Best biography books

401 of the world's most popular books — descriptions, covers, and classic quotes.

Biographies here are chosen for a life that still teaches — decisions, luck, and the cost of the work. Use them as a 15-minute map before you commit to the full story.

All Self Improvement Career & Success Business Health Productivity Psychology Spirituality Motivation Money & Finance Marketing Management & Leadership Lifestyle Entrepreneurship Politics Law Economy History Novel Philosophy Relationship Parenting Health & Food Communication Society & Culture Sales Education Media Technology Art & Design Sport Biography

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson book cover

Steve Jobs

Walter Isaacson

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt book cover

Angela's Ashes

Frank McCourt

Benjamin Franklin by Walter Isaacson book cover

Benjamin Franklin

Walter Isaacson

Bossypants by Tina Fey book cover

Bossypants

Tina Fey

Churchill by Andrew Roberts book cover

Churchill

Andrew Roberts

The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi book cover

The Story of My Experiments with Truth

Mahatma Gandhi

Walt Disney by Neal Gabler book cover

Walt Disney

Neal Gabler

Einstein by Walter Isaacson book cover

Einstein

Walter Isaacson

Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance book cover

Elon Musk

Ashlee Vance

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou book cover

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Maya Angelou

Peter the Great by Robert K. Massie book cover

Peter the Great

Robert K. Massie

Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson book cover

Leonardo da Vinci

Walter Isaacson

My Life by Bill Clinton book cover

My Life

Bill Clinton

Napoleon by Andrew Roberts book cover

Napoleon

Andrew Roberts

Me by Elton John book cover

Me

Elton John

Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie book cover

Catherine the Great

Robert K. Massie

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain book cover

Kitchen Confidential

Anthony Bourdain

Dutch by Edmund Morris book cover

Dutch

Edmund Morris

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X book cover

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Malcolm X

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls book cover

The Glass Castle

Jeannette Walls

Just Kids by Patti Smith book cover

Just Kids

Patti Smith

Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington book cover

Up from Slavery

Booker T. Washington

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway book cover

A Moveable Feast

Ernest Hemingway

The Power Broker by Robert A. Caro book cover

The Power Broker

Robert A. Caro

My American Journey by Colin Powell book cover

My American Journey

Colin Powell

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris book cover

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt

Edmund Morris

Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff book cover

Cleopatra

Stacy Schiff

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass book cover

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass

The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A. Caro book cover

The Years of Lyndon Johnson

Robert A. Caro

Total Recall by Arnold Schwarzenegger book cover

Total Recall

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin book cover

Born Standing Up

Steve Martin

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi book cover

When Breath Becomes Air

Paul Kalanithi

Yes Please by Amy Poehler book cover

Yes Please

Amy Poehler

Fear no evil by Anatoly Shcharansky book cover

Fear no evil

Anatoly Shcharansky

A child called "it" by David J. Pelzer book cover

A child called "it"

David J. Pelzer

Maus II by Art Spiegelman book cover

Maus II

Art Spiegelman

Elvis and me by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley book cover

Elvis and me

Priscilla Beaulieu Presley

To Selena, with love by Chris Perez book cover

To Selena, with love

Chris Perez

The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku book cover

The Happiest Man on Earth

Eddie Jaku

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy book cover

I'm Glad My Mom Died

Jennette McCurdy

Het Achterhuis by Anne Frank book cover

Het Achterhuis

Anne Frank

Wings of Fire by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam book cover

Wings of Fire

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado book cover

In the Dream House

Carmen Maria Machado

Pimp by Iceberg Slim book cover

Pimp

Iceberg Slim

Confessions by Augustine of Hippo book cover

Confessions

Augustine of Hippo

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi book cover

How to Be an Antiracist

Ibram X. Kendi

The lost boy by David J. Pelzer book cover

The lost boy

David J. Pelzer

Papillon by Henri Charrière book cover

Papillon

Henri Charrière