Suggest me your best non fiction book based on a person’s life
Been a bit bored about what to read, too many fiction novels piled up, really want something humane and real, adventure might do, tragedy does as well, just tell me your favs in the template.
Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton tells the story of Beatrice Ayer Patton. She was the one who ‘made’ General Patton, and her life was characterized by adventure and curiosity. She sailed the Pacific Ocean, hunted the fields of New England, and befriended the Native Hawaiians who treated her as one of their own.
FearlessAd9373 on
I really enjoyed ‘in extremis’ by Marie Colvin! Adventure by the spades, very cool lady
qiofsardonic on
*I Am the Clay*, by Chaim Potok. Not based on his life. It is a fictional account based what he witnessed while deployed during the Korean War. Excellent little novel.
lookatthemoontonight on
The art theif
cdsec2029 on
I read Bruce Catton’s 2 volume biography of U.S. Grant (Grant Moves South and Grant Takes Command) and thought it was compelling not because the subject had any particularly great characteristics. He succeeded because he was persistent. So I figured out that persistence in and of itself could make for greatness.
Antique_Ad_6806 on
Into the Wild, by John Krakauer
Mokamochamucca on
Romantic Outlaws by Charlotte Gordon. A dual biography with alternating chapters about Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter Mary Shelley. An interesting concept and an incredible book.
Legitimate_Lynx7126 on
I have never seen anyone recommend it on these threads….
The house of hidden meanings by RuPaul. Incredibly fun, deeper than I was expecting.
AccomplishedCow665 on
The world of yesterday, by Stefan zweig. He was a master at work. His story is so profound and sad. And beautiful.
Gold_Telephone_7192 on
Educated by Tara Westover is about her life attempting to escape the insane, off-the-grid, survivalist family she was born into. Crazy story.
NotAnEarthwormYet on
My favourites:
Just Kids by Patti Smith
Clothes Clothes Clothes Music Music Music Boys Boys Boys by Viv Albertine
Into the Wild by Jon Krakeur
KTL_Rizzo on
The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre. Right up there with the greatest Cold War spy thrillers for me – but it’s a true story about a real guy.
Rabbitscooter on
I really enjoyed *Sweet and Low: A Family Story* by Rich Cohen. It tells the story of how his grandfather founded Sweet’N Low, mixing in tons of relatable family drama with America’s love affair with sugar. So it’s a personal story but also really fascinating food history.
Strict_Definition_78 on
Alicia: My Story by Alicia Appleman-Jurman
Best Holocaust memoir I’ve ever read
Cecily_Bum_Trinket on
Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love and Death in Renaissance Italy
wombles2 on
Laurie Lee, Red Sky at Sunrise. Has all 3 of his biographical works in it :Cider with Rosie, As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning and A Moment of War. He was a famous poet so his use of English is superb. Highly recommended.
GoneT0JoinTheOwls on
Musashi
Krijali on
I think I said it before but it’s niche and interesting. The book “@ Large”
Schweenis69 on
Kingfish by Richard Wright Jr is about Huey Long. It’s hilarious and also really sad in places. Great read.
HoldMyBook on
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing.
-OR-
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann
I read The Wager in like two days.
TrueCrimeRunner92 on
Endurance, Alfred Lansing. Mind-boggling and true, an incredible read.
BlueGrottoMaillot on
The Art of Resistance by Justus Rosenberg
Don’t Let’s Go to The Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller
A Higher Call by Adam Makos
MamaJody on
*Born a Crime* by Trevor Noah – do yourself a huge favour and listen to it rather than read it. It’s exceptional.
SonOfGreebo on
A Pocketfull of Happiness, by Richard E Grant (the actor). An account of his astonishingly talented wife, and her battle with lung cancer, death and mourning.
If you can get the Audible version, it’s read by Grant himself, it’s _breathtaking_ .
twoheartedthrowaway on
Treat it gentle, autobiography by early 20th century New Orleans Jazz icon Sidney Bechet. He lies about almost everything, it rocks
Myearthsuit on
Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorius. It’s about his life living with locked in syndrome. They thought he was brain dead for years but in fact he was not- just unable to control his body.
27 Comments
Tuesdays with Morrie!
Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George S. Patton tells the story of Beatrice Ayer Patton. She was the one who ‘made’ General Patton, and her life was characterized by adventure and curiosity. She sailed the Pacific Ocean, hunted the fields of New England, and befriended the Native Hawaiians who treated her as one of their own.
I really enjoyed ‘in extremis’ by Marie Colvin! Adventure by the spades, very cool lady
*I Am the Clay*, by Chaim Potok. Not based on his life. It is a fictional account based what he witnessed while deployed during the Korean War. Excellent little novel.
The art theif
I read Bruce Catton’s 2 volume biography of U.S. Grant (Grant Moves South and Grant Takes Command) and thought it was compelling not because the subject had any particularly great characteristics. He succeeded because he was persistent. So I figured out that persistence in and of itself could make for greatness.
Into the Wild, by John Krakauer
Romantic Outlaws by Charlotte Gordon. A dual biography with alternating chapters about Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter Mary Shelley. An interesting concept and an incredible book.
I have never seen anyone recommend it on these threads….
The house of hidden meanings by RuPaul. Incredibly fun, deeper than I was expecting.
The world of yesterday, by Stefan zweig. He was a master at work. His story is so profound and sad. And beautiful.
Educated by Tara Westover is about her life attempting to escape the insane, off-the-grid, survivalist family she was born into. Crazy story.
My favourites:
Just Kids by Patti Smith
Clothes Clothes Clothes Music Music Music Boys Boys Boys by Viv Albertine
Into the Wild by Jon Krakeur
The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre. Right up there with the greatest Cold War spy thrillers for me – but it’s a true story about a real guy.
I really enjoyed *Sweet and Low: A Family Story* by Rich Cohen. It tells the story of how his grandfather founded Sweet’N Low, mixing in tons of relatable family drama with America’s love affair with sugar. So it’s a personal story but also really fascinating food history.
Alicia: My Story by Alicia Appleman-Jurman
Best Holocaust memoir I’ve ever read
Lucrezia Borgia: Life, Love and Death in Renaissance Italy
Laurie Lee, Red Sky at Sunrise. Has all 3 of his biographical works in it :Cider with Rosie, As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning and A Moment of War. He was a famous poet so his use of English is superb. Highly recommended.
Musashi
I think I said it before but it’s niche and interesting. The book “@ Large”
Kingfish by Richard Wright Jr is about Huey Long. It’s hilarious and also really sad in places. Great read.
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing.
-OR-
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann
I read The Wager in like two days.
Endurance, Alfred Lansing. Mind-boggling and true, an incredible read.
The Art of Resistance by Justus Rosenberg
Don’t Let’s Go to The Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller
A Higher Call by Adam Makos
*Born a Crime* by Trevor Noah – do yourself a huge favour and listen to it rather than read it. It’s exceptional.
A Pocketfull of Happiness, by Richard E Grant (the actor). An account of his astonishingly talented wife, and her battle with lung cancer, death and mourning.
If you can get the Audible version, it’s read by Grant himself, it’s _breathtaking_ .
Treat it gentle, autobiography by early 20th century New Orleans Jazz icon Sidney Bechet. He lies about almost everything, it rocks
Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorius. It’s about his life living with locked in syndrome. They thought he was brain dead for years but in fact he was not- just unable to control his body.