Last year Jason and I started doing monthly challenges and created a new website to keep us honest, My 30 Day Challenges. Last September I read a book a day for the month and, while difficult, it was fun. This September I want to read a book a day and make it just a tad bit harder. I want it to be a month of reading a biography or autobiography a day. I don’t read enough of them, but when I do I always come away a bit smarter and definitely filled with more empathy. But, because they aren’t my genre of choice I’d love to hear some suggestions.
I need biography/autobiography recommendations. They can’t be too long (I only have one day to read them!) so let’s not go over 400 pages.
For every recommendation in the comments (here on the blog – not FB) I’ll put your name in a drawing for my favorite book of the month 🙂
I’ll keep this open for a month, let’s say August 24th, so I have time to track down the books I’m interested in.
Thanks so much!!!
Stacy's Books 
I love memoirs, bios and autobios – Heres some I loved, hoping you will try a few. Happy Summer!
Born a Crime; Trevor Noah
Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter
Autobiography of a Face
When Breath Becomes Air
Being Mortal
Wildflower: Drew Barrymore
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Let’s Take the Long Way Home
Great list!!! Thank you. I picked up Rosemary at a book sale this spring so it’s already on my pile 🙂
Hunger by Roxane Gay is a must!
I had to look this one up. I’m trying to avoid memoirs just about a particular topic, BUT I will add this to my list because you say I must 🙂 It looks like I would really benefit from the wisdom.
Rod by Rod Stewart. I read it and it was very good. Not Dead Yet – Phil Collins I haven’t read yet but it is on my shelf.
I’ve heard great things about the Rod Stewart one! Thanks for the recommendations 🙂
Born a Crime, Hillbilly Elegy, any Lucy Knisley graphic memoir, Picnic in Provence, Bossypants, A Widow’s Story, and Stories I Only Tell My Friends.
I’ve read Bossypants and the Rob Lowe one so we’re on the same page here 🙂 I’ve had Knisley’s Something new checked out of the library for a month. I’m now adding it to my September stack 🙂 I hadn’t thought about graphic novels!
Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women by Harriet Reisen
All Over but the Shoutin’ by Rick Bragg
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
I might think of more, but these were really good ones. You may have already read the latter two.
A book a day. Oh…I wish! 🙂
Knisley is a great idea because graphic novels are easier to do in a day! :–). Roz Chast also has a graphic memoir that got great reviews: “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?” I’ve heard so much good about the Roxanne Gay. But books with more to think about take me longer…. My favorite memoir is The Orchard by Theresa Weir. I might have read that in one day. But have kleenex on hand! :–). Also need kleenex for When Breathe Becomes Air. Other possibly one day nonfiction: Night by Elie Wiesel.
Hmm, Invincible Louisa by by Cornelia Miegs (about Louisa May Alcott).
Dakota by Kathleen Norris (and basically everything else by her, too)
Anne Lamott, Traveling Mercies but also all her other books
Night by Elie Wiesel
Hyperbole and a Half?
Many of my favorites have already been listed but I also highly recommend My Life In Parts by Bryan Cranston. If you listen to audio he narrates it himself and did a great job. But either way, he has an interesting story to tell!
just seeing this, I hope I’m not too late. Have you tried biography in “graphic novel” form? I remember reading a few awesome ones: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7980565-the-14th-dalai-lama, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11821529-gandhi, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26240706-agatha, and https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25898655-james-joyce
you can all read them in 1 day
Not too late and graphics are a good idea. I’ll check these out – thank you!