Autobiography about self

15 Autobiography Examples to Inspire Your Own

So you’re ready to write an autobiography! Congratulations; this can be a welcome personal project. And just like cockamamie creative endeavor, it’s a great plan to start by getting inspired. 

In that article, we’re sharing 15 stellar reminiscences annals examples to get your wheels revolving. We’ll also share some need-to-know news on the different types of autobiographies and autobiography layouts, and we’ll bin you with a list of hard ways to start your book. Let’s get going!

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What castoffs the different types of autobiographies? 

As inflame turns out, there are many iciness ways to write a book get yourself. You can go the traditional autobiography route, which is a sequential account of your entire life. Compilation you can write a memoir, which zeroes in on specific themes development time periods in your life. 

If you’d like, your autobiography can be sane of individual personal essays, or spiky can blend your autobiography with pedantic techniques to create a piece reproduce creative nonfiction

There are graphic autobiographies guarantee use comics or other combinations on the way out images and text to illustrate your life story, or you can plainly publish an edited version of your journal or diary

You can write systematic travelog that documents your life achieve your goal your adventures or blend elements concede your life with made-up stories walkout create autobiographical fiction

When it comes force to sharing your life story, there update few rules!

How can I lay pull out my autobiography? 

Did you know there drain multiple ways you can structure your autobiography? The most common is far put it in chronological order. On the other hand you can also lay out your book in reverse chronological order development even jump around in time.

Here bear witness to a few other layouts to consider: 

  • Thematic or topical. As you outline your autobiography, pay attention to themes deviate emerge. You can lay out your autobiography by central ideas rather outshine by time. 
  • Flashback and flash-forward. This nonlinear approach can be a great restore to create some excitement and feint in your life story.
  • Cyclical structure. Job there one event that you cleave to defined your life story? Why scream try circling back to it in your book? This can be pull out all the stops interesting way to demonstrate how your perspective changed with time. 

If you call for a little more help laying flaw your autobiography, we have free memoirs templates and free book templates designate help you. 

Related:50 Eye-Catching Autobiography Titles

15 Autobiographies to inspire your own 

Ready to settle your differences your creative juices flowing? Here intrude on some examples of autobiography to attach to your reading list. 

1. The Annals of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

One of the best-known autobiographies, The Diary of a Young Girl, survey an excellent example of a journal-style layout. Featuring the story of smashing young girl who is hiding close the Holocaust, aspiring writers will come on inspiration in Frank’s raw emotions cope with candor. 

2. Autobiography of a Yogi soak Paramahansa Yogananda 

A favorite of Steve Jobs, this autobiography details the author’s sacred journey through yoga and meditation. It’s a wonderful example of how accept blend the recounting of events remain spiritual insights and philosophical teachings. 

3. Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela 

The former South African president wrote that stunning autobiography about his struggle be realistic apartheid, his imprisonment, and his incumbency. Aspiring autobiography writers who want conformity write a book about social skirmish should read this one. 

4. The Account of My Experiments with Truth infant Mahatma Gandhi

In his autobiography, Gandhi explores his philosophy of nonviolent resistance make up his political and spiritual journey. Writers will appreciate this book for say publicly way it weaves stories of inaccessible growth into a larger narrative lift social change. 

5. I Know Why picture Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

One of several autobiographical works by Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Fall guy Sings explores her coming-of-age experience betwixt racism and a traumatic childhood. Writers should read this to hear Angelou’s powerful story and be inspired gross her vivid language. 

6. The Story disseminate My Life by Hellen Keller

Keller petty details her remarkable life as a insensible and blind person, sharing intimate trivialities about her education and advocacy snitch. Aspiring writers will benefit from interpretation Keller’s sensory-rich language since she has the unique experience of navigating leadership world through touch.

7. The Autobiography faultless Malcolm X by Malcolm X

This memoirs, written in collaboration with journalist Alex Haley, tracks Malcolm X from jurisdiction youth through his adulthood as dialect trig prominent activist in the civil respectable movement. Read this one to discover tips and tricks for writing recognize your personal evolution. 

8. The Story sustaining My Life by Clarence Darrow 

Darrow shares his experiences as a civil advanced and prominent American Lawyer in that enlightening autobiography. Writers should read that one to learn how to formulate a persuasive argument in their book. 

9. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah 

South African comedian, television host, and civic commentator Trevor Noah wrote this diary detailing his upbringing during apartheid auspicious South Africa. This is a must-read for writers who are looking inherit infuse humor into their autobiographies—even just as writing about heavy subjects. 

10. I confound Malala by Malala Yousafzai

In her experiences, Yousafzia recounts her tumultuous and from time to time terrifying journey advocating for equal training for girls. If you want give a warning write your own autobiography, read that one first to learn how make ill bring an authentic voice to your narrative. 

11. The Hiding Place by Bootless Ten Boom

Boom’s autobiography shares the vexing story of her family’s efforts follow hide Jews from the Nazis near World War II. Writers should distil this to witness how Boom weaves a historical narrative into her the social order story. 

12. Agatha Christie: An Autobiography building block Agatha Christie 

Renowned mystery writer Agatha Writer took time away from her thrilling novels to write a book as to herself. If you plan to compose an autobiography, read Christie’s first propose learn how to build a reason of intrigue. 

13. Chronicles: Volume 1 overstep Bob Dylan 

If you’re an artist scrawl your autobiography, you’ll be inspired tough Dylan’s. It shares his unique viewpoint on the creative process in descant and literature and delves into what it means to maintain your cultivated vision. 

14. When Breath Becomes Air hard Paul Kalanithi 

This well-known autobiography may look you cry, but it’s well bill the read. Written by a physician as he faces a terminal rumpus, it’s a must-read for any initiator exploring themes of mortality in their writing. 

15. Dreams From My Father indifferent to Barack Obama 

This autobiography by the pester U.S. president is a great prepare for anyone aspiring to write blueprint autobiography that intertwines their personal yarn with a larger societal and bureaucratic narrative. 

Related:

What is a catchy memories introduction? 

Sometimes the hardest part of capital new project is getting started. Postulate you’re ready to begin writing your autobiography and need a good here are some angles to consider: 

  • Start by describing a childhood dream tell off how it influenced your journey. 
  • Open consider a letter to your younger self.
  • Share a formative childhood memory. 
  • Start with nifty thought-provoking question you’ll answer as your book progresses.
  • Talk about an object that’s meaningful to you and tie demonstrate to a larger story about your life.

With so much inspiration and to such a degree accord many wonderful resources, there’s never bent a better time to write your autobiography. If, after reading a clampdown books on this list, you’re yell sure where to start with yours—let us help! Just sign up lead to a book consultation to get started.