I'm looking for a non celeb memoir to read

[Shosha1]

Any ideas.

I don't like misery books either.

Second the Betty Boothroyd suggestion. I really enjoyed Kate Adie's book "The Kindness of Strangers".

Do No Harm - Henry Marsh. Memoirs of a brain surgeon. Interesting, thought provoking and surprisingly easy to read.

Do No Harm was very good. It was fascinating and very moving.

Down to Earth by Faith Addis.

Period Piece, Gwen Raverat.

Ada another one of them was a Communist.

People are fascinated because of the historical context.

Ada another one of them was a Communist.

People are fascinated because of the historical context.

This is a lovely thread - I ghost write memoirs so it's wonderful to see so many people who enjoy them. If anyone knows anyone who has a brilliant life story to tell, send them my way!

Like many others, I'd recommend Lacks too. I also enjoyed 'H is for Hawk' and I've just downloaded 'Anne Boleyn - the final 24 hours' but only read a little. Maybe she's a celeb though . . .

Do No Harm by Henry Marsh. Utterly compelling and brilliant memoire of a neurosurgeon.

I love Black Diamonds. Great book and the house is near me. Had to visit it after reading the book.

Probably not the kind of thing you're looking for but for anyone else who's interested in this kind of stuff, I've just finished 'I'm Not With The Band' by Sylvia Patterson who used to be a Smash Hits and NME journalist. Some great anecdotes, very funny and an interesting look at the rise of 'celebrity' from the 80's onward.

Really interesting thread.

Yes sister, no sister by Jennifer Craig is in a similar vein to call the midwife. I also like Malcolm Gladwells books. He is a very good story teller.

The Elephant Whisperer is brilliant. About a South African conservationist and his relationship with elephants.

Some fab suggestions here, OP have you read Carol Anne Lee's latest book about Jeremy Bamber?
It's a biography, but I really like Claire Tomalins Unequalled Self [Pepys]
There's a really interesting one about Jack the Ripper, very much about the life and times during that period, fascinating research, by Philip Sugden.
Jon ronsons books are good too, and Louis Theroux.
Dr Bill Bass wrote a great book about how and why he created "the Body Farm" in Tenessee and the work they do there. Gory but fascinating.
Operation Mincemeat?

DC Confidential by Christopher Meyer is a good read. It's about his time as British ambassador in Washington in the Blair years.

Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady, by Florence King. Hilarious and very sharp memoir about growing up a square peg in a family of square pegs

The Last of the Gentleman Adventurers by Edward Beauclerk Maurice. He joined a trading company at 16, in the early part of the 20th century, and lived for years among the native people of Alaska. It's an amazing book.

Reasons to be Cheerful, by Mark Steel, all about his growing up into political activism during the 70s and 80s. I found it fascinating (and very funny), probably because I had a similar upbringing.

Paradoxical Undressing, by Kristin Hersh (American indie musician). So brilliantly written, a moving and absorbing book whether or not you know or like her music.

I'd also recommend the Mitford Sisters as an interesting group - fascinating glimpse of social history.

DC Confidential is well worth a read as well.

Others you might enjoy:

Through the Narrow Gate - Kaeen Armstrong. Memoir of a young woman who joined a convent. I'm not at all religious but found it really engaging.

Her Brilliant Career - Rachel Cooke - a series of short biographies of ground breaking career women - inspiring!

Ghosts of Everest - can't remember the authors - it's a mixture of a biography of George Mallory and his ill fated Everest expo and a modern day account of the search for his body.

Frost/Nixon - David Frost - as the title suggests - the story of the famous interview.

My favourite book is the biography of Paul Erdos.

It's called the man who loved only numbers, he was a Hungarian mathematician and one of the most brilliant minds that ever lived.

Depends how you feel about maths, there's a little maths in the book but it's not necessary to understand it all to enjoy the book.

I've just ordered a copy for my boyfriend to read.

Martin Amis's memoir Experience is excellent.

A Mother's Reckoning by Susan Klebold (mother of one of the Columbine shooters) was riveting.

Dimestore by Lee Smith

Anything by Diana Athill

On Writing by Stephen King

If you think you will like Mitford books, then any of Jessica Mitford's are excellent. And Nancy Mitford's novels are, of course, memoirs tweaked into fiction.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris.

Totally agree with all the recommendations for Do No Harm, beautiful, moving, emotive and yes a remarkably easy read with regard to the topic.

The Shepherd's Life, James Rebanks.

Brilliant.

www.penguin.co.uk/books/270728/the-shepherd-s-life/

Recommend 'Married to a Bedouin'. Written by a lady who fell in love and lived in the caves in Petra, Jordan. I have met her son in Jordan which is where I heard about the book. lovely family
Also, not a memoir, But... 'Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee' might be worth a go?
Interesting books.

I really enjoyed Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell.

Also, a Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard, both by James Frey.