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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 14%
    by Gordon Ramsay
    £9.49

    Everyone thinks they know the real Gordon Ramsay: rude, loud, pathologically driven, stubborn as hell. But this is his real story...This is Gordon Ramsay's autobiography - the first time he has told the full story of how he became the world's most famous and infamous chef: his difficult childhood, his brother's heroin addiction and his failed first career as a footballer: all of these things have made him the celebrated culinary talent and media powerhouse that he is today. Gordon talks frankly about:* his tough childhood: his father's alcoholism and violence and the effects on his relationships with his mother and siblings* his first career as a footballer: how the whole family moved to Scotland when he was signed by Glasgow Rangers at the age of fifteen, and how he coped when his career was over due to injury just three years later* his brother's heroin addiction.* Gordon's early career: learning his trade in Paris and London; how his career developed from there: his time in Paris under Albert Roux and his seven Michelin-starred restaurants.* kitchen life: Gordon spills the beans about life behind the kitchen door, and how a restaurant kitchen is run in Anthony Bourdain-style.* and how he copes with the impact of fame on himself and his family: his television career, the rapacious tabloids, and his own drive for success.

  • Save 15%
    by Bruce Dickinson
    £10.99

    'I was spotty, wore an anorak, had biro-engraved flared blue jeans with "purple" and "Sabbath" written on the thighs, and rode an ear-splittingly uncool moped. Oh yes, and I wanted to be a drummer...' Bruce Dickinson - Iron Maiden's legendary front man - is one of the world's most iconic singers and songwriters. But there are many strings to Bruce's bow, of which larger-than-life lead vocalist is just one. He is also an airline captain, aviation entrepreneur, motivational speaker, beer brewer, novelist, radio presenter, film scriptwriter and an international fencer: truly one of the most unique and interesting men in the world. In What Does this Button Do? Bruce contemplates the rollercoaster of life. He recounts - in his uniquely anarchic voice - the explosive exploits of his eccentric British childhood, the meteoric rise of Maiden, summoning the powers of darkness, the philosophy of fencing, brutishly beautiful Boeings and firmly dismissing cancer like an uninvited guest. Bold, honest, intelligent and funny, this long-awaited memoir captures the life, heart and mind of a true rock icon, and is guaranteed to inspire curious souls and hard-core fans alike.

  • - - erindringer fra 1946 til 1966
    by Jan Arnt
    £52.49

    Sydhavnen er en udskældt bydel med negative statistikker om alt. Så hvorfor dog skrive en bog om dette forfærdelige sted? Svaret er enkelt: Sydhavnen var det perfekte sted for en dreng fra midten af 1940 erne til midten af 1960 erne. Her var og er forskellige mennesker. Også de skæve. Her var store grønne gårde og haveforeninger med små huse og en havn, hvor vi kunne fiske og bade. Der var Valbyparken og lossepladsen, hvor vi føjtede rundt - og ofte fikskrammer og forstuvninger, da vi drenge fra Sydhavnen var modige. Måske dumdristige er et bedre dækkende ord. Vi legede Kongen og hans efterfølgere. Gjorde man ikke som Kongen, faldt man i hierarkiet. Hvem ville det? Bogen er ikke kun en erindringsbog, men lige så meget en fortælling om en spændende og anderledes bydel og dens mennesker, hvilket suppleres af bogens mange fotos og illustrationer, som forfatteren, der også er arkitekt, selv har stået for.

  • by Viktor E Frankl
    £12.99

    El Doctor Frankl, psiquiatra y escritor, suele preguntar a sus pacientes aquejados de multiples padecimientos: Por que no se suicida usted? Y muchas veces, de las respuestas extrae una orientacion para la psicoterapia a aplicar: a este, lo que le ata a la vida son los hijos; al otro, un talento, una habilidad sin explotar; a un tercero, quizas, solo unos cuantos recuerdos que merece la pena rescatar del olvido. Tejer estas tenues hebras de vidas rotas en una urdimbre firme, coherente, significativa y responsable es el objeto con que se enfrenta la logoterapia. En esta obra, Viktor E. Frankl explica la experiencia que le llevo al descubrimiento de la logoterapia. Prisionero, durante mucho tiempo, en los desalmados campos de concentracion, el mismo sintio en su propio ser lo que significaba una existencia desnuda. Como pudo el que todo lo había perdido, que habia visto destruir todo lo que valia la pena, que padecio hambre, frio, brutalidades sin fin, que tantas veces estuvo a punto del exterminio, como pudo aceptar que la vida fuera digna de vivirla? El psiquiatra que personalmente ha tenido que enfrentarse a tales rigores merece que se le escuche, pues nadie como el para juzgar nuestra condicion humana sabia y compasivamente. Las palabras del doctor Frankl alcanzan un temple sorprendentemente esperanzador sobre la capacidad humana de trascender sus dificultades y descubrir la verdad conveniente y orientadora.

  • Save 10%
    by Christopher Berry-Dee
    £8.99

  • Save 11%
    by Stephen G. Michaud
    £7.99

    The book behind the sensational Netflix series The Ted Bundy Tapes. Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer was born out of more than 150 hours of exclusive interview footage with Bundy himself, recorded on death row before his execution in a Florida electric chair.

  • Save 21%
    by Tom Wright
    £13.49

    Reconstruction of the life of St Paul, paints a picture of the world in which he preached his revolutionary message and explains the significance of his lasting impact

  • Save 10%
    by Ron Kovic
    £8.99

    A powerful anti-war statement and memoir, with a foreword by Bruce Springsteen

  • Save 24%
    - My Inspiration. My Motivation. My Obsession.
    by Bradley Wiggins
    £18.99

  • Save 20%
    by Caroline Jones
    £11.99

    An illustrated account of the film and fashion icon whose legacy has endured long after her death.

  • Save 10%
    - Discovering a happy, healthy, wealthy alcohol-free life
    by Catherine Gray
    £8.99

    The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, penned by Catherine Gray, is a must-read for anyone seeking a fresh perspective on sobriety. Published in 2017 by Octopus Publishing Group, this book falls under the self-help genre but is far from your typical guide. Instead, it's a candid and humorous account of Gray's journey to sobriety, offering readers an intimate look at the struggles and triumphs of overcoming addiction. It's a book that not only provides practical advice but also challenges societal perceptions about alcohol. The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober is a beacon of hope, proving that life can be fun and fulfilling without alcohol. Published by the Octopus Publishing Group, it's a testament to the power of resilience and personal growth.

  • Save 15%
    - True Tales of Deviance, Debauchery and Billion-Dollar Deals
    by John LeFevre
    £10.99

    From the man behind the infamous @GSElevator Twitter account, true stories from the wild world of international finance.

  • Save 14%
    by Helen Macdonald
    £9.49

    Discover the number one bestselling phenomenon that is a powerful and profound mediation on grief expressed through the trials of training a goshawk. As a child, Helen Macdonald was determined to become a falconer, learning the arcane terminology and reading all the classic books.

  • Save 19%
    by Marcus Thompson
    £12.99

    The incredible and inspiring story of Stephen Curry, the greatest shooter basketball has ever seen and a devout Christian who is not afraid of sharing his faith on the world stage. When it comes to Stephen Curry-point guard for the Golden State Warriors and reigning MVP of the NBA-journalists, fans, and sports analysts are running out of ways to say "wow." Deemed too small and too short at 6'3 and 180 pounds by NBA coaches around the league, Curry has taken the game back from the bigger men who usually dominate the court. With his incredible shooting ability that started a "three-point revolution" he led the Warriors to seventy-three wins in the 2015-2016 season, beating out Michael Jordan and the 1996 Chicago Bulls' long-time record. Marcus Thompson, a lifelong Warriors insider who has been reporting on the team for twelve seasons, explores this all-star player, his love for the game and his team, his close-knit and supportive family and his grounding in a strong Christian faith. Loved by everyone he works with in the NBA, Stephen's devout Christian faith and nice-guy attitude make him a different breed of superstar. He writes two scriptures on his game shoes every time he plays: Romans 8:28, his mother's favourite verse, and Philippians 4:13, his favourite, which reads "I can do all things". People assume Curry loves this verse because God allows him to accomplish success and that his faith is so strong that he can achieve the greatest heights, but the real point may be that through faith he can handle anything thrown his way. That includes success but it also includes failure. It includes fighting back from a career-threatening ankle injury and remaining humble despite the spoils of global fame.

  • Save 14%
    - Lemmy: The Autobiography
    by Lemmy Kilmister
    £9.49

    "When I go, I want to go doing what I do best. If I died tomorrow, I couldn't complain. It's been good!". The updated autobiography of the greatest frontman of the loudest rock band there has ever been. Accept no other story from journalists. This is Lemmy's story from his own mouth.

  • Save 12%
    - A Graphic Biography of Rosa Luxemburg
    by Kate Evans
    £11.49

    A graphic novel version of the dramatic life and untimely death of German revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg

  • Save 21%
    - The Evolution of a Navy Seal
    by Mark Owen
    £13.49

  • Save 10%
    - How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person
    by Shonda Rhimes
    £8.99

    How Hollywood's most powerful woman changed her life by learning to say yes and how it can change your life too

  • Save 14%
    by Peter Hince
    £9.49

    In an intimate and eye-opening story, roundly praised as the best available insight on Queen, Peter Hince recounts twelve years on the road with Freddie Mercury, Brian May and co. This truly is the definitive book on the 20th century's most iconic rock band.

  • Save 14%
    - My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars
    by Lionel Friedberg
    £9.49

    This bestselling book contains the jaw-dropping confessions of the man who fulfilled the secret sexual fantasies of Hollywood's most glittering stars and royalty

  • Save 25%
    - The Story of the Legendary Bond Trader
    by William D. Falloon
    £17.99

    In praise of Charlie D. "Falloon's eloquent explication of the life of the legendary Charlie D delivers a good read while exposing that most under-publicized commodity of them all-a mega-trader with a low public profile whose superhuman trading abilities were exceeded by only one thing-the extended reach of his heart and soul. " -Patrick H.

  • Save 20%
    - A Memoir
    by Stephen Glover
    £11.99

  • Save 20%
    - Inside The Digital Underground and the Battle For Our Connected World
    by Marc Goodman
    £11.99

    Technological advances have benefited our world in immeasurable ways, but there is an ominous flipside. Criminals have adopted technology and modern times have led to modern crimes: 3D printers produce AK-47s, terrorists can download the recipe for the Ebola virus, and drug cartels are building drones. This book deals with this topic.

  • Save 21%
    by Andy Warhol
    £13.49

    Andy Warhol kept these diaries faithfully from November 1976 right up to his final week, in February 1987. With appearances from and references to everyone who was anyone, from Jim Morrison, Martina Navratilova and Calvin Klein to Muhammad Ali, these diaries are the most glamorous, witty and revealing writings of the twentieth century.

  • - A Scientist's Journey Into Seeing in Three Dimensions
    by Oliver Sacks
    £16.49

    A neuroscientist tells the remarkable story of how she rewired her own brain--and came to see the world anew

  • Save 10%
    - My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World's Most Coveted Handbag
    by Michael Tonello
    £8.99

    Michael's newfound career started with an impulsive move to Barcelona, a vanished job assignment, no work visa, and an Hermes scarf sold on eBay to generate some quick cash. But soon the resourceful Michael discovered the truth about the waiting list and figured out the secret to getting Hermes to part with one of these precious bags.

  • Save 15%
    - The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It
    by Tilar J Mazzeo
    £10.99

    Veuve Clicquot champagne epitomizes glamor and style, with tribute paid everywhere from Lord Byron to Casablanca. But who was this young widow - the 'Veuve' - Clicquot, whose champagne sparkled at the courts of France, Britain, and Russia, and how did she rise to celebrity and fortune? This book talks about widow Clicquot.

  • Save 14%
    by Eric Clapton
    £9.49

    Now for the first time, Eric tells the story of his personal and professional journeys in this pungent, witty and painfully honest autobiography. These are the memoirs of a survivor, someone who has reached the pinnacle of success, who has had it all, but whose demons have never left him.

  • Save 14%
    - My Autobiography
    by Wangari Maathai
    £9.49

    She tells of her numerous run-ins with the brutal government of Daniel arap Moi and of the political and personal reasons that compelled her, in 1977, to establish the Green Belt Movement, which spread from Kenya across Africa, and which helps restore indigenous forests while assisting rural women by paying them to plant trees in their villages.

  • Save 15%
    by dba E Mark Oliver Everett
    £10.99

    * The extraordinary true life story of songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, lead singer of the band Eels

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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