Have you ever wondered how your life is shaped by your memories? Have you ever wondered how your memories are affected by your life? Have you ever wondered whether you could learn about other people’s lives through their memories?
Memoirs are a form of literature that allows us to peek into other people’s inner worlds, experience their life stories, feel their ups and downs and life insights, allowing us to have different views, feelings and thoughts about the world.
Today, I would like to recommend 8 classic memoirs to you. They are all written by people from different fields, different backgrounds, and different countries, but they all have one thing in common: they are all true and wonderful.
If you like reading memoirs, or want to try a new reading experience, then read on!
1. ‘Washington: A Life’ by Ron Chernow
If you are interested in American history, this book will be an eye-opener for you. The book was written by Ron Chernow, one of the most celebrated living biographers and the inspiration for the ‘Hamilton’ musical.
This book chronicles the life of America’s first president, George Washington, from his difficult childhood, to his leadership of the army in the Revolutionary War, to the challenges and difficulties he faced during his tenure as president.
This book not only showcases Washington’s great achievements or humility (he had the chance to become President of the United States but turned it down multiple times), but also Washington’s humanity. His changing views on slavery and the struggle for emancipation, how he defeated his political opponents, and his emotional history.
This book tells us about Washington’s upbringing, important contributions, and leadership charisma. He was a charismatic person from beginning to end, and his life was truly legendary. There is no doubt that he is one of the most important and influential people in the world.
2. Born A Crime, Trevor Noah
If you like humor and self-deprecation, this book is sure to make you laugh out loud. The book was written by Trevor Noah, world-famous comedian and host of The Daily Show.
The book tells the story of Noah’s birth and upbringing under apartheid. His father is Swiss and his mother is a native South African. As a mixed-race child, Noah’s birth was a crime. Therefore, he was born sinful.
Noah’s unique childhood experiences, combined with his unparalleled sense of humor, make this book a riveting, tear-jerking, laugh-out-loud read. Noah describes in a lighthearted and witty way his dilemma and struggle in South African society, how he found his identity among different ethnic groups and cultures, how he developed a deep bond with his brave and strong mother, and how he How to use his wisdom and resourcefulness to deal with life’s challenges.
This is a shocking and highly entertaining read that allows us to see a different South Africa and a different Trevor Noah.
3. “Shoe Dog,” Phil Knight
If you are interested in entrepreneurship and business, this book will definitely inspire you. The book was written by Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, the world’s largest and most successful sneaker company.
This book tells the story of Knight’s journey from college when he founded Nike to going public in 1980. The book also records the failures, mistakes and lucky moments Knight experienced along the way.
This book tells us that great success is not planned in advance, but stumbling along the way until you find a feasible method, and then continue to persevere. Knight shares his dreams, passions, confusions, fears, and determinations in an honest and candid way. He also showcased the people around him who struggled with, supported, encouraged and influenced him, including his family, friends, employees and partners.
This is a touching and admirable book. It allows us to see a different Nike and a different Phil Knight.
4. ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ by Nelson Mandela
This is the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, leader of the South African anti-apartheid movement and Nobel Peace Prize winner, telling the story of his growth experience from childhood to youth, and how he participated in and led the history of the black national liberation struggle in South Africa.
In the book, Mandela details the 27 years he spent in prison and how he negotiated with the white government after his release to achieve South Africa’s democratic transition.
This is a book about faith, sacrifice, persistence and forgiveness, showing Mandela’s great character as a statesman, revolutionary and humanitarian.
5. ‘I Am Malala’ by Malala Yousafzai
This is the autobiography of a Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafzai, who tells the story of how she fought for female education under Taliban rule and survived being shot for it.
Malala has loved learning since she was a child. She recorded every detail of her life in the Swat Valley on her blog, as well as her resistance to the Taliban’s ban on girls going to school.
On October 9, 2012, Malala was shot in the head by a Taliban on her way to school. She almost died, but miraculously recovered. She went on to become the world’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner and continued to speak out for women’s education and children’s rights.
This is a book about courage, strength, dreams, and hope that showcases Malala’s fearless spirit as a feminist, educator, and activist.
6. The Pilot’s Wife, Anita Shreve
This is an autobiographical novel by American writer Anita Schreiff. It tells the story of her life as the wife of a pilot, who discovered that her husband had multiple identities and secret lives after he died in a plane crash.
In the book, Shreve describes the process of falling in love with her husband, Jack, and how she faced various questions, investigations, and revelations after his death, gradually uncovering his lies and betrayals.
This is a book about love, marriage, trust, and forgiveness that reveals Shrew’s emotional complexity as a writer, wife, and mother.
7. The Diving Bell And The Butterflf, Jean-Dominique Bauby
This is the autobiography of Jean-Dominique Bauby, editor-in-chief of French Esquire magazine, telling how he suffered from ’locked-in syndrome’ after a stroke, a condition in which someone is conscious but unable to move in a coma.
When Bobby woke up from the stroke, he found that he had lost all motor functions. He could not move his hands and feet, speak, or even breathe. Only his left eyelid could move his whole body.
Later, his family discovered that he was conscious. With the help of his daughter, he designed a system to communicate with others by moving his left eyelid.
The entire book was written by a completely paralyzed man by moving his eyelids, and the whole process was extremely difficult. Somehow the prose is beautifully written, yet again a brilliant interpretation of the author’s unimaginable pain.
8. GreenLights, Matthew McConaughey
This is the first autobiography of Matthew McConaughey, the Oscar-winning actor and star of ‘Interstellar’ and ‘Dallas Buyers Club’, about the legendary life of a Stoic.
Keep in dialogue with yourself, identify what is truly important, and turn all obstacles into opportunities. This is Matthew’s ‘green light’ philosophy.
Most people don’t have high expectations for books written by famous people, but this book overturned my expectations. This is a joyful and enlightening memoir that is highly recommended for everyone to read.
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