Sometimes it is more interesting to dive into a life from someone else. How did your favourite singer or actor get there where she or he is today? How did a computer nerd build a company so big that it is worth billions? Or you are interested in historical figures that are telling their stories and showing you around your hometown how it was 200 years ago?
Nowadays, people share their life stories mostly via social media, but every now and then you may still prefer to go to the bookstore and look for an inspiring biography. Today, we want to introduce you to some biographies and auto-biographies from which we think that they could be of interest to you!
Life’s That Way by Jim Beaver
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Beaver is best known as Bobby from Supernatural, but you not many know that he had a hard personal life to deal with. Not only did he have to worry about getting a new job, but also dealing with his sick wife, and later being a widowed parent and raising his daughter by himself. His daughter was also diagnosed with Autism, which later came out to be not true. Beaver lays open his heart in this book and it’s worth reading because it shows you the power of love.
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
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The woman behind the famous shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, How To Get Away With Murder, and Scandal opens up about her struggle between work and family, and a life that often requires to say no to certain things. The word ‘no’ is also a safe way for the introvert person that Rhimes is, but after her sister states that she never says ‘yes’ to anything she took it as an opportunity to start an experiment. In Year of Yes, Rhimes writes about how she changed her life while using the word ‘yes; for a whole year. No matter what, she said ‘yes’ to everything she was asked and that way new experiences have been open for her. An incredibly inspiring book that make you want to say ‘yes’ yourself. Who knows where it will lead you to?
You’re Never Weird On The Internet by Felicia Day
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A nerd that made a career for herself! Day describes her life as an online gamer and how she used the internet to start her career. As a talented teenager, she could have pursued anything but she chose to follow her passion. Day also shows her fragile side haunted by anxiety and depression. However, mostly it shows you the power of the internet and that you can do a living out of your passion. Because you are never weird on the internet.
Coal and Diamonds: A Memoir by Beth Ditto
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The former lead singer from the band Gossip wrote down her story of a sad abusive childhood. She grew up with her six siblings in a poor household from which she moved out of at the age of 13 to live with her aunt. She also mentions how she was threatened by people because she is, in her own words “a fat feminist lesbian”, along with her discussing her ADHD and how she started her career as a singer.
Nerd Do Well by Simon Pegg
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One of the biggest nerds of our time who lives and breath nerdism is Simon Pegg. Pegg tells his story how he grew up and how he fell in love with everything that falls under the word “nerd” and how he embraced it and in the end built his career on it. In fact, he tells the story how he should never be famous in the first place because he is weird. But that is exactly the point as he ended up playing roles and writing screenplays for the fantasy world he once admired as a kid. A book that will lift you up whenever you feel not accepted.
The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis by Alan Jacobs
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The man who gave us the world of Narnia! This is a biography every grown-up child has to read as it shows you the man behind creating Aslan. Lewis was a complex person who lived in Oxford and liked to talk about Philosophy and Religion, which in the end influenced him writing this beloved story. Did you know, that JRR Tolkien was important for the process as well? You’ll soon find out.a
Amazing, Fantastic, Incredible by Stan Lee
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The Legend, The Myth, The Marvel Man himself. Lee’s biography goes above and beyond every other’s as he publishes it as a comic. A lovely beautifully illustrated book that takes you into the ups and downs of the famous comic creator’s life. From living in poverty in Manhattan, to his military time, to then working for and leading one of the biggest comic book houses of the world.
Taking The Lead by Derek Hough
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Hough is best known for being on Dancing with the Stars as a professional dancer and dancing on the live show MOVE with his sister Julianne. His story speaks of being the only brother among sisters, having too much weight as a kid, and being bullied at school for taking dance classes. He moved to England to study at an international dance school and pursue his dream of being a professional dancer. The books goes back and forth between his past and where he is now, and you find some serious motivation how you could take the lead in your own life and find your happiness.
Unfiltered by Lily Collins
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For me, Collins biography is one that every teenage girl should read. Growing up as the daughter of Phil Collins, she had a loving childhood, but also felt the pressure of being that perfect girl. Collins is completely honest and writes about her bulimia, and how she grew up between England and America. She may be a public figure, but she still values the easy life in the English countryside the most.
There are for sure a lot of great biographies waiting in bookstores and we hope that our selection could introduce you to one or two that soon will be in your bookshelves as well, or possibly even open you up to exploring the genre more!
