Best Biographies & Autobiographies [Inspirational] [Top 10] [2024 Update]

What are the best, most inspiring and most read biographies and autobiographies? For many, (historical) biographies offer inspiration and excitement because they are true stories. Read on to discover the best biographies you must read …

Discover the best and most inspiring biographies and autobiographies

If you could use some inspiration, this list of the best and most inspiring biographies and autobiographies is perfect for you! We start our recommendations with the top 10 best Biographies & Autobiographies of all time. This list has been updated this year, including all the recent titles.

Best Biographies & Autobiographies	Author
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin	Benjamin Franklin
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave	Frederick Douglass
The Diary of a Young Girl	Anne Frank
Long Walk to Freedom	Nelson Mandela
Living for Change: An Autobiography	Grace Lee Boggs
Autobiography of an Androgyne	Earl Lind
Becoming	Michelle Obama
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban	Malala Yousafzai
Autobiography of a Yogi	by Paramahansa Yogananda
An Autobiography	Agatha Christie

The updated top 10 list: the best biographies

The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World

Harry Truman was just an ordinary man, but then Roosevelt died and his life changed quickly. He became president, and up until then there had been no other president with that many events happening in the world in such a short time. Harry Truman was truly a remarkable man.

The Story of Neil Armstrong: A Biography Book for New Readers (The Story Of: A Biography Series for New Readers)

This is a children’s book about how doing your best can make anything possible, like landing and walking on the moon as Neil Armstrong did.

The Story of Alexander Hamilton: A Biography Book for New Readers (The Story Of: A Biography Series for New Readers) 

In the same series as the previous book on our list, comes this version on Alexander Hamilton. As one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, he played a key role in many events that helped shape America as it is today.

The Story of Barack Obama: A Biography Book for New Readers (The Story Of: A Biography Series for New Readers)

Children ages 6 to 9 will love the story of how Barack Obama became the first African American president of the United States. The life he has lived so far will be an inspiration to many.

The Story of Kamala Harris: A Biography Book for New Readers

Joe Biden’s vice president is Kamala Harris, and this book explains how her life evolved, and how she finally ended up being the right hand of the President of the United States. She will be a role model for many young women.

Open Book: A Memoi

‘Open Book’ is a book written by Jessica Simpson, a famous singer who was also on a reality TV show with her then-husband Nick Lachey. She used her diaries for an honest insight in her life, but she also shows her lovely sense of humor. There is absolutely more to Jessica Simpson than meets the eye.

The Story of Helen Keller: A Biography Book for New Readers (The Story Of: A Biography Series for New Readers)

Helen Keller is both deaf and blind, but she is smart, and she doesn’t let anyone withhold her from graduating college. The rest of her life, with many challenges and how she overcame them, can be an example for many young readers.

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

Elon Musk is in the news regularly, but what you see, read or hear is mostly about his achievements today. What happened before he became an entrepreneur that made him famous?

Billy Graham: The Man I Knew 

Billy Graham grew up on the farm and believed in God ever since the day he heard a preacher speak at a camp. Later on in life he became an evangelist, but not many people know about what really went on in Graham’s life. This book by Greg Laurie was his friend and wrote a book about his life.

Grant 

Ulysses S. Grant was President of the United States of America, and before that he was general for President Lincoln. He was an important figure who fought for justice and freedom for every American.