Autobiographies offer us a unique window into the lives of extraordinary individuals, allowing us to experience their triumphs, struggles, and insights firsthand.
These personal narratives not only entertain but also inspire, educate, and challenge our perspectives. From world leaders to artists, scientists to adventurers, the best autobiographies capture the essence of a life lived fully and the wisdom gained along the way.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the top 50 autobiography books of all time. These works span centuries and continents, offering a diverse range of voices and experiences. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, historical insight, or simply a captivating read, these autobiographies are sure to leave a lasting impression.
- “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” (1791) – Franklin’s account of his life, filled with wit and wisdom, offering insights into 18th-century America.
- “Long Walk to Freedom” by Nelson Mandela (1994) – Mandela’s memoir of his struggle against apartheid and journey to become South Africa’s first Black president.
- “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou (1969) – Angelou’s powerful narrative of her early years, dealing with racism and trauma.
- “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank (1947) – The poignant journal of a Jewish teenager hiding from the Nazis during World War II.
- “Night” by Elie Wiesel (1956) – Wiesel’s haunting account of his experiences as a teenager in Nazi concentration camps.
- “The Story of My Experiments with Truth” by Mahatma Gandhi (1927) – Gandhi’s spiritual autobiography detailing his journey to non-violent resistance.
- “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah (2016) – Noah’s memoir of growing up in apartheid South Africa as the child of a white father and a black mother.
- “Becoming” by Michelle Obama (2018) – The former First Lady’s memoir chronicling her journey from Chicago’s South Side to the White House.
- “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed (2012) – Strayed’s account of her solo 1,100-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail.
- “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Malcolm X and Alex Haley (1965) – A powerful account of Malcolm X’s life and his role in the civil rights movement.
- “Educated” by Tara Westover (2018) – Westover’s memoir of escaping a strict household to pursue education, eventually earning a PhD from Cambridge.
- “Angela’s Ashes” by Frank McCourt (1996) – McCourt’s recollection of his impoverished childhood in Limerick, Ireland.
- “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls (2005) – Walls’ memoir of her unconventional, poverty-stricken upbringing by eccentric parents.
- “Dreams from My Father” by Barack Obama (1995) – Obama’s exploration of his mixed-race heritage and his journey to understand his father’s life.
- “My Life” by Bill Clinton (2004) – The former U.S. President’s detailed account of his life, from childhood to the White House.
- “The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait” by Frida Kahlo (1995) – A glimpse into the mind of the renowned artist, featuring her thoughts and illustrations.
- “Kitchen Confidential” by Anthony Bourdain (2000) – Bourdain’s candid memoir about life in the culinary world.
- “I Am Malala” by Malala Yousafzai (2013) – The story of the young Pakistani activist who was shot by the Taliban for advocating girls’ education.
- “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” by Stephen King (2000) – Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time.
- “The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas” by Gertrude Stein (1933) – Stein’s unconventional autobiography written from the perspective of her life partner.
- “Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi (2000) – A graphic memoir depicting Satrapi’s childhood in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution.
- “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen (2016) – The rock legend’s account of his life and music career.
- “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert (2006) – Gilbert’s memoir of her year-long journey across Italy, India, and Indonesia in search of self-discovery.
- “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion (2005) – Didion’s raw account of the year following her husband’s death and her daughter’s severe illness.
- “I Am Ozzy” by Ozzy Osbourne (2009) – The wild autobiography of the legendary heavy metal singer.
- “Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight (2016) – The memoir of Nike’s co-founder, detailing the company’s evolution from startup to global brand.
- “The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.” edited by Clayborne Carson (1998) – A posthumously published account of the civil rights leader’s life and work.
- “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand (2010) – The biography of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who survived a plane crash and Japanese POW camps during WWII.
- “Travels with Charley: In Search of America” by John Steinbeck (1962) – Steinbeck’s travelogue of his road trip across America with his poodle, Charley.
- “Just Kids” by Patti Smith (2010) – Smith’s memoir of her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and their early days in New York City.
- “A Moveable Feast” by Ernest Hemingway (1964) – Hemingway’s memoir of his years as a struggling expat journalist and writer in Paris in the 1920s.
- “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” by Frederick Douglass (1845) – Douglass’s powerful autobiography detailing his life as a slave and his escape to freedom.
- “The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt” by Eleanor Roosevelt (1961) – The former First Lady’s account of her life and her work in human rights.
- “Mao’s Last Dancer” by Li Cunxin (2003) – Li’s memoir of his journey from a poor village in rural China to becoming an international ballet star.
- “Agatha Christie: An Autobiography” by Agatha Christie (1977) – The life story of the world’s bestselling novelist, published posthumously.
- “The Measure of a Man” by Sidney Poitier (2000) – Poitier’s spiritual autobiography reflecting on life, acting, and race in America.
- “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!” by Richard Feynman (1985) – The Nobel Prize-winning physicist’s collection of anecdotes and lessons from his life.
- “The Story of My Life” by Helen Keller (1903) – Keller’s inspiring account of overcoming deafness and blindness to become a prolific author and activist.
- “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau (1854) – Thoreau’s reflection on simple living in natural surroundings.
- “Chronicles: Volume One” by Bob Dylan (2004) – The first volume of the legendary musician’s memoirs, focusing on key moments in his early career.
- “Autobiography of Mark Twain” by Mark Twain (2010) – Twain’s extensive autobiography, published 100 years after his death as per his wishes.
- “My Life in France” by Julia Child (2006) – Child’s memoir of her time in France and the beginnings of her culinary career.
- “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Malcolm X and Alex Haley (1965) – A powerful account of Malcolm X’s life and his role in the civil rights movement.
- “Long Walk to Freedom” by Nelson Mandela (1994) – Mandela’s memoir of his struggle against apartheid and journey to become South Africa’s first Black president.
- “A Child Called ‘It’” by Dave Pelzer (1995) – Pelzer’s disturbing account of surviving one of the worst child abuse cases in California history.
- “The Diary of Anaïs Nin” by Anaïs Nin (1966) – Nin’s intimate and literary diaries spanning several decades of her life.
- “Open” by Andre Agassi (2009) – The tennis champion’s candid autobiography detailing his career and personal struggles.
- “Dreams from My Father” by Barack Obama (1995) – Obama’s exploration of his mixed-race heritage and his journey to understand his father’s life.
- “The Seven Storey Mountain” by Thomas Merton (1948) – Merton’s spiritual autobiography detailing his conversion to Catholicism and life as a Trappist monk.
- “Life” by Keith Richards (2010) – The Rolling Stones guitarist’s no-holds-barred account of his life in rock and roll.
