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Original poster

I've never read biographies and I'd like to start

58 replies

Hoolahoophop · 18/01/2022 11:15

I'm trying the 50 book challenge this year. So far iv read 3
Mrs England by Stacy Halls
Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Passing by Nella Larsen

I've never really got into biographies by id like to splatter a few in between the easy reads I enjoy and a few classics.

I've just got into audiobook so think biographies might be good for the walk to work.

I've reserved Michelle Obarma, Louis Therox and Dave Grohl from the library as I was scanning through and they caught my eye.

Can anyone recommend biographies that are easy reading, funny and uplifting. Maybe someone inspiring in a gentle way. I'm a Mum, an accidental business woman (who procrastinates terribly, so could do with some kick up the arse inspiration).

Or someone who takes a completely opposite path, a homespun natural healer of mystic!

Any ideas. Thanks

OP posts:
theleafandnotthetree · 18/01/2022 12:59

Not a biography strictly speaking but Wild by Cheryl Strayed is fantastic

asnippersdream · 18/01/2022 12:57

I really liked the most recent ones from Bob Mortimer, Louis Theroux and Rob Beckett.

BearPear · 18/01/2022 12:53

Dawn French - Dear Fatty. Made me laugh and cry.

Original poster
Hoolahoophop · 18/01/2022 12:50

Thank you, some great suggestions there. PersonIrresponsible I will check you out!

Anne Glenconner sounds good and I like Tom Allen

Maya Angelou has 7 biographies, that's quite a bookshelf.

I should try Reach for the Sky but worried it might be a bit heavy.

Thanks again.

OP posts:
PersonIrresponsible · 18/01/2022 11:47

You could try mine if you're looking for inspirational...I walked across America whilst forty-sob-sob-sob something, fat, funny and four years sober. Oh, and then there was the small matter of a pandemic starting..

Hence, living in a tent in the wilderness seemed perfectly reasonable after the world went to hell in a handbag.

Previously I had hiked from the sofa to the fridge and back. It's available in Paperback and on Kindle.

www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-You-Ever-Taught-Me-ebook/dp/B096FYV6J9/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3O2EOEKMFPZSM&keywords=everything+you+ever+taught+me&sprefix=everything+You+Ever+Taught%2Caps%2C190&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1642506302&sr=8-1

Shangrilalala · 18/01/2022 11:47

Contemporary and funny (with darker themes) are Sue Perkins - Spectacles, Tom Allen - No Shame and Grace Dent - Hungry.

Also loved Anne Glenconner - Lady in Waiting for a fascinating insight into her life in rarefied circles.

Read Katherine Hepburn - Me years ago and I remember really enjoying it too: a glimpse of a bygone age.

ImperialQueenofMoo · 18/01/2022 11:37

Reach for the Sky, story of WW2 pilot Douglas Bader. Read it decades ago and still remember it.

BriansTail · 18/01/2022 11:36

Maya Angelou.