What's a good (Auto)Biography?

[NVM]

I need to read an autobiography or biography, and I'm wondering if you know any good ones.
Anything's good, can't be a memoir.

[Ziggy St. Valentine]

Any specific type of person you'd like to read about? Musician, actor, sports star ect?
Motley Crue's band autobiography The Dirt is really interesting, I couldn't put it down. Also Eric Claptons one is very good.

[John Travolta]

What is the What (http://www.amazon.com/What-Dave-Eggers/dp/1932416641) by Dave Eggers about the life of Valentino Achak Deng. He's a Lost Boy of Sudan who is driven out of his country during the Second Sudanese Civil War. It's a greatly moving book and it's so real that it's almost hard to believe.

It's not as much written by Dave Eggers as much as it is translated. When you read it the voice in your head actually sounds like it has an African dialect. It's in the first person and from Valentino's perspective but they couldn't call it an Autobiography or nonfiction because many of the events of the book took place when Deng was young so the events aren't verbatim seeing as it's pretty hard to remember exactly what happened when you're 7 years old. But the guy is a real fucking person, the events are real and the way it's written sounds like it was by him.

If you like reading about little kids being shot, eaten(by crocodiles, lions, birds, etc.) and recruited into the army then you'll absolutely love this book.

[Jamal Crackerman]

I just got the Grandmaster Flash autobiography. Its pretty good. Its called The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash.




*EDIT*

Sorry its a memoir.

[Tweek]

To clarify, a memoir differs from an autobiography in that it contains little information about the authors private life, right?

[Shagg]

Although I am a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the singer's autobiography, Scar Tissue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scar_Tissue_(book)), was very interesting and talks about how fucked up his life was. Even if you're not a fan, you have to have some sympathy while you read.

[Ziggy St. Valentine]

Although I am a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the singer's autobiography, Scar Tissue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scar_Tissue_(book)), was very interesting and talks about how fucked up his life was. Even if you're not a fan, you have to have some sympathy while you read.

I second this, its one of my favourite books of all time. It's quite well written and extremely interesting, I couldn't put it down when I read it.

[notafan]

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind by Chuck Barris. He was the game show host/creator/fanatic who claimed to be in the CIA. Sick book. Sick movie, too.

Although I am a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the singer's autobiography, Scar Tissue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scar_Tissue_(book)), was very interesting and talks about how fucked up his life was. Even if you're not a fan, you have to have some sympathy while you read.

You think I'm heartless or something?

[NVM]

Any specific type of person you'd like to read about? Musician, actor, sports star ect?


A comedian or musician would be preferable, and if it's one of those I'd rather have autobiography.

[Jewy]

One of my favorite books of all time is The Autobiography of Malcolm X. After reading this book, you'll never look at racism the same way again.

[Ox]

Russel Brand and Peter Kay (two English comedians) autobiographies are both good for a laugh - Brand's is better and has more insight.

American Scream is a biography of Bill Hicks and is a fascinating read. I'd recommend all three.

Having not read it, I can't give you my opinion, but I've heard from a lot of sources that Nikki Sixx's Heroin Diaries is a good read as well.

[Alcoholic]

Russel Brand and Peter Kay (two English comedians) autobiographies are both good for a laugh - Brand's is better and has more insight.

American Scream is a biography of Bill Hicks and is a fascinating read. I'd recommend all three.

Having not read it, I can't give you my opinion, but I've heard from a lot of sources that Nikki Sixx's Heroin Diaries is a good read as well.

Read a few chapters. Good stuff, especially if you like reading about Christmases and/or Thanksgivings spent alone in closets in a heroin-oozing mess on the floor.

[MistyTehMoose]

Although I am a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the singer's autobiography, Scar Tissue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scar_Tissue_(book)), was very interesting and talks about how fucked up his life was. Even if you're not a fan, you have to have some sympathy while you read.

Thirding. It is a really good read, and it sort of seems like fiction, because it's so fucked up.

[Ziggy St. Valentine]

Having not read it, I can't give you my opinion, but I've heard from a lot of sources that Nikki Sixx's Heroin Diaries is a good read as well.

I highly recommend this book too, can't believe I didn't think of it earlier as its my favourite book. Also, Slash's autobiography is a great read.

[Spiffy13]

Although I am a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the singer's autobiography, Scar Tissue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scar_Tissue_(book)), was very interesting and talks about how fucked up his life was. Even if you're not a fan, you have to have some sympathy while you read.
I was about to post this. Best fucking book I've read, no joke. It's the first time I sat in my bed reading during the day for 6 hours straight.

[pranshee]

Rhoald Dhal- Boy (not sure if that is how you spell his name)

[Krabby]

Rhoald Dhal- Boy (not sure if that is how you spell his name)

Roald Dahl.

[Hickabod]

If Chins Could Kill - Bruce Campbell.
Fantastic read.

[Cristo]

I really enjoyed Wayne Rooney's and Frank Lampard's books.

They were very well-written and informative, and gives insight to the harsh, cruel world of Professional Football.

[hoopymo]

Ricky Hattons is very interesting and gives a good insight to what he goes through before a fight.

[Idioteque]

Although I am a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the singer's autobiography, Scar Tissue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scar_Tissue_(book)), was very interesting and talks about how fucked up his life was. Even if you're not a fan, you have to have some sympathy while you read.

Absolutely, this was about 10x better then I first thought it would be, I mean, for chrissakes, it was ghostwritten. Slash's biography was just OK, not nearly as good as Kiedis's

Also, if you are interested in history, specifically the colonization of Africa, read the book Stanley, about the famous explorer Henry Stanley. It really got into the head of this very bizarre, but often misunderstood, man. Another good book is Patton's autobiography (or is it a memoir? I have trouble telling) called War as I Knew It. Also very good if you ever plan to become an officer in the military :lol:

[Vin]

Although I am a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the singer's autobiography, Scar Tissue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scar_Tissue_(book)), was very interesting and talks about how fucked up his life was. Even if you're not a fan, you have to have some sympathy while you read.

I bought this at an airport as some reading for the journey. I'll jump on the bandwagon and say it's definitely worth a read.

Russel Brand and Peter Kay (two English comedians) autobiographies are both good for a laugh - Brand's is better and has more insight.

Russel Brand makes me want to punch holes in walls. Personally, I find him a bit of a massive cunt.

[Ox]

Russel Brand makes me want to punch holes in walls. Personally, I find him a bit of a massive cunt.

If you only know him from Big Brother, then I can understand that. But his book, podcasts, radio shows, stand up shows, interviews in more high-brow media and his appearence on Have I Got News for You show that he's actually terribly clever, sharp, witty and far deeper than "Ooooh, cor blimey! Look at me winkle!"

[hoopymo]

If you only know him from Big Brother, then I can understand that. But his book, podcasts, radio shows, stand up shows, interviews in more high-brow media and his appearence on Have I Got News for You show that he's actually terribly clever, sharp, witty and far deeper than "Ooooh, cor blimey! Look at me winkle!"


His stand up series "russel brands...Wonderland" was fantastic humour, 30 mins of standup on a different topic every week.

[Splas]

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt is a great one, althought it has some strange parts.

[Chocoholic]

Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life by Jon Lee Anderson.
I got about halfway through before I had to start reading all these books for school so I never finished it. But from what I read, it was awesome. You learn a lot of backstory behind him and get to see why he did what he did.
It also has a bunch of cool pictures in the middle, so you get to see how he evolved as a person (they start when he was like 5 years old).

[MistyTehMoose]

Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life by Jon Lee Anderson.
I got about halfway through before I had to start reading all these books for school so I never finished it. But from what I read, it was awesome. You learn a lot of backstory behind him and get to see why he did what he did.
It also has a bunch of cool pictures in the middle, so you get to see how he evolved as a person (they start when he was like 5 years old).

He asked for Autobiographies. But I agree, it's a really interesting read.

EDIT: My bad, he asks for both.

[InTransit]

I'm not really sure if it'd be classed as a memoir or autobiography, but Pete Doherty's Tales from Albion is a really really interesting read just to see how fucked up hi head really is. It's just scans from his diary from the very start of the Libertines onwards and you can see his thoughts get gradually more and more abstract and weird. I found it really fascinating and he is a good writer, even in his own diary.

[Alcoholic]

Pimp by Iceberg Slim. Autobiography of - guess what - a pimp. Drugs, brutalizing women, and all that nonsense, all written by a former pimp with an above-average IQ. But nobody likes reading about sex and stuff, so nevermind.

[Haggis McSpud]

"A child Called It" by Dave Pelzer is very, very good. It's all about the authors childhood being abused by his alcoholic mother though so it's pretty sad and extremely fucked up. Good if you like that sort of thing though!

[OrrWhat86]

I'm a big fan of "Have a Nice Day" by Mick Foley. I was not a fan of wrestling in the slightest when I started reading it, but something about it just drew me in to this man's life, and I was only more impressed when, in his second book, he openly admitted to having part of the first book ghost written, hating it, and taking over, being one of the first professional wrestlers to actually write a book, unlike so many others.
Maybe it just holds a special place in my heart because it was the last gift given to me by my nanna (aussie code for grandmother) before she died, but it gave me a newfound respect for professional wrestling, and the ability to enjoy it, even if it is fake.
I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new perspective on anything and everthing. Also, Foley's first work of fiction, "Tietam Brown", really got to me, made me cry at points. Maybe because I'm just a total loser and identified with the main character, but still, I think it's work having a look at.

PS: Foley, the author of both these books that changed my life, is my avatar.

[timbot]

I'm really surprised to see Scar Tissue mentioned so many times. Not that I've read it, but I'd heard it was pretty redundant, mostly about drugs and women, etc. I would think that a lot of rock musician biographies would be that way. A biography about Clapton or Dylan might be a little different. Not to say they didn't do drugs or bang lots of women. But, I feel like there was much more to their lives. Anyway, if you're interested at all in a more serious biography I'd suggest checking out David McCullough's work. I haven't read any of his biographies, but I hear great things about them, and I have read one of his books about The Brooklyn Bridge, and it was great.
Am I allowed to semi-hijack this thread and ask for suggestions for more serious (auto)biographies? More about political/cultural/military leaders? Along the lines of the Che or Malcolm X biographies mentioned above. I've not read many biographies.
Oh...I've also heard that Kim Jung Il's biography is a real treat. Not sure how easy it is to get, though.

[Prawnatron]

"A child Called It" by Dave Pelzer is very, very good. It's all about the authors childhood being abused by his alcoholic mother though so it's pretty sad and extremely fucked up. Good if you like that sort of thing though!

I must say this is a real good book, but I didn't like the sequels.

[Noah]

Although I am a fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the singer's autobiography, Scar Tissue (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scar_Tissue_(book)), was very interesting and talks about how fucked up his life was. Even if you're not a fan, you have to have some sympathy while you read.

Agreed, I just finished reading it... its an amazing book

theres also a biography of Kurt Cobain called Come As You Are... its not an auto biography but its also really good

[Bayview05]

If you like tons of sex, drugs, and good music, Read Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis. It's is possibly the most entertaining and gripping autobiography I have ever read. Did I mention lots of sex and drugs?