By Jessica Durston
I have really been trying to keep up good practice with my reading habits this spring/summer and have set myself a goal of reading more books than I did last year.
A genre of book that I do find fascinating and immersive, is the autobiography. I love finding out more about the lives of those whom I admire as a person, or whose art I am a fan of. The human and often vulnerable elements of autobiographies are magical as they can make you feel connected to an individual who is otherwise a stranger to you. I enjoy reading stories with these human elements and learning more about the journey that the individual has taken to get to where they are today.
‘Celebrities’ are, after all, just humans like us (well apart from David Bowie – he was something else). It can be a good leveller to read about the life of someone famous and learn that they are not dissimilar to you or me.
I have compiled a list of ten brilliant autobiographies that I have enjoyed and that I would recommend to anyone. Spoiler alert – there quite a few music stars within the list as the musician autobiography is my favourite sub-category! I hope this helps anyone currently in need of a book recommendation.
This gem, published in 2012, sees Young take the reader on a journey down memory lane, discussing everything from his family and relationships to his sense of place, his hobbies, and his obsession with his PureSound audio system.
It is a wonderful biography and feels like an honest manifestation of the rock star on all 502 of the pages (yes – it’s a chunky one!). Young declined a ghost writer for this project, and apparently stopped drinking and smoking marijuana during the period when he was writing the book.
Although there are mentions of his trips on the road with Crazy Horse, the CSNY members and Buffalo Springfield bandmates, a lot of his word count is also spent talking about his other passions in life. I particularly enjoyed Neil’s musings on what ‘home’ means to him, and how he creates a sense of place when sharing his memories of ‘ranch living.’
A No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller, this autobiography by actor and writer Daisy May Cooper, is an absolute romp. Miss Cooper documents her life, starting from her childhood growing up in Gloucestershire, right through to the point where she, and her brother Charlie, have their scripts for what becomes ‘This Country’ green lit for a BBC television series.
I devoured all 432 pages of this madcap memoir over the course of a just a couple of days, and could often be found in a room alone, chuckling away to myself. If you want to hear tales of how Daisy accidentally auditioned to be a pole dancer, was catfished by a one-armed internet boyfriend, and used to snack on wall plaster, then this book is for you.
Although it is a laugh-a-minute book, Daisy also uses the book to explain more about her incessant drive and ambition to achieve her goals, and sheds light on her previous battles with rural poverty.
This fantastic memoir from 1987 sees Pamela Des Barres (a famous former groupie and artist, otherwise known as Miss Pamela from girl group the GTOs) share her story of navigating the 1960s and beyond, in a gripping and accessible chronological diary format. She is witty, friendly, and her keen passion for music and life shines through within this book.
Of course, the autobiography includes the kind of sexy kiss-and-tell confessions you would expect to hear from a seasoned groupie, but the book is so much more than just smutty recollections about Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, and Jim Morrison.
Miss Pamela is full of heart, sex positive, and this book feels like a feminist classic in this modern age. It documents a young woman immersing herself in drugs, danger, and music, and follows her on her journey through the maelstrom and out the other side.
This autobiography is a real masterpiece. Released in 2021, this 480-page memoir is incessantly enjoyable. The book’s light-hearted, humorous, conversational tone makes it very accessible to read. I felt I could hear the words on the page in Dr Clarke’s distinctive Salford timbre.
The book documents John Cooper Clarke’s life from his childhood, right through to the present day. His love of pop culture and his absorption of films, music, and the people around him is made very evident through the reflections and memories he chooses to dredge up from the recesses of his mind. There are some hilarious tales in this memoir, and some real heart wrenching profound material too. Ultimately, this is the perfect autobiography.
Carrie Fisher has such a gift when it comes to writing. This little gem, 176 pages in length, is a wonderful reverie on Fisher’s upbringing, her time playing Princess Leia, motherhood, and her struggles with mental health and addiction. It’s brilliant because it’s funny, self-deprecating, and straight from the horse’s mouth.
This book was another that I practically inhaled due to its accessibility and genuinely interesting subject matter. Fisher is not afraid to discuss the bigger and heavier topics and handles them in an engaging and thoughtful way. It doesn’t feel like a money-spinner. I would whole-heartedly recommend this little morsel of a book.
This autobiography transcends the usual conventions of its genre. I am, of course, very biased as Patti Smith is one of my favourite authors of all time, as well as one of my favourite musicians. Her books are like nothing you’ve ever read before. They’re reflective, beautifully evocative, poetic, and full of love, hope and sometimes sadness.
Just Kids centres around Patti’s complex relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe (a photographer whom she had a chance meeting with, and then fell in love with). The book is described as ‘a love story that ends in an elegy.’ Patti’s connection with Robert takes centre stage but I think the book is more than just a love letter. It’s a snapshot of New York in 1960s and 70s, and discusses the art scene, the political scene, and the music scene that was rapidly evolving. There are also musings on ambition, creativity, art, and religion.
This book is so magical and is not just one of my favourite autobiographies, but one of my favourite books of all time.
This little memoir is so delicious. I’m currently reading this at the moment, so feel I cannot give as full a review as I have for the previous titles.
Richard E. Grant has put together a collection of his diary entries from his time auditioning and shooting various films across his career. He starts the book in the 1980s, just before he lands his role in Bruce Robinson’s iconic cult classic, ‘Withnail & I’. The memoir’s chapters are all titled after the different films in question.
Although chronological in its recounts, this bitchy, punchy, theatrical, tongue-in-cheek autobiography feels a little more offbeat, and different to other more traditional memoirs. Although there is a lot of humour in the pages, the author also shares details of his struggles with self-doubt, anxiety, and loss. Worth checking out if you are a fan of his work or would enjoy an insider’s look at Hollywood for everything it is – the good and the bad.
This one is another slightly biased pick as Keith Richards is one of my favourite rock and roll icons. ‘Life’ takes an in-depth look at is illustrious career, but also his personal life, and his childhood.
His narrative voice is engaging and honest. And the man can spin a yarn. The book documents not only Keith’s own adventures through life, but documents rock and roll and his relationship with it. There’s also lots of fabulous insight into the Rolling Stones during their heyday, and some touching reveries about friendship, music, marriage, and family. A must-read for any Stones fan or anyone who enjoys an engaging memoir.
This wonderful and humorous autobiography is Billy Connolly’s love letter to Scotland. It follows his story from childhood to present day, dipping into recollections about his time growing up in Glasgow, his first job, his working class background, his family, and some wonderful friends and characters he has met along the way.
Released in 2019, Connolly had already been diagnosed with Parkinson’s six years earlier, and there are some really touching meditations on life, and his health, and how he is coping with his condition. A warm, witty, and sometimes brutal memoir, that I challenge anyone not to enjoy.
This wild autobiography will have you hooked from the get-go. Debbie Harry shares all kinds of crazy anecdotes as well as lofty reflections upon life, music, relationships, and creativity. The memoir includes an array of beautiful images to pore over.
The frontwoman of Blondie’s reflective book paints a picture of not only her own upbringing and gritty, rock n roll beginnings, but also of the New York punk scene and later the culture of the New Wave movement. You’ll learn more about her humble childhood, her time at the Playboy mansion, her time finding her way into the late 70s music scene, her acting career, her narrow escape from Ted Bundy, and her struggles with heroine and bankruptcy.
Not a book for the faint-hearted, but well worth a read if you’re interested in an autobiography that does not always shy away from the dark underbelly of life.
I’m sure you can get your hands on these books at most local/independent/chain bookstores.
If you are an online shopper, some sites I would recommend browsing are as follows: