7 Fascinating Autobiographies with Compelling Tales You've Got to Read ...

1. My Booky Wook by Russell Brand

If you’re not a fan of Russell, this autobiography will make you warm up to him. It speaks about his struggle with drug, alcohol, and sex addiction. He explains how he was raped as a child, how his father bought him a prostitute, and about how he used to cut himself. This is one of the fascinating autobiographies written by a celebrity that will give you a new view of them. Despite the heavy topics in the book, Russell writes about his life in a comical way that will give you enough laughs to get through the distressing bits.

2. Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston

The James Franco movie, 127 Hours, was adapted from this autobiography. It tells the story of a man who gets his arm trapped under a boulder, is immobile for six days, and amputates his limb to get free. The chapters alternate so that the entire book isn’t set in one place. There are multiple stories about other dangerous adventures Aron went on and how he survived them. Personally, this is my favorite book of all time, autobiography or otherwise. I strongly suggest that you pick it up and give it a read.

3. Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

This autobiography speaks about the civil war in Sierra Leone. Beah’s village burns down and his family is murdered. He tells the story of how he ran away from the rebels, and eventually became a boy soldier. He speaks about learning to use a gun and being given drugs. There’s a large amount of violence in the autobiography that shows just how vicious war can be, even for young children.

4. Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox, the actor from Family Ties and the Back to the Future trilogy, has written numerous autobiographies. Lucky Man is the first one that he wrote, which details his diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. If you want to read something inspirational and optimistic, you need to pick up a copy of this book. Michael treats his horrible illness as if it is a good thing, and says that it’s made him a stronger person. He also speaks about his wife, children, and career with funny moments scattered throughout.

5. Why Be Happy when You Can Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson

Winterson is a best selling author who wrote “Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit.” Her autobiography explains how she dealt with her adopted mother. Her mother is described as a cruel woman, who was angry at Jeanette for loving books and other women. As she ages, she tries to discover what real love is like, since she never felt accepted in her own home. She eventually meets her real mother, and describes what the meeting was like.

6. Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

McCourt grew up in Ireland and struggled with poverty. Many of his siblings died at a young age and his father suffered from alcoholism. The family has difficulty earning money, which results in horrible living conditions. The author tries to find happiness and success in a difficult location. The book is an interesting account of life in Ireland.

7. On Writing by Stephen King

If you’re interested in the art of writing, you’ll love King’s autobiography. He speaks about how he became an author and gives tips on writing. If you want to be a writer, then this book contains valuable information that you should know. Plus, it’s written by a fantastic author, so you know that the story is going to be vivid and interesting. If you want to read about someone’s life and learn useful information, go buy this autobiography.

The next time you head to the book store, head to the autobiography section. Have you read any of these autobiographies? Are there any other ones that you’d suggest we should all read?