June’s Best Biographies and Memoirs

The World as It Is: A Memoir of the Obama White House, by Ben Rhodes
For eight years, Rhodes was the insider’s insider at the Obama White House, having begun working with the then-presidential hopeful as a speechwriter in 2007, just as that unlikely campaign was kicking into high gear. From there, he went on to roles as deputy national security advisor and foreign policy advisor. He was present for some of the most consequential moments in that administration, including the Bin Laden raid, and central to shaping many key policies, including the Iran nuclear agreement and normalized relations with Cuba. As a friend and advisor to a president, as well as a writer himself, Rhodes offers a true behind-the-scenes look with novelistic flair.

Robert F. Kennedy: Ripples of Hope: Kerry Kennedy in Conversation with Heads of State, Business Leaders, Influencers, and Activists about Her Father’s Impact on Their Lives, by Kerry Kennedy
The forthcoming 50th anniversary of Robert Kennedy’s assassination has been attended by a resurgence in interest in the senator, attorney general, and would-be president. His impact on his era was almost as great as that of his brother, and might have been greater still. Here, his daughter shares her own memories and reminiscences side-by-side with those who knew or were influenced by the man. Among those interviewed are Barack Obama, John Lewis, Gloria Steinem, Dolores Huerta, Bill Clinton, Tony Bennett, and many others.

Uncensored: My Life and Uncomfortable Conversations at the Intersection of Black and White America, by Zachary R. Wood
At 21, Zachary Wood has placed himself near the center of debates over free speech in modern America: president of the Uncomfortable Learning student group at Williams college, Wood has advocated his own personal policy of open dialogue and debate with anyone, regardless of how much their views might differ with is own. He’s even delivered a TED Talk on the topic, and his memoir discusses his quietly radical philosophy while going into the details of his personal story, beginning with a poor childhood in Washington, DC.

Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime, by Ron Stallworth
Ron Stallworth’s incredible true story is the inspiration for an upcoming film from writer/director Spike Lee and producer Jordan Peele. In 1978, the Klan was again on the rise in the United States, and Stallworth was the first black detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Interested in a growing terrorist threat to the community, he responded to an ad for more information from the local KKK by mail. Instead, he received a call asking if he was willing to join up. During months of investigation, he maintains a phone correspondence with the group, sabotaging cross-burnings, exposing plots, and even forming a relationship with then-Grand Wizard (and current alt-right leader) David Duke. His white partner was even tasked to fill-in for Stallworth in person when necessary to maintain the charade.  It’s a fascinating story.

Reporter: A Memoir, by Seymour M. Hersh
The brand of investigative reporting that made Seymour Hersh famous is an evolving, if not dying, art in today’s fast-paced media climate. From the beginning, Hersh was more than willing to take on the biggest stories and most powerful players on the political scene, from the coverup of the Mai Lai Massacre to Watergate, and, more recently, Abu Ghraib. His confrontational style and willingness to dive into stories that others might consider conspiracies have won him awards, but also courted controversy. In his memoir, Hersh looks back at his career and offers deeper insight into some of the many stories he’s covered.

My Girls: A Lifetime with Carrie and Debbie, by Todd Fisher
In December of 2016, millions mourned the unexpected deaths of both Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, within a day of each other. For their fans and admirers, it was deeply sad. But for the family of these two Hollywood legends, the pain was far more intimate. In this memoir, Todd Fisher, the only surviving child of Debbie and singer Eddie Fisher, relates the story of his glamorous childhood with an unconventional mother and the lifelong bond with sister. The book is part personal memoir and part tribute to Debbie and Carrie, as funny as it is poignant as it charts their glamorous, often very weird lives all the way through their final days together.

Ghostbuster’s Daughter: Life with My Dad, Harold Ramis, by Violet Ramis Stiel
Another child reflects on a famous father this month—this time on the daughter of multi-talented actor, director, writer, and comedian Harold Ramis, whose films are among the most beloved of recent decades (Animal House, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters, and Groundhog Day). Stiel recounts the too-short life of her famous father, and also the story of her unconventional upbringing, in a book that’s part family memoir, part look inside the mind of a comedic genius.

Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing Up Bernstein, by Jamie Bernstein
At the height of his career in the middle years of the 20th century, at a time when a composer could still have an enormous influence on pop culture, none was bigger than Leonard Bernstein. The conductor and pianist had a circle that included the Kennedys, John Lennon, Richard Avedon, and Lauren Bacall, among many others, all they all populate the cast of this memoir. On the centennial of his birth, Bernstein’s eldest daughter Jamie reflects on her childhood with the complex, sometimes troubled man who taught her to love music, and the world.

Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot, by John Callahan and David Kelly
The title of the late Callahan’s memoir refers to one of his more (in)famous cartoons, an image in which three sheriffs approach an empty wheelchair in the desert. One sheriff says to another: “Don’t worry. He won’t get far on foot.” Which just about sums up Callahan’s warped, controversial, and boundary-pushing career as a cartoonist. That career began at the age of 21 after an alcohol-related car crash severed his spine and left him a quadriplegic. A few years later, he had relearned to use his right hand enough to make the simplistic drawings for which he became famous. This memoir is the subject of a forthcoming film from director Gus Van Sant.
Whose story inspires you?