--- title: "17 Music Memoirs to Put on Your Reading List ..." description: "Rat Girl by Kristin Hersh; Just Kids by Patti Smith; Cash by Johnny Cash; Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn; Life by Keith Richards; More ..." url: "https://books.allwomenstalk.com/music-memoirs-to-put-on-your-reading-list/" category: "books" last_updated: "2026-06-02" --- # 17 Music Memoirs to Put on Your Reading List ... If you've ever wondered what it's really like to be a rock star, now's your chance: there are so many memoirs out there! From the godmother of punk, Patti Smith, to the husband of Beyonce (and a musician in his own right) Jay-Z, every musician with his or her salt is telling all. Here are some excellent music memoirs to add to your must-read list. ## 1. Rat Girl by Kristin Hersh ![Rat Girl by Kristin Hersh](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/ci/hv/otf6x83t562fa275a04b1819270021_600x914.jpg) Price: $11.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Covering much more of her life than just her time in Throwing Muses, this book is really, really good. ## 2. Just Kids by Patti Smith ![Just Kids by Patti Smith](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/hn/c8/qqedjjhj562fa27553f51033726023_333x500.jpg) Price: $10.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) This is hands-down one of the best music memoirs I've ever read - she's obviously as talented a writer as she is a musician. ## 3. Cash by Johnny Cash ![Cash by Johnny Cash](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/qp/s7/n0ujym1m562fa27779a1f373247334_600x930.jpg) Price: $9.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) The take-away from this moving memoir? Cash was a great man, sure, but he never saw himself that way. ## 4. Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn ![Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/n5/qn/rhfy4vqp562fa27585fe8216685223_323x500.jpg) Price: $11.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Whether you're a fan of her music or not, this is a must-read. ## 5. Life by Keith Richards ![Life by Keith Richards](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/m2/xm/uip4cbs1562fa277e25e1284185590_600x911.jpg) Price: $9.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Yes, his life is as crazy as you'd imagine, and yes, he talks about most of it in this book. ## 6. Bound for Glory by Woody Guthrie ![Bound for Glory by Woody Guthrie](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/a8/j8/ig8n8suy562fa27b61db6019938709_600x911.jpg) Price: $12.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Because I'm a fan, I'm biased, but this book is so unique, like the writer himself. ## 7. When I Left Home by Buddy Guy ![When I Left Home by Buddy Guy](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/p4/ce/quzzz6tw562fa27a1ea72495396948_319x500.jpg) Price: $9.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) A must-read for any fan, or anyone who just loves blues music. ## 8. Slash by Slash ![Slash by Slash](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/pe/l7/cuu5849o562fa27ac03aa772649638_331x500.jpg) Price: $8.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) I'm not even a Guns N Roses fan, but I liked this book anyway. ## 9. The Dirt by Motley Crue ![The Dirt by Motley Crue](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/ao/vj/w50hfu8g562fa27d594e1871682707_600x880.jpg) Price: $13.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) I'm DEFINITELY not a Crue fan, but this book is stellar for its depiction of the easy excesses Los Angeles in a particular era. ## 10. Chronicles by Bob Dylan ![Chronicles by Bob Dylan](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/id/ib/h6dbuqv4562fa27e8b99f747151443_600x921.jpg) Price: $11.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) The thing I loved about this book is how it details the crazy ways Dylan found inspiration. ## 11. Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis ![Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/jv/cn/h9xk80ho562fa2802840c918327589_600x910.jpg) Price: $9.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Honest and harrowing, this book is equal parts music memoir and addiction tale. ## 12. Anger is an Energy by John Lydon ![Anger is an Energy by John Lydon](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/an/nd/p1si82rt562fa2812e734370425420_600x906.jpg) Price: $9.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Sort of the prequel to Rotten, the book and the man. ## 13. Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon ![Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/ix/dk/ojgtkgu4562fa28394e97276605139_600x903.jpg) Price: $12.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) The short story: she never wanted to be in a band. The long story is much more interesting. Read this book, now! ## 14. M Train by Patti Smith ![M Train by Patti Smith](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/pu/vy/va3uxx4h562fa28316232483474673_600x922.jpg) Price: $12.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) I know, I know: another Smith memoir? This one's different though, and contains stuff that happened as well as stuff Smith wishes and dreams happened. Fascinating! ## 15. Miles by Miles Davis ![Miles by Miles Davis](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/a3/j7/n5y2cmtq562fa28463e74669693587_600x912.jpg) Price: $13.59 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) This is a good read, though it's disheartening to learn what should have been obvious: that racism was real, even for Davis, as famous as he was. ## 16. Never Broken by Jewel ![Never Broken by Jewel](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/un/kg/cbky6udl562fa2858f948290727799_600x905.jpg) Price: $12.99 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) You've probably heard brief sketches of Jewel's story, but her memoir goes into greater detail, making you adore her even more. ## 17. Words without Music by Philip Glass ![Words without Music by Philip Glass](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/y8/sz/zghvx08x562fa2866f1d3749794995_600x881.jpg) Price: $14.49 at [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) An amazing read, even if you aren't a music fan in any genre at all. ## Related Posts - [best short story anthologies](https://books.allwomenstalk.com/short-story-anthologies-you-need-on-your-bookshelf/) - [boy romance](https://books.allwomenstalk.com/romance-books-to-read-if-you-love-bad-boys/) - [kate spade biography book](https://books.allwomenstalk.com/books-you-need-on-your-coffee-table-right-now/) - [highlighted lines from books](https://books.allwomenstalk.com/the-most-highlighted-lines-in-e-books/) - [books that will shatter you](https://books.allwomenstalk.com/books-that-will-shatter-your-heart-in-to-smithereens/) - [list of 1950s adolescence books](https://books.allwomenstalk.com/books-set-in-the-50s-you-wont-be-able-to-put-down/) - [commit book](https://books.allwomenstalk.com/book-series-you-have-to-commit-to/) - [books for slytherins](https://books.allwomenstalk.com/books-that-slytherins-will-love/) - [curled up dog tattoo](https://books.allwomenstalk.com/books-youll-want-to-curl-up-in-bed-with/) - [cozy reads for winter](https://books.allwomenstalk.com/books-to-cozy-up-with-on-a-cold-winter-night/) - [7 Cool Books to Read ...](https://allwomenstalk.com/7-cool-books-to-read/) - [10 Holiday Must Reads ...](https://allwomenstalk.com/10-holiday-must-reads/) ## Site Information - [Main page](https://allwomenstalk.com) - [Contact us](https://allwomenstalk.com/contact.html) - [HTML article](https://books.allwomenstalk.com/music-memoirs-to-put-on-your-reading-list/)