Upload
Sign InJoin
  • Home
  • Saved
  • Bestsellers
  • Books
  • Audiobooks
  • Magazines
  • Documents
  • Sheet Music

Biography & Memoir

Learn from the experiences of the most interesting people in the world.

Interests in Biography & Memoir

Skip carousel
carousel previouscarousel next
  • Historical Biographies
  • Political Biography & Memoir
  • Business Biography & History
  • Personal Memoirs
  • Celebrity Biography & Memoir

Bestselling in Biography & Memoir

View More
Skip carousel
carousel previouscarousel next

New & Noteworthy: Biography & Memoir

View More
Skip carousel
carousel previouscarousel next

This Month in Biographies & History

View More
Skip carousel
carousel previouscarousel next
  • Inheritance
    Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love
    Dani Shapiro

    Book club pick…

    This is the first pick from Gretchen Rubin’s new Happier Podcast Book Club. In the announcement post, Rubin writes that this book is “a thought-provoking, beautifully written memoir that's so suspenseful, I read it in practically one sitting.”

  • The Blood of Emmett Till
    The Blood of Emmett Till
    Timothy B. Tyson

    Black History Month…

    This book may have contributed to the Justice Department reopening the investigation into the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till in Mississippi. Part detective story, part political history, it reveals shocking new evidence and proves that some stories in history demand revisiting.

  • Abigail and John
    Abigail and John: Portrait of a Marriage
    Edith Gelles

    Presidents' Day…

    Founding Father John Adams became the second president of the United States, but no depiction of him is complete without telling his wife/advisor Abigail’s story. Drawn from letters between the couple, this dual biography explores their extraordinary partnership. A love story interwoven with politics, their relationship provides insight into the sociopolitical context of the founding of our nation.

  • Black Klansman
    Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime: A Memoir
    Ron Stallworth

    Oscar nominee…

    Nominated for best picture, “BlacKkKlansman” has a pretty incredible premise — all the more so because it’s rooted in reality. The story of Ron Stallworth, a black cop, infiltrating the KKK in the ’70s is as relevant to the issues of today as it is to our recent past. The film version has six Oscar nominations total, including best director (Spike Lee), best supporting actor (Adam Driver), and of course, best adapted screenplay.

  • Underground
    Underground: A Human History of the Worlds Beneath Our Feet
    Will Hunt

    New release…

    Will Hunt let the wonder of the underground take him through labyrinths many of us don’t even know about to reveal the wild and wonder of life below the surface in this book. Hunt’s work will answer questions you didn’t even know you had about underground pathways, and ignite a desire to dig even deeper into these niches. Perfect reading for your next subway ride.

  • Barracoon
    Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo"
    Zora Neale Hurston

    Black History Month…

    This newly released, never-before-published biography from literary legend Zora Neale Hurston tells the story of the last known survivor of the Atlantic slave trade.

  • The Cut Out Girl
    The Cut Out Girl: A Story of War and Family, Lost and Found
    Bart van Es

    Costa Book of the Year Winner…

    “The hidden gem of the year,” according to the judges who unanimously awarded “The Cut Out Girl” the prestigious 2018 Costa Book of the Year. A moving story of a young Jewish girl hidden from the Nazis by the author’s grandparents, who were part of the Dutch resistance.

  • Hidden Figures
    Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
    Margot Lee Shetterly

    Black History Month…

    Thanks to Shetterly’s blockbuster book, the black female mathematicians whose calculations were critical to winning the space race in a still-segregated America are a hidden history no more. A crucial story that challenges our conceptions.

  • Can You Ever Forgive Me?
    Can You Ever Forgive Me?: Memoirs of a Literary Forger
    Lee Israel

    Oscar nominee…

    Hilarious reflections on petty crime ensue in this memoir. Once a biographer, Lee Israel turned to forgery by impersonating celebrities in letters, which she says were her best writing. See celebrity culture through a new lens and ponder the irony of Melissa McCarthy being nominated for best actress in the film adaptation (which is also up for best adapted screenplay).

  • First Man
    First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong
    James R. Hansen

    Oscar nominee…

    Neil Armstrong became a larger-than-life figure after taking one giant leap for mankind. Author James Hansen brings this star of aviation back down to Earth in this detailed, myth-busting biography. Ryan Gosling plays Armstrong in the movie adaptation, which is nominated for four Oscars, including best production design and best visual effects.

  • Queen of Scots
    Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart
    John Guy

    Oscar nominee…

    This biography of Mary, Queen of Scots, has quickly become the definitive text about the long-ago ruler. Author John Guy uncovered new primary source texts while doing research and paints a different picture than popular history touts. The movie adaptation is nominated for best costume design and best makeup and hairstyling.

  • The Wind in the Reeds
    The Wind in the Reeds: A Storm, A Play, and the City That Would Not Be Broken
    Wendell Pierce

    Mardi Gras…

    A rousing story of resiliency and redemption in New Orleans from “The Wire” and “Treme” actor Wendell Pierce. The NOLA native tells how his family, his neighbors, and his hometown rose out of the wreckage of Hurricane Katrina.

Featured Reading Lists

Curated collections from experts, influencers & our editors.
Skip carousel
carousel previouscarousel next
  •  Curated by Scribd Editors

    Essential Bios & Histories for Black History Month

    Essays and stories about breaking barriers and barriers still left to be broken.
    5 reads
  •  Curated by Scribd Editors

    Michelle Obama’s Reading List

    Now that you’ve read Obama’s “Becoming,” check out some of her favorite books.
    3 reads
  •  Curated by Scribd Editors

    Ace American History this Presidents’ Day

    Learn about past presidents who led the United States through thick and thin.
    6 reads
  •  Curated by Alex P.

    Inspiring Memoirs About Facing Death

    They may sound dark, but these memoirs are actually incredibly uplifting.
    5 reads
  •  Curated by Kaitlin Solimine

    Literary Feats at the Intersection of Humanity and Nature

    The author of “Empire of Glass” tells why she loves these lyrical stories.
    3 reads
  •  Curated by Scribd Editors

    Behind the Scenes: The Most Telling Tell-Alls

    Take a hard look at the seemingly easy life that hides heartbreaking secrets.
    5 reads
  •  Curated by Scribd Editors

    Editors’ Picks: Biography & Memoir

    These reads delve into the lives of the most fascinating people in history.
    5 reads
View All In Biography & Memoir
Close Dialog

Are you sure?

This action might not be possible to undo. Are you sure you want to continue?

Loading

Footer Menu

Back To Top

About

  • About Scribd
  • Press
  • Our blog
  • Join our team!
  • Contact Us
  • Join today
  • Invite Friends
  • Gifts

Support

  • Help / FAQ
  • Accessibility
  • Purchase help
  • AdChoices
  • Publishers

Legal

  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Copyright

Social Media

    • Scribd - Download on the App Store
    • Scribd - Get it on Google Play
  • Copyright © 2019 Scribd Inc.
  • .
  • Browse Books
  • .
  • Site Directory
  • .
  • Site Language: