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Biography & Memoir

Welcome to our Biography & Memoir section, where the real stories of extraordinary heroes come to life. Here, you'll find tales of courage, resilience, and inspiration from people who have shaped the world or navigated incredible journeys. Browse books that remind us of our shared humanity and the infinite ways we can all impact the world.

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Staff Picks

Perspective

Perspective

By Shaun Johnson

A Story of Seasons by John Doe is a captivating biography detailing the author's journey through personal and professional milestones....

Fahrenheit-182

Fahrenheit-182

By Mark Hoppus

Fahrenheit-182 by Mark Hoppus offers an insightful glimpse into the life and career of the blink-182 frontman. This memoir delves...

Careless People

Careless People

By Sarah Wynn-Williams

Careless People by Anon and Sarah Wynn-Williams explores the lives of those embroiled in the Jazz Age, providing a rich...

A Dim Prognosis

A Dim Prognosis

By Ivor Popovich

A Dim Prognosis by Ivor Popovich delves into the author's introspective journey following a life-altering medical diagnosis. Through poignant reflections,...

The Bookseller at the End of the World

The Bookseller at the End of the World

By Ruth Shaw

Set in a remote New Zealand village, this heartwarming tale follows a passionate bookseller who runs a cozy bookshop at...

Leading Under Pressure

Leading Under Pressure

By Ian Foster

Leading Under Pressure by Ian Foster offers insights into the author's experiences managing high-stakes situations in professional sports. It delves...

No Words for This

No Words for This

By Ali Mau

No Words for This by Alison Mau, Ali Mau, is an evocative memoir that delves into personal resilience and identity....

The Salt Path

The Salt Path

By Raynor Winn

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn is a poignant travel memoir that follows the journey of Raynor and her husband,...

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To read is to have experiences; every book changes my life at least a little bit. The first time I can remember this happening was when I was 10, with a biography of Thomas Edison.

Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.

If you read enough biography and history, you learn how people have dealt successfully or unsuccessfully with similar situations or patterns in the past. It doesn't give you a template of answers, but it does help you refine the questions you have to ask yourself.

Whereas fiction is a continual discovery of what one wants to say, what one feels, what one means, and is, in that sense, a performance art, biography requires different skills - research and organization.

I think a biography is only as interesting as the lives and times it illuminates.