I am a big fan of fiction – from fantasy novels to crime and romance. I recently finished The Hobbit and I’m leaning towards autobiographies since a colleague whetted my appetite for real-life stories that have the power to change the way we think.
So, my hardcore introduction to the genre will be with people who catalysed a change in their field and made a mark. If you’re too considering opening the door to non-fiction, this list of top 10 autobiographies by influential personalities will be a great start.
1. The Game Is On!
In his book, tennis player Andre Agassi gives you a brutally honest account of how he reached the top.
Price: ₹ 1,12540. Buy it here.
2. The Girl Who Lived
At 16, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by Taliban for standing up for her right to education. She survived the attack and wrote a book narrating her journey. She’s currently a student at Oxford University and in process of working on her second book, We Are Displaced: True Stories of Refugee Lives.
Price: ₹ 350. Buy it here.
3. A War-Torn World
This heartbreaking book has diary entries of a young, Jew girl who went into hiding with her family during the Nazi regime. The cruelty and horrors in her accounts will make you realise what humans are capable of.
Price: ₹ 225. Buy it here.
4. Hope And Hopelessness
The seven-volume autobiography of Maya Angelou gives you a glimpse of the world of a Black woman, her hopes, her dreams, her pains, and the discrimination she faces.
Price: ₹ 599. Buy it here.
5. Life Of Passion
Karen Blixen moved from Denmark to Kenya with her husband and continued to run the farm even after they separated. In the memoir, she talks about her two decades in the country and her affair with a big-game hunter.
Price: ₹ 1,076. Buy it here.
6. A President’s Journey
The much-loved President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam wrote this inspiring book that talks about his life experiences – his humble beginnings, the loss of his father, his days in school and college and the time he spent at NASA.
Price: ₹ 375. Buy it here.
7. A Masterstroke
One of India’s most revered cricketers, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar reiterates his story as a sportsman – from joining the team at 16 to an emotional farewell to the sport.
Price: ₹ 799. Buy it here.
8. Struggles And Giggles
Trevor Noah is a popular TV show host and comedian in the US, but he was born in an Apartheid-hit South Africa to a black women and a white man. With 18 personal stories, this is a funny coming-of-age book.
Price: ₹ 399. Buy it here.
9. Woman Of Steel
Olympic medallist Mary Kom’s honest account of her journey will inspire you to chase after your dreams.
Price: ₹ 199. Buy it here.
10. Life In A City
A Nobel Prize winning, Istanbul-born writer, Orhan Pamuk takes you to the Istanbul of his memories in this book and gives you a glimpse of what the ancient city once was.
Price: ₹ 499. Buy it here.
Hope your summer reading list is now sorted. Let us know which autobiographies you liked the most!
