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12 Best Biography Books You Must Read

Explore and learn life through a different set of lens.

Reading a biography can be a rewarding experience because biographies are a special breed of literature. They record the journeys, experiences, tales, events, and raw emotions of the individual in focus. And for some people, they read biographies for the life-changing lessons embedded within the stories. You might be a fan of somebody who’s “accomplished” in life and what could be a more better way to learn about them than to read their life story. In any case, here are 12 of the best biography books you must read to shift your perspective in life and deepen your understanding of the issues different people in different places on the world, face each day.

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#1 Born A Crime by Trevor Noah

My all-time favorite biography book! And not because it follows one of my favorite human beings, but because it shows how he has grown to become the man he is today. His stories are unlike any others you've heard before, told through the candid lense of an innocent child who did not understand why he was different from anyone else, simply for having been born to a white father in an Apartheid-ruled South Africa.

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Contributor: Georgie Mihaila from Fancy Pants Homes

#2 Always Looking Up by Michael J. Fox

Whenever I think of Michael J. Fox, I feel like a little part of me goes back to being a child. He was one of my childhood heroes, and as it usually goes with childhood heroes, seeing them grow older often makes us feel older ourselves. But with Michael J. Fox's autobiography, it feels more like he aged with us. In striking contrast with regular celebrity-penned biographies that follow a star's rise to fame, Always Looking Up paints a far more relatable and inspiring picture of a famous actor's real life struggles and optimism in dealing with disease, faith, family and work.

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Contributor: Georgie Mihaila from Fancy Pants Homes

#3 I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

Everyone knows Malala. A whole world witnessed her bravery and resilience. But what sparked her passion for education? How did Malala become such a fierce advocate for girls' rights and who was the person that supported her every dream? I simply loved this book, because it goes way past the story of her being shot by the Taliban; it tells us how she grew up, how her father's teachings shaped her beliefs, how her hometown changed throughout the years up to the Taliban invasion, and how her family supported her through the hardest of times. 

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Contributor: Georgie Mihaila from Fancy Pants Homes

#4 The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

While I'm not 100% certain this book counts as a biography (especially since it's almost a pocket-sized book), but it's one of the most touching life accounts I've read so far, so I just had to include it. After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a University professor named Randy Pauch gave an unforgettable last lecture that inspired millions to live each day with purpose and joy; this is the book version of that lecture, with all of Randy Pausch personal stories -- and teachings. A must read!

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Contributor: Georgie Mihaila from Fancy Pants Homes

#5 Ten Thousand Tongues by Nandita Godbole

Featured in Forbes, NBC-News and NBC Asian America, this biographical fiction is based on the authors' family stories of strong matriarchs who inspired "Ten Thousand Tongues." These are stories of perseverance, a deep-rooted appreciation of family legacies that inspire and shape reverence to one's culinary heritage, preserving family stories and foods along the way warm hearts of the introspective reader. It has been likened to biographies written by Madhur Jaffrey, Von Diaz, and Diana Abu Jaber. Immortalized through iconic comfort foods, eight women effortlessly manage to create a unique and lasting culinary legacy that spans many generations. Look for a companion cookbook of the same name to pair with the novel for a completely immersive experience.

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Contributor: Turmeric Press

#6 The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

This biography is a gripping tale of the post-Civil-War state of race relations, the status quo, and the few great men who decided to change that. Malcolm X’s journey takes him from a talented student to a criminal to a prisoner, then a top member of the radical nation of Islam and finally a pilgrimage to Mecca. The epic biography catalogs a man who was in search of the truth, and only found it after it was too late. The harrowing tale is a testament to human ingenuity, and peoples ability to change.

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Contributor: Caleb Backe from Maple Holistics

#8 War Dogs by Guy Lawson

This is the incredible true story of how two stoners from Miami beach landed a $300 Million contract running guns with the US government during the war in Iraq. This incredible story grips you by the throat and has you wondering whether laugh or cry. The story also takes you through the dark and questionable world of gun running and doesn’t apologize for it.

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Contributor: Caleb Backe from Maple Holistics

#9 Churchill by Andrew Roberts

This is a recent addition to an incredible number of biographies of perhaps the greatest political figure of the 20th Century. This is a readable, wonderfully written on volume history of Churchill. It captures the man in both his strengths and weaknesses, triumphs and tragedies. 

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Contributor: Stuart Shiffman

#10 Rush by Stephen Fried

Given the fervor around Alexander Hamilton, not limited to the amazing musical, it's easy to overlook some of the founding fathers not included in the play. However, there were about 120 founding fathers that go unmentioned, many of whom were arguably just as instrumental in crafting our country. Benjamin Rush was an example of someone who was not only important for the revolution but also instrumental in crafting our medical system. He is the only medical doctor to have been honored by a statue in Washington. He is in many ways the father of American Psychology. Yet he also might be responsible for the death of hundreds for his unscientific theories of medicine. Suffice it to say, he was complicated. For anyone who is interested in the revolution (which is now a ton of people) this book provides a much fuller understanding of what it took to build this country from scratch 242 years ago..

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Contributor: Drew Farnsworth from Green Lane Design

#11 Death March Escape by Jack J Hersch

Jack explains how he connects the dots, becomes his own detective and unravels an incredible story of perseverance, courage, resilience and ultimate drive as he finds-out what really happened to his father Dave and the people who sacrificed so much to ultimately help him survive.

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Contributor: Tracy Minsky from Meryl Moss Media

#12 Wilt, Ike, and Me by David Richman

Wilt, Ike & Me is a poignant story of epic characters, set in a bygone era. As it journeys from the everyday, to the fantastic and even the metaphysical, the touching family saga is filled with triumph and tragedy. But ultimately, its true hero is the human heart, with its remarkable ability to transcend both time and death.

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Contributor: David Richman

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Written by Taegan Lion