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Original poster

Best autobiography you have read

137 replies

newnameagain1976 · 01/01/2024 21:16

Im going to try and read more this year. I enjoy autobiographies. Can anyone recommend a good one please?

OP posts:
Clingfilm · 01/01/2024 22:41

The ones already recommended are great, I'll add Stephen Fry, Chrissie Hinds and Pattie Smith's.

Ohyoudodoyou · 01/01/2024 22:39

Also Deborah Orr, Chrissie Hynde, Tracy Thorn...

Gingerwarthog · 01/01/2024 22:39

Rupert Everett Red Carpets and other banana skins.
Fabulous, filthy and very human. Beautifully written.

Ohyoudodoyou · 01/01/2024 22:37

TinDogTavern · 01/01/2024 21:39

The Paul O'Grady ones are glorious. I also really enjoyed With Nails, Richard E Grant and Red Carpets and other Banana Skins by Rupert Everett. All three are great storytellers.

My Name is Why by Lemn Sissay is a wonderful and heartbreaking book.

We have similar tastes! I've read all those except Richard E Grant. Everett is a brilliant storyteller.
David Niven's are wonderful, read those many years ago.
Music - Debbie Harry's, both of Viv Albertine's, Brix Smith's, Phil Collins was a loose end read but surprisingly good, Lemn Sissay as mentioned previously.
Politics - Alan Clarke Diaries,'This Boy' Alan Johnson, both Clintons.

ThePoshUns · 01/01/2024 22:36

Another vote for David Niven, Dave Grohl ( the audio book self narrated is fabulous ), Richard E Grant and Boy George.

LoserWinner · 01/01/2024 22:33

Patrick Stewart ‘Making It So’ is lovely.

DramaAlpaca · 01/01/2024 22:30

Open - Andre Agassi. The best sports autobiography I've read.

The Heart Has Its Reasons - The Duchess of Windsor. Her own fascinating take on the abdication crisis.

Icannoteven · 01/01/2024 22:21

Ooh, so many recommendations! Excuse me for the long list but I don’t know many readers in real life.

Autobiographies:
Jonathan Van Ness - incredibly candid and brave.
Mathew Mccaughnahey - thoroughly bonkers, uplifting and unique
Marilyn Manson - terrifying, horrid, fascinating. Didn’t sleep for five days after reading.

Biographies:
Marie stopes - very interesting figure.
The Mitford sisters - great book but quite long.
Anton Lavey - extraordinarily entertaining life!

Memoirs:
Tracks - Robyn Davidson.
Wild - Cheryl strayed.
pretty much anything Augustin Burroughs has ever written. He is very funny.

1975wasthebest · 01/01/2024 22:00

I've got a couple - Take it Like a Man by Boy George, and Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal by Jeannette Winterson.

evenbarnyardanimals · 01/01/2024 21:59

Under a mackerel sky -Rick Stein's autobiography is worth a read OP. Interesting and thoughtfully written.

BigMamaFratelli · 01/01/2024 21:54

Mark Lanegan's sing backwards and weep is a very good autobiography. Brutally honest. I love a auto/biography but this is the one I recommend the most.

Squiblet · 01/01/2024 21:54

David Attenborough 's Life On Air is very good.

rumred · 01/01/2024 21:50

Marianne faithful's was excellent

Cazaletto · 01/01/2024 21:47

Claire Tomalin’s biographies are all terrific, particularly Samuel Pepys.

On a completely different note, there is an audiobook on BBC Sounds of Beth Mead’s autobiography, which is ace and well worth a listen.

fuckityfuckityfuckfuck · 01/01/2024 21:42

Anthony Kiedis - Scar Tissue

Rachel Hearson - Handle with care

TinDogTavern · 01/01/2024 21:39

The Paul O'Grady ones are glorious. I also really enjoyed With Nails, Richard E Grant and Red Carpets and other Banana Skins by Rupert Everett. All three are great storytellers.

My Name is Why by Lemn Sissay is a wonderful and heartbreaking book.

Pinkybike · 01/01/2024 21:36

Good pop, bad pop by Jarvis Cocker.
😊

Herehare · 01/01/2024 21:36

It’s ages since I read it but I really enjoyed Egger’s A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

cariadlet · 01/01/2024 21:33

I'm currently reading Tough Crowd by Graham Linehan and really enjoying it.

LadyWithLapdog · 01/01/2024 21:33

@AnnPerkins yes! I couldn’t remember the other one. It’s been 20 years, I think, since I read them.

Pifful · 01/01/2024 21:33

I've just finished James Blunt's "Loosley Based on a Made Up Story".
Absolutely brilliant, my best book of 2023.

GinBooksChocs · 01/01/2024 21:32

War doctor by Dr David Nott was was harrowing but fascinating and inspiring.

Unnatural causes by Dr Sheppard is thoroughly interesting.

Dr Sue Blacks story is also interesting but I can't remember what it's called off the top of my head.

SerafinasGoose · 01/01/2024 21:31

I'd recommend Doris Day's. She lived a fascinating and in some ways tragic life.

There are also biographical vignettes from people who knew her.

Original poster
newnameagain1976 · 01/01/2024 21:31

Lots to get me started, thank you so much. I've just ordered the one about life with Tourette's. Lots of others now in my Amazon basket!

OP posts:
AnnPerkins · 01/01/2024 21:30

LadyWithLapdog · 01/01/2024 21:27

Also agree re David Nivea’s AB.

He wrote two, The Moon’s a Balloon and Bring on the Empty Horses. Both brilliant.