Booklovers everywhere will love our lineup of best biographies and memoirs of 2023. From personal narratives of empowerment and self-realization such as Kerry Washington’s Thicker than Water to biographies and memoirs of the great artists of our time such as Barbra Streisand’s My Name is Barbra , these are the best biographies and memoirs of the year 2023.
One of Rock & Roll’s most iconic bassists, Geddy Lee, takes us on a journey filled with humor, honesty and loss in his emotionally resonant memoir, My Effin’ Life . Lee looks back on his family history, including the murder of his grandfather in the Holocaust, and how his past shaped his five-decade long career as the lead man of Rush. Including never-before-seen photos, this celebrity memoir gives us a behind-the-scenes look at life inside and outside one of the most beloved bands of all time.
In comedian Maria Bramford’s hilarious look at some of the more difficult points of life, Sure I’ll Join Your Cult , is her exploration of show business, mental health and the quest to belong anywhere. A master of wit, she transforms even isolating experiences into comedy which will leave you feeling less alone.
Blistering, unconventional and highly original, A Man of Two Faces is the latest narrative from Pulitzer Prize winner Viet Thahn Nguyen. In this memoir, he outlines his complicated relationship with America, giving a nod to the larger stories of refugeehood, colonization and ideas about Vietnam and America. He questions how he can be both American and Vietnamese – killer and one being killed? Profound in its emotion and brilliant in its contemplation of cultural power, A Man of Two Faces is the exceptional life story of one of today’s most important writers.
How to Say Babylon is the dazzling story of Safiya Sinclair’s struggle to break free of her strict Rastafarian upbringing and her father’s rigid patriarchal views. This unforgettable memoir describes author Sinclair’s hard-won path to uncovering her own voice as both a woman and poet. With carefully crafted language and rich poetic lyricism, How to Say Babylon is the universal story of a woman coming into her own power as well as a unique glimpse into an unfamiliar world.
An enthralling and spellbinding story of obsession, The Art Thief is an intriguing true crime narrative about the world’s most prolific art thief. Completing over 200 heists over the span of nearly eight years, Stéphane Breitweisser is a fascinating figure who never stole for money but kept his treasures hidden in a single room for his own admiration.
Booklovers will adore Once Upon a Tome which follows the misadventures of a rare bookseller in one of the oldest (and potentially haunted) bookstores in the world. A captivating love letter to booksellers and bibliophiles alike, it is author Oliver Darkshire’s witty voyage into the unique world of bookselling.
Hungering to explore more of the best new biographies and most popular memoirs? Escape into the most fascinating life stories , explore bookseller favorites or check out our full selection for the latest bestselling biographies and memoirs .
10 Best Biographies & Memoirs of 2023:
*Listed in alphabetical order by author