Autobiographies

[The Wanderer]

Hello everyone,

After being an avid fiction reader my whole life, I recently read How Not To Be An Actress by Alanna Moorhouse-Burns (pseudonym) and become hooked on autobiographies.

Instead of me going crazy like a kid in a sweet shop and downloading every autobiography on the internet, perhaps some of you could recommend your favourites?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Meadow337]

I don't read autobiographies all that often but three I have enjoyed recently were:

Steve Martin

Michael J. Fox (both books)

Rob Lowe

 

[anu]

Wanderer just like you I am also a self confessed fiction reader. And perhaps not really qualified to recommend. But I did read My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi and was quite smitten by his brazen simplicity and frankness.

Another book that impressed me equally is Confessions of A Pilgrim by Juan Arias. It is not exactly an autobiography but an interview cum biography of Paulo Coelho. Again quite bold as Paulo does not try to cover up any part of his life story.

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[ChaosTheory]

The Kid Stays in the Picture by Robert Evans was pretty great. I highly recommend the audio version of it.

I don't read a ton of autobiographies but I also liked -
If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B-Movie Actor by Bruce Campbell
American on Purpose by Craig Ferguson
A Journey by Tony Blair

 

[Dan Brown]

There are lots of good ones. I like Truman by David McCullough. Flows almost like a fiction book, yet very informative and well researched. Truman, as a boy, did not seem like someone who could ever become president of the US, or even get the girl he was desperately in love with, yet he did both. He had a though presidency, following on the hills of the great FDR, and while widely criticized at the time, he emerged as one of our greatest presidents of all times, and the most honest politician since Lincoln.

 

[Bullyboy]

So many bio's and autobio's I could go for pages and pages. It's interesting to read a good autobiography then branch into reading books about people or situations mentioned. The first that come to mind-

Life by Keith Richards
Keef lived a very...ahem...full...life, unlike the Clapton book however he admits he'd do most of it again
The Ragman's Son by Kirk Douglas
One of my all time favorites. Even well into old age Kirk kicked butt.
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Aye the father was a drunkard and the babies froze to death, but such excellent writing

 

[ChaosTheory]

Hehe, yeah Life was.....entertaining.
I've heard good things about John Lithgow's book Drama: An Actor's Education but haven't gotten my hands on a copy yet.

 

[Peder]

One might have a look at Speak Memory by Vladimir Nabokov, for autobiography, and Vera by Stacy Shiff, for biography of his wife. Both together tell the story of the famous author's life and of their enduring love for each other throughout their lifelong marriage.

 

[blackbeard]

Recently read Ron Jeremy's Autobio The Hardest Working Man in showbiz; twas a good one, some good insights in the old school porn industries and pornstar lifestyles (not like I aspire to be one!), although he tried hard to make other jealous of his profession at some point. would give it 5/10

Best autobio I've ever read was The Autobiography of Malcolm X ....too inspirational!

 

[Mr.Marnier]

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt - by Edmund Morris.

This is a pretty fascinating account of someone who, to me - was one of the most interesting people in history. Morris won the Pulitzer Prize for this which of course gives a fairly clear idea of the quality of this title. Incisive, lucid writing that really brings T.R to life - details of his endless feats almost leave you out of breathe yourself.

Definitely recommended.