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Biographies

A good biography invites you into someone else’s life. It takes you on fascinating journeys through the ups and downs of the life of legendary film stars, talented musicians, inspiring athletes, visionary politicians and many more. A good biography lets you get under the skin of your biggest idols, and you feel collected when reading their story - maybe even in the form of their own words. You will find both biographies and autobiographies in Tales’ selection, in addition to diaries and memoirs. So are you ready to be inspired by some of the world’'s most extraordinary individuals?
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  • Save 20%
    - An Astronaut's Journeys
    by Michael Collins
    £11.99

    A special updated anniversary edition of the classic account of the Apollo 11 trip to the moon.

  • by Napoleon Hill
    £8.99 - 15.49

  • Save 20%
    - Catching the Billion-Dollar Baron of the Dark Web
    by Nick Bilton
    £11.99

    A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERThe unbelievable true story of the man who built a billion-dollar online drug empire from his bedroom - and almost got away with it.

  • - Oil, Money, Murder and the Birth of the FBI
    by David Grann
    £10.49

    A masterpiece of narrative non-fiction, set around an American crime and the birth of the FBI, a thrilling investigative account of a forgotten moment in history.

  • Save 21%
    - The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder
    by Caroline Fraser
    £14.99

    The first comprehensive historical biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the beloved author of the Little House on the Prairie book series

  • Save 10%
    - A Memoir by Microsoft's CEO
    by Satya Nadella
    £8.99

    From the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella, is an inspiring account of the transformation of an organisation and the coming transformation of humanity.

  • Save 14%
    by Roddy Doyle & Roy Keane
    £9.49

    Memoir by one of the greatest of modern footballers, and former captain of Manchester United and Ireland, Roy Keane - co-written in a unique collaboration with Man Booker Prize-winner Roddy Doyle.

  • Save 18%
    - The Life
    by Roland Lazenby
    £16.49

  • Save 15%
    by Paramahansa Yogananda
    £25.49 - 51.49

  • Save 10%
    by Franz Kafka
    £8.99

    Kafka first made the acquaintance of Milena Jesenska in 1920 when she was translating his early short prose into Czech, and their relationship quickly developed into a deep attachment. In 1924 Kafka died in a sanatorium near Vienna, and Milena died in 1944 at the hands of the Nazis, leaving these letters as a moving record of their relationship.

  • Save 15%
    by John Carlin & Rafael Nadal
    £10.99

    The Sunday Times bestselling autobiography from the greatest tennis player of his generation'A winner' Independent 'A terrific sporting memoir, full of memorable anecdotes' New Statesman 'As exciting as Rafa himself' Woman's OwnNo tennis player since Andre Agassi has captivated the world like Rafael Nadal. He's a rarity in today's sporting arena - a true sportsman who chooses to let his raw talent, dedication and humility define him. With a remarkable 16 grand slam victories under his belt, and with friend and rival Roger Federer's record haul of 20 in his sights, Nadal is an extraordinary competitor whose ferocity on court is made even more remarkable by his grace off it.This book takes us to the heart of Nadal's childhood, his growth as a player, and his incredible career. It includes memorable highs and lows, from victory in the 2008 Wimbledon final - a match that John McEnroe called the 'greatest game of tennis ever played' - to the injury problems that have frequently threatened his dominance of the sport, to becoming the youngest player of the open era to complete a career Grand Slam in 2010. It transports us from Nadal's lifelong home on the island of Majorca to the locker room of Centre Court as he describes in detail the pressures of competing in the greatest tournament in the world. It offers a glimpse behind the racquet to learn what really makes this intensely private person - who has never before talked about his home life - tick. And it provides us with a story that is personal, revealing and every bit as exciting as Nadal himself.

  • Save 20%
    by Primo Levi
    £11.99

    With the moral stamina and intellectual pose of a twentieth-century Titan, this slightly built, duitful, unassuming chemist set out systematically to remember the German hell on earth, steadfastly to think it through, and then to render it comprehensible in lucid, unpretentious prose. He was profoundly in touch with the minutest workings of the most endearing human events and with the most contempible. What has survived in Levi's writing isn't just his memory of the unbearable, but also, in THE PERIODIC TABLE and THE WRENCH, his delight in what made the world exquisite to him. He was himself a "e;magically endearing man, the most delicately forceful enchanter I've ever known"e; - PHILIP ROTH

  • Save 14%
    by Peter Mayle
    £9.49

    The bestselling, much-loved classic account of an English couple enjoying the fruits of French rural living - an irresistible feast of humour and heart.Peter Mayle and his wife did what most of us only imagine doing when they made their long-cherished dream of a life abroad a reality: throwing caution to the wind, they bought a glorious two hundred year-old farmhouse in the Lub ron Valley and began a new life.In a year that begins with a marathon lunch and continues with a host of gastronomic delights, they also survive the unexpected and often hilarious curiosities of rural life. From mastering the local accent and enduring invasion by bumbling builders, to discovering the finer points of boules and goat-racing, all the earthy pleasures of Proven al life are conjured up in this enchanting portrait.'One of the most successful travel books of all time... Mayle created a new travel genre' GuardianDelightful' Washington Post'Engaging, funny and richly appreciative' New York Times Book Review'Stylish, witty, delightfully readable' Sunday Times'I really loved this book' Julia Child

  • Save 14%
    by Marco Polo
    £9.49 - 14.99

    A sparkling new translation of one of the greatest travel books ever written: Marco Polo's seminal account of his journeys in the east, in a collectible clothbound edition. Marco Polo was the most famous traveller of his time. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to China, after which he served the Kublai Khan on numerous diplomatic missions. On his return to the West he was made a prisoner of war and met Rustichello of Pisa, with whom he collaborated on this book. His account of his travels offers a fascinating glimpse of what he encountered abroad: unfamiliar religions, customs and societies; the spices and silks of the East; the precious gems, exotic vegetation and wild beasts of faraway lands. Evoking a remote and long-vanished world with colour and immediacy, Marco's book revolutionized western ideas about the then unknown East and is still one of the greatest travel accounts of all time.For this edition - the first completely new English translation of the Travels in over fifty years - Nigel Cliff has gone back to the original manuscript sources to produce a fresh, authoritative new version. The volume also contains invaluable editorial materials, including an introduction describing the world as it stood on the eve of Polo's departure, and examining the fantastical notions the West had developed of the East.Marco Polo was born in 1254, joining his father on a journey to China in 1271. He spent the next twenty years travelling in the service of Kublai Khan. There is evidence that Marco travelled extensively in the Mongol Empire and it is fairly certain he visited India. He wrote his famous Travels whilst a prisoner in Genoa.Nigel Cliff was previously a theatre and film critic for The Times and a regular writer for The Economist, among other publications, and now writes historical nonfiction books. His first book, The Shakespeare Riots, was published in 2007 and shortlisted for the Washington-based National Award for Arts Writing. His second book, The Last Crusade: Vasco da Gama and the Birth of the Modern World appeared in 2011 and was shortlisted for the PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize.

  • Save 14%
    - A Year of Freeconomic Living
    by MARK BOYLE
    £9.49

    Imagine living for an entire year without money. Where do you live? What do you eat? How do you stay in touch with your friends and family? Former businessman Mark Boyle thought he'd give it a try. In a world of seasonal foods, solar panels, skill-swapping schemes, cuttlefish toothpaste, and compost toilets, Boyle puts the fun into frugality and offers some great tips for economical and environmentally friendly living. By following his own strict rules, he learns ingenious ways to eliminate his bills and flourish for free. Heart-warming, witty, and full of money-saving tips, The Moneyless Man will inspire you to ask what really matters in life.

  • Save 10%
    by James Allworth, Clayton Christensen & Karen Dillon
    £8.99 - 11.99

    How do you lead a fulfilling life? That profound question animates this book of inspiration and insight from world-class business strategist and bestselling author of The Innovator's Dilemma, Clayton Christensen.After beating a heart attack, advanced-stage cancer and a stroke in three successive years, the world-renowned innovation expert and author of one of the best selling and most influential business books of all time - The Innovator's Dilemma - Clayton M. Christensen delivered a short but powerful speech to the Harvard Business School graduating class. He presented a set of personal guidelines that have helped him find meaning and happiness in his life - a challenge even the brightest and most motivated of students find daunting.Akin to The Last Lecture in its revelatory perspective following life-altering events, that speech subsequently became a hugely popular article in the Harvard Business Review and is now a groundbreaking book, putting forth a series of questions and models for success that have long been applied in the world of business, but also can be used to find cogent answers to pressing life questions: How can I be sure that I'll find satisfaction in my career? How can I be sure that my relationships with my spouse, my family and my close friends become enduring sources of happiness? How can I avoid compromising my integrity (and stay out of jail)?How Will You Measure Your Life? is a highly original, surprising book from a singular business figure. It's a book sure to inspire and educate readers - companies and individuals, students of business, mid-career professionals, and even parents - the world over.

  • Save 15%
    by Mrs Hinch
    £10.99

    Get organised in 2023 with Mrs Hinch's Little Book of Lists, the perfect book for every Hincher looking to start their year rightFROM THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER___________Welcome to your Little Book of Lists!A whole book filled with just lists! Notebook goals!My idea of absolute heaven!As you all know, nothing helps me feel more organised than putting pen to paper and getting everything that's buzzing around my head down on to the page.Inside you'll find loads of Hinch Lists and Fresh'n Up Fridays to help you plan your hinching, as well as Tadaa Lists which I love to look back on and feel proud of.Nothing feels better than ticking off those boxes and putting down my crystal pen at the end of a productive day.I really hope you'll find this Little Book of Lists, all together in one place, helpful!Happy hinching, Hinchers!Love, Mrs Hinch xx___________'The sensation' Sun'We're mad about Mrs Hinch' Vogue'My new cleaning goddess' Daily Telegraph

  • Save 26%
    by Rihanna
    £88.49 - 599.49

    All hail Rihanna: Queen Size! The statement volume for Rihanna fans, this luxury, queen-size edition is limited to 500 copies worldwide.

  • Save 23%
    - My Life with Ted Bundy, Updated and Expanded Edition
    by Elizabeth Kendall
    £15.49

  • Save 15%
    - The Inside Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy (New Edition)
    by Ann Rule
    £10.99

    The international true crime classicMore than 2 million copies sold in the English language alone

  • Save 21%
    - Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling
    by Matthew Dicks
    £13.49

    A four-time Moth GrandSLAM winner and bestselling novelist shows how to tell a great story - and why doing so matters

  • Save 10%
    by Daniel Keyes
    £8.99

    The Minds of Billy Milligan, a riveting book penned by the acclaimed author Daniel Keyes, takes you on a journey into the depths of human consciousness. Published by Orion Publishing Co in 2018, this book belongs to a genre that intertwines psychology, crime, and true events. It tells the story of Billy Milligan, a man with 24 different personalities, making it a compelling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The narrative is woven with such finesse that it leaves a lasting impression. The author, Daniel Keyes, masterfully unravels the complexities of the human mind, making this book a must-read. Orion Publishing Co, known for their wide range of thought-provoking books, adds another feather to their cap with this publication.

  • Save 24%
    - Accidental Icon
    by Iris Apfel
    £18.99

    ?I never want to be an old fuddy-duddy;I hold the self-proclaimed record for being the World's Oldest Living Teenager and I intend to keep it that way.??Iris ApfelOne of the most dynamic personalities in the worlds of fashion, textiles, and interior design?and hands down the most vital, witty nonagenarian in the solar system?Iris Apfel is a true original. Now, this contemporary legend, whose authenticity, candor, and infectious energy have earned her fans of all ages worldwide, has created an entertaining, thought-provoking, visually arresting, and exciting volume that captures her irrepressible joie de vivre.Astute maxims, anecdotes from childhood to the present, essays on style and various subjects?from the decline of manners to risk-taking?fill the book, as do lists proclamatory, revelatory, and advisory. A bold, highly colorful design that varies from page to page presents a characteristically improvisational pastiche of vibrant images including personal photographs and mementos, images from top international fashion photographers, specially commissioned art by renowned illustrators, and a range of surprising novelties.This is a rare book by a rare bird, indeed.

  • Save 15%
    - The Tragedy of Robert Enke
    by Ronald Reng
    £10.99

    On 10 November 2009 German national goalkeeper, Robert Enke, stepped in front of a passing train. He was thirty two years old. Viewed from outside, Enke had it all. Here was a professional goalkeeper who had played for a string of Europe's top clubs including Jose Mourinho's Benfica and Louis Van Gaal's Barcelona. This title presents his story.

  • Save 23%
    - Viktor Schauberger and the Secrets of Natural Energy
    by Olof Alexandersson
    £16.99

    Foreword by Kai Curry-Lindahl. The first book in English to describe Viktor Schauberger's prophetic work.

  • Save 24%
    by Cher
    £18.99

  • Save 14%
    by Bethany Joy Lenz
    £9.49 - 18.99

  • Save 14%
    by Jeremy Clarkson
    £9.49 - 16.99

  • Save 14%
    by Alex Van Halen
    £9.49 - 16.99

  • Save 15%
    by Staci Robinson
    £10.99

Biographies
Biographies books are per definition a collection of someone’s life. That someone is mostly a celebrity and often comes from the world of entertainment for example a famous movie or television star. A good biography lets you under the skin of the subject. Biographies are mostly written by biography authors, who are specialized in capturing the life of another person through research and multiple interviews with both the individual and his or her relatives. The celebrity or icon can also choose to write his or her own story, which is what characterizes an autobiography. An autobiography can - if the writer is good - give you a more intimate picture of the subject. You can both find biographies and autobiographies in Tales’ wide selection of Biographies. 

Biographies best sellers
Tales’ selection contains most of the biographies best sellers. The biographies books are often about celebrities known from film, television or the music industry, but they can also be about inspiring trailblazers from the societal or political world like the biography best seller Becoming about Michelle Obama. The American first lady has inspired many Americans and people around the world. Her and her husband - the first black American first lady and President - made many extraordinary changes in the American society and advocated for more diversity and respect in the American people. Michelle Obama also fights for more equality, especially when it comes to girls and women. Read the inspiring story of how Michelle Obama became one of our times most popular, kind and obliging residents of the White House in her biography Becoming, and let it guide you to finding our own voice. 
Another best seller is Three Women by Lisa Taddeo. Taddeo has written an innovative biography that is a collection of three American women's lives. The biography is an investigation of the female lust in all its complexity. Many women have expressed that they can reflect their own life and feelings of desire in the book. 

Biographies about musicians
Take a look in our selection and find some of the best biographies about musicians. The selection has something for every taste, because you find accounts about musicians from every end of the spectre. Whether you like rock, jazz, classical music, pop or musicals you will find biographies about musicians representing every genre. 
Take for example the autobiography Me Elton John, who has gained extraordinary reviews and success all around the world making the Elton John biography an international best seller. The book is the only official biography made about the iconic musician and singer. Read the incredible and turbulent story about one of our biggest stars to date, and you might learn the secrets behind writing and performing hit after hit.
You can also dive into the fascinating story of the musical legend Julie Andrews. In the biography Home you can read about her journey from London to Broadway stardom. The triple threat is the woman behind legendary roles such as Mary Poppins and Maria from The Sound of Music, and you can follow her journey through Hollywood in the sequel Home Work. Julie Andrews is the writer of her own story and she writes in an intimate and heart-warming narrative. 

Biographies about artists
Are you an art lover, art student or an artist yourself? Then we would recommend you to find inspiration in our biographies about artists. Our collection of biographies contains among others the book Frida Kahlo - A Biography written by Claudia Schaefer. Schaefer gives an introduction to the beloved Latino artist. Frida Kahlo is one of modern times greatest female artists and her surrealist artworks are extraordinary. The biography introduces the reader to her unique form of art - Kahlo did not see herself as a surrealist - but it also gives a look into the artist behind the world famous works of art. If you want to dive into the lives of amazing artists, the story of Kahlo is just one of many wonderful biographies about artists. 

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