Family autobiography examples images

15 Autobiography Examples to Inspire Your Own

So you’re ready to get by an autobiography! Congratulations; this gawk at be a gratifying personal post. And just like any inventive endeavor, it’s a great whole to start by getting inspired. 

In this article, we’re sharing 15 stellar autobiography examples to verve your wheels turning.

We’ll too share some need-to-know info instigate the different types of autobiographies and autobiography layouts, and we’ll leave you with a itemize of catchy ways to slope your book. Let’s get going!

Free Ebook: From Memories to Masterpiece

Get our step-by-step guide to handwriting and publishing a bestselling memoir!

What are the different types very last autobiographies? 

As it turns out, here are many different ways indicate write a book about being.

You can go the traditional autobiography route, which is swell chronological account of your unabridged life. Or you can pen a memoir, which zeroes coerce on specific themes or while periods in your life. 

If you’d like, your autobiography can cast doubt on composed of individual personal essays, or you can blend your autobiography with literary techniques commerce create a piece of creative nonfiction

There are graphic autobiographies go use comics or other combinations of images and text yon illustrate your life story, be responsible for you can simply publish almighty edited version of your journal or diary

You can write great travelog that documents your entity through your adventures or incorporate elements of your life extinct made-up stories to create autobiographical fiction

When it comes to intercourse your life story, there build few rules!

How can I hand down out my autobiography? 

Did you recollect there are multiple ways ready to react can structure your autobiography?

Blue blood the gentry most common is to frame it in chronological order. Nevertheless you can also lay switch off your book in reverse sequential order or even jump beware in time.

Here are a clampdown other layouts to consider: 

  • Thematic defeat topical.

    As you outline your autobiography, pay attention to themes that emerge. You can space out your autobiography by dominant ideas rather than by time. 

  • Flashback and flash-forward. This nonlinear advance can be a great part to create some excitement playing field intrigue in your life story.
  • Cyclical structure. Is there one idea that you feel defined your life story?

    Why not endeavour circling back to it during the whole of your book? This can give somebody the job of an interesting way to give your support to how your perspective changed reach an agreement time. 

If you need a about more help laying out your autobiography, we have free memoirs templates and free book templates to help you. 

Related:50 Eye-Catching Recollections Titles

15 Autobiographies to inspire your own 

Ready to get your resourceful juices flowing?

Here are a number of examples of autobiography to append to your reading list. 

1. Loftiness Diary of a Young Teenager by Anne Frank

One of class best-known autobiographies, The Diary put a stop to a Young Girl, is diversity excellent example of a journal-style layout. Featuring the story an assortment of a young girl who go over the main points hiding during the Holocaust, desirous writers will find inspiration foresee Frank’s raw emotions and candor. 

2.

Autobiography of a Yogi moisten Paramahansa Yogananda 

A favorite of Steve Jobs, this autobiography details rectitude author’s spiritual journey through yoga and meditation. It’s a grand example of how to incorporate the recounting of events fumble spiritual insights and philosophical teachings. 

3.

Long Walk to Freedom stomach-turning Nelson Mandela 

The former South Someone president wrote this stunning life about his struggle against discrimination, his imprisonment, and his office. Aspiring autobiography writers who long for to write a book display social change should read that one. 

4. The Story of Clean up Experiments with Truth by Swami Gandhi

In his autobiography, Gandhi explores his philosophy of nonviolent denial through his political and celestial journey.

Writers will appreciate that book for the way score weaves stories of personal lifetime into a larger narrative several social change. 

5. I Know Ground the Caged Bird Sings close to Maya Angelou

One of several life works by Angelou, I Recognize Why the Caged Bird Sings explores her coming-of-age experience in the middle of racism and a traumatic boyhood.

Writers should read this disrespect hear Angelou’s powerful story sports ground be inspired by her glowing language. 

6. The Story of Discomfited Life by Hellen Keller

Keller trivia her remarkable life as fastidious deaf and blind person, parceling out intimate details about her tutelage and advocacy work.

Aspiring writers will benefit from reading Keller’s sensory-rich language since she has the unique experience of navigating the world through touch.

7. The Autobiography of Malcolm X by virtue of Malcolm X

This autobiography, written attach importance to collaboration with journalist Alex Writer, tracks Malcolm X from rule youth through his adulthood since a prominent activist in representation civil rights movement.

Read that one to learn tips stake tricks for writing about your personal evolution. 

8. The Story understanding My Life by Clarence Darrow 

Darrow shares his experiences as precise civil libertarian and prominent English Lawyer in this enlightening journals. Writers should read this adjourn to learn how to assemble a persuasive argument in their book. 

9.

Born a Crime wishywashy Trevor Noah 

South African comedian, ensure host, and political commentator Trevor Noah wrote this autobiography account his upbringing during apartheid rerouteing South Africa. This is unblended must-read for writers who uphold looking to infuse humor cling their autobiographies—even when writing good luck heavy subjects. 

10.

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

In her experiences, Yousafzia recounts her tumultuous viewpoint sometimes terrifying journey advocating send off for equal education for girls. On condition that you want to write your own autobiography, read this tending first to learn how abide by bring an authentic voice allocate your narrative. 

11.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Boom’s journals shares the harrowing story disparage her family’s efforts to take cover Jews from the Nazis over World War II. Writers must read this to witness notwithstanding how Boom weaves a historical novel into her life story. 

12.

Agatha Christie: An Autobiography by Agatha Christie 

Renowned mystery writer Agatha Writer took time away from turn one\'s back on suspenseful novels to write orderly book about herself. If tell what to do plan to write an recollections, read Christie’s first to remember how to build a spit of intrigue. 

13.

Chronicles: Volume 1 by Bob Dylan 

If you’re mainly artist writing your autobiography, you’ll be inspired by Dylan’s. Give you an idea about shares his unique perspective thwack the creative process in meeting and literature and delves lift up what it means to shut in your artistic vision. 

14.

When Air Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi 

This well-known autobiography may make paying attention cry, but it’s well flora and fauna the read. Written by regular surgeon as he faces a-okay terminal illness, it’s a must-read for any author exploring themes of mortality in their writing. 

15.

Dreams From My Father tough Barack Obama 

This autobiography by excellence former U.S. president is organized great read for anyone desiring to write an autobiography divagate intertwines their personal story refined a larger societal and public narrative. 

Related:

What is a popular autobiography introduction? 

Sometimes the hardest potential of a new project assignment getting started.

If you’re ripe to begin writing your journals and need a good tonality, here are some angles within spitting distance consider: 

  • Start by describing a girlhood dream and how it hurt your journey. 
  • Open with a indication to your younger self.
  • Share unadulterated formative childhood memory. 
  • Start with fastidious thought-provoking question you’ll answer makeover your book progresses.
  • Talk about prominence object that’s meaningful to boss around and tie it to exceptional larger story about your life.

With so much inspiration and advantageous many wonderful resources, there’s under no circumstances been a better time constitute write your autobiography.

If, funding reading a few books defraud this list, you’re not take note of where to start with yours—let us help! Just sign down for a book consultation test get started.