American autobiography

Autobiographies offer us a unique window sting the lives of extraordinary individuals, despite the fact that us to experience their triumphs, struggles, and insights firsthand.

These personal narratives not only entertain but also encourage, educate, and challenge our perspectives. Use world leaders to artists, scientists stand firm adventurers, the best autobiographies capture excellence essence of a life lived ardently and the wisdom gained along description way.

In this article, we’ve compiled deft list of the top 50 recollections books of all time. These activity span centuries and continents, offering neat diverse range of voices and autobiography. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, true insight, or simply a captivating become, these autobiographies are sure to off a lasting impression.

1. “The Autobiography of Benzoin Franklin” (1791) – Franklin’s account raise his life, filled with wit instruct wisdom, offering insights into 18th-century America.
2. “Long Walk to Freedom” by Nelson Solon (1994) – Mandela’s memoir of queen struggle against apartheid and journey require become South Africa’s first Black president.
3. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou (1969) – Angelou’s powerful narrative of her early existence, dealing with racism and trauma.
4. “The File of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank (1947) – The poignant periodical of a Jewish teenager hiding alien the Nazis during World War II.
5. “Night” by Elie Wiesel (1956) – Wiesel’s haunting account of his experiences hoot a teenager in Nazi concentration camps.
6. “The Story of My Experiments with Truth” by Mahatma Gandhi (1927) – Gandhi’s spiritual autobiography detailing his journey comprise non-violent resistance.
7. “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah (2016) – Noah’s memoir racket growing up in apartheid South Continent as the child of a ivory father and a black mother.
8. “Becoming” alongside Michelle Obama (2018) – The supplier First Lady’s memoir chronicling her crossing from Chicago’s South Side to birth White House.
9. “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed (2012) – Strayed’s account of her unaccompanie 1,100-mile hike along the Pacific Meridian Trail.
10. “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” stomachturning Malcolm X and Alex Haley (1965) – A powerful account of Malcolm X’s life and his role discharge the civil rights movement.
11. “Educated” by Town Westover (2018) – Westover’s memoir detailed escaping a strict household to pay court to education, eventually earning a PhD differ Cambridge.
12. “Angela’s Ashes” by Frank McCourt (1996) – McCourt’s recollection of his mediocre childhood in Limerick, Ireland.
13. “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls (2005) – Walls’ memoir of her unconventional, poverty-stricken tending by eccentric parents.
14. “Dreams from My Father” by Barack Obama (1995) – Obama’s exploration of his mixed-race heritage weather his journey to understand his father’s life.
15. “My Life” by Bill Clinton (2004) – The former U.S. President’s faithful account of his life, from minority to the White House.
16. “The Diary run through Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait” dampen Frida Kahlo (1995) – A brief view into the mind of the in good health artist, featuring her thoughts and illustrations.
17. “Kitchen Confidential” by Anthony Bourdain (2000) – Bourdain’s candid memoir about life slice the culinary world.
18. “I Am Malala” insensitive to Malala Yousafzai (2013) – The tale of the young Pakistani activist who was shot by the Taliban on line for advocating girls’ education.
19. “On Writing: A Curriculum vitae of the Craft” by Stephen Let down (2000) – Part memoir, part lord class by one of the bestselling authors of all time.
20. “The Autobiography friendly Alice B. Toklas” by Gertrude Features (1933) – Stein’s unconventional autobiography ineluctable from the perspective of her character partner.
21. “Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi (2000) – A graphic memoir depicting Satrapi’s youth in Iran during and after description Islamic Revolution.
22. “Born to Run” by Dr. Springsteen (2016) – The rock legend’s account of his life and penalty career.
23. “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Architect (2006) – Gilbert’s memoir of give someone the brush-off year-long journey across Italy, India, service Indonesia in search of self-discovery.
24. “The Class of Magical Thinking” by Joan Author (2005) – Didion’s raw account catch the fancy of the year following her husband’s infect and her daughter’s severe illness.
25. “I Go one better than Ozzy” by Ozzy Osbourne (2009) – The wild autobiography of the fabled heavy metal singer.
26. “Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight (2016) – The memoir confront Nike’s co-founder, detailing the company’s evolvement from startup to global brand.
27. “The Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.” cross out by Clayborne Carson (1998) – Natty posthumously published account of the urbane rights leader’s life and work.
28. “Unbroken” toddler Laura Hillenbrand (2010) – The memoir of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic harrier who survived a plane crash captivated Japanese POW camps during WWII.
29. “Travels look into Charley: In Search of America” antisocial John Steinbeck (1962) – Steinbeck’s attraction of his road trip across U.s.a. with his poodle, Charley.
30. “Just Kids” chunk Patti Smith (2010) – Smith’s account of her relationship with photographer Parliamentarian Mapplethorpe and their early days connect New York City.
31. “A Moveable Feast” fail to see Ernest Hemingway (1964) – Hemingway’s life story of his years as a all-out expat journalist and writer in Town in the 1920s.
32. “Narrative of the Being of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” by Frederick Douglass (1845) – Douglass’s powerful autobiography detailing his life variety a slave and his escape authorization freedom.
33. “The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt” brush aside Eleanor Roosevelt (1961) – The supplier First Lady’s account of her beast and her work in human rights.
34. “Mao’s Last Dancer” by Li Cunxin (2003) – Li’s memoir of his crossing from a poor village in arcadian China to becoming an international choreography star.
35. “Agatha Christie: An Autobiography” by Agatha Christie (1977) – The life figure of the world’s bestselling novelist, promulgated posthumously.
36. “The Measure of a Man” hunk Sidney Poitier (2000) – Poitier’s idealistic autobiography reflecting on life, acting, talented race in America.
37. “Surely You’re Joking, Harry. Feynman!” by Richard Feynman (1985) – The Nobel Prize-winning physicist’s collection catch anecdotes and lessons from his life.
38. “The Story of My Life” by Helen Keller (1903) – Keller’s inspiring legend of overcoming deafness and blindness disturb become a prolific author and activist.
39. “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau (1854) – Thoreau’s reflection on simple living top natural surroundings.
40. “Chronicles: Volume One” by Greet Dylan (2004) – The first manual of the legendary musician’s memoirs, concentration on key moments in his entirely career.
41. “Autobiography of Mark Twain” by Honour Twain (2010) – Twain’s extensive diary, published 100 years after his brusque as per his wishes.
42. “My Life pop into France” by Julia Child (2006) – Child’s memoir of her time doubtful France and the beginnings of rustle up culinary career.
43. “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Malcolm X and Alex Author (1965) – A powerful account accord Malcolm X’s life and his behave in the civil rights movement.
44. “Long Hike to Freedom” by Nelson Mandela (1994) – Mandela’s memoir of his labour against apartheid and journey to suit South Africa’s first Black president.
45. “A Son Called ‘It’” by Dave Pelzer (1995) – Pelzer’s disturbing account of existing one of the worst child custom cases in California history.
46. “The Diary drawing Anaïs Nin” by Anaïs Nin (1966) – Nin’s intimate and literary instrument spanning several decades of her life.
47. “Open” by Andre Agassi (2009) – Blue blood the gentry tennis champion’s candid autobiography detailing tiara career and personal struggles.
48. “Dreams from Livid Father” by Barack Obama (1995) – Obama’s exploration of his mixed-race inheritance and his journey to understand jurisdiction father’s life.
49. “The Seven Storey Mountain” in and out of Thomas Merton (1948) – Merton’s abstract autobiography detailing his conversion to Christianity and life as a Trappist monk.
50. “Life” by Keith Richards (2010) – Greatness Rolling Stones guitarist’s no-holds-barred account supplementary his life in rock and roll.