Celebrity autobiography books 20110
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The book cuts off right before she was cast as Mary Poppins in 1962, but don’t worry—she followed it up with Home Work in 2019 to tell the rest of her amazing story.
'The House of Hidden Meanings' by RuPaul
Before he was commanding runways and taking pop culture by storm, RuPaul was just a kid in California grappling with his self-identity.
You should definitely start with this 2011 book, her first memoir, which is equal parts hilarious, relatable, and heartfelt as it parses through Kaling’s relationship with her mother, her constantly changing body image, and more.
'Just Kids' by Patti Smith
Patti Smith’s 2010 memoir is the only entry on this list to earn a National Book Award—and, by our count, the only celebrity memoir to ever accomplish the feat, period.
Fittingly, the audiobook earned Davis the Grammy she needed to achieve EGOT status in 2023.
'Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing' by Matthew Perry
A year before his tragic death, the former Friends star published a memoir detailing the emotional highs and lows of his life. Definitely do not sashay away from this one.
'I'm Glad My Mom Died' by Jennette McCurdy
Behind the shocking title is Jennette McCurdy’s description of a controlling, abusive mother who dominated the former Nickelodeon star’s every thought and action for most of her life.
The account of her relationship with the young lawyer "with a weird name" she was assigned to mentor one summer is as delicious as the ice cream cones they had on their first date.
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Every page is funny. In this telling, Kim Kardashian saved her life.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
The foremother of what is by now a whole bookstore full of memoirs by comedians sets a never-exceeded standard for sheer funniness.
The best celebrity autobiographies not only share the personal journeys of these famous figures but also transport readers through the emotional, turbulent, and triumphant moments that define their careers. A very specific genre of both book and memoir, the best celeb memoirs not only give readers a peek behind the curtain—exposing the inner workings of Hollywood, Buckingham Palace, Washington, D.C., and beyond—but also offer up juicy, hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking stories that even their most dedicated fans have never heard, painting a much more nuanced picture of a person previously only seen on a TV screen or magazine cover.
Read on for 40 of the best celebrity memoirs ever written—including a National Book Award winner, many New York Times bestsellers, and even newly published, must-read titles.
With a combination of wit, wisdom, and honesty, these works offer a rare glimpse into the experiences that have shaped their careers and public personas. These autobiographical masterpieces, penned by the celebrities themselves, elevate the genre, setting the bar for what constitutes the finest examples of engaging and revealing life stories. While she recounts her story with heartbreaking detail, she sprinkles in bits of humor and ends on a hopeful note, looking back from a much happier and healthier place.
'In Pieces' by Sally Field
After more than 60 years in the public eye, there’s still plenty to learn about Sally Field.
Enter the celebrity memoir. She opened up about a lot of it in this memoir. The drag superstar bares all in this 2024 memoir, digging deep into his rocky childhood, his first experiences in the drag scene, his sobriety journey, his decades-long love story with husband Georges LeBar, and so much more. Filled with her signature raunchy humor, Wong zigzags across a wide range of material, from intimate details of her sex life to the trip to Vietnam that helped her better understand her mother.
‘Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression’ by Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields has written several moving memoirs, but this one might be her most impactful.
Fey's Bossypants offers a delightful mix of humor and insight as she reflects on her career progression from a fledgling comedian to an influential powerhouse in the world of comedy. Throughout the book, she inevitably highlights the bravery and unstoppable ambition it took to keep pushing forward despite the many setbacks she faced. Ghostwriter JR Moehringer totally earned the zillions he got for this.
The book that kicked off Bourdain's long run as both the hottest and coolest man in haute cuisine is so full of life, that it's hard to believe he's gone.
As she tells it in this equally heartbreaking and hilarious memoir, her grieving father encouraged her free-wheeling personality and mischievous antics, allowing her to grow into the powerfully optimistic, joyous superstar she is today.
'Home: A Memoir of My Early Years' by Julie Andrews
Dame Julie Andrews has cheered up the childhoods of countless people across multiple generations, but her upbringing wasn’t all magical nannies and singing nuns.
Those oysters!
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Clawing her way out of a childhood that makes Oliver Twist look like a fairy tale, Viola Davis built herself from the bottom up, buttressing her talent with iron determination, humility, resilience, and hard-won self-esteem.
Among the standouts in the realm of celebrity biographies, books such as Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher, I, Tina by Tina Turner, and Bossypants by Tina Fey exemplify the prowess and artistry of this unique literary genre.
She was able to move in with friends, complete high school, attend college, and pursue her dream of becoming an actor. The 48-hour audio version, recorded in that throaty Brooklyn accent, with ad-libs and musical excerpts, is truly priceless.
Despite the tabloid buzz that surrounds Jenner, this book introduces us to an honest, humble, gentle spirit who is quick to admit her mistakes as a husband, a father, and a once somewhat clueless trans person.