Best Biographies Of All Time: 8 Essential Reads - Forbes Vetted

The 21 Best Biography Books of All Time — Biographies to Read in 2021

The 30 Best Biographies of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

The 30 best biographies to add to your reading list - The Manual

Best Biographies

Alexander Hamilton

Steve Jobs

In 1951, a woman of African American descent, Henrietta Lacks, found herself diagnosed with an aggressive form of cervical cancer. The chief gynecologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, keen on studying this disease, had reached out to George Gey, the leader of tissue culture at the hospital, with a request for both healthy and cancerous cell tissue cultures. As part of this, Henrietta's tissue samples were taken. Henrietta's cancer cells labeled HeLa, surprisingly, survived against all odds in the laboratory. While Henrietta battled her disease and eventually passed away, leaving behind her family, her cells continued to live, unbeknownst to her family. It was only in 1973, when a family friend who happened to be a researcher mentioned his work with HeLa cells, that her family found out that part of Henrietta was still alive.

George Gey's cultivation of HeLa cells paved the way for revolutionary research on diseases and genetics, and the development of new medical treatments and vaccines. Gey generously shared HeLa cell samples with any researcher who needed them. Eventually, for-profit labs began to mass-produce HeLa cells to cater to the research demands. However, due to their rapid growth, HeLa cells could contaminate other cell cultures. This led to geneticists devising ways to identify genetic markers within HeLa cells to distinguish them from the rest. Amidst all this, Henrietta's children were asked for blood samples, without adequate explanation, leading Henrietta's daughter Deborah to believe she was being screened for cancer.

The story of the "immortal" cell culture and the unknown woman behind it started making waves in media, leading to a mix-up with Henrietta's name, which was widely reported as Helen Lane. The truth was eventually uncovered by Michael Rogers, a journalist from Rolling Stone, who contacted the Lacks family. The family was shocked to learn that Henrietta's cells were being profited from by others, which sparked memories of unethical practices by white doctors on black patients. The family continued to be approached by journalists, which included a BBC documentary team in 1996, and had an unfortunate encounter with a conman posing as a lawyer. Henrietta's daughter Deborah hoped that the documentary would shed light on her mother's story and also help her understand her mother better. The family's journey took many more twists and turns, culminating in a visit to the lab at Johns Hopkins where Henrietta's cells were kept, and the shocking revelation about the abuse suffered by Henrietta's other daughter, Elsie, at a mental institution. Despite the emotional toll, Deborah remained determined to learn and understand more about her mother's life and her contribution to science.


The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

La Vida Inmortal de Henrietta Lacks

The narrative intertwines two compelling narratives. The first one traces the adventurous odyssey of a young man named Christopher McCandless into the wilderness, while the second delves into his psychological profile and motivations. The story unfolds nonlinearly, with the two narratives often crossing paths through intricate details and varying scenarios. McCandless is initially introduced through his acquaintance Wayne Westerberg, who paints a compelling image of a smart, charming, and determined individual who rejects materialism and hails from a comfortable middle-class background in Virginia. The story then backtracks to the start of McCandless's journey west in his used yellow Datsun.

McCandless initiates his journey post-college, driving to Lake Mead in Nevada, where a flash flood prompts him to abandon his car and some possessions. His adventurous spirit sees him buying a canoe on a whim and embarking on a five-month journey down the Colorado River to Mexico. Meanwhile, his family back home try to piece together his disappearance. McCandless later settles in Bullhead City, Arizona, where he briefly stays with an older man named Charlie before moving on. Along his journey, he forms a pseudo father-son bond with an individual named Ronald Franz, whose shared story offers insight into the potential harm McCandless's risky behavior could inflict on others.

The narrative then revisits Westerberg, providing a look into McCandless's problematic relationship with his father and his final month in Carthage, South Dakota. It reveals that McCandless had discovered his father's bigamous past, which potentially fueled his drive to abandon his previous life. The story also explores the reactions to McCandless's journey, with some labeling him as a romantic fool, while others see similarities between McCandless and other wilderness fanatics such as Everett Ruess. The narrative concludes with the discovery and identification of McCandless's body in Alaska, leaving behind a trail of heartbreak and unanswered questions, and offering a cautionary tale of adventure and self-discovery gone awry.

Into the Wild

Hacia la Salvaje

The Unknown Story

La Historia Desconocida

A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

Una historia de supervivencia, resiliencia y redención en la Segunda Guerra Mundial

The narrative revolves around the captivating life of Louis Silvie Zamperini, or Louie, a renowned athlete, who was a participant in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, before getting involved in World War II. Miraculously surviving the crash of a military aircraft in the Pacific Ocean, he was thought to be deceased but astounded everyone with his return after the cessation of the war. His story is one of immense adaptability as he endures numerous tribulations such as surviving on a raft in the ocean, enduring brutal conditions as a Japanese prisoner of war, all thanks to inner resilience, fortune, and the support of his comrades, particularly his close friend Russell Allen Phillips, or Phil, who also experiences similar adversities.

The central theme of the tale is Louie's survival against all odds during the war, and particularly, his time in Japan. His resilience becomes a source of astonishment for the American populace, catapulting him once again to fame after the war. However, the scars of war linger in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder, leading to alcoholism, rage, and the desire for retribution, particularly against Mitsuhiro Watanabe, the cruel leader of the POW camp, nicknamed "The Bird" by the inmates. His life takes a turn for the better when he encounters Billy Graham, a renowned evangelist, and finds solace in religion, which helps him salvage his marriage, derive happiness with his family, and devote the remainder of his life to spreading his religious beliefs and assisting others.

The tale, a testament to the human ability to survive and serve others, also reveals the horrifying capacity to inflict pain and suffering. The initial segment elaborates on Louie's journey, from a mischievous child to an Olympic runner, showcasing his tenacity and determination. His running career, bolstered by his brother Pete, culminates in his participation in the Berlin Olympics of 1936, giving him the first taste of the impending war, as well as a chance encounter with Adolf Hitler.

Unbroken

Inquebrantable

A Biography of Frida Kahlo

Una Biografía de Frida Kahlo

Frida

A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

"Memorias del Creador de Nike"

Shoe Dog

Perro Zapatero

As Told to Alex Haley

Como Narrado a Alex Haley

Born as Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska in a time of rampant racial discrimination, he experienced a turbulent childhood marked by violence and persecution. His family's move to Michigan did little to alleviate these hardships, with his father murdered by white supremacists and his mother committed to a psychiatric hospital. He later relocated to Boston, living with his half-sister, Ella, and quickly immersing himself in the city's urban nightlife. His adventurous life led him to a variety of jobs and activities, including a stint as a railway porter, hustling in Harlem, and even engaging in armed robberies.

His lifestyle in Harlem ultimately became perilous, driving him back to Boston where he dabbled in burglary, ultimately leading to his imprisonment. It was during his time behind bars that he underwent a profound transformation. He converted to the Nation of Islam, which had already won over several of his siblings. His faith became the catalyst for his self-improvement; he stopped his drug use, engaged in extensive reading, studied English and Latin, and even became a member of the prison debate team. Upon his parole, he relocated to Detroit, becoming deeply involved in the local temple of the Nation of Islam.

Malcolm's dedication to the Nation of Islam eventually led him to drop his last name, adopting the "X" to symbolize his lost African heritage. His charisma and dedication saw him rise rapidly within the organization's ranks, eventually earning him national recognition as a staunch advocate for Black unity and militancy. However, his prominence also stirred resentment within the Nation of Islam, leading to his suspension. After a final fallout with the organization, Malcolm X established his own group, the Muslim Mosque, Inc. His later travels to the Middle East and Africa led him to a version of Islam he considered more authentic, sparking a new commitment to alleviate America's racial issues through religion. His life was tragically cut short by assassination in 1965, but not before he became a globally recognized figure.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

La Autobiografía de Malcolm X

Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

Robert Moses y la Caída de Nueva York

The Power Broker

El Corredor de Poder

Stories from a South African Childhood

Historias de una Infancia Sudafricana

Growing up in South Africa amidst the racial segregation era known as apartheid, a young boy of mixed race experienced life as an oppressed individual. Born in the mid-80s by his black single mother Patricia and Swiss father Robert, who defied the laws criminalizing interracial relationships, his life was fraught with complexities. Patricia and Robert had to keep their son's existence a secret due to his mixed heritage, as public knowledge of his existence was perilous.

South Africa had been colonized by the Dutch in the 1600s, who seized lands and exploited black African tribes like the Zulu, Xhosa and Sotho, using them as farm slave labor. The descendants of these colonizers, known as Afrikaners, continued the racial subjugation under apartheid law until the mid-1990s. The boy, a product of interracial mingling, belonged to the "colored" racial group, often experiencing rejection from both black and white cultures. Despite the end of apartheid in 1994, navigating South African society remained challenging for him.

Patricia encouraged her son to educate himself and think critically, fostering in him a proficiency in several of South Africa's official languages. This linguistic dexterity enabled him to interact with various racial and cultural groups, despite feeling alienated in many instances. He leveraged his skill in language to run a profitable illicit CD business in Johannesburg's township, Alexandra, and build a career as a DJ. Despite several run-ins with the law, he recognized his privilege compared to his peers. His mother's effort to prepare him for a harsh world bore fruit when he stepped up to cover her medical bills after she survived a shooting incident at the hands of her abusive husband, Abel.

Born a Crime

Nacido un Crimen

Leonardo da Vinci

The Little Girl at the Window

La pequeña niña en la ventana

Totto-Chan

The Story of the Last "Black Cargo"

La Historia del Último 'Carga Negra'

Barracoon

Barracón

The Hidden Kennedy Daughter

La Hija Oculta de Kennedy

Rosemary

Romero

At the tender age of four, a quiet and bored young boy accidentally sets his family home aflame in Natchez, Mississippi. Rescued from under the burning house by his father, Nathan, the boy is harshly punished by his mother, Ella, to the point of unconsciousness and illness. Soon after this incident, Nathan abandons the family for another woman, leaving Ella to grapple with raising their sons in poverty and persistent hunger. Their situation worsens as Ella's health declines, leaving the boy, Richard, to take on any odd jobs he could to support the family despite his tender age.

Life briefly improves for the family when they move to Arkansas to live with Ella's sister, Maggie, and her husband, Hoskins, who runs a prosperous saloon. However, racial tensions rise, leading to Hoskins's murder and the family's flight to West Helena. When Maggie escapes to Detroit with her lover, the responsibility of caring for the family falls solely on Ella again. The family's situation worsens when Ella suffers a serious stroke, leading Richard's grandmother to take the family in. Richard finds himself in a strict religious household that shuns his love for reading and writing, leading to constant friction. When his defiance earns him regular beatings from his aunt Addie, he learns to defend himself using a knife.

As Richard grows older, he excels in school despite his challenging home life and frequently clashes with the deeply entrenched racism he encounters upon entering the adult working world. After enduring a particularly demoralizing incident at an optical shop, Richard decides to move to the North, stealing and swindling to raise the money for his journey. In Memphis, he finds a generous landlady and a job in another optical shop, where he faces mind games from a seemingly benevolent coworker aimed at inciting violence between him and another black coworker. Determined to write, Richard reads obsessively with the help of a kindly coworker who lends him his library card. His family joins him in Memphis and they plan to move to Chicago, where Richard continues to grapple with poverty, racism, and his own moral compromises. Drawn to communism and its promise to protect the oppressed, Richard joins the party, but soon becomes disillusioned by its inner politics and leaves, vowing to continue to write as his link to the world.

20 Best Biography Books of All Time

Alexander Hamilton

Steve Jobs

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Into the Wild

Mao

The Unknown Story

Unbroken

A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

Frida

A Biography of Frida Kahlo

Shoe Dog

A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

As Told to Alex Haley

The Power Broker

Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

Born a Crime

Stories from a South African Childhood

Leonardo da Vinci

Totto-Chan

The Little Girl at the Window

Barracoon

The Story of the Last "Black Cargo"

Rosemary

The Hidden Kennedy Daughter

Black Boy

Alan Turing

The Enigma

The Passage of Power

The Years of Lyndon Johnson IV

Prince

A Private View

A Beautiful Mind

The Life of Mathematical Genius and Novel Laureate John Nash

Sources

What To Read Next

20 Best Biography Books of All Time

Alexander Hamilton

Steve Jobs

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Into the Wild

Mao

The Unknown Story

Unbroken

A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

Frida

A Biography of Frida Kahlo

Shoe Dog

A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

As Told to Alex Haley

The Power Broker

Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

Born a Crime

Stories from a South African Childhood

Leonardo da Vinci

Totto-Chan

The Little Girl at the Window

Barracoon

The Story of the Last "Black Cargo"

Rosemary

The Hidden Kennedy Daughter

Black Boy

Alan Turing

The Enigma

The Passage of Power

The Years of Lyndon Johnson IV

Prince

A Private View

A Beautiful Mind

The Life of Mathematical Genius and Novel Laureate John Nash

Sources

What To Read Next

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