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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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  • by Gemma Worth
    £9.49

    An inspirational story of a girl from a council estate who once dared to dream to overcome life's many struggles, twist and turns and the highs and the lows. Bullet beans to big dreams depicts how you can come from nothing to have everything if you work hard enough and follow your dream.A raw account of the authors life from birth to present day life, from the devastating loss of a parent, been homeless, domestic abuse, a divorce, revenge porn and watching a loved one turn in to a drug addict and serve a ten year prison sentence, to finding the sheer determination to turn her life around, leave an abusive situation and start her life over again soon to become a multi-site accountancy business owner, and a pilot, a child hood dream which all started with weekly visits to the airport with her dad and so much more.Bullet beans to big dreams was founded on Christmas day 2019 in New York City a far cry from the authors council estate days as child, which she would not change for the world. Follow the authors Story which will leave you feeling inspired.

  • - The Terrifying True Story of Cannibal Killer Katherine Knight
    by Ryan Green
    £11.49

  • Save 15%
    by Mitchell Zuckoff
    £10.99

  • Save 24%
    by Sandy Gall
    £18.99

    Published on the 20th anniversary of Massoud's assassination, two days before the 9/11 attack, this is the first biography of Massoud published in over a decade.

  • by Rene Costa
    £9.99

  • Save 14%
    by Nina Mingya Powles
    £9.49 - 14.99

    A lyrical, poetic essay collection that blends memoir with powerful writing on the natural world, taking us from London to New Zealand, Shanghai to Malaysia - from the winner of the Nan Shepherd Prize

  • Save 15%
    - Inspirational Tales of Surviving, Thriving and Extreme Adventure
    by Aldo Kane
    £10.99 - 15.49

    Aldo Kane is an adventurer and World Record Holder with over 20 years' experience working in some of the most extreme, remote and inhospitable places on the planet; Lessons From The Edge will show readers that with the right mindset, you can get through anything life throws at you.

  • Save 15%
    by Michael Finkel
    £10.99

    This is the true story of art thief Stephane Breitwieser, who stole over 300 art pieces in the course of 200 heists.

  • Save 20%
    - Art for Life's Sake
     
    £43.99

    "One of the foremost artists to emerge in the 1960s, Hannah Wilke (1940-1993) stands as a pivotal figure in late twentieth-century American art for her role in challenging dialogues around art and feminism. Since its inception, her distinctive and original work has provocatively pushed against prevailing narratives of women's bodies and their representation. The artist's signature folded and layered forms synthesize a variety of influences, including Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, and Conceptualism, while also formulating a uniquely feminist iconography. Examining Wilke's prolific career from the 1960s up to her untimely death in 1993, this publication will bring together works on paper, photography, and video, as well as examples of Wilke's various sculptures in clay, bronze, latex, and other non-traditional materials. This selection of iconic and rarely seen work will highlight her daring practice and iconographic innovations. Through a loosely chronological presentation that represents themes, motifs, and materials across Wilke's over three-decade long career, the book will offer new perspectives on this critical and influential artist"--

  • Save 11%
    - A Memoir
    by Laura Coleman
    £7.99 - 14.99

  • Save 14%
    - Nature's Lessons in Happiness
    by Charlie Corbett
    £9.49

  • - The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
    by Peniel Joseph
    £20.49

    A dual biography of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King that transforms our understanding of the twentieth century's most iconic African American leaders

  • - Vladimir Putin and the Struggle for Russia
    by Angus (Independent Scholar & UK) Roxburgh
    £17.49

    Drawing on dozens of exclusive interviews in Russia, where he worked for a time as a Kremlin insider advising Putin on press relations, as well as in the US and Europe, the author also argues that the West threw away chances to bring Russia in from the cold, by failing to understand its fears and aspirations following the collapse of communism.

  •  
    £20.99

    From 1813 until his death in 1847, Thomas Pinniger kept a detailed daily account of the sheep and corn husbandry he practised first at Little Bedwyn Farm to 1825, and then as the owner of Beckhampton Farm in Avebury parish from 1829. These periods were separated by a stay on Sambourne Farm in Chippenham, when he was more an observer than an active farmer. These 'Farming Memorandums', as Pinniger described them, provide a fascinating and detailed record of the challenges that he faced throughout his long career. Farming practices and developments, prices of corn and livestock, and the weather were all recorded in detail. It is clear that they were not just kept for the sake of posterity, but as a body of knowledge and experience on which he could draw. His relations with his labourers and neighbours, not always cordial, add to the wealth of the content of the diaries. Having moved to Beckhampton, Pinniger bought the eponymously-named established coaching inn in the village. Stables were constructed for both the farm and the inn, with the latter specifically for race horses. The fortunes of the inn faltered with the coming of the railway in the early 1840s. As well as the obvious subject matter, Pinniger also noted the births, marriages and deaths of relatives, friends and acquaintances, revealing the social milieu in which he lived. Dates of funerals and of funeral services were also often provided, the latter rarely recorded in this period. He also provided a first hand account of the unrest of the Swing Riots of 1830, which he viewed as a serious threat. The years 1823 to 1838 have been transcribed, but the whole span is covered in the introduction. In keeping such meticulous daily records over so long a period, Thomas Pinniger stands as the principal representative of the class of yeoman farmers, from early to mid 19th-century Wiltshire.

  • by Jessica Mudditt
    £14.99

  • Save 21%
    by Maria Hatzistefanis
    £13.49

    It's time to reset, adjust and take the power back.Having spent over 20 years building her hugely successful beauty empire, Maria Hatzistefanis managed to achieve all her childhood dreams and goals. She has attended exclusive parties, walked on glamorous red carpets and visited beautiful cities. Whilst this life of glamour and success is exhilarating, Maria is shocked to find that the happiness it brings is fleeting. This leads her to realise that her life needs a new focus. In this easy to follow guide Maria asks the fundamental question 'what is happiness?'. Analysing her own experiences, failures and fortunes, Maria provides clear, concise and intuitive strategies to help you tackle your own challenges. From aligning your thoughts and actions to detaching your success from achievements, Maria shares her practical secrets to mastering your mindset. How to Live Your Best Life will equip you with the tools you need to be in control of your own destiny. Brimming with good sense, great advice and clear tips Maria guides you on your journey to happiness and ultimately success.

  • Save 10%
    - HOW A PUNK ROCKER FROM YORKSHIRE BECAME BRITISH CHAMPION FELL RUNNER
    by Boff Whalley
    £8.99

    The true story of a teenage punk from Yorkshire, seemingly existing on a diet of cider, parties and loud music, rose to the top in the toughest sports.

  • Save 22%
    by Jim Ottaviani
    £13.99

  • - Special Centenary Edition
    by Michael Bliss
    £23.49

    This special centenary edition of The Discovery of Insulin celebrates a path-breaking medical discovery that has changed lives around the world.

  • Save 11%
    - An American General's Combat Leadership, Volume I: November 1942 - July 1944
    by Kevin M. Hymel
    £39.99

    During his life, George S. Patton Jr starred as an Olympic athlete, chased down Mexican bandits, and led tanks into battle in World War I. But he is best remembered for his exploits in World War II. Patton's War follows the general from the beaches of Morocco to the fields of France, right before the birth of Third Army on the continent.

  • Save 10%
    - Icons, Activists and Game Changers from Across the Rainbow
    by Dom&Ink
    £8.99

    You're about to meet so many incredible humans. Are you ready hun?

  • Save 23%
    - My Fight to Bring a New African Voice to the Climate Crisis
    by Vanessa Nakate
    £15.49

    A rousing manifesto and memoir from a leading young Ugandan activist that will change the way we way we think about the impact of climate change and inspire readers to become activists themselves

  • - A Quest for Spirit in a Skeptical Age
    by Kyriacos C. Markides
    £18.99

    This book is Professor Markides's capstone work. It addresses his valiant and often turbulent struggles and riveting adventures to adapt to American society within the bounds of contemporary hyper secular academia. The result is an intellectual and spiritual odyssey that can inspire any reader interested in addressing life's perennial questions.

  • - United States Navy Hand-To-Hand Fighting Instructor
    by Robert H Sabet
    £23.49

  • Save 14%
    by Tim Moore
    £9.49 - 15.49

  • Save 29%
    by Gay Talese
    £35.49

    "Sinatra mit Schnupfen ist wie Picasso ohne Farbe, Ferrari ohne Sprit - nur schlimmer. Weil ihn eine Erkältung seines unbezahlbaren Juwels, seiner Stimme, beraubt; sie bohrt sich nicht nur tief in sein Selbstbewusstsein und verändert seine Psyche, sondern ruft obendrein noch eine Art psychosomatischen Schnupfen bei Dutzenden von Menschen hervor, die für ihn arbeiten, mit ihm trinken, ihn verehren, auf Gedeih und Verderb von ihm abhängig sind." -Gay Talese Im Winter 1965 brach der Journalist Gay Talese im Auftrag der Zeitschrift Esquire nach Los Angeles auf, um ein umfangreiches Porträt von Frank Sinatra anzufertigen. Als er ankam, verhielten sich der Sänger und seine wachsame Entourage leider eher frostig: Sinatra war verschnupft und wollte nicht interviewt werden. Doch Talese blieb am Ball. Er nutzte die Zeit, um den Star aus der Distanz zu beobachten und seine Freunde, Kollegen, Produzenten, Studiobosse, Angehörigen, Putzerfische und Satelliten zu interviewen. Sinatra gewährte ihm nie das erhoffte Einzelinterview, doch Taleses Beharrlichkeit zahlte sich dennoch aus: Sein detailversessenes Porträt Frank Sinatra Has a Cold ging als Glanzstück des New Journalism in die Geschichte ein. Das dichte Porträt offenbart ebenso viel über den ausnahmsweise mal maulfaulen Entertainer wie über die ganze Hollywoodmaschinerie. Diese Ausgabe präsentiert Frank Sinatra Has a Cold ergänzt um ein Vorwort von Gay Talese, Faksimiledrucke von Manuskriptseiten, Briefwechsel und Originalstoryboards und eine Vielzahl von Fotos, darunter zahlreiche Aufnahmen des legendären Phil Stern - des einzigen Fotografen, der Sinatras Karriere über vier Jahrzehnte begleitete - und anderer prominenter Bildjournalisten der Sechzigerjahre, wie John Bryson, John Dominis und Terry O'Neill. Die Fotos dokumentieren die vielen Gesichter des nicht gerade pflegeleichten Stars: den Showmenschen, den notorischen Großkotz, den liebevollen Vater, den cleveren Geschäftsmann und Hollywoodkassenmagneten, den Boss des Rat Packs, den Freund führender Mafiosi und den gnadenlosen Womanizer, zu dessen Hofstaat, wie wir dank Talese wissen, auch eine unscheinbare kleine Dame zählte, die ihm stets in einem Köfferchen seine 60 Toupets hinterhertrug. Bislang als signierte Collector's Edition erschienen, nun auch zum Preis eines gepflegten Whiskeys erhältlich.

  • Save 14%
    - A memoir
    by Gabriel Byrne
    £9.49 - 13.49

    A highly anticipated memoir by Gabriel Byrne, award-winning actor. Walking with Ghosts is an exquisite portrait of an Irish childhood and a remarkable journey to Hollywood and Broadway success.

  • Save 14%
    - Navigate Earth, Mind And Body. Step By Step.
    by Libby DeLana
    £9.49

    "One morning in 2011, Libby DeLana stepped outside her New England home for a walk and took a photo of a local barn. She did the same thing the next day, and the next. It became a daily habit that has culminated in her walking over 25,000 miles the equivalent of the earth s circumference. In Do Walk, Libby shares the transformative nature of this simple yet powerful practice. With each day presenting a new opportunity to reset and reconnect with the natural world, our inner thoughts and physical selves, this morning walk becomes a sacred time and space where new ideas, wonder and wisdom interact elements that remind us of who we are, beyond titles and labels. With beautiful photography and chapters on curiosity, perseverance, creativity and more, Do Walk is an inspiring and reflective guide: an invitation to simply step outside and see where the path takes us"--Publisher's description.

  • Save 23%
    by Olivier Giroud
    £15.49

    Always Believe is the gripping autobiography of Chelsea, Arsenal and France star Olivier Giroud. Join him on a remarkable journey, from playing for a small club in southern France to achieving top-flight glory there and in England, before lifting the World Cup with the French national team. Giroud shot to prominence in 2011/12 as the top scorer in France's Ligue 1, netting 21 goals to help Montpellier to their first-ever top-flight title. After signing for Arsenal in 2012, he rewarded the Gunners with 73 goals in 180 games and helped them to three FA Cup wins. He is also the French national team's second-highest scorer. Now at Chelsea, Giroud is still hungry for success. But what about the sacrifices he's made along the way? The pressures of being under the spotlight and having to cope with a constant stream of criticism and questions around his selection for the national side? Usually a private person, Giroud holds nothing back as he shares all the highs and lows of a stellar career at the game's top level in this tell-all book.

  • Save 15%
    - The Final Portrait
    by Gyles Brandreth
    £10.99

    Elizabeth, their marriage and their dynasty.

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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