Biography

Rating Sort ascending Title Author Genre Sub-Genre(s) Country Year
9.5 Right StuffThe Right Stuff Tom WolfeWolfe Non-Fiction Biography, Science/Nature United States
9.5 Hitchcock/TruffautHitchcock/Truffaut Francois TruffautTruffaut Non-Fiction Film/TV/Theater, Biography France
9.0 Wizard A True Star: Todd Rundgren In The StudioA Wizard A True Star: Todd Rundgren In The Studio Paul MyersMyers Non-Fiction Music, Biography Canada
9.0 Example of MelvilleThe Example of Melville Warner BerthoffBerthoff Non-Fiction Literary Studies, Biography United States
9.0 Heaven Is a PlaygroundHeaven Is a Playground Rick TelanderTelander Non-Fiction Sports, Biography United States
9.0 Cultural Amnesia: Necessary Memories From History and the ArtsCultural Amnesia: Necessary Memories From History and the Arts Clive JamesJamesb Non-Fiction Essays, Biography United Kingdom
9.0 Lost Highway: Journeys and Arrivals of American MusiciansLost Highway: Journeys and Arrivals of American Musicians Peter GuralnickGuralnick Non-Fiction Music, Biography United States
9.0 Four Lives in the Bebop BusinessFour Lives in the Bebop Business A.B. SpellmanSpellman Non-Fiction Music, Biography United States
9.0 Levels of the GameLevels of the Game John McPheeMcPhee Non-Fiction Sports, Biography United States
9.0 Jesse Livermore - Boy Plunger: The Man Who Sold America Short in 1929Jesse Livermore - Boy Plunger: The Man Who Sold America Short in 1929 Tom RubythonRubython Non-Fiction Economics/Finance, Biography United States
9.0 Sense of Where You Are: A Profile of Bill Bradley at PrincetonA Sense of Where You Are: A Profile of Bill Bradley at Princeton John McPheeMcPhee Non-Fiction Sports, Biography United States
9.0 Albert Speer: His Battle with TruthAlbert Speer: His Battle with Truth Gitta SerenySereny Non-Fiction History, Biography United Kingdom
9.0 Madeleine's World: A Biography of a Three-Year-OldMadeleine's World: A Biography of a Three-Year-Old Brian HallHallb Non-Fiction Biography, Psychology United States
9.0 Happiest Man in the World: An Account of the Life of Poppa NeutrinoThe Happiest Man in the World: An Account of the Life of Poppa Neutrino Alec WilkinsonWilkinson Non-Fiction Biography, Travel/Adventure United States
9.0 Invention of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt's New WorldThe Invention of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt's New World Andrea WulfWulf Non-Fiction Science/Nature, Biography United States
9.0 Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n' Roll Music Greil MarcusMarcus Non-Fiction Music, Biography United States
9.0 Reminiscences of a Stock OperatorReminiscences of a Stock Operator Edwin LefevreLefevre Non-Fiction Economics/Finance, Biography United States
9.0 Baseball 100The Baseball 100 Joe PosnanskiPosnanski Non-Fiction Sports, Biography United States
8.5 Life of Samuel JohnsonThe Life of Samuel Johnson James BoswellBoswell Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies Scotland
8.5 Undoing Project: A Friendship that Changed Our MindsThe Undoing Project: A Friendship that Changed Our Minds Michael LewisLewis Non-Fiction Economics/Finance, Biography United States
8.5 Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man and Life's Greatest LessonTuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man and Life's Greatest Lesson Mitch AlbomAlbom Non-Fiction Biography, Self-Help United States
8.5 Big Midweek: Life Inside The FallThe Big Midweek: Life Inside The Fall Steve HanleyHanley Fiction Music, Biography
8.5 Manson: The Life and Times of Charles MansonManson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson Jeff GuinnGuinn Non-Fiction Biography, True Crime United States
8.5 My Lunches with Orson: Conversations between Henry Jaglom and Orson WellesMy Lunches with Orson: Conversations between Henry Jaglom and Orson Welles Peter BiskindBiskind Non-Fiction Film/TV/Theater, Biography United States
8.5 Scotty: A Hockey Life Like No OtherScotty: A Hockey Life Like No Other Ken DrydenDryden Non-Fiction Sports, Biography Canada
8.5 Last Party: Britpop, Blair and the Demise of English Rock The Last Party: Britpop, Blair and the Demise of English Rock John HarrisHarrisb Non-Fiction Music, Biography United Kingdom
8.5 Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's AmericaThe Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America Joe PosnanskiPosnanski Non-Fiction Sports, Biography United States
8.5 Conversations With Tom PettyConversations With Tom Petty Paul ZolloZollo Non-Fiction Music, Biography United States
8.5 Season on the Brink: A Year with Bob Knight and the Indiana HoosiersA Season on the Brink: A Year with Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers John FeinsteinFeinstein Non-Fiction Sports, Biography United States
8.5 Guide for the Perplexed: Conversations with Paul CroninA Guide for the Perplexed: Conversations with Paul Cronin Werner HerzogHerzog Non-Fiction Film/TV/Theater, Biography Germany
8.5 Moonshine: A Life in Pursuit of White LiquorMoonshine: A Life in Pursuit of White Liquor Alec WilkinsonWilkinson Non-Fiction Biography, Sociology United States
8.5 Game Change: The Life and Death of Steve Montador, and the Future of HockeyGame Change: The Life and Death of Steve Montador, and the Future of Hockey Ken DrydenDryden Non-Fiction Sports, Biography Canada
8.5 Common Sense 101: Lessons from G.K. ChestertonCommon Sense 101: Lessons from G.K. Chesterton Dale AhlquistAhlquist Non-Fiction Philosophy, Biography United States
8.5 Impossible Exile: Stefan Zweig at the End of the WorldThe Impossible Exile: Stefan Zweig at the End of the World George ProchnikProchnik Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies United States
8.5 Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes From the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes From the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991 Michael AzerradAzerrad Non-Fiction Music, Biography United States
8.5 Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic FutureElon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future Ashlee VanceVance Non-Fiction Biography, Business/Management United States
8.5 Excavate!: The Wonderful and Frightening World of The FallExcavate!: The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall Tessa NortonNorton Non-Fiction Music, Biography United Kingdom
8.0 Odd Couple: The Curious Friendship between Kingsley Amis and Philip LarkinThe Odd Couple: The Curious Friendship between Kingsley Amis and Philip Larkin Richard BradfordBradford Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies United Kingdom
8.0 Portraits from MemoryPortraits from Memory Bertrand RussellRussell Non-Fiction Philosophy, Biography United Kingdom
8.0 Shakespeare: The World as StageShakespeare: The World as Stage Bill BrysonBryson Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies United States
8.0 W.G. SebaldW.G. Sebald Uwe SchutteSchutte Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies Germany
8.0 Adam Smith In His Time and Ours: Designing the Decent SocietyAdam Smith In His Time and Ours: Designing the Decent Society Jerry MullerMuller Non-Fiction Economics/Finance, Biography United States
8.0 This is Orson WellesThis is Orson Welles Peter BogdanovichBogdanovich Non-Fiction Film/TV/Theater, Biography United States
8.0 Alfred HitchcockAlfred Hitchcock Peter AckroydAckroyd Non-Fiction Film/TV/Theater, Biography United Kingdom
8.0 Every Love Story is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster WallaceEvery Love Story is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace D.T. MaxMax Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies United States
8.0 Beatles: The BiographyThe Beatles: The Biography Bob SpitzSpitz Non-Fiction Music, Biography United States
8.0 Susan Sontag: A BiographySusan Sontag: A Biography Daniel SchreiberSchreiber Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies Germany
8.0 Men at Work: The Craft of BaseballMen at Work: The Craft of Baseball George F. WillWill Non-Fiction Sports, Biography United States
8.0 Hold On to Your Dreams: Arthur Russell and the Downtown Music Scene, 1973-1992Hold On to Your Dreams: Arthur Russell and the Downtown Music Scene, 1973-1992 Tim LawrenceLawrence Non-Fiction Music, Biography United States
8.0 Joe Gould’s TeethJoe Gould’s Teeth Jill LeporeLepore Non-Fiction History, Biography United States
8.0 Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else: Joy DivisionThis Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else: Joy Division Jon SavageSavage Non-Fiction Music, Biography United Kingdom
8.0 UpdikeUpdike Adam BegleyBegley Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies United States
8.0 Cable Cowboy: John Malone and the Rise of the Modern Cable BusinessCable Cowboy: John Malone and the Rise of the Modern Cable Business Mark RobichauxRobichaux Non-Fiction Biography, Business/Management United States
8.0 Lytton Strachey: The New BiographyLytton Strachey: The New Biography Michael HolroydHolroyd Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies United Kingdom
7.5 Lou Reed: A LifeLou Reed: A Life Anthony DeCurtisDeCurtis Non-Fiction Music, Biography United Kingdom
7.5 Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band Neil StraussStrauss Non-Fiction Music, Biography United States
7.5 Last Interview and Other ConversationsThe Last Interview and Other Conversations Ursula Le GuinLe Guin Non-Fiction Essays, Biography
7.5 Paul Simon: The LifePaul Simon: The Life Robert HilburnHilburn Non-Fiction Music, Biography United States
7.5 Age of KeynesThe Age of Keynes Robert LekachmanLekachman Non-Fiction Economics/Finance, Biography United States
7.5 Vera (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov): Portrait of a MarriageVera (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov): Portrait of a Marriage Stacy SchiffSchiff Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies United States
7.5 Ring Lardner: A BiographyRing Lardner: A Biography Donald ElderElder Non-Fiction Biography, Journalism/Media Studies United States
7.5 Prisoner's Dilemma: John von Neumann, Game Theory, and the Puzzle of the BombPrisoner's Dilemma: John von Neumann, Game Theory, and the Puzzle of the Bomb William PoundstonePoundstone Non-Fiction Economics/Finance, Biography United States
7.5 Fame and Obscurity: A Book About New York, a Bridge, and Celebrities on the Edge Fame and Obscurity: A Book About New York, a Bridge, and Celebrities on the Edge Gay TaleseTalese Non-Fiction Essays, Biography United States
7.5 Twilight Man: Love and Ruin in the Shadows of Hollywood and the Clark EmpireTwilight Man: Love and Ruin in the Shadows of Hollywood and the Clark Empire Liz BrownBrownad Non-Fiction History, Biography United States
7.5 Ruskinland: How John Ruskin Shapes Our WorldRuskinland: How John Ruskin Shapes Our World Andrew HillHill Non-Fiction Biography, Politics United Kingdom
7.5 Life of an Anarchist: The Alexander Berkman ReaderLife of an Anarchist: The Alexander Berkman Reader Alexander BerkmanBerkman Non-Fiction Politics, Biography United States
7.5 Light that Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of the SmithsA Light that Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of the Smiths Tony FletcherFletcher Non-Fiction Music, Biography
7.0 Genius: Life and Science of Richard FeynmanGenius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman James GleickGleick Non-Fiction Science/Nature, Biography United States
7.0 Master of Deception: The Wartime Adventures of Peter FlemingMaster of Deception: The Wartime Adventures of Peter Fleming Alan OgdenOgden Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies United Kingdom
7.0 Haruki Murakami and the Music of WordsHaruki Murakami and the Music of Words Jay RubinRubin Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies United States
7.0 XTC: Chalkhills and Children: The Definitive BiographyXTC: Chalkhills and Children: The Definitive Biography Chris TwomeyTwomey Non-Fiction Music, Biography United Kingdom
7.0 Everyone Loves You When You're Dead: Journeys Into Fame and MadnessEveryone Loves You When You're Dead: Journeys Into Fame and Madness Neil StraussStrauss Non-Fiction Biography, Music United States
7.0 Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and PracticeThe Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice Christopher HitchensHitchens Non-Fiction Religion, Biography United Kingdom
7.0 Let It Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs, America’s Greatest Rock CriticLet It Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs, America’s Greatest Rock Critic Jim DeRogatisDeRogatis Non-Fiction Music, Biography United States
7.0 Bad Seed: The Biography of Nick CaveBad Seed: The Biography of Nick Cave Ian JohnstonJohnston Non-Fiction Music, Biography United Kingdom
7.0 Music at Midnight: The Life and Poetry of George HerbertMusic at Midnight: The Life and Poetry of George Herbert John DruryDrury Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies United Kingdom
7.0 Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster WallaceAlthough of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace David LipskyLipsky Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies United States
7.0 Dark Stuff: Selected Writings on Rock MusicThe Dark Stuff: Selected Writings on Rock Music Nick KentKent Non-Fiction Music, Biography United Kingdom
7.0 Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin GayeDivided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye David RitzRitz Non-Fiction Music, Biography United States
7.0 HiroshimaHiroshima John HerseyHersey Non-Fiction Biography, History United States
7.0 Several Lives of Chester HimesThe Several Lives of Chester Himes Edward MargoliesMargolies Non-Fiction Biography, Literary Studies United States
7.0 Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of DreamsDino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams Nick ToschesTosches Non-Fiction Music, Biography United States
7.0 Conan Doyle for the Defense: How Sherlock Holmes’s Creator Turned Real-Life Detective and Freed a Man Wrongfully Imprisoned for MurderConan Doyle for the Defense: How Sherlock Holmes’s Creator Turned Real-Life Detective and Freed a Man Wrongfully Imprisoned for Murder Margalit FoxFoxb Non-Fiction True Crime, Biography United States
7.0 Dead Elvis: A Chronicle of a Cultural ObsessionDead Elvis: A Chronicle of a Cultural Obsession Greil MarcusMarcus Non-Fiction Music, Biography United States
7.0 Antoine's Alphabet: Watteau and His WorldAntoine's Alphabet: Watteau and His World Jed PerlPerl Non-Fiction Art/Architecture, Biography United States
7.0 Blind Side: Evolution of a GameThe Blind Side: Evolution of a Game Michael LewisLewis Non-Fiction Sports, Biography United States