There are so many great threads dedicated to people's favourite examples of different genres, so let's turn the tables and have a kvetch thread!
This was inspired by my recent recollection of the worst autobiography I ever read, namely "The War Within" by Don Tate. It's a memoir by an Australian man who served in the Vietnam War, and was gifted to me by a well-meaning relative over a decade ago.
Why did you hate it so much?
Because the author is a hatefully racist individual who learned nothing at all from his experiences in the war. He continues to refer to Vietnamese people using a range of slurs I would never expect to hear past 1980 and will not repeat here in case I get a sitewide ban. And worse, he's a hypocrite of the worst order, at once demanding sympathy for his experiences as a soldier (even though he voluntarily enlisted, and was not conscripted like most of our forces), while also condemning the anti-war protests. There's a scene in the book where he saw an anti-war protest after he was wounded and repatriated, and he literally asserts that the protesters should have been marching in support of the servicemen instead. That's how blind he is to alternative perspectives.
And on the subject of a victim mentality, I was particularly struck by one chapter in the memoir, where Tate and another soldier visit a Vietnamese brothel during their tour of duty. Tate's friend sees a pregnant sex worker, and she has a miscarriage during their contact – it's not clear whether or not this was a coincidence, or caused by the rough treatment of her. However, rather than taking even a single moment to express sadness about this situation, Tate immediately launches into a self-serving tirade about how the brothel madam dared to look angry and the poor darlings felt blamed. Like, I mean, how dare she make them feel bad for purchasing sex from pregnant refugee women who were literally forced into sex work to survive, or being so rough with them that she would miscarry as a result of that?
I persisted about 80% of the way but DNF, I was too disgusted. I almost always donate books I don't want anymore but I'm pretty sure I put this one in the bin, because I didn't want some poor, impressionable kid to be exposed to it and think the author had any kind of reasonable views to share on any subject.
So, with the rant over, I'd love to hear which autobiographies you couldn't stomach. Whether it's a self-serving puff piece or an honest take by someone you can't stand, which autobiography would you never recommend to anyone?
by Sweeper1985
6 Comments
Matthew Perry’s.
Thought the guy was just like Chandler. Turns out he was really just a huge asshole.
Hillbilly Elegy. I had read it when it came out hoping to gain some insight about rural America but instead it was just shallow bootstrap kool-aid. I do remember thinking even then that this man will run for office someday as a Republican because deep down he probably hates actual working people.
What is your favorite autobiography?
Prince Harry’s.
I’m somewhat indifferent on the UK Royals in that I think the whole thing is more than a bit ridiculous but I also can’t deny the romance of it all. I read *Spare* genuinely interested in learning about a life so peculiar and unique compared to the rest of us.
And it was genuinely interesting! But it was also painfully scattered, hilariously surface level, and with all of the poor self reflection of someone still far too close to the events they’re discussing. Had this book been written when he was 70, looking back on his life and with less of a concern for public relations, it would have been fascinating. Instead, it was a complete disappointment.
What is your favorite autobiography
Scar Tissue, basically just another rock star bragging about being a pedo. Never finished it.