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Biography Online

List of Top 100 Famous People

A list of famous people, chosen mainly from the nineteenth, twentieth or twenty-first centuries. This list includes famous actors, politicians, entrepreneurs, writers, artists and humanitarians.

• Marilyn Monroe (1926 – 1962) American actress, singer, model
• Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865) US President during American civil war
• Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013)  South African President anti-apartheid campaigner
• Queen Elizabeth II (1926 – 2022) British monarch since 1954
• John F. Kennedy (1917 – 1963) US President 1961 – 1963
• Martin Luther King (1929 – 1968)  American civil rights campaigner
• Winston Churchill (1874 –  1965 ) British Prime Minister during WWII
• Donald Trump (1946 – ) Businessman, US President.
• Bill Gates (1955 – ) American businessman, founder of Microsoft
• Muhammad Ali (1942 – 2016) American Boxer and civil rights campaigner
• Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) Leader of Indian independence movement
• Mother Teresa (1910 – 1997) Macedonian Catholic missionary nun
• Christopher Columbus (1451 – 1506) Italian explorer
• Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882) British scientist, theory of evolution
• Elvis Presley (1935 – 1977) American musician
• Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) German scientist, theory of relativity
• Paul McCartney (1942 – ) British musician, member of Beatles
• Queen Victoria ( 1819 – 1901) British monarch 1837 – 1901
• Pope Francis (1936 – ) First pope from the Americas
• Jawaharlal Nehru (1889 – 1964) Indian Prime Minister 1947 – 1964
• Leonardo da Vinci ( 1452 – 1519) Italian, painter, scientist, polymath
• Vincent Van Gogh (1853 – 1890) Dutch artist
• Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 – 1945) US President 1932 – 1945
• Pope John Paul II (1920 – 2005) Polish Pope
• Thomas Edison ( 1847 – 1931) American inventor
• Rosa Parks (1913 – 2005)  American civil rights activist
• Lyndon Johnson (1908 – 1973) US President 1963 – 1969
• Ludwig Beethoven (1770 – 1827) German composer
• Oprah Winfrey (1954 – ) American TV presenter, actress, entrepreneur
• Indira Gandhi (1917 – 1984) Prime Minister of India 1966 – 1977
• Eva Peron (1919 – 1952) First Lady of Argentina 1946 – 1952
• Benazir Bhutto (1953 – 2007) Prime Minister of Pakistan 1993 – 1996
• George Orwell (1903 – 1950) British author
• Vladimir Putin (1952 – ) Russian leader
• Dalai Lama (1938 – ) Spiritual and political leader of Tibetans
• Walt Disney (1901 – 1966) American film producer
• Neil Armstrong (1930 – 2012) US astronaut
• Peter Sellers (1925 – 1980) British actor and comedian
• Barack Obama (1961 – ) US President 2008 – 2016
• Malcolm X (1925 – 1965) American Black nationalist leader
• J.K.Rowling (1965 – ) British author
• Richard Branson (1950 – ) British entrepreneur
• Pele (1940 – ) Brazilian footballer, considered greatest of 20th century.
• Angelina Jolie (1975 – ) Actress, director, humanitarian
• Jesse Owens (1913 – 1980) US track athlete, 1936 Olympics
• John Lennon (1940 – 1980) British musician, member of the Beatles
• Henry Ford (1863 – 1947) US Industrialist
• Haile Selassie (1892 – 1975) Emperor of Ethiopia 1930 – 1974
• Joseph Stalin (1879 – 1953) Leader of Soviet Union 1924 – 1953
• Lord Baden Powell (1857 – 1941) British Founder of scout movement
• Michael Jordan (1963 – ) US Basketball star
• Vladimir Lenin (1870 – 1924) Leader of Russian Revolution 1917
• Ingrid Bergman (1915 – 1982) Swedish actress
• Fidel Castro (1926 – ) President of Cuba 1976 – 2008
• Leo Tolstoy (1828 – 1910) Russian author and philosopher
• Greta Thunberg (2003 – ) Environmentalist activist)
• Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973) Spanish modern artist
• Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900) Irish author, poet, playwright
• Coco Chanel (1883 – 1971) French fashion designer
• Charles de Gaulle (1890 – 1970) French resistance leader and President 1959 – 1969
• Amelia Earhart ( 1897 – 1937) Aviator
• John M Keynes (1883 – 1946) British economist
• Louis Pasteur (1822 – 1895) French chemist and microbiologist
• Mikhail Gorbachev (1931 – ) Leader of Soviet Union 1985 – 1991
• Plato (423 BC – 348 BC) Greek philosopher
• Adolf Hitler (1889 – 1945) leader of Nazi Germany 1933 – 1945
• Sting (1951 – ) British musician
• Elon Musk (1971 – ) Business magnate, and entrepreneur.
• Mary Magdalene (4 BCE – 40CE) devotee of Jesus Christ
• Alfred Hitchcock (1899 – 1980) English / American film producer, director
• Michael Jackson (1958 – 2009) American musician
• Madonna (1958 – ) American musician, actress, author
• Mata Hari (1876 – 1917) Dutch exotic dancer, executed as spy
• Cleopatra (69 – 30 BCE) Queen of Egypt
• Grace Kelly (1929 – 1982) American actress, Princess of Monaco\
• Malala Yousafzai  (1997 – ) Pakistani human rights activist
• Steve Jobs (1955 – 2012) co-founder of Apple computers
• Ronald Reagan (1911 – 2004) US President 1981-1989
• Lionel Messi (1987 – ) Argentinian footballer
• Babe Ruth (1895 – 1948) American baseball player
• Bob Geldof (1951 – ) Irish musician, charity worker
• Roger Federer (1981 – ) Swiss Tennis player
• Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1939) Austrian psychoanalyst
• Woodrow Wilson (1856 – 1924) US president 1913 – 1921
• Mao Zedong (1893 – 1976) Leader of Chinese Communist revolution
• Katherine Hepburn (1907 – 2003) American actress
• Audrey Hepburn (1929 – 1993) British actress and humanitarian
• David Beckham (1975 – )  English footballer
• Tiger Woods (1975 – ) American golfer
• Usain Bolt (1986 – ) Jamaican athlete and Olympian
• Carl Lewis (1961 – ) US athlete and Olympian
• Prince Charles (1948 – )  Heir to British throne
• Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929 – 1994) American wife of JF Kennedy
• Joe Biden (1942 – ) US President
• Kim Kardashian (1980 – ) American socialiate
• C.S. Lewis (1898 – 1963) British author
• Billie Holiday (1915 – 1959) American jazz singer
• J.R.R. Tolkien (1892 – 1973) British author
• Billie Jean King (1943 – ) American tennis player and human rights activist
• Margaret Thatcher (1925 – 2013) British Prime Minister 1979 – 1990

More famous people

• Anne Frank (1929 – 1945) Dutch Jewish author who died in Holocaust
• Simon Bolivar (1783 – 1830) Venezuelan independence activist in South America.
• Marie Antoinette (1755 – 1793) French Queen, executed during the French revolution
• Cristiano Ronaldo  (1985 – ) Portuguese footballer.
• Emmeline Pankhurst  (1858 – 1928) English suffragette.
• Emile Zatopek  (1922 – 2000) Czech athlete
• Desmond Tutu (1931 – 2021) South African Bishop and opponent of apartheid
• Lech Walesa  (1943 – ) Polish leader of Solidarity movement
• Julie Andrews  (1935 – ) British singer, actress
• Florence Nightingale  (1820 – 1910) British nurse
• Marie Curie  (1867 – 1934) Polish / French scientist
• Stephen Hawking (1942 – ) British scientist
• Tim Berners Lee (1955 – ) English creator of World Wide Web
• Aung San Suu Kyi (1945 – ) Burmese opposition leader
• Lance Armstrong (1971 – ) American cyclist
• Shakira  (1977 – ) Colombian singer
• Jon Stewart (1962 – ) American comedian
• Wright Brothers   Orville (1871 – 1948) and Wilbur (1867 – 1912) American inventors, aviation pioneers
• Ernest Hemingway (1899 – 1961) American author
• Roman Abramovich (1966 – ) Russian oligarch
• Tom Cruise (1962 – ) American actor
• Rupert Murdoch (1931 – ) Media owner of News Corporation
• Al Gore (1948 – ) US presidential candidate and environmental campaigner
• Sacha Baron Cohen (1971 – ) English comedian
• George Clooney (1961 – ) American actor and political activist
• Paul Krugman  (1953 – ) American Nobel Prize winning economist
• Jimmy Wales (1966 – ) American creator of Wikipedia
• Brad Pitt (1963 – ) Actor
• Kylie Minogue (1968 – ) Australian singer and actress
• Stephen King (1947 – ) American author

More Famous people

Famous historical figures : A list of famous people throughout the ages, which includes people from ancient civilisations to the present.

Famous People Through History

• Famous people of the Renaissance (14th – 15th Century)
• Famous people of the Enlightenment (late 17th Century)
• Famous Victorians (1832 – 1901)
• Famous people of the Nineteenth Century
• Famous people of Edwardian period (1901 – 1914)
• Famous people of Inter-war period (1918 – 1939)
• Twenty-first Century

Famous by Nationality

• Bangladesh i

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan . “Top 100 Famous People”, Oxford, UK. www.biographyonline.net , 31/01/2016. Last updated 28 Sep 2019.

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• Military leaders
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Blog – Posted on Monday, Jan 21

The 30 best biographies of all time.

Biographer Richard Holmes once wrote that his work was “a kind of pursuit… writing about the pursuit of that fleeting figure, in such a way as to bring them alive in the present.”

At the risk of sounding cliché, the best biographies do exactly this: bring their subjects to life. A great biography isn’t just a laundry list of events that happened to someone. Rather, it should weave a narrative and tell a story in almost the same way a novel does. In this way, biography differs from the rest of nonfiction .

All the biographies on this list are just as captivating as excellent novels , if not more so. With that, please enjoy the 30 best biographies of all time — some historical, some recent, but all remarkable, life-giving tributes to their subjects.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of great biographies out there, you can also take our 30-second quiz below to narrow it down quickly and get a personalized biography recommendation  😉

Which biography should you read next?

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1. A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar

This biography of esteemed mathematician John Nash was both a finalist for the 1998 Pulitzer Prize and the basis for the award-winning film of the same name. Nasar thoroughly explores Nash’s prestigious career, from his beginnings at MIT to his work at the RAND Corporation — as well the internal battle he waged against schizophrenia, a disorder that nearly derailed his life.

2. Alan Turing: The Enigma: The Book That Inspired the Film The Imitation Game - Updated Edition by Andrew Hodges

Hodges’ 1983 biography of Alan Turing sheds light on the inner workings of this brilliant mathematician, cryptologist, and computer pioneer. Indeed, despite the title ( a nod to his work during WWII ), a great deal of the “enigmatic” Turing is laid out in this book. It covers his heroic code-breaking efforts during the war, his computer designs and contributions to mathematical biology in the years following, and of course, the vicious persecution that befell him in the 1950s — when homosexual acts were still a crime punishable by English law.

3. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton is not only the inspiration for a hit Broadway musical, but also a work of creative genius itself. This massive undertaking of over 800 pages details every knowable moment of the youngest Founding Father’s life: from his role in the Revolutionary War and early American government to his sordid (and ultimately career-destroying) affair with Maria Reynolds. He may never have been president, but he was a fascinating and unique figure in American history — plus it’s fun to get the truth behind the songs.

Prefer to read about fascinating First Ladies rather than almost-presidents? Check out this awesome list of books about First Ladies over on The Archive.

4. Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston

A prolific essayist, short story writer, and novelist, Hurston turned her hand to biographical writing in 1927 with this incredible work, kept under lock and key until it was published 2018. It’s based on Hurston’s interviews with the last remaining survivor of the Middle Passage slave trade, a man named Cudjo Lewis. Rendered in searing detail and Lewis’ highly affecting African-American vernacular, this biography of the “last black cargo” will transport you back in time to an era that, chillingly, is not nearly as far away from us as it feels.

5. Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert

Though many a biography of him has been attempted, Gilbert’s is the final authority on Winston Churchill — considered by many to be Britain’s greatest prime minister ever. A dexterous balance of in-depth research and intimately drawn details makes this biography a perfect tribute to the mercurial man who led Britain through World War II.

Just what those circumstances are occupies much of Bodanis's book, which pays homage to Einstein and, just as important, to predecessors such as Maxwell, Faraday, and Lavoisier, who are not as well known as Einstein today. Balancing writerly energy and scholarly weight, Bodanis offers a primer in modern physics and cosmology, explaining that the universe today is an expression of mass that will, in some vastly distant future, one day slide back to the energy side of the equation, replacing the \'dominion of matter\' with \'a great stillness\'--a vision that is at once lovely and profoundly frightening.

Without sliding into easy psychobiography, Bodanis explores other circumstances as well; namely, Einstein's background and character, which combined with a sterling intelligence to afford him an idiosyncratic view of the way things work--a view that would change the world. --Gregory McNamee

6. E=mc²: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation by David Bodanis

This “biography of the world’s most famous equation” is a one-of-a-kind take on the genre: rather than being the story of Einstein, it really does follow the history of the equation itself. From the origins and development of its individual elements (energy, mass, and light) to their ramifications in the twentieth century, Bodanis turns what could be an extremely dry subject into engaging fare for readers of all stripes.

7. Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario

When Enrique was only five years old, his mother left Honduras for the United States, promising a quick return. Eleven years later, Enrique finally decided to take matters into his own hands in order to see her again: he would traverse Central and South America via railway, risking his life atop the “train of death” and at the hands of the immigration authorities, to reunite with his mother. This tale of Enrique’s perilous journey is not for the faint of heart, but it is an account of incredible devotion and sharp commentary on the pain of separation among immigrant families.

8. Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera

Herrera’s 1983 biography of renowned painter Frida Kahlo, one of the most recognizable names in modern art, has since become the definitive account on her life. And while Kahlo no doubt endured a great deal of suffering (a horrific accident when she was eighteen, a husband who had constant affairs), the focal point of the book is not her pain. Instead, it’s her artistic brilliance and immense resolve to leave her mark on the world — a mark that will not soon be forgotten, in part thanks to Herrera’s dedicated work.

9. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Perhaps the most impressive biographical feat of the twenty-first century, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is about a woman whose cells completely changed the trajectory of modern medicine. Rebecca Skloot skillfully commemorates the previously unknown life of a poor black woman whose cancer cells were taken, without her knowledge, for medical testing — and without whom we wouldn’t have many of the critical cures we depend upon today.

10. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Christopher McCandless, aka Alexander Supertramp, hitchhiked to Alaska and disappeared into the Denali wilderness in April 1992. Five months later, McCandless was found emaciated and deceased in his shelter — but of what cause? Krakauer’s biography of McCandless retraces his steps back to the beginning of the trek, attempting to suss out what the young man was looking for on his journey, and whether he fully understood what dangers lay before him.

11. Let Us Now Praise Famous Men: Three Tenant Families by James Agee

"Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.” From this line derives the central issue of Agee and Evans’ work: who truly deserves our praise and recognition? According to this 1941 biography, it’s the barely-surviving sharecropper families who were severely impacted by the American “Dust Bowl” — hundreds of people entrenched in poverty, whose humanity Evans and Agee desperately implore their audience to see in their book.

12. The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann

Another mysterious explorer takes center stage in this gripping 2009 biography. Grann tells the story of Percy Fawcett, the archaeologist who vanished in the Amazon along with his son in 1925, supposedly in search of an ancient lost city. Parallel to this narrative, Grann describes his own travels in the Amazon 80 years later: discovering firsthand what threats Fawcett may have encountered, and coming to realize what the “Lost City of Z” really was.

13. Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang

Though many of us will be familiar with the name Mao Zedong, this prodigious biography sheds unprecedented light upon the power-hungry “Red Emperor.” Chang and Halliday begin with the shocking statistic that Mao was responsible for 70 million deaths during peacetime — more than any other twentieth-century world leader. From there, they unravel Mao’s complex ideologies, motivations, and missions, breaking down his long-propagated “hero” persona and thrusting forth a new, grislier image of one of China’s biggest revolutionaries.

14. Mad Girl's Love Song: Sylvia Plath and Life Before Ted by Andrew Wilson by Andrew Wilson

Titled after one of her most evocative poems, this shimmering bio of Sylvia Plath takes an unusual approach. Instead of focusing on her years of depression and tempestuous marriage to poet Ted Hughes, it chronicles her life before she ever came to Cambridge. Wilson closely examines her early family and relationships, feelings and experiences, with information taken from her meticulous diaries — setting a strong precedent for other Plath biographers to follow.

15. The Minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes

What if you had twenty-four different people living inside you, and you never knew which one was going to come out? Such was the life of Billy Milligan, the subject of this haunting biography by the author of Flowers for Algernon . Keyes recounts, in a refreshingly straightforward style, the events of Billy’s life and how his psyche came to be “split”... as well as how, with Keyes’ help, he attempted to put the fragments of himself back together.

16. Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder

This gorgeously constructed biography follows Paul Farmer, a doctor who’s worked for decades to eradicate infectious diseases around the globe, particularly in underprivileged areas. Though Farmer’s humanitarian accomplishments are extraordinary in and of themselves, the true charm of this book comes from Kidder’s personal relationship with him — and the sense of fulfillment the reader sustains from reading about someone genuinely heroic, written by someone else who truly understands and admires what they do.

17. Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts

Here’s another bio that will reshape your views of a famed historical tyrant, though this time in a surprisingly favorable light. Decorated scholar Andrew Roberts delves into the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, from his near-flawless military instincts to his complex and confusing relationship with his wife. But Roberts’ attitude toward his subject is what really makes this work shine: rather than ridiculing him ( as it would undoubtedly be easy to do ), he approaches the “petty tyrant” with a healthy amount of deference.

18. The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson IV by Robert A. Caro

Lyndon Johnson might not seem as intriguing or scandalous as figures like Kennedy, Nixon, or W. Bush. But in this expertly woven biography, Robert Caro lays out the long, winding road of his political career, and it’s full of twists you wouldn’t expect. Johnson himself was a surprisingly cunning figure, gradually maneuvering his way closer and closer to power. Finally, in 1963, he got his greatest wish — but at what cost? Fans of Adam McKay’s Vice , this is the book for you.

19. Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser

Anyone who grew up reading Little House on the Prairie will surely be fascinated by this tell-all biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Caroline Fraser draws upon never-before-published historical resources to create a lush study of the author’s life — not in the gently narrated manner of the Little House series, but in raw and startling truths about her upbringing, marriage, and volatile relationship with her daughter (and alleged ghostwriter) Rose Wilder Lane.

20. Prince: A Private View by Afshin Shahidi

Compiled just after the superstar’s untimely death in 2016, this intimate snapshot of Prince’s life is actually a largely visual work — Shahidi served as his private photographer from the early 2000s until his passing. And whatever they say about pictures being worth a thousand words, Shahidi’s are worth more still: Prince’s incredible vibrance, contagious excitement, and altogether singular personality come through in every shot.

21. Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss

Could there be a more fitting title for a book about the husband-wife team who discovered radioactivity? What you may not know is that these nuclear pioneers also had a fascinating personal history. Marie Sklodowska met Pierre Curie when she came to work in his lab in 1891, and just a few years later they were married. Their passion for each other bled into their passion for their work, and vice-versa — and in almost no time at all, they were on their way to their first of their Nobel Prizes.

22. Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson

She may not have been assassinated or killed in a mysterious plane crash, but Rosemary Kennedy’s fate is in many ways the worst of “the Kennedy Curse.” As if a botched lobotomy that left her almost completely incapacitated weren’t enough, her parents then hid her away from society, almost never to be seen again. Yet in this new biography, penned by devoted Kennedy scholar Kate Larson, the full truth of Rosemary’s post-lobotomy life is at last revealed.

23. Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford

This appropriately lyrical biography of brilliant Jazz Age poet and renowned feminist, Edna St. Vincent Millay, is indeed a perfect balance of savage and beautiful. While Millay’s poetic work was delicate and subtle, the woman herself was feisty and unpredictable, harboring unusual and occasionally destructive habits that Milford fervently explores.

24. Shelley: The Pursuit by Richard Holmes

Holmes’ famous philosophy of “biography as pursuit” is thoroughly proven here in his first full-length biographical work. Shelley: The Pursuit details an almost feverish tracking of Percy Shelley as a dark and cutting figure in the Romantic period — reforming many previous historical conceptions about him through Holmes’ compelling and resolute writing.

25. Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin

Another Gothic figure has been made newly known through this work, detailing the life of prolific horror and mystery writer Shirley Jackson. Author Ruth Franklin digs deep into the existence of the reclusive and mysterious Jackson, drawing penetrating comparisons between the true events of her life and the dark nature of her fiction.

26. The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel

Fans of Into the Wild and The Lost City of Z will find their next adventure fix in this 2017 book about Christopher Knight, a man who lived by himself in the Maine woods for almost thirty years. The tale of this so-called “last true hermit” will captivate readers who have always fantasized about escaping society, with vivid descriptions of Knight’s rural setup, his carefully calculated moves and how he managed to survive the deadly cold of the Maine winters.

27. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

The man, the myth, the legend: Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple, is properly immortalized in Isaacson’s masterful biography. It divulges the details of Jobs’ little-known childhood and tracks his fateful path from garage engineer to leader of one of the largest tech companies in the world — not to mention his formative role in other legendary companies like Pixar, and indeed within the Silicon Valley ecosystem as a whole.

28. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Olympic runner Louis Zamperini was just twenty-six when his US Army bomber crashed and burned in the Pacific, leaving him and two other men afloat on a raft for forty-seven days — only to be captured by the Japanese Navy and tortured as a POW for the next two and a half years. In this gripping biography, Laura Hillenbrand tracks Zamperini’s story from beginning to end… including how he embraced Christian evangelism as a means of recovery, and even came to forgive his tormentors in his later years.

29. Vera (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov) by Stacy Schiff

Everyone knows of Vladimir Nabokov — but what about his wife, Vera, whom he called “the best-humored woman I have ever known”? According to Schiff, she was a genius in her own right, supporting Vladimir not only as his partner, but also as his all-around editor and translator. And she kept up that trademark humor throughout it all, inspiring her husband’s work and injecting some of her own creative flair into it along the way.

30. Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt

William Shakespeare is a notoriously slippery historical figure — no one really knows when he was born, what he looked like, or how many plays he wrote. But that didn’t stop Stephen Greenblatt, who in 2004 turned out this magnificently detailed biography of the Bard: a series of imaginative reenactments of his writing process, and insights on how the social and political ideals of the time would have influenced him. Indeed, no one exists in a vacuum, not even Shakespeare — hence the conscious depiction of him in this book as a “will in the world,” rather than an isolated writer shut up in his own musty study.

If you're looking for more inspiring nonfiction, check out this list of 30 engaging self-help books , or this list of the last century's best memoirs !

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Short Biography - Famous People For Kids

Short biographies of famous people for kids. Get inspired by reading inspiring biographies of the world's top people.

Biography People - Short biographies of famous people for kids. Get inspired by reading inspiring biographies of the world's top people.

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41 Celebrity Memoirs That Are Actually Worth Reading

Products are independently selected by our editors. We may earn an affiliate commission from links.

Anyone who has glanced at a bestseller list lately can tell you that we are in the midst of (yet another?) celebrity memoir boom. From Britney Spears to Prince Harry, it seems like just about everyone is spilling their secrets via book deal —meaning ’tis the season for pages upon pages of Hollywood gossip, rock-and-roll road drama, and the darker sides of show business.

At their best, celebrity memoirs provide unusually candid portraits of the “real person” behind the public persona—and they don’t skimp on the dirty details. At worst, they can be ghostwritten fluff.

 Ahead, Vogue rounds up the best of the genre for your reading pleasure.

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

Britney Spears

“Emerging from the shadows of a past marked by paparazzi harassment and betrayal by the people she trusted, Britney Spears finally speaks her truth in this highly anticipated—and then much celebrated—memoir. With a blend of deep sincerity and good humor, Spears fearlessly asserts her autonomy, leaving no doubt about who is truly in control of her life.” —Gia Yetikyel

Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex

Spare by Prince Harry

“Even for those who don’t keep up with the Royal Family, the central themes of grief, love, and creating a home apart from everything you’ve known in Prince Harry ’s shockingly intimate Spare make it a story very much worth reading.” —G.Y.

Paris: The Memoir by Paris Hilton

“ Paris Hilton’s 336-page book takes an in-depth look at the many labels she’s adorned and shed over the decades. Unpacking her childhood, episodes of teenage rebellions, and experience with verbal and physical abuse, she creates a place for readers to understand the origins of her pink paradise—and the strength it took to withstand years of extraordinary public pressure.” —G.Y.

One Life by Megan Rapinoe

“Olympic medalist and two-time Women's World Cup champion Megan Rapinoe shows a whole new side of herself in this memoir, in which she recounts coming out as gay in 2011—well before ‘inclusivity in sports’ was widely discussed, let alone prioritized—as well as her experience of taking a knee alongside former NFL player Colin Kaepernick to protest racial injustice and police brutality. For those who prefer their celebrity memoirs with a side of romance, Rapinoe also dishes on her courtship with now-wife, WNBA champion Sue Bird.” —Emma Specter

Becoming by Michelle Obama

“For months after reading this, I had to stop myself from thinking of Michelle as my friend. After spending a week (or, let’s be honest, an entire weekend under a blanket) reading a celebrity’s memoir, you feel as though you’ve spent time with them. It makes them more accessible and reminds you that at the end of the day, everyone is still human. I’m coming to grips with the fact that Michelle Obama is not actually my friend Michelle, but Becoming is still one of the best books I’ve read.” —Grace Atwood, founder of TheStripe.com

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy  

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

“This bestselling memoir is hardly lighthearted fare, revolving as it does around child star McCurdy’s years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her fame-obsessed mother, but the rush to purchase it was no empty fanfare; it really is that good.” —E.S.

Save Me the Plums by Ruth Reichl

“Whether you’re a fan of food, legacy media gossip, or writer Ruth Reichl herself, you'll find plenty to dine out on in this account of Reichl’s time serving as the editor-in-chief of the now-defunct Gourmet magazine. Reichl freely admits that the glamorous world of New York publishing was a new one to her at the start of her Gourmet tenure, but I think it’s safe to say we could use a little more of her independence, irreverence and commitment to genuine creativity in the industry. (Bonus: her descriptions of meals are effortlessly mouth-watering, so make sure to eat with a delicious snack at the ready.)” —E.S.

The Vanity Fair Diaries by Tina Brown

“Perhaps more of a memoir of brushes with celebrity than actual celebrity memoir, Tina Brown’s Vanity Fair Diaries is nonetheless a phenomenal read, for the journalism nerd or anyone else who is interested in the inner workings of glossy magazine-making in its heyday. The book recounts the British editor's years as the editor in chief of the storied magazine, the feathers she unapologetically ruffled in pursuit of a more lively publication (the rates she paid Martin Amis for a single story would make a 2020s editor swoon!), the glamor of the gig, the grind of being a working mother. Brown kept meticulous notes when she occupied this role, and it shows; this is a book in which the delicious dirt is in the details.” —Chloe Schama

My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand

My Name Is Barbra

“Ruminative and dishy, funny and smart, Barbra Streisand’s nearly 1,000-page memoir deftly captures the voice that first bewitched American audiences in the early 1960s—plus her weird dynamic with Marlon Brando, the nightmare of making Yentl with Mandy Patinkin, her lifelong fondness for baked potatoes, and other delicious bits.” —Marley Marius

Love, Pamela: A Memoir of Prose, Poetry, and Truth by Pamela Anderson

“With Pamela Anderson’s memoir, readers meet the woman behind the va-va-voom persona—she is, in fact, just a shy girl from Vancouver Island—through childhood memories and reflections on pursuing her dreams. Blending prose and poetry, it’s a refreshing and empowering read.” —G.Y.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

“If you haven’t read Fey’s 2011 memoir yet, you’re sleeping at the wheel. It follows her journey to stardom and is filled with amazing behind-the-scenes stories from her time on Saturday Night Live . Candid, self-deprecating, funny (duh): the perfect before-bed read.” —Christian Allaire

Just the Funny Parts by Nell Scovell

“The second female Letterman writer and creator of Sabrina the Teenage Witch , Scovell brings all the humor of Bossypants but with the added bite of coming up in the mighty sexist man’s world of TV. Scovell names names and calls it like she sees it.” —Michelle Ruiz, Vogue.com contributing editor

Fresh Off the Boat by Eddie Huang

“This memoir by the celebrity chef behind New York’s Baohaus inspired the ABC show of the same name—but the book version is far less fuzzy. Huang gives an unapologetically real look at his upbringing in a hardworking and often strict Chinese-American family. And his sumptuous descriptions of food make you really, really hungry.” —M.R.

Finding Me by Viola Davis

“A Rhode Island childhood marked by trauma and abuse gives way to an adulthood in the spotlight as one of the most recognizable actresses in Hollywood, and Davis relays the topsy-turviness of her life’s circumstances with a compelling mix of emotional honesty and grace.” —E.S.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

“Mindy Kaling holds a rarefied position in Hollywood these days, but the writer, actress and director's bestselling 2011 memoir proves that her ascent to the top wasn’t always an easy one. In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? , Kaling recounts her growth from the shy, bookish child of immigrants to off-Broadway sensation to the youngest writer on the staff of the hit NBC sitcom The Office ; what’s most notable about the memoir, though, is the way Kaling's singular voice shines through, lending even the wildest of L.A. tales a crucial degree of relatability.” —E.S.

Open Book by Jessica Simpson

“I went into Open Book expecting a light, fun read from one of my favorite reality stars (remember Newlyweds ?) of all time—instead, I was blown away by an honest, funny, and touching memoir, which is so rarely the case with celebrity ‘tell-alls.’ Simpson candidly discusses her recovery journey after years of struggling with drugs and alcohol abuse; she also examines the darker side of her early-fame days as a singer, when she was constantly—and at times, brutally—compared to her counterparts like Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera. It was my favorite book of 2020, and I recommend it to any pop culture fan, Simpson fans or not.” —C.A.

This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps

“A pitch-perfect example of the genre, Philipps serves up a funny and unflinching look at being a woman in Hollywood. She dives into her days as a Barbie spokes-kid and, bravely, her abortion as a teen, before moving on to her best friendship with Michelle Williams, details of James Franco’s douchey-ness on Freaks and Geeks , and struggles in her marriage. The best celebrity memoirs are as unsparingly honest as Philipps’ is.” —M.R.

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir by Matthew Perry

“In his book, the late actor delves into his early life and rise to fame amidst an intense struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing is written in such a way that you can imagine Perry speaking it to you—his voice is comforting, heartbreaking, and oh-so-familiar to the many of us who grew up watching him in the 1990s and early 2000s.” —G.Y.

Life by Keith Richards

“You might not think of Keith Richards as an elegant truth-teller, but his Life is a bracing tonic—straightforward but exciting, glamorous but heartfelt. I’m not a regular rock memoir reader, but this is a book that transcends whatever you might think the genre entails. Just go along with the music and don’t think too hard about it.” —Chloe Schama

You’ll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again by Julia Phillips

“Not sure she’s a straight-up A-list celeb, but Phillips made the A-list celebs. The Hollywood producer’s story is so full of wild pleasures and OMG moments that it’s easy to overlook the sheer brilliance that’s on offer.” —Lauren Mechling, Vogue contributor and author of How Could She

Horror Stories by Liz Phair

“The first of a planned two-part set (the second of which will be titled Fairy Tales ), Horror Stories is less of a traditional memoir and more of a series of vignettes that tackle some of the ‘small indignities that we all suffer daily, the silent insults to our system, the callous gestures that we make toward one another.’ Most of us won’t suffer the indignities of an anesthesiologist asking for our autograph during labor (we’re not all Gen X rock stars, after all), but we can wince at the, yes, horror, and relate to the rest of Phair’s not-so-tall tales .” —Danny Feekes, former managing editor at Goodreads

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl

“Not to stereotype straight white men over 30, but all the ones I know happen to love Dave Grohl, making this memoir—which focuses on the Nirvana and Foo Fighter musician’s years on the road—an absolutely smashing birthday or holiday gift when another coffee mug just won’t do.” —E.S.

Open by Andre Agassi

Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi

“We’ve all read (or carefully avoided) the triumphal sports-star memoir: The thousands of solitary hours spent in pursuit of excellence while stoically avoiding everything else, leading up to that magical breakthrough when everything was deemed to be Worth It. This isn’t that memoir: Agassi, arguably the best player of his generation and certainly the flashiest and most-visible, is remarkably frank here about how much he seemed to loathe the entire experience, which was foisted on him by a kind of ur-Tennis Dad. Thankfully, we also get the other side of that: A late- career resurgence, followed by a blissful second marriage and a philanthropic turn that’s both heartfelt and, for the underprivileged children it focuses on, life-changing. For the king of neon and acid-washed jeans who became even more famous for saying ‘image is everything,’ this book is a tragic opera with a happy ending.” —Corey Seymour

Dear Mr. You by Mary Louise Parker

"Parker’s 2015 memoir has really stayed with me. Written as a series of letters to men she’s encountered, imagined, or loved, it’s a formal experiment, a wonderful portrait of an established artist claiming new territory. She’s not really in the tell-all business, but what she’s written reveals plenty.” —Julia Felsenthal, Vogue contributor

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

“When Noah was born under apartheid in South Africa, his parents’ interracial union was, literally, a crime, punishable by five years in prison. That’s just the beginning of The Daily Show host’s remarkable story. At turns harrowing and hilarious, it’s perhaps best consumed via audiobook , read by the author.” —M.R.

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

“Based on decades’ worth of his own diary entries (which also included poems, photographs, prescriptions, and many, many bumper stickers), Matthew McConaughey’s memoir discusses his personal philosophy for handling life’s challenges, and what it means to keep catching the green lights through hardships.” —G.Y.

Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama

“The world rightfully knows Obama as a brilliant orator. But even before he was president (or even state senator), he wrote the hell out of this 1995 memoir (later re-released to great fanfare) about his upbringing in Hawaii and Kansas; his solitary, scholarly Columbia years; and his distant relationship with his dad. Now I spend my days waiting for his presidential memoir-in-the-works.” —M.R.

Sometimes I Feel Like a Nut by Jill Kargman

“As a fellow native New Yorker and NYC mom, Kargman’s dishing on ‘the city’ has always been hilarious and spot-on, even before her show Odd Mom Out came out. The essays in this book are so Jill : Honest, irreverent, slightly dark. full of curse words—yet imminently likable and, in fact, addictive.” —Zibby Owens, host of the Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books podcast

The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey

The Office BFFs: Tales of ‘The Office’ from Two Best Friends Who Were There by Jenna Fischer and and Angela Kinsey

“ The Office stars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey may have been rivals on the show, but in real life, their sweet and silly bestie-dom is contagious, making this recollection of working on one of history’s most popular sitcoms a genuine pleasure to read.” —E.S.

The Dirt by Motley Crue

The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee

“I never thought that one of my favorite books of all time would have a cover featuring a lady in a G-string whose disembodied form we see dancing inside a whiskey bottle. But at least you’ve been warned: What you see is what you get in this group memoir from the glam metal band. The sheer magnitude of debauchery at their peak in the 1980s is too compelling to look away.” —Maris Kreizman, host of The Maris Review podcast

In Pieces by Sally Field

“Sally Field took her sweet time with In Pieces , her first memoir, written over seven years without the assistance of a ghostwriter. To call Field’s writing vulnerable doesn’t give enough credit to the way she recounts with crippling honesty the highs and lows of her personal and professional lives. She’s always been beloved as a performer, but In Pieces shows there’s so much more to admire about Field than the trophies on her mantle.” —Keaton Bell

I.M. by Isaac Mizrahi

“Mizrahi is well-known as a man of many talents, so adding ‘writer’ to the list isn’t a stretch. Still, the quality of his memoir, I.M. , is notable. He talks schmattas and sex with typical sass, but what makes this book memorable is that Mizrahi’s coming-of-age and coming-to-terms tale is bigger than fashion. —Laird Borelli-Persson, Vogue archive editor

Making a Scene by Constance Wu

“Often told that ‘good girls don’t make scenes,’ the TV and film star writes about finding an outlet for her feelings through community theater and how it eventually led to her pursuing an acting career. Authentic and very moving.” —G.Y.

Touched by the Sun: My Friendship With Jackie by Carly Simon

“Simon’s first book, Boys in the Trees , is what all celebrity memoirs should aspire to be, toggling between childhood struggles, musical stardom, and a highly publicized marriage to James Taylor with plenty of wit and revelations sprinkled throughout. Touched by the Sun is more scaled back, focusing on the iconic singer-songwriter’s unlikely but enduring friendship with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Detailing the lunches, movie dates, and nights out on the town that the two women shared before Onassis’s death in 1994, Simon highlights the woman beneath the public persona.” —K.B.

Wildflower by Drew Barrymore

“If you’re a completist, start with Drew’s first memoir, the propulsive Little Girl Lost (out of print but easy to find secondhand), which she wrote when she was 14. It recounts a young Barrymore’s stratospheric rise and quick drug-fueled descent, while Wildflower finds an older, more assured Barrymore looking back at a larger-than-life existence, one in which she emancipated from her parents, forged out on her own, and paved her distinctive path. As Drew writes, “I wanted to rescue myself. And I did.” —D.F.

Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business by Dolly Parton

“Before picking up Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics , take a peek at Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business from the 1990s. Get to know the rhinestone-studded, smooth-talking country singer as she discusses her personal philosophies, marriage, and her transformation from a music-loving teenager into one of the world’s most iconic women.” —G.Y.

Just Kids by Patti Smith

“Smith’s National Book Award–winning memoir is a portrait of a place and time—New York, Summer of Love—and a love letter to a bygone era that produced two iconoclasts: poet and musician Smith, and late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. The story follows the duo’s trials and tribulations as they traverse Brooklyn, Coney Island, and Times Square, before settling at the infamous Chelsea Hotel. Smith has said that she didn’t write the book to be cathartic, but to fulfill a vow she made to Mapplethorpe on his deathbed. Ultimately, it’s the reader who reaps the rewards of that request.” —D.F.

Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe

“It’s over 10 years later, and I’m still crushed by Sam Seaborne’s departure from The West Wing , so I couldn’t resist Lowe’s memoir. It’s packed with plenty of sordid stories from his wild days as part of the Brat Pack, but also has so many great behind-the-scenes memories from some of my favorite TV shows and movies. While it probably won’t win a Pulitzer, any fan of ’80s rom-coms will still find this delightful!” —Becca Freeman, co-host of the Bad on Paper podcast

Me by Elton John

“Honest, charming, and all too real, Me follows the extraordinary life of Elton John from his origins in a London suburb to his rise to fame, legendary friendships, struggles with drug addiction, and philanthropy work.” —G.Y.

My Life So Far by Jane Fonda

“I’ve been reading this in fits and starts for about a decade, and I’ve still yet to encounter another life story so dutifully (and beautifully) re-examined. It’s easy to take Fonda’s cool self-assuredness—even in handcuffs!—for granted these days, but before Firebrand Jane there was “plain Jane,” woefully uncomfortable in her skin and desperate for outside validation. To chart her path from then until now (and to think of all that’s still to come) is something I wouldn’t mind doing for another 10 years.” —M.M.

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

“All three of Fisher’s memoirs reflect her trademark cool demeanor and self-deprecating nature, but her final release is my favorite. The beating heart of the book is the story of teenage Fisher’s secret three-month-long affair with Harrison Ford, then 33 and married with two kids. Fisher was hopelessly, naively in love with him, and Ford took advantage of the situation. You won’t find much behind-the-scenes Star Wars intel, but you will find an honest, painful account of Fisher’s experience as a young woman in love and at the mercy of so many patriarchal forces.” —Cristina Arreola, senior publicity and marketing manager, Sourcebooks

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The 25 Best Celebrity Memoirs

Candid, intelligent books that reveal the humans under the headlines, the dark side of the spotlight, and the epic stories that the tabloids could never capture.

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These days almost every celebrity writes (or at least has their name on the cover of) a memoir. But a great career doesn't always make a great story. For the fans, sure, but not for posterity. These twenty-five are glittering exceptions—real stories that artfully deliver both the hard-won wisdom that comes with being famous and the raw emotions that come with being human. Every good book gives you a chance to step into another person’s shoes, but in the case of celebrity memoirs, those kicks are especially spiffy, ranging from red-carpet-ready red bottoms to the most well-worn chef clogs. Life always looks greener on the other side of the Hollywood sign, but once you walk a mile in many of these stars’ heels, we’ll bet you’ll be grateful to return to your own house slippers . Fame may make life more interesting, but, as these books show, it certainly doesn’t make it any easier. Read on for books that help us see the humans beneath the headlines and the dark side of the limelight.

Open, by Andre Agassi

Tennis player Agassi's incredible memory plus the world's best ghostwriter—JR Moehringer, also hired by Prince Harry—combine to make this possibly the finest sports memoir ever. Alongside the propulsive account of his twenty-one-year career, Agassi shares stories of the women in his life: Barbra Streisand, first wife Brooke Shields, and true love Steffi Graf.

Be Ready When the Luck Happens, by Ina Garten

Once she gets her unhappy childhood out of the way, Garten tells a story we rarely hear: a behind-the-scenes, nuts-and-bolts look at entrepreneurial success, woman style. From the retail food shop in the Hamptons she bought on a lark (it had the silly name Barefoot Contessa) to her reign over our bookshelves and televisions, she steeps, pours, and spills the tea.

Spare, by Prince Harry

Remember the frostbitten royal "todger"? In his candid and charming memoir, Harry comes off as an ordinary guy who hasn’t always been able to rise to the extraordinary demands of his life and his family, discussing even his most idiotic mistakes with rue, self-effacing humor, and relief. Ghostwriter JR Moehringer totally earned the zillions he got for this.

Kitchen Confidential, by Anthony Bourdain

The book that kicked off Bourdain's long run as both the hottest and coolest man in haute cuisine is so full of life, that it's hard to believe he's gone. Remembered for its wild, druggy stories of life in a professional kitchen and its cautionary tales about horrifying restaurant practices, the memoir is also full of gorgeously sensual food writing. Those oysters!

Finding Me, by Viola Davis

Clawing her way out of a childhood that makes Oliver Twist look like a fairy tale, Viola Davis built herself from the bottom up, buttressing her talent with iron determination, humility, resilience, and hard-won self-esteem. She needed every bit of it to triumph over the misogyny, racism, and colorism that plagued her path to EGOT stardom. A profoundly inspiring tale.

Life, by Keith Richards

How is rock's most notorious wild man even still alive? We learn all about it in this amazing account of resilience and (eventually) renunciation. As rowdy and raw and badass British as the man himself, Richards' doorstopper memoir is remembered not just for the shade he threw on Mick Jagger's manhood but for the incredible yarns behind the music.

Born to Run, by Bruce Springsteen

The Boss is a serious man, serious about his dreams, his music, his country, and his fans, and definitely serious about his memoir. Possibly thanks to a lifetime of saying no to drugs, its pages are filled with detailed storytelling, hilarious characterizations, and crystal-clear recollections of his music and business career.

Tender at the Bone, by Ruth Reichl

The famous New York Times restaurant critic's memoir of her first 30 years is a smorgasbord of compelling locations—New York in the 1960s, boarding school in Montreal, travels in Tunisia, Crete, and beyond—and unforgettable characters. None is more so than her mother, The Queen of Mold, whom young Ruthie deftly prevented from poisoning her guests.

My Name Is Barbra, by Barbra Streisand

You've heard she's a perfectionist? Streisand reportedly spent 20 years on this 1,000-page opus, but in addition to telling her life story, this extraordinary woman offers a short course in acting, directing, film editing, sound mixing, lighting, and more. The 48-hour audio version, recorded in that throaty Brooklyn accent, with ad-libs and musical excerpts, is truly priceless.

Secrets Of My Life, by Caitlyn Jenner

Despite the tabloid buzz that surrounds Jenner, this book introduces us to an honest, humble, gentle spirit who is quick to admit her mistakes as a husband, a father, and a once somewhat clueless trans person. From the first time she cross-dressed at the age of 10, Jenner never escaped the torment of the urge to be a woman. In this telling, Kim Kardashian saved her life.

Bossypants, by Tina Fey

The foremother of what is by now a whole bookstore full of memoirs by comedians sets a never-exceeded standard for sheer funniness. Every page is funny. Even the blurbs are clever. (“Totally worth it.” —Trees.) The great critic Janet Maslin called Fey the Nora Ephron of her generation, and like Nora, she's not big on trauma and drama—she's all about the laughs.

Just Kids, by Patti Smith

The only National Book Award winner on this list, Smith's gorgeously written memoir of her relationship with the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe is the premiere portrait of New York's downtown scene in the late nineteen-sixties and seventies. Those who think of her as a wild punk rocker will be enchanted by her unique decorum, her tenderness and her finely polished sentences.

Becoming, by Michelle Obama

Michelle had us from hello with this open-hearted memoir, beginning with the joys of growing up on the Southside of Chicago and moving through the challenges of life in the White House. The account of her relationship with the young lawyer "with a weird name" she was assigned to mentor one summer is as delicious as the ice cream cones they had on their first date.

Connie, by Connie Chung

Given her put-together appearance and solid gold resume, you might not expect the memoir of Asian-American broadcasting pioneer Chung to be so irreverent and at times, even badass. Having often been the only girl and POC in the room over the course of a fifty-year career, Chung always tells it like it is, including the juicy story of her long love with Maury Povich.

Dear Mr. You, by Mary-Louise Parker

Completely unique among memoirs from our Hollywood and Broadway thespians, Parker's book is a literary gem: a collection of 34 letters to the men in her life. First comes "Dear Grandpa," to the grandfather she never met, followed by "Dear Daddy," to her beloved late father. Others address lovers, near-strangers, a hospital orderly, her accountant, and more.

Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah

Born in the last years of apartheid to a white father and a black mother in flagrant violation of South Africa’s Immorality Act, Noah's title is literal. If he went out with both parents, his father had to walk down the other side of the street. With insight, love and humor, the former host of The Daily Show recalls a tumultuous childhood and a gutsy coming into his own.

Greenlights, by Matthew McConnaughey

A diarist and a philosopher as well as an A-list actor, McConaughey offers his own laid-back brand of advice and inspiration along with stories from the sets of his breakout successes in A Time to Kill and Dazed and Confused . Alright, alright, alright, the naked bongo incident of 1999 makes the cut as well.

Wishful Drinking, by Carrie Fisher

The daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, the stepdaughter of Elizabeth Taylor, the ex-wife of Paul Simon, there is no celebrity memoir quite like the one. If you know her only as Princess Leia of Star Wars, a role she created at nineteen, this book will introduce a brilliant, funny woman and her struggles. Her untimely death at 60 makes her audiobook performance all the more precious.

Chronicles by Bob Dylan

The single book-length narrative from the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, the lush imagery and storytelling energy of his famous lyrics drives Dylan's prose style as well. Focusing on a portrait of the artist as a young folk musician in Greenwich Village, circa 1961, this memoir is cranky, erudite, mysterious, brilliant, and positively Dylan all the way.

The Friday Afternoon Club, by Griffin Dunne

As the son of Dominick Dunne and nephew of Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne, the author had an extraordinary childhood growing up among the glitterati of the 1970s, from Sinatra and Capote to his longtime best friend Carrie Fisher. He frames his funny, engaging memoir with a searing account of his actress sister's 1982 murder by her boyfriend.

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The 50 Best Biographies of All Time

Think you know the full and complete story about George Washington, Steve Jobs, or Joan of Arc? Think again.

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Biographies have always been controversial. On his deathbed, the novelist Henry James told his nephew that his “sole wish” was to “frustrate as utterly as possible the postmortem exploiter” by destroying his personal letters and journals. And one of our greatest living writers, Hermione Lee, once compared biographies to autopsies that add “a new terror to death”—the potential muddying of someone’s legacy when their life is held up to the scrutiny of investigation.

But despite its long history dating back to ancient Rome and Sumeria, biography as a genre didn’t really pop off until the middle of the twentieth century, when we became obsessed with celebrity culture. Since then, biographies of presidents, activists, artists, and musicians have regularly appeared on bestseller lists, while Hollywood continues to adapt them into Oscar bait like A Beautiful Mind, The Imitation Game , and Steve Jobs .

Why do we read so many books about the lives and deaths of strangers, as told by second-hand and third-hand sources? Is it merely our love for gossip, or are we trying to understand ourselves through the triumphs and failures of others?

To keep this list from blossoming into hundreds of titles, we only included books currently in print and translated into English. We also limited it to one book per author, and one book per subject. In ranked order, here are the best biographies of all time.

Crown The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo, by Tom Reiss

You’re probably familiar with The Count of Monte Cristo , the 1844 revenge novel by Alexandre Dumas. But did you know it was based on the life of Dumas’s father, the mixed-race General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, son of a French nobleman and a Haitian slave? Thanks to Reiss’s masterful pacing and plotting, this rip-roaring biography of Thomas-Alexandre reads more like an adventure novel than a work of nonfiction. The Black Count won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 2013, and it’s only a matter of time before a filmmaker turns it into a big-screen blockbuster.

Farrar, Straus and Giroux Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret, by Craig Brown

Few biographies are as genuinely fun to read as this barnburner from the irreverent English critic Craig Brown. Princess Margaret may have been everyone’s favorite character from Netflix’s The Crown , but Brown’s eye for ostentatious details and revelatory insights will help you see why everyone in the 1950s—from Pablo Picasso and Gore Vidal to Peter Sellers and Andy Warhol—was obsessed with her. When book critic Parul Sehgal says that she “ripped through the book with the avidity of Margaret attacking her morning vodka and orange juice,” you know you’re in for a treat.

Inventor of the Future: The Visionary Life of Buckminster Fuller, by Alec Nevala-Lee

If you want to feel optimistic about the future again, look no further than this brilliant biography of Buckminster Fuller, the “modern Leonardo da Vinci” of the 1960s and 1970s who came up with the idea of a “Spaceship Earth” and inspired Silicon Valley’s belief that technology could be a global force for good (while earning plenty of critics who found his ideas impractical). Alec Nevala-Lee’s writing is as serene and precise as one of Fuller’s geodesic domes, and his research into never-before-seen documents makes this a genuinely groundbreaking book full of surprises.

Free Press Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original, by Robin D.G. Kelley

The late American jazz composer and pianist Thelonious Monk has been so heavily mythologized that it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. But Robin D. G. Kelley’s biography is an essential book for jazz fans looking to understand the man behind the myths. Monk’s family provided Kelley with full access to their archives, resulting in chapter after chapter of fascinating details, from his birth in small-town North Carolina to his death across the Hudson from Manhattan.

University of Chicago Press Frank Lloyd Wright: A Biography, by Meryle Secrest

There are dozens of books about America’s most celebrated architect, but Secrest’s 1998 biography is still the most fun to read. For one, she doesn’t shy away from the fact that Wright could be an absolute monster, even to his own friends and family. Secondly, her research into more than 100,000 letters, as well as interviews with nearly every surviving person who knew Wright, makes this book a one-of-a-kind look at how Wright’s personal life influenced his architecture.

Ralph Ellison: A Biography, by Arnold Rampersad

Ralph Ellison’s landmark novel, Invisible Man , is about a Black man who faced systemic racism in the Deep South during his youth, then migrated to New York, only to find oppression of a slightly different kind. What makes Arnold Rampersand’s honest and insightful biography of Ellison so compelling is how he connects the dots between Invisible Man and Ellison’s own journey from small-town Oklahoma to New York’s literary scene during the Harlem Renaissance.

Oscar Wilde: A Life, by Matthew Sturgis

Now remembered for his 1891 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde was one of the most fascinating men of the fin-de-siècle thanks to his poems, plays, and some of the earliest reported “celebrity trials.” Sturgis’s scintillating biography is the most encyclopedic chronicle of Wilde’s life to date, thanks to new research into his personal notebooks and a full transcript of his libel trial.

Beacon Press A Surprised Queenhood in the New Black Sun: The Life & Legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks, by Angela Jackson

The poet Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1950, but because she spent most of her life in Chicago instead of New York, she hasn’t been studied or celebrated as often as her peers in the Harlem Renaissance. Luckily, Angela Jackson’s biography is full of new details about Brooks’s personal life, and how it influenced her poetry across five decades.

Atria Books Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century, by Dana Stevens

Was Buster Keaton the most influential filmmaker of the first half of the twentieth century? Dana Stevens makes a compelling case in this dazzling mix of biography, essays, and cultural history. Much like Keaton’s filmography, Stevens playfully jumps from genre to genre in an endlessly entertaining way, while illuminating how Keaton’s influence on film and television continues to this day.

Algonquin Books Empire of Deception: The Incredible Story of a Master Swindler Who Seduced a City and Captivated the Nation, by Dean Jobb

Dean Jobb is a master of narrative nonfiction on par with Erik Larsen, author of The Devil in the White City . Jobb’s biography of Leo Koretz, the Bernie Madoff of the Jazz Age, is among the few great biographies that read like a thriller. Set in Chicago during the 1880s through the 1920s, it’s also filled with sumptuous period details, from lakeside mansions to streets choked with Model Ts.

Vintage Penelope Fitzgerald: A Life, by Hermione Lee

Hermione Lee’s biographies of Virginia Woolf and Edith Wharton could easily have made this list. But her book about a less famous person—Penelope Fitzgerald, the English novelist who wrote The Bookshop, The Blue Flower , and The Beginning of Spring —might be her best yet. At just over 500 pages, it’s considerably shorter than those other biographies, partially because Fitzgerald’s life wasn’t nearly as well documented. But Lee’s conciseness is exactly what makes this book a more enjoyable read, along with the thrilling feeling that she’s uncovering a new story literary historians haven’t already explored.

Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath, by Heather Clark

Many biographers have written about Sylvia Plath, often drawing parallels between her poetry and her death by suicide at the age of thirty. But in this startling book, Plath isn’t wholly defined by her tragedy, and Heather Clark’s craftsmanship as a writer makes it a joy to read. It’s also the most comprehensive account of Plath’s final year yet put to paper, with new information that will change the way you think of her life, poetry, and death.

Pontius Pilate, by Ann Wroe

Compared to most biography subjects, there isn’t much surviving documentation about the life of Pontius Pilate, the Judaean governor who ordered the execution of the historical Jesus in the first century AD. But Ann Wroe leans into all that uncertainty in her groundbreaking book, making for a fascinating mix of research and informed speculation that often feels like reading a really good historical novel.

Brand: History Book Club Bolívar: American Liberator, by Marie Arana

In the early nineteenth century, Simón Bolívar led six modern countries—Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela—to independence from the Spanish Empire. In this rousing work of biography and geopolitical history, Marie Arana deftly chronicles his epic life with propulsive prose, including a killer first sentence: “They heard him before they saw him: the sound of hooves striking the earth, steady as a heartbeat, urgent as a revolution.”

Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History, by Yunte Huang

Ever read a biography of a fictional character? In the 1930s and 1940s, Charlie Chan came to popularity as a Chinese American police detective in Earl Derr Biggers’s mystery novels and their big-screen adaptations. In writing this book, Yunte Huang became something of a detective himself to track down the real-life inspiration for the character, a Hawaiian cop named Chang Apana born shortly after the Civil War. The result is an astute blend between biography and cultural criticism as Huang analyzes how Chan served as a crucial counterpoint to stereotypical Chinese villains in early Hollywood.

Random House Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay, by Nancy Milford

Edna St. Vincent Millay was one of the most fascinating women of the twentieth century—an openly bisexual poet, playwright, and feminist icon who helped make Greenwich Village a cultural bohemia in the 1920s. With a knack for torrid details and creative insights, Nancy Milford successfully captures what made Millay so irresistible—right down to her voice, “an instrument of seduction” that captivated men and women alike.

Simon & Schuster Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson

Few people have the luxury of choosing their own biographers, but that’s exactly what the late co-founder of Apple did when he tapped Walter Isaacson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer of Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin. Adapted for the big screen by Aaron Sorkin in 2015, Steve Jobs is full of plot twists and suspense thanks to a mind-blowing amount of research on the part of Isaacson, who interviewed Jobs more than forty times and spoke with just about everyone who’d ever come into contact with him.

Brand: Random House Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov), by Stacy Schiff

The Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov once said, “Without my wife, I wouldn’t have written a single novel.” And while Stacy Schiff’s biography of Cleopatra could also easily make this list, her telling of Véra Nabokova’s life in Russia, Europe, and the United States is revolutionary for finally bringing Véra out of her husband’s shadow. It’s also one of the most romantic biographies you’ll ever read, with some truly unforgettable images, like Vera’s habit of carrying a handgun to protect Vladimir on butterfly-hunting excursions.

Greenblatt, Stephen Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare, by Stephen Greenblatt

We know what you’re thinking. Who needs another book about Shakespeare?! But Greenblatt’s masterful biography is like traveling back in time to see firsthand how a small-town Englishman became the greatest writer of all time. Like Wroe’s biography of Pontius Pilate, there’s plenty of speculation here, as there are very few surviving records of Shakespeare’s daily life, but Greenblatt’s best trick is the way he pulls details from Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets to construct a compelling narrative.

Crown Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own, by Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

When Kiese Laymon calls a book a “literary miracle,” you pay attention. James Baldwin’s legacy has enjoyed something of a revival over the last few years thanks to films like I Am Not Your Negro and If Beale Street Could Talk , as well as books like Glaude’s new biography. It’s genuinely a bit of a miracle how he manages to combine the story of Baldwin’s life with interpretations of Baldwin’s work—as well as Glaude’s own story of discovering, resisting, and rediscovering Baldwin’s books throughout his life.

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• Entertainment

The 36 Best Celebrity Memoirs

S tars may or may not be like us, but there is one thing they all seem to have in common: they love writing about their lives. From silent film legend Charlie Chaplin to Nickelodeon child star Jennette McCurdy , Hollywood autobiographies have been a thing for generations now. But in the last few years, publishing has seen a celebrity memoir boom in which chart-topping pop stars and Brat Packers alike are more than willing to bare their souls for our amusement. To much success; last year, Prince Harry’s Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time, according to Guinness World Records , besting previous record holder Michelle Obama and her 2018 memoir, Becoming .

With so many celebrity memoirs to choose from, TIME has put together a list of the best, which includes Elliot Page ’s coming out story, Stanley Tucci ’s food-focused walk down memory lane, and Carrie Fisher ’s hilarious account of what it’s really like being a nepo-baby 50 years before the term went viral. 

However, “celebrity” isn’t just code for famous actors; this unranked list features celebrated performers from all walks of entertainment life. There are four EGOT winners — Viola Davis , Mel Brooks , Rita Moreno and Elton John —included here. As well as books from a couple of renowned athletes, including Andre Agassi ’s much-talked about airing of tennis grievances and Megan Rapinoe ’s empowering call to action. Not to mention one First Lady and a few eloquent aging rockers. (Here’s looking at you, Keith Richards !)

Because we’d actually like you to be able to read these books, the list only includes memoirs that are reasonably accessible in print and digital formats. That being said, if you happen to stumble upon the rare copy of Ronnie Spector’s Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness or John Waters’ Shock Value: A Tasteful Book About Bad Taste , definitely pick it up.

Here, the 30 best celebrity memoirs to read right now. 

Open, Andre Agassi (2009)

Andre Agassi’s Open is a thrillingly untriumphant sports memoir that isn’t afraid to court controversy. Co-written with J.R. Moehringer, who also helped Prince Harry with Spare as well as his own memoir, The Tender Bar , Open covers the highs and lows of the career of the once-mulleted bad boy of tennis. Agassi calls out on-court rivals and delves into his off-court troubles, which included crystal meth use. He even declares his one-time hatred for tennis, detailing his father’s abusive training tactics that caused him to loathe the sport, which makes the chapters dedicated to his joy-filled late career surge all the more poignant.

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By Myself and Then Some, Lauren Bacall (2005)

In 1979, screen legend Lauren Bacall released her National Book Award-winning memoir, By Myself, which offered an intimate look at her life, career, and romance with Humphrey Bogart . Twenty-six years later, she released an expanded edition of the book now called By Myself and Then Some that invited fans to catch up with her once again. The newly added 80 pages are pure unbridled Bacall, who was 81 at the time of release. She ruminates on aging in Hollywood, shares her haunting memories of being in New York City on 9/11, and mourns the loss of famous friends like Katharine Hepburn. You’ll get your money’s worth and then some.

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All About Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business, Mel Brooks (2021)

In 2021, at the age of 95, legendary comedic auteur Mel Brooks released his first autobiography, All About Me!, which covers his celebrated 70 years and counting career in show business. Across 480 pages, he puts his delightful sense of humor on full display, telling laugh-out-loud stories about being a teenage comedian in the Catskills, working as a writer for volatile funny guy Sid Caesar, and the making of the legendary flatulence scene in Blazing Saddles . But comedy wasn’t the great love of his life, as All About Me! makes abundantly clear. It was his late wife, Anne Bancroft , who passed away in 2005 of uterine cancer at the age of 73. In many ways this book is a loving salute to her and her ability to bring the best out of Brooks onscreen and off.

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The Meaning of Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey (2020)

With The Meaning of Mariah Carey , the titular pop icon with a five-octave vocal range reflects on her life and career so far. Mariah Carey, with help from journalist Michaela Angela Davis, doesn’t shy away from writing about her difficult childhood, tempestuous first marriage to music executive Tommy Mottola, and her mental health struggles . But it isn’t all doom and gloom; she also offers unguarded insight into her short-lived romance with Derek Jeter , her love of Christmas , and her beef with Jennifer Lopez. For the record, she still doesn’t know her .

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My Autobiography, Charles Chaplin (1964)

Screen legend Charlie Chaplin wrote his first memoir, My Autobiography, a decade after he was forced to flee the U.S. to Switzerland at the height of McCarthyism. (Chaplin, who long denied having any Communist affiliations , stepped foot in the States only once before his 1977 death to pick up an honorary Oscar. ) Perhaps that’s why his autobiography doesn’t pull any punches about his impoverished childhood, successful silent film career, and self-exile. (He does not, however, write about his romances with underaged women .) At this point in his life, Chaplin was a man with nothing to lose. My Autobiography is a fascinating look at the golden age of movies from the era’s biggest star.

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Baggage: Tales From a Fully Packed Life, Alan Cumming (2018)

Alan Cumming ’s 2014 debut memoir, Not My Father’s Son , is a thrilling autobiography focused on his troubled relationship with his father. While it’s definitely worth a read, it’s his cheeky second book, 2018’s Baggage, that taps into what has made Cumming such a beloved show business staple. Full of juicy gossip, dirty puns, and plenty of exclamation points, Baggage picks up in 1994 amid his failing marriage to fellow actor Hilary Lyon. The dissolution of that relationship leads the then up-and-coming actor on a journey toward self-discovery. With humor and panache, Cumming divulges his juiciest tales including being scolded by a drunken Gore Vidal, using ecstasy the night he won the Tony for Cabaret, and enduring the dysfunctional X2 film set led by the now-disgraced director Bryan Singer .

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Finding Me, Viola Davis (2022)

Allow Viola Davis to reintroduce herself with her radically honest debut memoir. Finding Me delves into Davis’ journey to become the unflappable person and performer she is today. She details the constant bullying she endured from mostly white classmates growing up and how that helped her succeed at Juilliard, where she fought to empower Black students who felt stifled by the legendary school’s curriculum. It seems only fitting that the audiobook of Finding Me won Davis a Grammy, helping her become one of only 19 people to clinch Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards. After reading her autobiography, you can’t help but feel as if she was destined to break into this exclusive club.

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Chronicles: Volume One, Bob Dylan (2004)

Bob Dylan may be one of the most influential singer-songwriters to have ever lived, but he wasn’t known for waxing poetic about his life and career. That is, until Chronicle: Volume One, his eye-opening 2004 memoir in which he rambles on (in a good way) about growing up in Minnesota, finding folk music in Greenwich Village, and going electric at the Newport Folk Festival. As he traces his journey from complete unknown to voice of a generation (a label he’s not so fond of), he also introduces fans to wild characters and scenes that seem straight out of one of his songs. Knowing Dylan’s penchant for embellishing the truth of his own biography, one may wonder if what they read in Chronicles is true. Our advice: don’t think twice, it’s all right if he fudges the facts when the results are this entertaining.

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Wishful Drinking, Carrie Fisher (2008)

“If my life wasn’t funny it would just be true,” Carrie Fisher writes in her first memoir, Wishful Drinking. “And that is unacceptable.” It’s only fitting then that this book, adapted from Fisher’s 2006 one-woman show of the same name, takes a self-deprecating look at the Star Wars actor’s stranger-than-fiction existence as the daughter of two eccentric Hollywood stars, Singin’ in the Rain actor Debbie Reynolds and crooner (and one-time husband of Elizabeth Taylor) Eddie Fisher.

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My Life So Far, Jane Fonda (2005)

It’s safe to say Jane Fonda has lived a lot of life since the 2005 release of her memoir, My Life So Far . (Watch the 2018 HBO documentary Jane Fonda in Five Acts to fill in the nearly 20 year gap.) But that’s what makes this book, her first, so captivating; it is not a complete look at the award-winning actor and activist’s existence. Nor, as the title implies, was it intended to be. Back in 2005, Fonda, then nearing 60, felt that she had been defined by her family name, her film roles, and her relationships with powerful men like media mogul Ted Turner, activist and politician Tom Hayden , and Barbarella director Roger Vadim. In her memoir, she takes back the narrative and explores the traumas of her past. Part Hollywood tell-all, part self-help book, My Life So Far offers a poignant look at how Fonda found her authentic self.

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The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music, Dave Grohl (2021)

The Storyteller is a portrait of an aging artist as a young man. Throughout the book, Dave Grohl recalls the musical memories of his past, returning to his early days as a suburban Virginia kid learning to play the drums like Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham before quitting high school to join the D.C. hardcore band Scream. The Foo Fighter writes of the ebbs and flows that came with being the drummer for one of the biggest rock bands of all time, Nirvana , and doesn’t hold back when speaking of the pain he felt—and still feels—after the loss of Kurt Cobain . The Storyteller is Grohl’s deeply sincere look at the music that defines him.

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Lady Sings the Blues, Billie Holiday (1956)

While Billie Holiday ’s autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues, may not always be factually accurate , those who knew her best say it was all emotionally true. It’s what makes the book, the basis for the 1972 film of the same name starring Diana Ross, such a heartbreaking self-portrait of a legendary musician gone too soon. Released three years before her death at the age of 44, Lady Sings the Blues offers a candid look at the jazz singer’s chaotic life and career, offering sobering accounts of her teenage years working as a call girl, struggles with heroin addiction , time spent in jail, and the racism she faced as a Black performer.

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Me , Elton John (2019)

Elton John ’s memoir, Me, is his deliciously dishy account of how a shy English schoolboy named Reginald Dwight became the bedazzled and bespectacled Captain Fantastic. John has fun revisiting his humble beginnings, recalling his ‘70s heyday, and reveling in celebrity gossip. (Bob Dylan is apparently terrible at charades—who knew?) But the majority of John’s mockery is aimed at himself. (Case in point: he spends a lot of time trying to explain his much-talked about hair .) His honesty and humility about his own ups (his coming out, his advocacy) and downs (drug addiction, tragic loss of friends Princess Diana and Gianni Versace) make this a charming swan song by a glitter rock icon.

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Thursday’s Child , Eartha Kitt (1956)

Whether you know Eartha Kitt as the Catwoman to Adam West’s Batman or Harriet the Spy’s reclusive neighbor , her first of three memoirs, 1956’s Thursday’s Child, offers a look at the first 30 years of her incredible life and career. (Fun fact: Kitt’s book also inspired the 1999 David Bowie song of the same name.) Born in 1927, Kitt, whose real name was Eartha Mae Keith, grew up poor in the Deep South with her young mom, who was of Cherokee and African descent. When her mom’s boyfriend refused to accept Kitt for the color of her skin, she was adopted by an aunt who lived in New York City. It’s there that Kitt joined a dance troupe led by Katherine Dunham , the “queen mother of Black dance,” and traveled the world before making her way to Hollywood. Kitt doesn’t gloss over the racism and sexism she faced during her early years as an actress and singer, which makes her rise to stardom all the more compelling. It also helps that Kitt has a knack for storytelling; Thursday’s Child reads like a riveting novel you don’t want to put down rather than a paint by numbers autobiography.

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Spike Lee: Best Seat in the House : A Basketball Memoir , Spike Lee (1997)

For more than three decades, Spike Lee has been cheering on his beloved New York Knicks from a courtside seat at Madison Square Garden. (He has also stirred up a bit of controversy from that same spot; most notably, his feud with former Indiana Pacer Reggie Miller .) His passion for the sport is on full display in his first memoir, Best Seat in the House, in which the legendary Brooklyn director tells the story of his life through the lens of basketball fandom. With help from late Sports Illustrated journalist Ralph Wiley , he recounts how watching his long struggling hometown franchise helped him grieve his mother, who died when he was in college, and survive the frustrating shoot of his 1992 film Malcolm X . He also offers his thoughts on the racial politics of a league that, in the late ‘90s, was exploding in popularity, and interviews NBA greats like Michael Jordan and his favorite player, Knicks Hall of Famer Walt “Clyde” Frazier. (Some will prefer to skip his conversation with fellow director and lifelong Knick fan Woody Allen.) With Best Seat in the House, Lee explores the ways in which his love of the game shaped who he would become.

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I’m Glad My Mom Died , Jennette McCurdy (2022)

Former child actress Jennette McCurdy uses humor to detail the physical, emotional, and verbal abuse she suffered at the hands of her late mother in her best-selling memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died . As the book’s title suggests, McCurdy has strong opinions about her mom’s role in her life and career, and works through those complicated feelings across 320 pages. It’s no easy read, but McCurdy manages to find hope, empathy, and understanding for the woman that all too often made her young life a living hell.

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Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More, Janet Mock (2014)

“Why tell your story if you're not going to tell it in its entirety?” Writer and transgender rights activist Janet Mock ’s debut memoir, Redefining Realness, isan unsparing account of how she found her true self, published three years after she first publicly came out as trans in the pages of Marie Claire . Across 263 pages, Mock lays her soul bare, sharing the heartbreak and confusion she felt throughout her childhood being identified as a boy when she knew she was not. She writes about the pain of watching her dad struggle with drug addiction, being a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, and how sex work helped her earn enough money for a sex-change operation. For all that Mock was forced to endure, her memoir is anything but despairing. She writes lovingly of the women who supported her throughout her transition, whether it be by helping her pick out the right clothes or loving her when she didn’t know how to love herself. Redefining Realness is Mock’s love letter to her chosen family who embraced her for who she always was.

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Inside Out, Demi Moore (2019)

Demi Moore isn’t afraid to go there with Inside Out. With help from New Yorker writer and memoirist Ariel Levy , she writes freely of her abusive childhood, struggles with substance abuse, and troubled marriage to Ashton Kutcher, which ended in divorce in 2013. Moore told the New York Times that she wrote Inside Out in order to rediscover herself. Now, fans have a chance to do the same.

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Rita Moreno: A Memoir, Rita Moreno (2013)

Watch any interview with Rita Moreno and it’s clear she has a real gift for gab. She put that skill to good use when writing her memoir, which covers everything from her joyous childhood in Puerto Rico to becoming an octogenarian icon. (She was 81 at the time of the book’s release, and has since appeared in 11 movies, including 80 For Brady and Fast X .) She isn’t afraid to spill the tea about Hollywood, whether it be the prejudice she faced throughout her career or her famous romances. (She devotes three chapters to her nearly decade-long tumultuous affair with Marlon Brando .) But the best moments in the book are when Moreno gets to brag about a red hot career that even now shows no signs of cooling.

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Born a Crime, Trevor Noah (2016)

Comedian Trevor Noah ’s best-selling autobiography, Born a Crime, recounts growing up with a white Swiss-German father and a Black South African mother during the final years of apartheid South Africa . With heart and humor, the former Daily Show host details the difficulties that came with being the product of an illegal mixed-race relationship. How hard was it? The book begins with his mom throwing him off a moving bus, as she was concerned the driver, a member of a different tribe, would kill him. But Born a Crime is more than just Noah’s origin story; it’s a tender tribute to the fearless and fiercely religious woman who helped get him where he is now .

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Becoming , Michelle Obama (2018)

In 2008, Michelle Obama made history, becoming the first African American First Lady of the United States. A decade later, she shared her incredible journey to the White House and everything that came after in her debut memoir, Becoming . With warmth and sincerity, Obama (née Robinson) details her childhood growing up in Chicago’s South Side, the pressures that came with attending Princeton University and later Harvard Law School, and finding her voice as a young lawyer. She also writes about falling in love with Barack Obama, watching him pursue a career in politics, and helping him become America’s first Black president. But making history didn’t come without sacrifice and she doesn’t shy away from the difficulties that come with being a Black woman in America, especially one whose every move has been placed under a microscope. Her candor didn’t go unrecognized; Becoming became the best-selling book of 2018 in the U.S. 15 days after it was released.

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Pageboy, Elliot Page (2023)

Three years after Elliot Page came out as transgender on the cover of TIME, he released his memoir, Pageboy , a no-holds-barred look at his journey to understand his identity. The book, named one of TIME’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2023 , recalls Page’s difficulties with bullying, body dysmorphia, and disordered eating, as well as finding his place in Hollywood. His retelling of his life is non-linear, flashing back and forth between his childhood and his time in the public eye, which puts the focus on his fractured sense of self. It’s only by putting the disparate pieces of his life together that he’s able to become the fully realized person he is now .

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Mo’ Meta Blues, Questlove (2013)

To say Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson loves music is an understatement. He eats, sleeps, and breathes music. And in his kaleidoscopic memoir, Mo’ Meta Blues, he explores how he went from being a devoted fan to a hip-hop historian , revisiting his favorite music memories. From hearing “Rapper’s Delight” for the first time with his sister to rushing home to tape Prince ’s “Housequake” off the radio, this book is a celebration of the music that soundtracked the most pivotal moments of his life and career.

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One Life, Megan Rapinoe (2020)

In her best-selling debut memoir, One Life, Megan Rapinoe recalls how her illustrious soccer career led to her political awakening. The retired athlete, one of the most decorated soccer stars in the U.S., provides an intimate look at her life beyond the headlines. She offers insight into her decision to come out as gay after the 2011 World Cup in hopes of encouraging others to do the same. And she writes passionately about her choice to kneel in solidarity with former NFL star Colin Kaepernick to protest racial injustice and police brutality—and the blowback that came with it. Rapinoe seems unbothered by the latter, which is no surprise after reading about her parents, who taught her that real success isn’t about winning trophies, but being a good person. One Life is Rapinoe’s way of paying that important life lesson forward.

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Life, Keith Richards (2010)

It has been said that the only two things that will survive nuclear war are cockroaches and Keith Richards . In his debut memoir, Life, the guitarist offers some context as to why that might be true by sharing some of the craziest stories of his rock and roll past. With the topsy-turvy glee of a merry prankster, Richards recalls his days on the road with the Rolling Stones, complains (a lot) about his bandmate Mick Jagger, details his former drug habits, and reminisces about the famous loves of his life including Marianne Faithfull, Ronnie Spector, and current wife Patti Hansen.

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Open Book, Jessica Simpson (2020)

Jessica Simpson ’s frank, often heartbreaking memoir covers 15 years of her life in the all-too-unforgiving public eye. The pop star turned founder of a billion-dollar fashion brand doesn’t refrain from sharing the traumas of her past. She writes openly of her troubled marriage to Nick Lachey , struggles with alcohol addiction, and anxieties pertaining to her body, which were made worse by a now infamous pair of “mom jeans.”

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Just Kids, Patti Smith (2010)

Just Kids picks up at the Chelsea Hotel in the late 1960s where punk icon Patti Smith and late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe were living while pursuing their bohemian dreams. In her best-selling and award-winning memoir, Smith casts herself as an outsider looking in, sharing sweet and often silly stories of her run-ins with notable names like Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, who once bought her a cheese sandwich at the Automat because he thought she was an attractive boy. It’s Mapplethorpe, who died in 1989 due to complications from AIDS, that helps her feel as if she can do it all. It’s that feeling, that anything is possible, that makes Just Kids such an inspiring read.

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Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen (2016)

Bruce Springsteen surprised fans when, in 2016, he dropped his memoir, Born to Run, while gearing up for his one-man Broadway show. Even more surprising may be just how loosey goosey the Boss’ first autobiography is. Alongside intimate never-before-shared recollections about his hardscrabble New Jersey upbringing and struggles with depression, he throws in more than a few dad jokes and silly stories about getting kicked out of Disneyland for violating the dress code or singing jazz standards with Bob Dylan at Frank Sinatra’s 80th birthday party for good measure. Springsteen’s levity makes Born to Run a rewarding read for even those who don’t bow down at the altar of Bruuuce .

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The Beauty of Living Twice , Sharon Stone (2021)

In 2001 at the age of 43, Sharon Stone nearly died from an undetected brain hemorrhage. In her memoir, The Beauty of Living Twice, she writes about how her late grandmother, Lela, came to her in a dream, telling her not to move her neck. Shortly after, Stone discovered that her right vertebral artery, the major artery that supplies blood to the brain and spinal cord, was torn and bleeding into her face, brain, and spine. Any sudden movement of her neck would have killed her. But the advice from her grandmother she dreamt not only saved her, it offered her a second chance. Stone’s book is filled with these kinds of harrowing, often darkly funny stories about the years before and after her near death experience. It’s what makes The Beauty of Living Twice so hard to put down and even harder to forget.

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My Name Is Barbra , Barbra Streisand (2023)

My Name Is Barbra , Barbra Streisand’s long-awaited debut memoir, offers a no-stone-left-unturned look at this funny girl turned even funnier lady. At nearly a thousand pages, she covers her life, career, and everything she ate in between. (The New Yorker called it the “mother of all memoirs” for just how delightfully detailed it is.) For those that want even more Babs: Listen to the audiobook of My Name is Barbra , which lets Streisand regale fans with a few more stories that somehow didn’t make the cut the first time around.

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Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood, Danny Trejo (2021)

Danny Trejo’s unflinching memoir offers a look at his unlikely journey from convicted felon to celebrated character actor known for playing tough guys on projects like Desperado and Breaking Bad . Trejo doesn’t sugarcoat his past as he shares the details of his harrowing childhood growing up in an abusive household, struggles with heroin addiction, and time spent in San Quentin and Folsom, two of the most notorious prisons in the U.S. For all his lows, he is quick to celebrate his highs, most of which came after he found sobriety. After starting from the bottom, Trejo is here with a redemption story that he hopes will inspire others to keep on the straight and narrow.

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Taste: My Life Through Food , Stanley Tucci (2021)

Make yourself a shaken, not stirred Negroni—just the way Stanley Tucci likes it —and take a big bite out of Taste , the actor and cookbook author’s culinary-focused memoir that follows his journey from struggling actor and bartender to famous Hollywood gourmand, and all the meals he loved in between. Just like Tucci’s soothing Instagram cocktail tutorials , his book offers delicious, often hilarious anecdotes about his wife (and Emily’s sister) Felicity Blunt’s odd way of making potatoes and the time Meryl Streep dug into a plate of tripe sausage that apparently looked a lot like a horse phallus.

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I, Tina: My Life Story , Tina Turner (1986)

I, Tina, the late Tina Turner ’s best-selling debut memoir, co-written with MTV News legend Kurt Loder , offers a deeply personal look at her life, career, and turbulent relationship with ex-husband Ike Turner. Born Anna Mae Bullock in 1939, Tina grew up poor with apathetic parents in the tiny town of Nutbush, Tenn . In her teens, she met aspiring musician Ike, who was eight years her senior, and joined his band in 1957. The two were married five years later and Ike quickly became her biggest tormentor. As her star rose, Ike looked to control her. In her bombshell-filled-book, which inspired the 1993 film What’s Love Got To Do With It , she recalls in horrific detail the ways in which he would abuse her physically, mentally, and emotionally throughout their 16-year marriage. (Ike would confirm his abuse of Tina in the years before his 2007 death.) I, Tina is not only a gripping rock star memoir, released at the start of Tina’s solo career resurgence, but an empowering tale of survival .

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Just as I Am , Cicely Tyson (2021)

Cicely Tyson ’s memoir, Just as I Am, released two days before her death at 96 years old, offers a candid look at a one-of-a-kind actress and cultural icon. From her parents’ troubled marriage and her teenage pregnancy to her first Academy Award-nomination and her tormented relationship with jazz legend Miles Davis, Tyson writes openly about the ups and downs of her life. It’s one that despite its challenges, she makes very clear, was a life well-lived.

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You Got Anything Stronger?, Gabrielle Union (2021)

If Gabrielle Union ’s 2017 debut memoir, We’re Going to Need More Wine , was an aperitif then its sequel, You Got Anything Stronger? , is the main course.With her second memoir in essays, Union delves a little deeper into difficult topics, writing about her experiences with IVF , suicide ideation, and neo-Nazis. But just like her first book, she is able to balance those darker stories with lighter ones about her daughter Zaya Wade ’s journey to coming out as transgender and the bathroom emergency she suffered at a strip club. Her commitment to telling her truth, no matter how dirty—sometimes quite literally—is what made this one of TIME’s Must-Read Books of 2021 .

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Crying in H Mart , Michelle Zauner (2021)

Musician Michelle Zauner ’s best-selling debut memoir, Crying in H Mart, was born out of her viral 2018 New Yorker essay of the same name, in which she wrote about how, following the death of her mother from cancer, she would break down crying in H Mart, the Korean-American supermarket chain where the two often shopped. The book looks at the ways in which our favorite foods become visceral reminders of those we loved and lost. For Zauner, who is half-Korean and half-white, losing her mom sent her searching for “evidence that the Korean half of my identity didn’t die when they did.” Over the course of 256 pages, the leader of the indie pop band Japanese Breakfast writes of the foods they both loved: miyeok-guk , a comforting non-spicy seaweed soup often served to new mothers, or sannakji , a controversial live octopus dish. Using her palate and her favorite food memories, she looks to reconcile her complicated relationship with her mom, whose constant nagging she comes to realize was her love language.

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