14 Moving Biographies and Memoirs

One of the most acclaimed books of our time, Educated follows a young woman’s journey from living as a survivalist in the mountains of Idaho to traveling across the world, attending Harvard and Cambridge University. 

Growing up, Tara’s family kept her out of school, and she only stepped into a classroom at seventeen. Isolated from the greater society, there was no one to protect Tara, especially from her older brother’s violent outbursts. 

As she watched one of her other brothers attend college, a new path opened itself up to Tara, offering “a beautiful testament to the power of education to [...] change lives” (Amy Chua, New York Times Book Review).

Told as a letter, written by the speaker, Little Dog, to his mother who cannot read, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is “a lyrical work of self-discovery that’s shockingly intimate and insistently universal [...] Not so much briefly gorgeous as permanently stunning” (Ron Charles, The Washington Post).

Tracing his family history, whose epicenter is rooted in Vietnam, Little Dog offers windows into parts of his life he’s never shared with his mom, “like watching an act of endurance art, or a slow, strange piece of magic in which bones become sonatas, to borrow one of Vuong’s metaphors” (Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker). 

In a stunning survival story, Chanel Miller recounts her experience being sexually assaulted on Stanford’s campus. 

Although previously known to the world as Jane Doe, from her viral impact statement on BuzzFeed, Miller, “on every page, [...] unflattens herself, returning from Victim or Emily Doe to Chanel, a beloved daughter and sister [...] Know My Name marks the debut of a gifted young writer” (Jennifer Weiner, New York Times).

Her story demonstrates a cultural bias not to believe victims, in a criminal justice system that reinforces the narrative that, because of what they were wearing, they “asked for it.” But Miller works to undermine such a view that protects perpetrators, while instead illuminating the courage it requires to continue under the weight of unfathomable trauma. 

At just six years old, Jenette McCurdy’s mother took her to her first acting audition. Now known for her leading roles in iCarly and Sam & Cat, Jenette quickly learned that to be a star, one must be willing to make sacrifices. 

From her mom putting her on a “calorie restriction” and weighing her five times a day, to recurrent at- home makeovers, she’d be in recovery from severe eating disorders and emotional abuse for the decades to come. 

Following her mother’s death, Jenette quits acting and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and recovery, in this #1 New York Times bestseller. 

This book recounts the horrors of the Vietnam War from the perspective of an army doctor. Dr. Ronald Glasser was sent to Japan in 1968 to work at Camp Zama’s US Army Hospital. 

His stint there began as a relatively ordinary experience, but was soon tinged with desperation when the hospital began overflowing with the dying and wounded soldiers that poured in from every Vietnam front. 

365 Days is a poignant reminder of the trauma of war on young people from someone who witnessed it firsthand.

Now a celebrated poet, Jimmy Santiago Baca once had a bleak future. Following a troubled childhood and adolescence, Jimmy was illiterate at the age of 21 and was facing five to 10 years of incarceration for selling drugs. 

This harrowing memoir documents his time behind bars in a maximum-security prison, where he spent long stretches of time in solitary confinement and suffered abuse at the hands of fellow prisoners. 

However, everything changed for Jimmy when he learned to read and write during his time in prison. Jimmy discovered that he was a naturally gifted poet, and this newfound passion and ability to express himself gave him a new lease on life. 

A Place to Stand is an uplifting read that proves it’s never too late to reinvent yourself.

The inequalities of the American public school system are laid bare in this heart-wrenching memoir. When Pat Conroy arrived at Yamacraw Island at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, the bright-eyed young teacher was floored by what he saw.

Though the island was only two miles from the coast of South Carolina, the predominantly black community was effectively isolated and still reeling from the bitter effects of racism: illiteracy and poverty were rampant, and they were unable to speak out about the industrial waste pouring into the ocean and poisoning their livelihood. 

This is the story of how a teacher harnessed the power of education to change his students’ lives for the better.

Karen Killilea was born dangerously premature in 1940 and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. During an era in which people with disabilities were institutionalized and kept out of sight, Karen refused to let her condition hold her back. 

the help of her parents, who advocated tirelessly for her, Karen painstakingly learned to write and to walk with crutches, and fought for her right to go to school. 

The Killileas also created a supportive organization for children with cerebral palsy, now known as the United Cerebral Palsy Association. 

Written by Karen’s mother, Marie, this is a must-read about the struggles and triumphs of living with disabilities and the fight to be treated with basic dignity.

In this compelling memoir, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Sophie’s Choice lays his soul bare. In 1985, William Styron found himself afflicted with clinical depression so advanced that he was barely capable of walking or speaking. 

With his thoughts turning to obsessive suicidal fantasies, Styron fought to stay afloat in a rising tide of darkness and sought treatment for his mental health. 

Darkness Visible is the jarring true story of Styron’s deep suffering and the process to reclaim his life, health, and happiness.

From the outside looking in, Christina Crawford seemed to have an enviable life. As the adoptive daughter of movie star Joan Crawford, Christina was living in the lap of luxury, with exclusive access to the glamorous world of Hollywood.

However, Christina shocked the world when she published this memoir after Joan’s 1977 death. The controversial tell-all reveals that Christina had endured years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her mother. 

By breaking her silence, Christina gave a voice to many other victims of child abuse and raised awareness of this crime during an era when it was still a taboo subject to speak about.

Michelle Obama’s highly anticipated memoir is an intimate and powerful look at the former First Lady’s awe-inspiring life. 

With an Ivy League education and an impressive law career, Michelle had plenty of accomplishments under her belt before she became the first African American woman to serve as First Lady. 

In Becoming, she shares her efforts to empower women and girls around the world and gets candid about her time in the White House. 

You won’t want to miss out on reading the absorbing life story of a remarkable woman and her extraordinary achievements.

Short essays by iconic poet Maya Angelou piece together her life, from a tumultuous upbringing in segregated Arkansas to her eventual literary success. 

With Angelou’s remarkable ability to turn painful experiences into life-affirming moments, this book is unsurpassed in its beauty and poignancy. 

Transcending genres with her lyrical writing, Angelou writes to the daughter she never had and dedicates this book to all women.

When the Nazis were advancing and the world as we knew it was crumbling, one man stood above the rest as a shining example of courage and moral conviction. 

This definitive biography of Winston Churchill delves into the life of one of the greatest leaders in modern memory. 

Historian Andrew Roberts draws on exclusive access to never-before-seen manuscripts, including transcripts of War Cabinet meetings, letters, and diary entries from King George VI. 

Overall, crafting a compelling portrait of the man who stood between civilization and the Third Reich, persevering in the face of evil.

Malala Yousafzai is an incredible woman who, at the age of 16, became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize. 

Born and raised in Pakistan, Malala fought for her right to an education when the Taliban took control of the region and forbade girls from going to school. 

Refusing to back down in the face of daily threats, Malala nearly died for her cause at 15 when she was shot at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school. 

This horrific act of violence and Malala’s unwavering bravery catapulted her into the halls of the United Nations, where she became a symbol of peaceful protest and a tireless advocate for girls’ rights to an education.