Favorite Biography or Autobiography

Speaking of Miles Davis, I recently read a vivid biography of Louis Armstrong, titled 'An Extraordinary Life: The Life of Louis Armstrong', by Laurence Bergreen.

If anybody wants to know what it felt like growing up in New Orleans when it was by far the least American of all American cities, then wander through this book.

The author puts you there, walking down the streets feeling the broken pavement, tripping on the overgrown weeds and broken bottles, and hearing the laughing moan of brass horns through the hot night.

 

"Down and out in Paris and London" by George Orwell is one of my faves, and i'm reading "I know why the caged bird sings" by Maya Anjelou at the moment, I think its a stunning book.

 

Enter Whining by Fran Drescher. That book is very good and FILLED with vast amounts of pix. I recommend getting it. You could find it on Ebay or your local thrift shop.

http://www.myspace.com/hippykayteyaya

 

Ah my fav. author: Definately Dean Koontz
It seems every turn of the page is an entire experience in itself for me. I have loved reading his books for years now. I have an entire collection of them.

 

STOP THE WORLD -The biography of Anthony Newley by Garth Bardsley

 

The most important book I've ever read​

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I just finished Benjamin Franklin's autobiography. Absolutely marvelous. I think I've found my new hero.

 

Though some of the Vietnamese political details bored me to tears, I really enjoyed "A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam," by Neil Sheehan. The intro pages will hook nearly any reader, I think.

The book begins with the aftermath of Vann's death- his burial and all. The family is about to meet with President Nixon. Vann has been posthumously awarded the Medal Of Freedom. Each is to shake the President's hand. Vann's son, however, has decided to hand Nixon a mangled half of his Draft Card. The military band actually plays "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" at the family request.

Then the author tells who this guy was...

 

Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman by Merle Miller

The buck stops here! Very interesting book about a pivotal time in US politics and history.

 

I absolutely LOVED Lennon:The Definitive Biography!! really great stuff!!!

 

Death Be Not Proud. A father writes a memoir of his son's death at the age of 16 from a brain tumor. It was set in the 40's or 50's and tells how his son had to have his skull drilled to let the tumor grow. It was written by John Gunter.

 

"A piece of Cake" and "fish"

 

"The Autobiography of Malcolm X" -- This was the first book that I read on my own while growing up and it had a major impact on my thinking. I don't tend to read many books multiple times, but I still pick this one up and re-read it every couple years.

Other bios/autobios that had an impact on me:
"John Brown" by W.E.B. DuBois
"Betraying Spinoza: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity" by Rebecca Goldstein
"Foucault 2.0: Beyond Power and Knowledge" by Eric Paras
"Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow
"The Reluctant Mr. Darwin: An Intimate Portrait of Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution" by David Quammen
"Clarence Darrow For the Defence: A Biography" by Irving Stone

 

Although i've never been a fan of autobiographies; this one was amazing! A beautifully written account of the so far crazy life of one of the best comedians in the world. Long live Russell Brand--the best cure for exam stress

 

Wasted by marya hornbacher.
Jarhead by Anthony Swofford.

 

A hippies guide to climbing the corporate ladder - Skip Yowell, founder of JanSport
Between Rock and a Homeplace - Chuck Leavell

 

heavier than heaven. the kurt cobain biography. good read

 

"Garcia" about Jerry
and "Che" about Guevara.

oh I think the first really big daunting biography I read was "Lennon" and it definitely shaped the way I see humanity and celebrity.

wow as I'm typing I keep remembering good ones. I just read the Clapton autobiography, I think it was too factual and honest, if there can be such a thing. It seemed more like a historical document and less explained his emotions behind his actions. A bit vague too. Frank Zappa's autobiography is funny.

 

The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx

 

I don't know if anyone has read the series on LBJ by Robert Caro but I found it extremeley interesting. The series not only gives you insight on the former President (VP and Senator) but also gives insight on the inner workings of politics. One interesting item is it was through LBJ that Halliburton got it's start.


I just started Truman by David McCullough and after that I have a bio on James Garfield that I am looking forward to reading this summer.