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Autobiographies

Find inspiration for a wide range of the best autobiographies and books about people themselves and their memories. Here are autobiographies about some of the world's most exciting people and how their life story has been. Autobiographies are stories written or told by the person themselves. It is not necessarily famous people who write books about themselves, but also quite ordinary people who have something important at heart to tell. But also if the person has experienced or achieved something unique in life that may be interesting to others. Find the best autobiographies below for your next reading.
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  • Save 21%
    by Dennis McNally
    £14.99

    The Grateful Dead were one of the most fascinating rock bands and cultural phenomena of the twentieth century. Not just a brilliant rock biography, it forms a compelling portrait of America's West Coast from the halcyon days of Magic Buses and Merry Pranksters to the corporate dawn of the twenty-first century.

  • Save 14%
    by Martin Pistorius
    £9.49

    Compelling memoir of a young man who emerged from the darkness of being locked into his body after doctors had given up on him

  • Save 10%
    - When the Laughter Stops
    by Emily Herbert
    £8.99

    Robin Williams, a compelling book written by Emily Herbert, was published in 2014 by John Blake Publishing Ltd. This book takes you on a journey through the life of the legendary comedian and actor, Robin Williams. Emily Herbert, with her unique storytelling ability, paints a vivid picture of Williams' life, capturing his highs and lows, his triumphs and tragedies. The book is written in English and is a must-read for anyone interested in the life and career of this iconic figure. It is a captivating exploration of Williams' life, making it a valuable addition to any book collection. Don't miss out on this fascinating read from John Blake Publishing Ltd.

  • Save 13%
    - In Search of Lost Genomes
    by Svante Paabo
    £13.99

    A preeminent geneticist hunts the Neanderthal genome to answer the biggest question of them all: what does it mean to be human?

  • Save 24%
    by Pierre Berge
    £18.99

    Pierre Berge, longtime partner of Yves Saint Laurent in life and in business, remembers their years together in Morocco in this charming, intimate illustrated journal.

  • Save 21%
    - The Biography
    by Adam Sisman
    £13.49

    The definitive biography of the undisputed giant of English literature, a man whose own true history has long been hidden behind the fictional world of his books'Compendious and compelling ... it is impossible to imagine this Life being bettered' WILLIAM BOYD, NEW STATESMAN'Smiley himself could not have done a better job' SUNDAY TIMESLong after The Spy Who came in from the Cold made John le Carré a worldwide, bestselling sensation, David Cornwell, the man behind the pseudonym, remained an enigma. In this definitive biography, written with unprecedented access to the man himself, Adam Sisman offers an illuminating portrait of a fascinating and enigmatic writer.In Cornwell's lonely childhood, Adam Sisman uncovers the origins of the themes of love and abandonment which dominated le Carré's fiction: the departure of his mother when he was five, followed by 'sixteen hugless years' in the dubious care of his father, a man of energy and charm, a serial seducer and conman who hid the Bentleys in the trees when the bailiffs came calling - a 'totally incomprehensible father' who could 'put a hand on your shoulder and the other in your pocket, both gestures equally sincere'. And in Cornwell's adult life - from recruitment by both MI5 and MI6, through marriage and family life, to his emergence as the master of the spy novel - Sisman explores the idea of espionage and its significance in human terms; the extent to which betrayal is acceptable in exchange for love; and the endless need for forgiveness, especially from oneself.Written with exclusive access to David Cornwell, to his private archive and to the most important people in his life - family, friends, enemies, intelligence ex-colleagues and ex-lovers - and featuring a wealth of previously unseen photographic material, Adam Sisman's extraordinarily insightful and constantly revealing biography brings in from the cold a man whose own life was as complex and confounding and filled with treachery as any of his novels. 'I'm a liar,' Cornwell once wrote. 'Born to lying, bred to it, trained to it by an industry that lies for a living, practised in it as a novelist.'This is the definitive biography of a major writer, described by Richard Osman as 'just the finest, wisest storyteller we had.'

  • Save 27%
    by Blane
    £25.49

    Following an account of George Florovsky's life, this work provides: essays and analyses of his thought; a bibliography of his work; and descriptions of the deposits of his papers in t Princton University and St Vladimir's Seminary.

  • Save 20%
    - The Extraordinary Life of Douglas Bader, Battle of Britain Hero
    by Dilip Sarkar
    £11.99

    The truth & the myths about the legless Battle of Britain fighter ace

  • Save 14%
    by John Lydon
    £9.49

    Paperback edition of the autobiography of one of popular music's most recognizable and talked-about icons

  • Save 10%
    - Rise of a Legend
    by James Haydock
    £8.99

    There is a man blazing a trail across the silver screen, delivering performances of such blistering intensity that he has united critics and casual moviegoers alike. That man is Tom Hardy, and Living Life to the Max traces his rise to the top.

  • Save 10%
    by SN Behrman
    £8.99

  • Save 15%
    by Dave Pelzer
    £10.99

    Dave Pelzer's sequel to million-copy bestseller A CHILD CALLED 'IT'

  • Save 15%
    - The True Story of the CIA's Paranormal Espionage Programme
    by David Morehouse
    £10.99

    When David Morehouse - a highly decorated army officer - was hit by a stray bullet, he began to be plagued with visions and uncontrolled out-of-body experiences. As a consequence, he was recruited as a psychic spy for STARGATE, a highly classified programme of espionage instigated by the CIA and the US Defence Department. Trained to develop spiritual, clairvoyant capacities, he became one of a select band of 'remote viewers' in pursuit of previously unattainable political and military secrets. When Morehouse discovered that the next step in the top-secret programme was 'remote influencing' - turning 'viewers' like himself into deadly weapons - he rebelled. In his efforts to expose the programme, he and his family endured the full force of the US intelligence community's attempts to silence him. As the multi-million-dollar STARGATE scandal was exposed to the world, Morehouse himself became the enemy of the secret services...In Psychic Warrior one of STARGATE's 'viewers' finally reveals the extraordinary truth of this secret operation. Originally published in 1996, there is a continuing demand for David Morehouse's story in the U.K. Out of print for over a year, this new edition of Psychic Warrior features a new foreword by the author.

  • Save 20%
    by Dave Pelzer
    £11.99

    The concluding volume of Dave Pelzer's million-copy bestselling memoir.

  • Save 26%
    - The Omniscient Dharma King of the Vast Expanse
    by Jampa Mackenzie Stewart
    £19.99

    The first complete English-language life story of Longchenpa (1308-1364), one of the greatest masters in the history of Tibetan Buddhism.Compiled from numerous Tibetan and Bhutanese sources, including Longchenpa's autobiography and stories of his previous lives and subsequent rebirths, The Life of Longchenpa weaves an inspiring and captivating tale of wonder and magic, of extraordinary visions and spiritual insight, set in the kingdoms of fourteenth-century Tibet and Bhutan. It also reveals for the first time fascinating details of his ten years of self-exile in Bhutan, stories that were unknown to his Tibetan biographers.Renowned as a peerless teacher, dedicated practitioner, and unparalleled scholar, Longchenpa thoroughly studied and mastered every one of the many Buddhist vehicles and lineages of teachings existing in Tibet at his time. Through his radiant intellect and meditative accomplishment, in both his teachings and written works, he was able to reconcile the seeming discrepancies and contradictions between the various presentations of the view and the path within the many lineages of transmission. His written works are also famous for being able to transfer true blessings just by reading or hearing his enlightened words.A lyrical introduction by Venerable Yangthang Tulku Rinpoche on the significance of Longchenpa and the importance of his birth and teachings; an essay by the late Khenpo Shenga (1871-1927), In Praise of Longchenpa; plentiful illustrations; and a comprehensive glossary round out this compelling tale.

  • Save 14%
    by Paul Lake
    £9.49

    Earmarked as an England captain in the making, Paul became a target for top clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool, but he always stayed loyal to his beloved club, deeming Maine Road the spiritual home at which his destiny lay. But then, in September 1990, disaster struck.

  • Save 15%
    - To Hell and Back With One Of Rock's Most Notorious Frontmen
    by Vince Neil
    £10.99

    An explosive biography of one of America's most notorious bands - Moetley Crue.

  • Save 21%
    - The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of Everest
    by Wade Davis
    £14.99

    WINNER OF THE 2012 SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZEA monumental work of history, biography and adventure - the First World War, Mallory and Mount Everest'The price of life is death' For Mallory, as for all of his generation, death was but 'a frail barrier that men crossed, smiling and gallant, every day'.

  • Save 20%
    by Stanley Booth
    £11.99

    'The one authentic masterpiece of rock 'n' roll writing' Peter Guralnick

  • - The Unauthorized Biography of Joan Jett
    by Dave Thompson
    £14.99

    BAD REPUTATION - BIOGRAPHY OF JOAN JETT

  • Save 21%
    - Margaret Thatcher: From Grocer's Daughter to Iron Lady
    by John Campbell
    £13.49

    Traces the life of Britain's only female Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, from her upbringing in Grantham to her unexpected challenge to Edward Heath for leadership of the Conservative party and her eventual removal from power.

  • Save 14%
    - My Autobiography
    by Gareth Thomas
    £9.49

    **WINNER British Sports Book Awards SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR****Shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award**Gareth Thomas had it all. He was a national hero, a sporting icon. He was a leader of men, captain of Wales and the British Lions. To him, rugby was an expression of cultural identity, a sacred code. It was no mere ball game. It gave him everything, except the freedom to be himself.This is the story of a man with a secret that was slowly killing him. Something that might devastate not only his own life but the lives of his wife, family, friends and teammates. The only place where he could find any refuge from the pain and guilt of the lie he was living was on the pitch, playing the sport he loved. But all his success didn t make the strain of hiding who he really was go away. His fear that telling the truth about his sexuality would lose him everything he loved almost sent him over the edge.The deceit ended when Gareth became the world s most prominent athlete to come out as a gay man. His gesture has strengthened strangers, and given him a fresh perspective. Gareth s inspiring and moving story transcends the world of sport to tell a universal truth about feeling like an outsider, and facing up to who you really are.

  • by Twigs Way
    £7.99

    Almost eighty years after her death, Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) is still one of the most influential of all English garden designers. Best known for the superb use of colour schemes in her hallmark flower borders, she combined an early training in art with self-taught horticultural skills. Early influences included William Morris, John Ruskin and William Robinson, but it is her partnership with the architect Edwin Lutyens that produced some of the most distinctive of Edwardian houses and gardens. From her house (and nursery) at Munstead Wood, Surrey, Jekyll designed over 400 gardens across Britain and Europe, and some in America where her archive of designs and drawings is now held. This book explores her life, influences on her early work in art and crafts, the transfer to Munstead Wood and working relationship with Edwin Lutyens, as well as her own writings and achievements.

  • Save 15%
    - Barcelona vs Real Madrid
    by Sid Lowe
    £10.99

    'A history of modern Spain told through one of world football's most intense rivalries' Independent'Sports Book of the Year' Sunday TimesIt's Messi vs Ronaldo, it's Catalonia vs Castilla.

  • Save 11%
    by Richard Craig
    £7.99

    An original biography of Senna, based on new research and interviews, examining his status as a legend.

  • Save 14%
    by Donald Fagen
    £9.49

    Presents an autobiographical portrait that touches on everything from the cultural figures that mattered the most to him as a teenager, to author's years in the late 1960s at Bard College, to an account of a recent tour he made with Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald.

  • Save 14%
    by Quentin Crisp
    £9.49

    In this autobiography, Quentin Crisp describes his unhappy childhood and the stresses of adolescence that led him to London. There in bedsits and cafes he found a world of brutality and comedy, of shortlived jobs and precarious relationships. All of which he faced with humour and intelligence.

  • - The Biography of Joaquin Phoenix
    by Martin Howden
    £12.49

    Joaquin Phoenix is one of the most fascinating and controversial actors working in film, and ever since his Oscar-nominated performance as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line, has risen to become one of Hollywood's biggest stars.

  • Save 20%
    by Elizabeth Norton
    £11.99

    The complete letters, dispatches and chronicles that tell the real story of Anne Boleyn.

  • Save 24%
    by Jean-Marie Potiez
    £17.49

    Over thirty years since their triumphant victory at the Eurovision Song Contest with 'Waterloo' in 1974, ABBA's unfailing popularity remains. From dancefloor classics like 'Dancing Queen' and 'Mamma Mia' to ballads like 'The Winner Takes It All' ABBA's musical legacy endures and their songs have been covered or sampled by many artists from U2 to Madonna. Fully illustrated throughout with unique photographs and rare memorabilia, "ABBA The Scrapbook" gives a complete history of one of the best-loved pop groups of all time: including their early days in Sweden; the relationships within the band; the excitement of Eurovision victory; the outrageous 1970s fashion and style of ABBA; "ABBA The Movie"; the eventual break-up of the group; and the legacy of ABBA including the hugely successful "Mamma Mia!" stage musical and the forthcoming film. This visual biography charts the amazing story of how ABBA conquered the world!

Autobiographies and their knowledge

Autobiographies are books that most often deal with the author himself. It is about people who have been through wild and eventful moments. Usually we have to dive far down, or at least know each other well, before we tell very personal stories. After all, it is not something we would tell a stranger in everyday life, so personal, are these autobiographies. It is excellent to be able to learn from each other so that the experiences and traumatic times we go through are not in vain. Of course, this is also something we can learn from, but autobiographies give you the knowledge you need to avoid the mistakes they end up making. In addition, it also contains stories about people they have been close to and how those relationships have changed. It is not always about learning in autobiographies, it can also be about understanding the human being behind. We are all incredibly complex people and that is evident in autobiographies. Autobiographies are books that take us very close to human nature, it gives us details that we would not otherwise get in a normal conversation.

The experiences and moments we all have, are where autobiographies shine about the mentality, such as the highest athletes have. These are books written both for the author's own sake but also the reader's. It is about quid pro quo, a two-sided coin that benefits one's own recovery (the author) and the reader. When we write down our thoughts, we quickly get rid of everything that keeps us down. That weight can be incredibly heavy and can therefore be very healthy to get rid of once in a while. A positive is that you know someone can read it, and get a whole lot of information from it, and perhaps learn what they should and should not do in certain situations. Take, for example, ‘Mamba Mentality’ a book about the late Kobe Bryant, it is said that his mentality was invincible and completely bulletproof. Something that we all strive to achieve, and that is exactly what autobiographies are all about. The innermost thoughts in a man. Autobiographies can also give you insight into your favorite celebrity life, understand them and see what makes them the person they are. We are all interesting and unique in our own way, through experiences and the knowledge or skills we possess.

Many of the books also consist of well-known quotes from many different people through political stories and the celebrity world.

Elon Musk has written an autobiography back in 2016, which deals with the giant tech companies he has managed to create. Including PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla and SolarCity. It is a deep look into how he has managed to do this and what it required from his own life. It is said that we have to sacrifice a lot to reach a high position in life. Great autobiography, which is a great place to start if you are into this topic.

As mentioned, autobiographies are a great tool for learning from others, and many of the stories are written by people who have had a tough upbringing. It is to their own advantage to understand how they have done it and what it requires of them. Try and dive into some of our autobiographies today!

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