Memoirs are books written by an author about a specific period, event, or theme in their own life. Memories can be about one’s childhood, their game winning catch, their relationship with a parent over time, or countless other topics.
The best memoirs give readers a vivid account of the events being retold and evoke strong emotions relating to the authors’ experiences. Some of the best memoirs of all time are ones that make readers cry, laugh, and think as they learn about a part of the author’s life.
Memoirs can be written by anyone who feels that a certain piece of their story should be widely read. However, a large part of the genre consists of celebrity memoirs, written by famous and powerful people who want to tell their story on their own terms.
Memoirs can be more subjective and stylized than just a plain retelling of events. Authors can infuse their own stories with the emotions they felt and a sense of the environment in which the events took place.
Looking for your next read? These memoirs are the perfect place to start.
Some of the best selling memoirs are written by people who have hugely impacted the world, such as Barack Obama’s A Promised Land, while others are by authors who were not known before their powerful memoirs became widely read, such as Tara Westover’s Educated. Other best sellers include Lucille Ball’s Love, Lucy and Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime.
People read memoirs to gain insight into the authors’ lives. People may choose memoirs because they can relate to the themes explored in the books, or just because they are curious about life experiences they haven’t lived through. A reader may want to read a memoir to further their understanding of a famous person or because they are drawn to a story they find particularly important. Lastly, people read memoirs because they are often just great books!
While autobiographies and memoirs are similar, no, they are not the same. Both are written by authors telling of their own experiences, but memoirs focus on one specific topic whereas autobiographies give a more general overview of one’s life. Additionally, autobiographies are more objective and purely factual, while memoirs have more room for artistic and emotional interpretations.
