Albertalli— What If It’s Us . He was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start for his debut. Adam was born and raised in the Bronx. He was a bookseller before shifting to children’s publishing and has worked at a literary development company and a creative writing website for teens and as a book reviewer of children’s and young adult novels. He is tall for no reason and lives in Los Angeles. Visit him online at www.adamsilvera.com .

Why we love it: Adam begins his bio with his bestseller accolades and a list of his popular titles. But we especially love how he also includes his previous experience in children’s literature. It’s a fantastic way an author can craft a unique and credible bio using information besides accolades or bestseller status.

4. Farrah Rochon

USA Today Bestselling author Farrah Rochon hails from a small town just west of New Orleans. She has garnered much acclaim for her Crescent City-set Holmes Brothers series and her Moments in Maplesville small town series. Farrah is a two-time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America and has been nominated for an RT BOOKReviews Reviewers Choice Award. In 2015, she received the Emma Award for Author of the Year. When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading, cooking, traveling the world, visiting Walt Disney World, and catching her favorite Broadway shows. An admitted sports fanatic, she feeds her addiction to football by watching New Orleans Saints games on Sunday afternoons. Keep in touch with Farrah via the web: Website: https://www.farrahrochon.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/farrahrochonauthor Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/FarrahRochon Instagram: https://instagram.com/farrahrochon/ Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2povjuZ Join my online Fan Club, the Rochonettes! https://www.facebook.com/groups/FarrahRochon/ Farrah’s Books In Order: The Holmes Brothers Deliver Me (Mar. 2007) Release Me (May 2008) Rescue Me (Jan. 2009) Chase Me (Jan. 2017) Trust Me (May 2017) Awaken Me (Jan. 2018) Cherish Me (Jun. 2018) Return To Me (Aug. 2019) New York Sabers Huddle With Me Tonight (Sept. 2010) I’ll Catch You (Mar. 2011) Field of Pleasure (Sept. 2011) Pleasure Rush (Mar. 2012) Bayou Dreams A Forever Kind of Love (Aug. 2012) Always and Forever (Jan. 2013) Yours Forever (Mar. 2014) Forever’s Promise (Apr. 2014) Forever With You (Feb. 2015) Stay With Me Forever (Aug. 2015) Moments in Maplesville A Perfect Holiday Fling (Nov. 2012) A Little Bit Naughty (Mar. 2013) Just A Little Taste (Jan. 2014) I Dare You! (Nov. 2014) All You Can Handle (June 2015) Any Way You Want It (Feb. 2016) Any Time You Need Me (June 2016) Standalones In Her Wildest Dreams (Jan. 2012) The Rebound Guy (July 2012) Delectable Desire (Apr. 2013) Runaway Attraction (Nov. 2013) A Mistletoe Affari (Nov. 2014) Passion’s Song (Feb. 2016) Mr. Right Next Door (Sept. 2016) Anthologies A Change of Heart (The Holiday Inn Anthology – Sept. 2008) No Ordinary Gift (Holiday Brides Anthology – Oct. 2009) Holiday Spice (Holiday Temptation Anthology – Sept. 2016) Christmas Kisses (Reissue–Contains Tuscan Nights and Second-Chance Christmas previously published by Harlequin Kimani

Why we love it: Farrah packs a lot of information into that first paragraph, elegantly describing the awards she’s received and has been nominated for. We also love how she makes it easy for readers to find her on whichever social media platform they prefer and to discover which book to start with for each series.

5. Angie Fox

New York Times bestselling author Angie Fox writes sweet, fun, action-packed mysteries. Her characters are clever and fearless, but in real life, Angie is afraid of basements, bees, and going up stairs when it is dark behind her. Let’s face it. Angie wouldn’t last five minutes in one of her books. Angie is best known for her Southern Ghost Hunter mysteries and for her Accidental Demon Slayer books. Visit her at www.angiefox.com

Why we love it: We love how Angie distinguishes herself from her characters, making herself relatable to readers. She also mentions her bestseller status and best-known works in a humble way.

6. Tiffany D. Jackson

Tiffany D. Jackson is the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly , Monday’s Not Coming , and Let Me Hear a Rhyme . A Walter Dean Myers Honor Book and Coretta Scott King–John Steptoe New Talent Award winner, she received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University, earned her master of arts in media studies from the New School, and has over a decade in TV and film experience. The Brooklyn native still resides in the borough she loves. You can visit her at www.writeinbk.com .

Why we love it: This is an excellent example of a short, concise bio — a perfect snippet for journalists, bloggers, or event coordinators who need to grab Tiffany’s bio for their article or programming.

7. Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander is the New York Times Bestselling author of 32 books, including The Undefeated ; How to Read a Book ; Solo ; Swing ; Rebound , which was shortlisted for prestigious Carnegie Medal; and his Newbery medal-winning middle grade novel, The Crossover . He’s also the founding editor of Versify, an imprint that aims to Change the World One Word at a Time. Visit him at KwameAlexander.com

Why we love it: We adore how Kwame calls out his aim to “change the world one word at a time” along with a handful of his best-known books. Short and sweet!

8. Glynnis Campbell

For deals, steals, and new releases from Glynnis, click FOLLOW on this BookBub page! Glynnis Campbell is a USA Today bestselling author of over two dozen swashbuckling action-adventure historical romances, mostly set in Scotland, and a charter member of The Jewels of Historical Romance — 12 internationally beloved authors. She’s the wife of a rock star and the mother of two young adults, but she’s also been a ballerina, a typographer, a film composer, a piano player, a singer in an all-girl rock band, and a voice in those violent video games you won’t let your kids play. Doing her best writing on cruise ships, in Scottish castles, on her husband’s tour bus, and at home in her sunny southern California garden, Glynnis loves to play medieval matchmaker… transporting readers to a place where the bold heroes have endearing flaws, the women are stronger than they look, the land is lush and untamed, and chivalry is alive and well! Want a FREE BOOK? Sign up for her newsletter at https://www.glynnis.net Tag along on her latest adventures here: Website: https://www.glynnis.net Facebook: bit.ly/GCReadersClan Goodreads: bit.ly/GlynnisGoodreads Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/GlynnisCampbell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/GlynnisCampbell Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/GlynnisCampbell BOOK LIST: The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch: THE SHIPWRECK A YULETIDE KISS LADY DANGER CAPTIVE HEART KNIGHT’S PRIZE The Warrior Daughters of Rivenloch: THE STORMING A RIVENLOCH CHRISTMAS BRIDE OF FIRE BRIDE OF ICE BRIDE OF MIST The Knights of de Ware: THE HANDFASTING MY CHAMPION MY WARRIOR MY HERO Medieval Outlaws: THE REIVER DANGER’S KISS PASSION’S EXILE DESIRE’S RANSOM Scottish Lasses: THE OUTCAST MacFARLAND’S LASS MacADAM’S LASS MacKENZIE’S LASS California Legends: THE STOWAWAY NATIVE GOLD NATIVE WOLF NATIVE HAWK

Why we love it: Like other authors, Glynnis leads with her bestseller status, but not before making sure readers know to follow her on BookBub! We like how her personality shines through in her all-caps calls to action and that she includes the characteristics of her books in a fun way so readers will know what to expect from her work.

9. Laurelin Paige

Laurelin Paige is the NY Times , Wall Street Journal , and USA Today bestselling author of the Fixed Trilogy . She’s a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching edgy black comedy on Netflix or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She’s also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn’t do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio. You can connect with Laurelin on Facebook at facebook.com/LaurelinPaige or on twitter @laurelinpaige. You can also visit her website, laurelinpaige.com , to sign up for emails about new releases. Subscribers also receive a free book from a different bestselling author every month.

Why we love it: We love Laurelin’s bio because she lets her fun personality shine through! She also includes information about a monthly giveaway she runs through her mailing list, which is enticing and unique.

10. Mia Sosa

Mia Sosa is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic comedies. Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly , Kirkus Reviews , Booklist , and Library Journal , and have been praised by Cosmopolitan , The Washington Post , Buzzfeed , Entertainment Weekly , and more. Book Riot included her debut, Unbuttoning the CEO , in its list of 100 Must-Read Romantic Comedies, and Booklist recently called her “the new go-to author for fans of sassy and sexy contemporary romances.” A former First Amendment and media lawyer, Mia practiced for more than a decade before trading her suits for loungewear (okay, okay, they’re sweatpants). Now she strives to write fun and flirty stories about imperfect characters finding their perfect match. Mia lives in Maryland with her husband, their two daughters, and an adorable dog that rules them all. For more information about Mia and her books, visit www.miasosa.com .

Why we love it: This is such a well-constructed bio, with a paragraph for each (1) listing accolades and praise from trade reviews, (2) including a blurb about Mia’s overall author brand, (3) describing her previous work experience and how she became an author, and (4) sharing personal information and directing readers to where they could learn more.

11. Aiden Thomas

Aiden Thomas is a trans, Latinx, New York Times Bestselling Author with an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Originally from Oakland, California, they now make their home in Portland, OR. Aiden is notorious for not being able to guess the endings of books and movies, and organizes their bookshelves by color. Their books include Cemetery Boys and Lost in the Never Woods .

Why we love it: A well-known advocate of diverse books, Aiden leads with their identity markers to connect right away with readers of similar identities. The rest of their concise bio fits information about their bestseller status, education, location, personality, and popular titles into just a few short sentences!

12. Wayne Stinnett

Wayne Stinnett is an American novelist and Veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Between those careers, he’s worked as a deckhand, commercial fisherman, divemaster, taxi driver, construction manager, and over the road truck driver, among many other things. He now lives on a sea island, in the South Carolina Lowcountry, with his wife and youngest daughter. They also have three grown children, five grand children, three dogs and a whole flock of parakeets. Stinnett grew up in Melbourne, Florida and has also lived in the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and Cozumel, Mexico. His next dream is to one day visit and dive Cuba.

Why we love it: What better way to introduce an author of novels about travel, seafaring, and military adventures than to share his first-hand experiences! By weaving in relevant professional background and a glimpse of his home life by the sea, Wayne demonstrates deep knowledge of his subjects to his readers, as well as connecting with them on a personal level by describing his family and goals for the future.

13. June Hur

June Hur was born in South Korea and raised in Canada, except for the time when she moved back to Korea and attended high school there. She studied History and Literature at the University of Toronto. She began writing her debut novel after obsessing over books about Joseon Korea. When she’s not writing, she can be found wandering through nature or journaling at a coffee shop. June is the bestselling author of The Silence of Bones , The Forest of Stolen Girls , and The Red Palace , and currently lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter.

Why we love it: We love how June includes her background and what inspired her writing. Sharing a story’s origins is a wonderful way to meaningfully connect with readers.

14. Claire Delacroix

Bestselling author Claire Delacroix published her first medieval romance in 1993. Since then, she has published over seventy romance novels and numerous novellas, including time travel romances, contemporary romances and paranormal romances. The Beauty , part of her successful Bride Quest series, was her first book to land on the New York Times list of bestselling books. Claire has written under the name Claire Cross and continues to write as Deborah Cooke as well as Claire Delacroix. Claire makes her home in Canada with her family, a large undisciplined garden and a growing number of incomplete knitting projects. Sign up for Claire’s monthly medieval romance newsletter at: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/622ca9849b7136a9e313df83 Visit Claire’s website to find out more about her books at http://delacroix.net

Why we love it: While Claire has an extensive backlist, she succinctly describes her publishing success and subgenres. She also includes all of her pen names so readers can easily find her, no matter which name they’re looking for.

15. Vanessa Riley

Vanessa Riley writes Historical Fiction and Historical Romance (Georgian, Regency, & Victorian) featuring hidden histories, dazzling multi-culture communities, and strong sisterhoods. She promises to pull heart strings, offer a few laughs, and share tidbits of tantalizing history. This Southern, Irish, Trini (West Indies) girl holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and a MS in industrial engineering and engineering management from Stanford University. She also earned a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Penn State University. Yet, her love of history and lattes have overwhelmed her passion for math, leading to the publication of over 20+ titles. She loves writing on her southern porch with proper caffeine.

Why we love it: Vanessa launches into her bio by sharing the specific time periods she writes in, as well as the diverse characters and emotions her readers can look forward to, appealing directly to her ideal audience . She then shares a bit of personal info, leaving readers with an image of her in her element: writing on a porch while sipping tea.

16. April White

April White has been a film producer, private investigator, bouncer, teacher and screenwriter. She has climbed in the Himalayas, survived a shipwreck, and lived on a gold mine in the Yukon. She and her husband share their home in Southern California with two extraordinary boys and a lifetime collection of books. Her first novel, Marking Time , is the 2016 winner of the Library Journal Indie E-Book Award for YA Literature, and her contemporary romantic suspense, Code of Conduct , was a Next Generation Indie Award and RONE Award Finalist. All five books in the Immortal Descendants series are on the Amazon Top 100 lists in Time Travel Romance and Historical Fantasy. More information and her blog can be found at www.aprilwhitebooks.com .

Why we love it: April’s bio is short and sweet, but is packed with interesting information. She was a private investigator and survived a shipwreck? How can you not want to learn more about this author? She also elegantly includes her books’ status and subgenre in the last paragraph, along with a call-to-action for readers to learn more.

17. Julia Quinn

#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don’t read (or write) romance, and if you watch reruns of the game show The Weakest Link you might just catch her winning the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code. On December 25, 2020, Netflix premiered Bridgerton , based on her popular series of novels about the Bridgerton family. Find her on the web at www.juliaquinn.com .

Why we love it: Julia takes a unique approach, making her bio more voicey and focused on her interests. Yet she keeps it up to date, including her latest news in the last sentence (above the call-to-action).

18. Rick Mofina

USA Today bestselling author Rick Mofina is a former journalist who has interviewed murderers on death row, flown over L.A. with the LAPD and patrolled with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police near the Arctic. He’s also reported from the Caribbean, Africa and Kuwait’s border with Iraq. His books have been published in nearly 30 countries, including an illegal translation produced in Iran. His work has been praised by James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen, Jeffery Deaver, Sandra Brown, James Rollins, Brad Thor, Nick Stone, David Morrell, Allison Brennan, Heather Graham, Linwood Barclay, Peter Robinson, Håkan Nesser and Kay Hooper. The Crime Writers of Canada, The International Thriller Writers and The Private Eye Writers of America have listed his titles among the best in crime fiction. As a two-time winner of Canada’s Arthur Ellis Award, a four-time Thriller Award finalist and a two-time Shamus Award finalist, the Library Journal calls him, “One of the best thriller writers in the business.” Join Rick Mofina’s newsletter from his website and receive a free eBook! You can also find Rick Mofina’s new exclusive serialized thriller, The Dying Light , by subscribing to Radish Fiction com For more information please visit www.rickmofina.com https://www.facebook.com/rickmofina or follow Rick on Twitter @Rick Mofina

Why we love it: Including Rick’s first-hand experiences as a journalist lends him credibility in his genres of Crime Fiction and Thrillers. He also includes a list of well-known authors who have praised his work, and these endorsements may encourage those authors’ fans to give Rick a try. The free ebook offer effectively sweetens the deal!

19. J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of the literary TV show A Word on Words . She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, been optioned for television, and has been published in 28 countries. J.T. lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

Why we love it: This is a great example of a concise bio suitable for use in any blog or publication. J.T. keeps to just the essential ingredients of a professional author bio: accolades, genres, experience, and a bit of what she’s up to today for a personal touch.

20. James S.A. Corey

James S.A. Corey is the pen name for a collaboration between Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. James is Daniel’s middle name, Corey is Ty’s middle name, and S.A. are Daniel’s daughter’s initials. James’ current project is a series of science fiction novels called The Expanse Series. They are also the authors of Honor Among Thieves: Star Wars (Empire and Rebellion).

Why we love it: We love co-author bios that reveal how the duo came up with their pseudonym as a fun fact for readers! We also like that the reminder of this bio simply points readers straight to their buzziest works.

Want to share this post? Here are ready-made tweets:

Click to tweet: If you’re writing your author bio, these examples are so helpful! #writetip #pubtip http://bit.ly/1OSBcDO

Click to tweet: Make sure to keep your author bio updated! Here are some great bio examples, PLUS a printable checklist of what to include and where to keep it up to date. #amwriting http://bit.ly/1OSBcDO

This post was originally published on October 15 2015 and has been updated with new examples and a PDF checklist!

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Best Entrepreneur Biography Books (Learn from Legends)

POSTED ON Dec 27, 2023

Written by P.J McNulty

In the relentless pursuit of entrepreneurial excellence, the wisdom of those who've tread similar paths is invaluable. The biographies of successful entrepreneurs not only provide a blueprint of the highs and lows of business but also serve as a source of inspiration and education. The following curated list of biographies is more than just stories; they are lessons in resilience, innovation, leadership, and strategy from some of the most successful entrepreneurs in history.

Here are the 14 best entrepreneur biography books:

Steve jobs by walter isaacson (2011).

This biography offers an exhaustive journey through the life of Steve Jobs, from his early days in Silicon Valley to his return to Apple and the development of groundbreaking products. It's based on more than forty interviews with Jobs conducted over two years.

Isaacson's narrative is a masterclass in biographical writing, weaving in themes of creativity, innovation, and personal struggle. Aspiring writers can learn from the way the author balances the darker aspects of Jobs's personality with his genius, crafting a complex, engaging portrait.

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight (2016)

Phil Knight shares the inside story of building Nike from a startup to one of the world's most iconic, game-changing, and profitable brands, starting with just $50 borrowed from his father.

Knight's candid and witty narrative captures the essence of entrepreneurial spirit. Writers can draw from Knight's honest and vivid storytelling approach, particularly how he addresses failure and success.

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder (2008)

This biography details the life and philosophy of Warren Buffett, offering insights into how his mind works and why he made the investment decisions that made him the “Oracle of Omaha.”

Schroeder's comprehensive research and access to Buffett himself provides a template for writers on the importance of detail and access in biographical writing. The book's analytical depth can inspire writers to delve deeply into their subject's psyche.

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance (2015)

The book chronicles the life of Elon Musk, one of the most unusual and impactful entrepreneurs of our time, covering his upbringing, ventures, and vision for the future.

Vance's biography is notable for its balanced portrayal and narrative pace. Writers can learn from how Vance deals with a living, controversial figure, presenting a nuanced view that includes both criticism and praise.

The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon by Brad Stone (2013)

This book offers an expansive look at the life of Jeff Bezos and the rise of Amazon, detailing its evolution from a book store to a everything store.

Stone's investigative narrative is an excellent example of how to construct a compelling business story. Writers should note the meticulous research and the way Stone brings complex business concepts to life.

Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow (1998)

Chernow's biography details the complex life of America's first billionaire, John D. Rockefeller, Sr., from his early life to his role in shaping the U.S. economy.

This biography is a lesson in scale and detail. Writers can learn from Chernow's ability to humanize a historical figure while providing a comprehensive view of their life and times.

The Virgin Way: Everything I Know About Leadership by Richard Branson (2014)

This book is less a traditional biography and more a series of lessons from Richard Branson's personal and professional life, offering insights into his unique leadership style.

Branson's book is a model for how personal anecdotes can effectively convey business principles. Writers can draw from his conversational and engaging style.

Made in America by Sam Walton (1992)

Sam Walton shares his thoughts and experiences on building Walmart, one of the most powerful retailers in the world, from a single store in Arkansas.

Walton's autobiography is written with a straightforward, no-nonsense tone that reflects his business style. Writers can learn from the authenticity and clarity in his narrative.

Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's by Ray Kroc (1977)

This autobiography tells the story of Ray Kroc, who turned McDonald's into the biggest fast-food chain in the world, reflecting on his journey and the principles that led to his success.

Kroc's book is notable for its engaging storytelling and personal voice. Writers can take note of how effectively he shares business insights through personal stories.

The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz (2014)

This book offers essential advice on building and running a startup based on the author's own experiences and lessons learned from various other entrepreneurial ventures.

Horowitz's candid and often humorous approach can inspire writers to tackle difficult subjects with honesty and a bit of humor.

Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul by Howard Schultz (2011)

Howard Schultz recounts the story of Starbucks' decline and resurgence, detailing the decisions and leadership strategies that revived the company.

Schultz's narrative is a primer on how to write about business strategy and leadership in a way that is both informative and deeply personal.

Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way by Richard Branson (1998)

This autobiography chronicles Richard Branson's journey in creating the Virgin brand, filled with his adventures and business escapades.

Branson's flamboyant narrative style and adventurous spirit can inspire writers to inject their own personality and flair into their work.

Bloomberg by Bloomberg by Michael Bloomberg (1997)

Michael Bloomberg shares his journey of creating Bloomberg L.P., detailing his business principles and the challenges he faced.

Bloomberg's book is a lesson in writing with authority and conviction, two qualities that can greatly enhance a business biography.

Idea Man: A Memoir by the Cofounder of Microsoft by Paul Allen (2011)

This memoir reflects on Paul Allen's journey with Microsoft and his broader impact on technology, sharing insights into his partnership with Bill Gates and his own ventures.

Allen's introspective and thoughtful narrative style provides a model for writing reflective and engaging business stories.

Are you ready to write your own book?

These biographies illustrate the power of storytelling in business and the profound impact it can have. Let them be your guide and inspiration as you write and self-publish a business biography yourself.

Or let them inspire to share YOUR story.

Your journey in business is unique, and sharing it can inspire others and solidify your legacy. Rather than writing a business biography about another person's life and business, you may want to write a business memoir about your own journey (we explain the differences between a biography and a memoir here)

The world is eager to learn from your experiences, your challenges, and your victories.Don't deprive them of the lessons you've learned – preserve them in a book of your own.

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Neville Chamberlain: A Biography

Purchase options and add-ons.

• ISBN-10 0754656152
• ISBN-13 978-0754656159
• Publisher Routledge
• Publication date May 25, 2006
• Language English
• Dimensions 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
• Print length 602 pages
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About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Routledge (May 25, 2006)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 602 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0754656152
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0754656159
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.35 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
• #6,630 in Historical British Biographies
• #7,969 in European History (Books)
• #20,519 in Political Leader Biographies

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