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Biography Books

Discover the best selection of biographies, autobiographies and popular celebrity memoirs everyone should read.

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You've heard their side of the story, now read E. Jean Carroll's. 30% Off. Not My Type: One Woman vs. a President by E. Jean Carroll. Shop Now

Dive deep into the life of one of America's literary geniuses through the eyes of a master biographer. Mark Twain by Ron Chernow. Shop Now

Available 11/4: An intimate self-portrait of Michelle Obama's style evolution. $10 Off. The Look by Michelle Obama. Pre-Order

Hilarious. Heartfelt. Human. Two opposites get to know each other while hanging ten. It's Only Drowning: A True Story of Learning to Surf and the Search for Common Ground by David Litt. Shop Now

Just Announced: How does one of the greatest writers of our time tell her own story? Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts (Signed Book) by Margaret Atwood. Pre-Order

A memoir that is as much a personal narrative as it is an ode to Earth's natural gifts. Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton. Shop Now

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A memoir from one of the most influential writers of the century. Notes to John by Joan Didion. Shop Now

B&N Reads

The Joy of Looking Back: A Guest Post by Bill Gates

Bill Gates

I Didn’t Want to Write a Memoir: A Guest Post by Neko Case

Neko Case

My Family Is . . . Maybe Not So Bad! Audiobook Celebrity Memoirs to Make Holiday Gatherings Easier

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Find the world’s bestselling biographies, autobiographies and memoirs at Barnes & Noble®. Historical biographies allow you to walk side-by-side with larger-than-life figures like Frederick Douglass, Sacagawea or Queen Elizabeth I. You can revel in the wonder of lesser-known figures who did incredible things, like in The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lax or Empress of the Nile. Sports biographies take you into the locker room and off the playing field with the likes of Andre Agassi, Lauren Fleshman and Caster Semenya. Artist biographies run the gamut from Vincent van Gogh to Aurora James. And political biographies don’t get more inspirational than Lovely One, by Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Discover our list of the best books of 2024 including the best memoirs of 2024 for your TBR list or to give as gifts. Looking for biography books to read today? Download a biography eBook for your smartphone, tablet, or NOOK device and start reading now.

What is the difference between biography, autobiography and memoir?

Biography, autobiography and memoir are three different types of books that revolve around true life stories. An autobiography is a life story written by the subject of the book. A biography is a life story written by someone other than the subject of the book. A memoir is a book written about a specific time in the author’s life.

Biography Books

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