Popular Biographies
January 30, 2023
Let’s face it. Humans are a social bunch, and we love learning about the experiences of other humans (especially when they’re famous or notorious). While written by someone other than the subject, a biography provides context and insight into the subject’s life in an objective manner. Check out these popular biographies and dive into someone’s story.
Notorious RBG by Irin Carmon
You likely know a thing or two about this icon. Like that she had a dissent collar which she wore when reading her dissenting opinions from the bench. In this illustrated biography, you can get to know more about the life of this pioneering, feminist figure. Through interviews with Ginsburg, her colleagues, and her family, learn how she transcended divides and made an impact on the world.
Book / eBook / CD Audiobook / Audio eBook
It Was All a Dream by Justin Tinsley
Believe me sweetie, this book has enough to feed the needy. Tinsley conducts extensive interviews with friends and family who knew and loved The Notorious B.I.G. well to create a portrait of Biggie Smalls’ life. Engaging and well-researched, this book provides the cultural, political, and historical forces that shaped Christopher George Latore Wallace into a famous rap star. Get your hands on this book today, baby baaaby!
Book / eBook / Audio eBook
A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar
Did you know this was a book before it was a movie?? While you may be familiar with the schizophrenic character played by Russell Crowe in 2001, why not learn more about the actual man John Forbes Nash, Jr.? Nasar not only goes into the depths of his life, but also meditates on the nature of genius and mental illness. Nasar doesn’t make you be a mathematician to understand Nash’s work either. The mathematical theories are explained in a very understandable way.
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Apple revolutionized the personal computer market in the 1980s and the cell phone market in the late 2000s. In fact, he’s the reason I’m listening to music while I work on this review! Jobs melded art with technology in a one-of-a-kind way. Drawing on over 40 interviews with Jobs, his friends, family, colleagues, and competitors, Isaacson provides a unique view of the lead creative force of the Apple Computer Company.
Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser
If you don’t recognize the subject of this biography, this is the woman who wrote the Little House on the Prairie series. You know, what the Little House on the Prairie TV series, starring (the good looking) Michael Landon of Bonanza fame, was based on. This biography gives a comprehensive view of Wilder’s life and her pioneer experiences using unpublished manuscripts, letters, and diaries. Check out this well-researched and fascinating read to understand her hardscrabble upbringing and how it influenced her writing.
Led Zeppelin by Bob Spitz
Bands can have biographies too! And who doesn’t love learning about the music biz? With gossipy and nostalgic tones, this book tackles the facts and fiction surrounding this monolith of a band. Unlike other biographies of Led Zeppelin, Spitz dives into each member’s evolution and their common love of American Blues music. This biography will transport you from the blues boom of the late 1960s to the death of their drummer, John Bonham, and their disbandment.
Elizabeth the Queen by Sally Bedell Smith
This modern monarch’s biography is a hefty 720 pages, but Queen Elizabeth spent a long time on the throne. Through all the years of glamour and gossip, Smith shows us an unprecedented view of The Queen’s private life. She sourced information from exclusive interviews and never-before-revealed documents to make this book one-of-a-kind. Crack the spine of this book to introduce yourself to the 13-year-old who fell in love with a young navy cadet, the teenager who repaired army trucks during WWII, and a young mother who struggled to balance her royal duties while raising her children.
Book / Large Print / eBook / Audio eBook
John Adams by David McCullough
When’s the last time you thought about the 2nd president of the United States? While not talked about as much as George Washington, John Adams had much to do with the philosophies surrounding the American Revolution and was an integral player during the first Continental Congress. McCullough keeps the tone upbeat and the pacing fast. While he outlines events you know about, he paints a vivid picture by using letters and other documents that were in Adam’s possession.