Autobiographies Anyone reading one

I’ve Phillip Schofields one waiting to be started and my sister bought Ant and Decs so once we’ve both done we’ll swap ?

I've read several recently that were passed on to me by a friend. There were some interesting bits but, for the most part I'm just not bothered about other people's lives. In fact, at least one of them was embarrassing and I don't think it should have been published.

I'd rather read detective fiction (escapist!) or history.

Good idea HappyBumbleBee

I rarely read autobiographies but did enjoy Michelle Obama's book so followed up with Barack Obama's books Dreams from my father and I forget the name of the other one (not the new one). They both come across very well in the books, which is unusual.

I read Jack Charlton's autobiography many years (actually decades) ago. It came unasked for from Readers Digest when I forgot to cancel. I have never been interested in football but the book turned out to be a really good read, perhaps because I live just a few miles from the Charlton's home town, Ashington in Northumberland. I confess I skipped the 1966 World Cup chapter!

Jack Charlton died recently and his funeral cortege drove through Ashington where there was a big turn out to pay respects.

Other than that, I agree with Septimia about other people's lives.

Anne Glenconner. Just started it, recommended by someone on the other what are you reading thread. So far so good.

Well there are plenty to choose from at the moment! I've never seen so many celebrities promoting their (and each other's) books.

I have just finished the Amanda Knox memoir on Libby .

Let It Go by Dame Stephanie Shirley is my all time favourite memoir of an incredible woman .
I am an evangelist when it comes to trying to spread the word about her .

Here she is on Ted

www.ted.com/talks/dame_stephanie_shirley_why_do_ambitious_women_have_flat_heads

No, they are always self-serving and you wonder what has been left out. I much prefer a good biography.

I am enjoying Michelle Obama's Becoming, the audiobook read by the author.

Recently read One Life by Megan Rapinoe and highly recommend it -- it's a keeper- It focuses on women's football, human rights and equality- In part it's an exposé about the inequalities in the sport and male dominant corporate decision making-

I love reading autobios and bios, both are enjoyable-

Lizzy I grew up in a town a few miles from Ashington too, and Jack Charlton was a local hero. I'm about the same age too.
Sad to hear of his death, and Bobby's illness.
I'm not so keen on autobiographies either but often read bios.
I'm half way through one about Anton Chekov which is a bit heavy, but is written from the point of view of his place in Russian social history. which is one of my interests.

Just finished 'Educated' by Tara Westover who grew up in a Mormon family under the often brutal regime dictated by her father and violent older brothers.

A bit relentless at times but I persevered.

Educated has remained on the New York Times bestseller list since its release in February 2018- I've read it several times- From craziness, to estrangement, to educated- It continues to open eyes-

Just Ignore Him by comedian Alan Davies. Gosh - what an awful childhood he had; Mum died when he was six and father sexually abused him for years. It is really well written though, and clearly illustrates the life long psychological harm that is done to abused children.

I usually avoid miserable childhood books but did not know this when I started it.

I read few, one that really struck me was Toast by Nigel Slater, I believe it was made into a TV programme too?

Many autobiographies belong on the fiction shelf, but Paul O’Grady’s make me laugh out loud. Rupert Everett too is very amusing, as is Nicky Hallam.
Anne Glenconner’s memoirs are excellent, I went through them like a dose of salts.

My favourite was by Hannah Hauxwell, the farmer discovered living in the Dales without running water or electricity. Not a recent book, but it's a lovely life story.

Jaxjacky
Nigel Slater's Toast was very funny as his life's memories were defined by the food that he ate during the sixties. Arctic Roll anyone?
Peter Kay's book was also laugh out loud material, I could do with a book like that right now to give me a good ol belly laugh.

I’ve just finished ‘Banking On It’ by Ann Boden. Amazing woman! She was CEO of a UK bank but had a better idea of how a bank ought to be - for the customers! So she went ahead with vision, drive and chutzpah and set one up. A fin tech bank called ‘Starling’.

I found it highly readable and raced through it!