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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 15%
    by Chris Hadfield
    £10.99

    Back on the earth after three spaceflights, Chris Hadfield's captivating memoir An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth reveals extraordinary stories from his life as an astronaut, and shows how to make the impossible a reality.Colonel Chris Hadfield has spent decades training as an astronaut and has logged nearly 4,000 hours in space. During this time he has broken into a Space Station with a Swiss army knife, disposed of a live snake while piloting a plane, been temporarily blinded while clinging to the exterior of an orbiting spacecraft, and become a YouTube sensation with his performance of David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' in space. The secret to Chris Hadfield's success - and survival - is an unconventional philosophy he learned at NASA: prepare for the worst - and enjoy every moment of it.In his book, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, Chris Hadfield takes readers deep into his years of training and space exploration to show how to make the impossible possible. Through eye-opening, entertaining stories filled with the adrenaline of launch, the mesmerizing wonder of spacewalks and the measured, calm responses mandated by crises, he explains how conventional wisdom can get in the way of achievement - and happiness. His own extraordinary education in space has taught him some counter-intuitive lessons: don't visualize success, do care what others think, and always sweat the small stuff.You might never be able to build a robot, pilot a spacecraft, make a music video or perform basic surgery in zero gravity like Colonel Hadfield. But his vivid and refreshing insights in this book will teach you how to think like an astronaut, and will change, completely, the way you view life on Earth - especially your own.

  • Save 20%
    by Felix Dennis
    £11.99

    'Making money is a knack, a knack that can be acquired. And if someone like me can become rich, then so can you - no matter what your present circumstances. Here is how I did it and what I learned along the way.' So writes Felix Dennis, who believes that almost anyone of reasonable intelligence can become rich, given sufficient motivation and application. How To Get Rich is a distillation of his business wisdom. Primarily concerned with the step-by-step creation of wealth, it ruthlessly dissects the business failures and financial triumphs of 'a South London lad who became rich virtually by accident'. Part manual, part memoir, part primer, this book is a template for those who are willing to stare down failure and transform their lives.Canny, infuriating, cynical and generous by turns, How To Get Rich is an invaluable guide to 'the surprisingly simple art of collecting money which already has your name on it'.

  • Save 10%
    by C. S. Lewis
    £8.99

    For many years an atheist, C. S. Lewis vividly describes the spiritual quest that convinced him of the truth and reality of Christianity, in his famous autobiography."e;In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God ... perhaps the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England."e; Thus Lewis describes memorably the crisis of his conversion.'Surprised by Joy' reveals both that crisis and its momentous conclusion that would determine the shape of Lewis's entire life.

  • Save 21%
     
    £27.49

    Frida Kahlo's Wardrobe presents a fresh view of Kahlo's compelling life story. The book expands upon the narrative of discovery, presenting highlights from Kahlo's collection alongside her self-portraits. This pairing is unprecedented, and it will be enriched by specially commissioned photography of her belongings.

  • Save 15%
    - Journals, 1989 - 1990
    by Derek Jarman
    £10.99

    *****AS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4*****A meditative and inspiring diary of Derek Jarman''s famous garden at Dungeness.In 1986 Derek Jarman discovered he was HIV positive and decided to make a garden at his cottage on the barren coast of Dungeness. Facing an uncertain future, he nevertheless found solace in nature, growing all manner of plants. While some perished beneath wind and sea-spray others flourished, creating brilliant, unexpected beauty in the wilderness. Modern Nature is both a diary of the garden and a meditation by Jarman on his own life: his childhood, his time as a young gay man in the 1960s, his renowned career as an artist, writer and film-maker. It is at once a lament for a lost generation, an unabashed celebration of gay sexuality, and a devotion to all that is living.''An essential – urgent – book for the 21st Century'' Hans Ulrich ObristThis new edition features an introduction from Olivia Laing, the author of Crudo

  • Save 21%
    - A Memoir of My Schizophrenia
    by Elyn R. Saks
    £13.49

    Highly articulate and self-aware, Elyn Saks offers a moving insight into the world of a schizophrenic. This compelling account will bring hope to sufferers and understanding to all.

  • Save 15%
    - Adventures in Perfume and the Science of Smell
    by Luca Turin
    £10.99

    Shows two worlds - the lucrative realm of the perfume makers, and the equally rivalrous domain of smell science. At the core of our sense of smell lies an enigma: why do things smell the way they do? How is smell written into the molecules? This book is the story of the quest to solve this puzzle.

  • Save 11%
    - The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
    by Richard Bach
    £7.99

    For disillusioned writer and itinerant barnstormer Richard Bach, belief is as real as a full tank of gas and sparks firing in the cylinders ...until he meets Donald Shimoda - former mechanic and self-described messiah who can make wrenches fly and Richard's imagination soar...

  • Save 10%
    - A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed
    by Sara Gay Forden
    £8.99

    Did Patrizia Reggiani murder Maurizio Gucci in 1995 because his spending was out of control? Did she do it because he was about to marry is mistress? Or, could it be that she didn't do it at all? Sara Forden takes the reader behind the scenes.

  • Save 14%
    by Hayley Morris
    £9.49

    Me vs Brain is a captivating novel penned by the talented Hayley Morris. Published in 2024 by Cornerstone, this book is a remarkable addition to the literary world. The genre of this masterpiece is not confined to one but is an intriguing blend that keeps the readers hooked from the beginning till the end. The author, Hayley Morris, has beautifully portrayed the constant battle between the heart and the mind, making the readers question their own choices. The publication year, 2024, marks the year when this gem was introduced to the world. Cornerstone, the publisher, is known for its quality publications and Me vs Brain is no exception. This book is in English and is a must-read for everyone who enjoys a good read.

  • Save 14%
    by Julia Fox
    £9.49

  • Save 23%
    by Rob Copeland
    £16.99

  • Save 15%
    by Leander Kahney
    £10.99

    Brought to you by Penguin.An intimate look at the legendary British designer behind Apple's most iconic products - including the Apple WatchWith the death of Steve Jobs in 2011, JONY IVE has become the most important person at Apple. Some would argue he always was.Steve Jobs discovered Ive in 1997, when he found the scruffy British designer toiling away in a studio surrounded by hundreds of sketches and prototypes. Jobs instantly realised he had found a talent who could reverse Apple's decline, and become his 'spiritual partner'.Their collaboration produced iconic products including the iMac, iPod, iPad and iPhone. Designs that overturned entire industries and created the world's most powerful brand.Little has been known about this shy, softly-spoken designer. Until now. Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products tells the riveting story of a creative genius, from his early interest in industrial design to his meteoric rise, as well as the principles and practices that led Ive to become the designer of his generation.'Sheds new light on technology's most-watched design team' Observer'A real pleasure' GQ(c) Leander Kahney 2015 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

  • by Alan D Thompson & Amy Hardison
    £16.99

  • Save 14%
    by Henry Marsh
    £9.49

  • Save 20%
    by Guillem Balague
    £11.99

  • Save 25%
    by Nadia Caterina Munno
    £19.49

    TikTok sensation and beloved home cook Nadia Caterina Munno, a.k.a. The Pasta Queen, presents a cookbook featuring the signature pasta tips and tricks that are 100% authentic to Italian traditions-and just as gorgeous as you are.

  • Save 14%
    by Bill Browder
    £9.49 - 10.99

  • Save 15%
    by Gyles Brandreth
    £10.99

  • Save 10%
    - My Life, My Truth - The International Bestseller
    by Marco Van Basten
    £8.99

    The autobiography of the most 'complete' strikers in football history.

  • Save 15%
    by Ranulph Fiennes
    £10.99

  • - A Life in Computer Games
    by Sid Meier
    £12.49 - 19.49

    The life and career of the legendary developer celebrated as the "godfather of computer gaming" and creator of Civilization.

  • Save 13%
    - The Inside Story of the Megadeth Masterpiece
    by Dave Mustaine & Joel Selvin
    £12.99 - 20.49

    The inside story of the making of the speed metal masterpiece Rust in Peace by the lead vocalist and guitarist of Megadeth, the original lead guitarist of Metallica, and the author of the NYT bestseller, Mustaine

  • Save 15%
    - How The Bomber Boys Broke Down the Nazi War Machine
    by Donald L. Miller
    £10.99

    Seconds after Brady s plane was hit, the Hundredth s entire formation was broken up and scattered by swarms of single-engine planes, and by rockets launched by twin-engine planes that flew parallel Meet the Flying Fortresses of the American Eighth Air Force, Britain s Lancaster comrades, who helped to bring down the NazisHistorian and World War II expert Donald Miller brings us the story of the bomber boys who brought the war to Hitler's doorstep. Unlike ground soldiers they slept on clean beds, drank beer in local pubs, and danced to the swing music of the travelling Air Force bands. But they were also an elite group of fighters who put their lives on the line in the most dangerous role of all.Miller takes readers from the adrenaline filled battles in the sky, to the airbases across England, the German prison camps, and onto the ground to understand the devastation faced by civilians.Drawn from interviews, oral histories, and American, British and German archives, Masters of the Air is the authoritative, deeply moving and important account of the world's first and only bomber war.

  • Save 15%
    by Marcus J. Moore
    £10.99 - 18.99

  • Save 10%
    - The Perfect Christmas Gift for any Motorsport Fan
    by Tai Woffinden
    £8.99 - 13.49

    Double Speedway World Champion and former captain of the Great British speedway team, Tai Woffinden is one of the sport's biggest stars.

  • Save 14%
    - Lover, Mother, Soldier, Spy
    by Ben Macintyre
    £9.49 - 18.99

  • Save 10%
    - one boy's voice from the silence of autism
    by Naoki Higashida
    £8.99 - 9.49

    The No. 1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller.Written by Naoki Higashida when he was only thirteen, this remarkable book provides a rare insight into the often baffling behaviour of autistic children. Using a question and answer format, Naoki explains things like why he talks loudly or repeats the same questions, what causes him to have panic attacks, and why he likes to jump. He also shows the way he thinks and feels about his world - other people, nature, time and beauty, and himself. Abundantly proving that people with autism do possess imagination, humour and empathy, he also makes clear how badly they need our compassion, patience and understanding.David Mitchell and his wife have translated Naoki's book so that it might help others dealing with autism and generally illuminate a little-understood condition. It gives us an exceptional chance to enter the mind of another and see the world from a strange and fascinating perspective.The book also features eleven original illustrations, inspired by Naoki's words, by the artistic duo Kai and Sunny.

  • - Festive hospital diaries from the author of million-copy hit This is Going to Hurt
    by Adam Kay
    £7.99 - 10.49

    From the multi-award-winning and million-copy bestselling author of This is Going to Hurt, comes Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas, a brand new gift book that alternates between the hilarious and the heartbreaking, in a love letter to all those who spend their festive season on the front line.

  • 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.

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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