{"id":68079,"date":"2026-10-25T05:12:43","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T23:42:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/biographies\/"},"modified":"2026-10-25T15:48:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T10:18:28","slug":"biographies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/biographies\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Best Biographies and Memoirs of All Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"qbk qbk-nf\" style=\"--g:#9333EA\"><nav class=\"qbk-sec\" aria-label=\"Fiction or nonfiction\"><a class=\"qbk-nf on\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/#nonfiction\">&#128216; Nonfiction Books<\/a><a class=\"qbk-fi\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/#fiction\">&#128213; Fiction Books<\/a><\/nav><div class=\"qbk-hero\"><p class=\"qbk-crumbs\"><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/\">Home<\/a> &rsaquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/\">Best Books<\/a> &rsaquo; Biographies &middot; Updated October 2026<\/span><span class=\"qbk-share\"><b>Share<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/?text=The%2010%20Best%20Biographies%20and%20Memoirs%20of%20All%20Time%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickonlinetips.com%2Farchives%2Fbest-books%2Fbiographies%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" aria-label=\"Share on WhatsApp\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M17.472 14.382c-.297-.149-1.758-.867-2.03-.967-.273-.099-.471-.148-.67.15-.197.297-.767.966-.94 1.164-.173.199-.347.223-.644.075-.297-.15-1.255-.463-2.39-1.475-.883-.788-1.48-1.761-1.653-2.059-.173-.297-.018-.458.13-.606.134-.133.298-.347.446-.52.149-.174.198-.298.298-.497.099-.198.05-.371-.025-.52-.075-.149-.669-1.612-.916-2.207-.242-.579-.487-.5-.669-.51-.173-.008-.371-.01-.57-.01-.198 0-.52.074-.792.372-.272.297-1.04 1.016-1.04 2.479 0 1.462 1.065 2.875 1.213 3.074.149.198 2.096 3.2 5.077 4.487.709.306 1.262.489 1.694.625.712.227 1.36.195 1.871.118.571-.085 1.758-.719 2.006-1.413.248-.694.248-1.289.173-1.413-.074-.124-.272-.198-.57-.347m-5.421 7.403h-.004a9.87 9.87 0 01-5.031-1.378l-.361-.214-3.741.982.998-3.648-.235-.374a9.86 9.86 0 01-1.51-5.26c.001-5.45 4.436-9.884 9.888-9.884 2.64 0 5.122 1.03 6.988 2.898a9.825 9.825 0 012.893 6.994c-.003 5.45-4.437 9.884-9.885 9.884m8.413-18.297A11.815 11.815 0 0012.05 0C5.495 0 .16 5.335.157 11.892c0 2.096.547 4.142 1.588 5.945L.057 24l6.305-1.654a11.882 11.882 0 005.683 1.448h.005c6.554 0 11.89-5.335 11.893-11.893a11.821 11.821 0 00-3.48-8.413z\"\/><\/svg><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickonlinetips.com%2Farchives%2Fbest-books%2Fbiographies%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M22 12a10 10 0 10-11.5 9.87v-6.99H8.1V12h2.4V9.8c0-2.37 1.42-3.68 3.6-3.68 1.04 0 2.13.19 2.13.19v2.34h-1.2c-1.18 0-1.55.73-1.55 1.48V12h2.64l-.42 2.88h-2.22v6.99A10 10 0 0022 12z\"\/><\/svg><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickonlinetips.com%2Farchives%2Fbest-books%2Fbiographies%2F&amp;text=The%2010%20Best%20Biographies%20and%20Memoirs%20of%20All%20Time\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" aria-label=\"Share on X\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M18.244 2H21l-6.56 7.49L22 22h-6.828l-5.345-6.993L3.5 22H.744l7.02-8.012L2 2h6.828l4.84 6.35L18.244 2zm-1.2 18h1.89L7.04 4H5.06l11.984 16z\"\/><\/svg><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickonlinetips.com%2Farchives%2Fbest-books%2Fbiographies%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" aria-label=\"Share on LinkedIn\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M20.45 20.45h-3.56v-5.57c0-1.33-.02-3.04-1.85-3.04-1.85 0-2.14 1.45-2.14 2.94v5.67H9.35V9h3.41v1.56h.05c.48-.9 1.64-1.85 3.37-1.85 3.6 0 4.27 2.37 4.27 5.46v6.28zM5.34 7.43a2.06 2.06 0 110-4.13 2.06 2.06 0 010 4.13zM7.12 20.45H3.56V9h3.56v11.45zM22.22 0H1.77C.79 0 0 .77 0 1.73v20.54C0 23.23.79 24 1.77 24h20.45c.98 0 1.78-.77 1.78-1.73V1.73C24 .77 23.2 0 22.22 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/share\/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quickonlinetips.com%2Farchives%2Fbest-books%2Fbiographies%2F&amp;text=The%2010%20Best%20Biographies%20and%20Memoirs%20of%20All%20Time\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" aria-label=\"Share on Telegram\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M11.944 0A12 12 0 000 12a12 12 0 0012 12 12 12 0 0012-12A12 12 0 0012 0h-.056zm4.962 7.224c.1-.002.321.023.465.14a.506.506 0 01.171.325c.016.093.036.306.02.472-.18 1.898-.962 6.502-1.36 8.627-.168.9-.499 1.201-.82 1.23-.696.065-1.225-.46-1.9-.902-1.056-.693-1.653-1.124-2.678-1.8-1.185-.78-.417-1.21.258-1.91.177-.184 3.247-2.977 3.307-3.23.007-.032.014-.15-.056-.212s-.174-.041-.249-.024c-.106.024-1.793 1.14-5.061 3.345-.48.33-.913.49-1.302.48-.428-.008-1.252-.241-1.865-.44-.752-.245-1.349-.374-1.297-.789.027-.216.325-.437.893-.663 3.498-1.524 5.83-2.529 6.998-3.014 3.332-1.386 4.025-1.627 4.476-1.635z\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/span><\/p><h1>The 10 Best Biographies and Memoirs of All Time<\/h1><p>A great biography or memoir lets you live another life for a few hundred pages. These ten true stories, from scientists and founders to families and ordinary people facing extraordinary times, are still among the most-read life stories today. Each one is both a page-turner and a window on its time.<\/p><nav class=\"qbk-chips\" aria-label=\"Nonfiction genres\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/self-help\/\">Self-Help<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/productivity\/\">Productivity<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/psychology\/\">Psychology<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/communication-relationships\/\">Communication<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/leadership\/\">Leadership<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/business\/\">Business<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/money\/\">Money<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/investing\/\">Investing<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/biographies\/\" class=\"on\">Biographies<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/history\/\">History<\/a><\/nav><\/div><div class=\"qbk-list\"><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-1\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-hillbilly-elegy\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780062300546-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"Hillbilly Elegy book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">Hillbilly Elegy<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#1<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-hillbilly-elegy\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hillbilly Elegy<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by J. D. Vance &middot; first published 2016<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: Sold over 700,000 print copies in 2024 alone and returned to No. 1 on the New York Times list.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">Vance describes growing up in a struggling Rust Belt town with Appalachian roots, raised largely by his tough, loving grandparents, and his path to the Marines, Ohio State and Yale Law. A personal story that sparked a national conversation about class and opportunity.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>Sold over 700,000 copies in 2024 (Circana BookScan), the year&#x27;s biggest nonfiction surprise (<a href=\"https:\/\/www2.publishersweekly.com\/pw\/print\/20250113\/96842-print-book-sales-saw-a-small-sales-increase-in-2024.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>No. 1 on the NYT nonfiction list Aug 4, 2024 and Feb 9, 2025 (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_The_New_York_Times_number-one_books_of_2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>No. 10 trade paperback nonfiction on the ABA 2024 Indie Bestsellers year list (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bookweb.org\/news\/2024-indie-bestsellers-list-1631438\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Published June 2016; won the 2017 Audie Award for Nonfiction (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hillbilly_Elegy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>ISBN 9780062300546, Harper hardcover (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780062300546\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-hillbilly-elegy\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-2\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-educated\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780399590504-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"Educated book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">Educated<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#2<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-educated\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Educated<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Tara Westover &middot; first published 2018<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: Over 8 million copies sold and still a top-40 Audible biography bestseller in 2026.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">Westover grew up in a survivalist family in Idaho with no schooling, then taught herself enough to reach college and eventually a Cambridge PhD. An inspiring read about education, family and self-invention.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>No. 35 on Audible Biographies &amp; Memoirs best sellers (Audible is Amazon-owned; live chart viewed 24 Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/charts\/best\/biographies-memoirs-audiobooks\/18571951011?page=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>No. 24 on ABA Indie Biography and Memoir Bestseller List, March 2023 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bookweb.org\/news\/indie-biography-and-memoir-bestseller-list-1629256\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>More than 8 million copies sold by December 2020; 2018 NBCC Award for Autobiography; NYT 10 Best Books of 2018 (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Educated_(memoir)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>ISBN 9780399590504, Random House (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.booksamillion.com\/p\/9780399590504\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-educated\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-3\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-becoming\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9781524763138-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"Becoming book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">Becoming<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#3<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-becoming\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Becoming<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Michelle Obama &middot; first published 2018<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: Fourteen million copies sold and still on Audible&#x27;s biography bestseller chart in 2026.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">The former First Lady tells her story from a working-class childhood on Chicago&#x27;s South Side through Princeton, a law career, motherhood and eight years in the White House. Warm, candid and widely loved by readers of all ages.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>No. 49 on Audible Biographies &amp; Memoirs best sellers (Audible is Amazon-owned; live chart viewed 24 Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/charts\/best\/biographies-memoirs-audiobooks\/18571951011?page=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Sold 14 million copies worldwide by November 2020; best-selling US book of 2018; audiobook won a 2020 Grammy (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Becoming_(book)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>ISBN 9781524763138, Crown hardcover (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9781524763138\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-becoming\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-4\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-diary-of-a-young-girl\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780553296983-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"The Diary of a Young Girl book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">The Diary of a Young Girl<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#4<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-diary-of-a-young-girl\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Diary of a Young Girl<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Anne Frank &middot; first published 1947<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: A regular on indie biography bestseller lists in 2025 and 2026; over 35 million copies published.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">The diary a Jewish teenager kept while hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam, full of humour, frustration and hope. A must-read for teens and adults learning about the Holocaust.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>No. 10 on ABA Indie Biography and Memoir Bestseller List (eight weeks to Mar 22, 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bookweb.org\/news\/indie-biography-and-memoir-bestseller-list-1632624\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>No. 9 on ABA Indie Biography and Memoir Bestseller List, March 2025 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bookweb.org\/node\/1631740\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>First published 1947; over 35 million copies published in 65 languages by 2014; on Le Monde&#x27;s 100 Books of the Century (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Diary_of_a_Young_Girl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>On Amazon&#x27;s 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime (<a href=\"https:\/\/bucketlistbookreviews.com\/the-lists\/amazons-100-books-read-lifetime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>ISBN 9780553296983, Bantam mass market (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780553296983\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-diary-of-a-young-girl\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-5\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-crying-in-h-mart\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780525657743-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"Crying in H Mart book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">Crying in H Mart<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#5<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-crying-in-h-mart\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Crying in H Mart<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Michelle Zauner &middot; first published 2021<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: An indie bestseller every year since 2023, topping the NYT paperback list; American Book Award winner.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">The Japanese Breakfast musician writes about growing up Korean American, her bond with her mother and caring for her through cancer, with food as the thread that ties them together. A moving memoir of family, grief and identity.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>No. 8 trade paperback nonfiction on the ABA 2024 Indie Bestsellers year list (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bookweb.org\/news\/2024-indie-bestsellers-list-1631438\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>No. 3 trade paperback nonfiction on the ABA 2023 Indie Bestsellers year list (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bookweb.org\/news\/2023-indie-bestsellers-list-1630075\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>No. 20 on ABA Indie Biography and Memoir Bestseller List (eight weeks to Mar 22, 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bookweb.org\/news\/indie-biography-and-memoir-bestseller-list-1632624\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Topped the NYT paperback nonfiction list (Apr 2023); won the 43rd American Book Award (2022) (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Crying_in_H_Mart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>ISBN 9780525657743, Knopf hardcover (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780525657743\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-crying-in-h-mart\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-6\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-american-prometheus\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780375726262-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"American Prometheus book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">American Prometheus<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#6<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-american-prometheus\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">American Prometheus<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin &middot; first published 2005<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: Pulitzer-winning Oppenheimer biography that hit No. 1 on the NYT list in 2023 and still charts on Audible.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">Bird and Sherwin trace the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, from gifted student to leader of the Manhattan Project and later target of a Cold War security hearing. The book behind the film Oppenheimer and a rich portrait of science and politics.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>No. 1 on the NYT nonfiction list, Aug 6, 2023 (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_The_New_York_Times_number-one_books_of_2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>No. 6 trade paperback nonfiction on the ABA 2023 Indie Bestsellers year list (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bookweb.org\/news\/2023-indie-bestsellers-list-1630075\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>No. 36 on Audible History best sellers (Audible is Amazon-owned; live chart viewed 24 Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/charts\/best\/history-audiobooks\/18573518011?page=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Biography; published 2005 (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/American_Prometheus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>ISBN 9780375726262, Vintage paperback (2006) (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780375726262\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-american-prometheus\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-7\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/steve-jobs-walter-isaacson-book\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9781451648539-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"Steve Jobs book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">Steve Jobs<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#7<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/steve-jobs-walter-isaacson-book\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Steve Jobs<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Walter Isaacson &middot; first published 2011<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: More than three million US copies sold and still on Audible&#x27;s biography bestseller chart.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">Based on dozens of interviews with Jobs and those around him, Isaacson traces the brilliant and difficult founder of Apple. A must for tech fans and entrepreneurs.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>No. 57 on Audible Biographies &amp; Memoirs best sellers (Audible is Amazon-owned; live chart viewed 24 Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/charts\/best\/biographies-memoirs-audiobooks\/18571951011?page=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>More than three million copies sold in the U.S. by 2015; Amazon&#x27;s top-selling book for 2011; FT\/Goldman Sachs shortlist 2012 (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Steve_Jobs_(book)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>ISBN 9781451648539, Simon &amp; Schuster (<a href=\"https:\/\/harvard.com\/book\/9781451648539\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/steve-jobs-walter-isaacson-book\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-8\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-when-breath-becomes-air\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780812988406-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"When Breath Becomes Air book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">When Breath Becomes Air<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#8<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-when-breath-becomes-air\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">When Breath Becomes Air<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Paul Kalanithi &middot; first published 2016<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: A Pulitzer finalist that spent 68 weeks on the NYT list and still charts on Audible in 2026.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">A young neurosurgeon diagnosed with terminal lung cancer reflects on medicine, meaning and what makes a life worth living, writing until his final months. Short, beautifully written and deeply hopeful despite its subject.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>No. 59 on Audible Biographies &amp; Memoirs best sellers (Audible is Amazon-owned; live chart viewed 24 Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/charts\/best\/biographies-memoirs-audiobooks\/18571951011?page=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Pulitzer Prize finalist (2017); 68 weeks on the NYT nonfiction list; published January 2016 (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/When_Breath_Becomes_Air\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>ISBN 9780812988406, Random House hardcover (<a href=\"https:\/\/mitpressbookstore.mit.edu\/book\/9780812988406\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-when-breath-becomes-air\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-9\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780345350688-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"The Autobiography of Malcolm X book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">The Autobiography of Malcolm X<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#9<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Autobiography of Malcolm X<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Malcolm X with Alex Haley &middot; first published 1965<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: On the Modern Library&#x27;s 100 best nonfiction list and still on Audible and SUCCESS bestseller charts.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">Malcolm X tells his life story, from street hustler and prisoner to Nation of Islam minister and later his break with it, shortly before his assassination. Essential reading on race, faith and change in America.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>No. 9 on SUCCESS Non-Fiction bestseller list, week of Sept 13, 2024 (<a href=\"https:\/\/markets.financialcontent.com\/clarkebroadcasting.mymotherlode\/article\/newsworthy-2024-9-17-success-announces-weekly-bestseller-lists-for-september-13-2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>No. 61 on Audible History and No. 92 on Biographies &amp; Memoirs best sellers (Audible is Amazon-owned; live chart viewed 24 Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/charts\/best\/history-audiobooks\/18573518011?page=4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Modern Library 100 Best Nonfiction, No. 51 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.modernlibrary.com\/top-100\/100-best-nonfiction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Six million copies sold by 1977; TIME named it required reading (1998) (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Autobiography_of_Malcolm_X\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>On Amazon&#x27;s 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime (<a href=\"https:\/\/bucketlistbookreviews.com\/the-lists\/amazons-100-books-read-lifetime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>ISBN 9780345350688, Ballantine edition (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780345350688\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-autobiography-of-malcolm-x\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><article class=\"qbk-card\" id=\"book-10\"><a class=\"qbk-cv\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-power-broker\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/covers.openlibrary.org\/b\/isbn\/9780394720241-M.jpg?default=false\" alt=\"The Power Broker book cover\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none';this.nextElementSibling.style.display='flex'\"><span class=\"qbk-ph\">The Power Broker<\/span><\/a><div class=\"qbk-body\"><h3><span class=\"qbk-rank\">#10<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-power-broker\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Power Broker<\/a><\/h3><p class=\"qbk-by\">by Robert A. Caro &middot; first published 1974<\/p><p class=\"qbk-why\">Why it is on the list: Pulitzer-winning classic that still sits on Audible&#x27;s History bestseller chart 50 years on.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-sum\">Caro&#x27;s huge biography of Robert Moses shows how one unelected official reshaped New York with highways, parks and bridges, and who paid the price. For anyone interested in power, cities and politics.<\/p><details class=\"qbk-ev\"><summary>Evidence and sources<\/summary><ul><li>No. 82 on Audible History best sellers (Audible is Amazon-owned; live chart viewed 24 Oct 2026) (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audible.com\/charts\/best\/history-audiobooks\/18573518011?page=5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Pulitzer Prize for Biography 1975; Francis Parkman Prize (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Power_Broker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>Modern Library 100 Best Nonfiction, No. 92 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.modernlibrary.com\/top-100\/100-best-nonfiction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>On Amazon&#x27;s 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime (<a href=\"https:\/\/bucketlistbookreviews.com\/the-lists\/amazons-100-books-read-lifetime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><li>ISBN 9780394720241, Vintage edition (<a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/isbn\/9780394720241\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/li><\/ul><\/details><a class=\"qbk-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/book-the-power-broker\/\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">See it on Amazon<\/a><\/div><\/article><\/div><section class=\"qbk-box\" id=\"faq\"><h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2><h3>What is the best biography or memoir of all time?<\/h3><p>On our list it is <strong>Hillbilly Elegy<\/strong> by J. D. Vance. Sold over 700,000 print copies in 2024 alone and returned to No. 1 on the New York Times list.<\/p><h3>Which biography or memoir should I read first?<\/h3><p>Start with the top three: Hillbilly Elegy, Educated and Becoming. They are the most popular books in this genre right now, and each one is a good way into the rest of the list.<\/p><h3>Are these books still popular today?<\/h3><p>Yes. Every book here has evidence of strong sales or readership from the last few years, which you can see under &#8220;Evidence and sources&#8221; on each book. That is the main difference between this list and lists that only look back at history.<\/p><h3>How often is this list updated?<\/h3><p>We review it about once a month against current bestseller charts and change a book only when the evidence clearly changes.<\/p><\/section><div class=\"qbk-fav\"><span style=\"font-size:30px\">&#10084;&#65039;<\/span><span><b>Our personal favourites<\/b><p>Apart from this list, see the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/favorite-books\/\" style=\"color:#B45309;text-decoration:underline;font-weight:700\">books we love most<\/a>, hand-picked by QuickOnlineTips.<\/p><\/span><\/div><section class=\"qbk-box\" id=\"how-we-chose\"><h2>How we chose these books<\/h2><h3>1. Still selling and read today<\/h3><p>Every book shows current demand from roughly the last three years: Audible best-seller charts (Audible is owned by Amazon), US independent bookstore bestseller lists from the American Booksellers Association, Publishers Weekly and Circana BookScan sales figures, and similar charts. Old books that nobody buys any more do not make the cut.<\/p><h3>2. A proven track record<\/h3><p>Every book has a strong record behind it: very large sales, a major award (such as the Pulitzer, Booker, Newbery or Hugo), a place on a respected list (such as the Modern Library 100, TIME 100 or the BBC Big Read), or a big recent hit with a film or TV version. A book does not have to be old: new bestsellers can join as soon as the evidence is there.<\/p><h3>3. Written for adult readers<\/h3><p>This is a list for grown-up readers, so some books include mature or steamy scenes, and some deal with hard themes such as war, crime, abuse or loss. For younger readers, see the Children&#x27;s and Young Adult pages.<\/p><p>Within each genre, books are ranked with current popularity weighted most, then lasting reputation. We review the list about once a month and swap a book only when the evidence clearly changes.<\/p><p class=\"qbk-small\">Book covers: <a href=\"https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Open Library<\/a>. Links to each book go to Amazon. Last reviewed: October 2026.<\/p><\/section><section class=\"qbk-box\"><h2>More of the best books of all time<\/h2><p>See the full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/\">200 best books of all time<\/a> list, or explore more nonfiction genres: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/self-help\/\">Self-Help Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/productivity\/\">Productivity Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/psychology\/\">Psychology Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/communication-relationships\/\">Communication and Relationship Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/leadership\/\">Leadership Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/business\/\">Business Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/money\/\">Personal Finance Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/investing\/\">Investing Books<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/best-books\/history\/\">History and Big Ideas Books<\/a>.<\/p><\/section><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, QuickOnlineTips earns from qualifying purchases.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#128216; Nonfiction Books&#128213; Fiction Books Home &rsaquo; Best Books &rsaquo; Biographies &middot; Updated October 2026Share The 10 Best Biographies and Memoirs of All Time A great biography or memoir lets you live another life for a few hundred pages. These ten true stories, from scientists and founders to families and ordinary people facing extraordinary times,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":68070,"parent":8246,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"hide","_kad_post_layout":"normal","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"none","_kad_post_content_style":"unboxed","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-68079","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68079"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68222,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/68079\/revisions\/68222"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8246"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}