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When your parents tried to teach you about empathy and understanding as a child, they probably told you to put yourself in another person's shoes. But what if you could experience someone's triumphs, failures, wonders, and everything in between first-hand? That's the power of autobiographies, which allow us to step into an author's life and learn about their personal journey through their own words in a book.
If you're on the hunt for your next read, there's no shortage of compelling memoirs and autobiographies on the market. However, these five titles, written by influential figures and cultural icons, definitely need to be added to your list.
Scroll to see the most-searched autobiographies, according to Google!
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Hope: The Autobiography by Pope Francis
Pope Francis passed away on April 25, and while writing Hope: The Autobiography, he originally wanted the memoir to be published following his death.
"But the needs of our times and the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope moved him to make this precious legacy available sooner. Now, the book stands as his testament; the spiritual, faith-filled, as well as moral, social, and civic legacy that he envisioned and left for the benefit of all the men and women of the world," per the book's description.
Hope: The Autobiography was published on January 14 and became the first-ever autobiography penned by a pope. It covers the entirety of Pope Francis' life, beginning with his Italian heritage and the Latin American migration of his ancestors, spanning up until his papacy. He also "candidly" tackled some of the most pressing questions of our modern day, including war and peace, social policy, environmental crisis, migration, the position of women in society, tech advancements, and more.
You can purchase Hope: The Autobiography on Amazon now.
Amazon
Being Martha: The Inside Story of Martha Stewart and Her Amazing Life by Lloyd Allen
Being Martha: The Inside Story of Martha Stewart and Her Amazing Life diverges from other titles on this list, but it's one difference that makes it that much more compelling. While it isn't exactly an autobiography, the book was actually penned by a friend of Martha's, and it includes "searingly personal" accounts of the entrepreneur's life.
Martha started her career working as a stockbroker before launching her own catering business and publishing her first book, Entertaining, in 1982. Then, she successfully turned her business into a lifestyle empire, making her a mogul.
Being Martha includes anecdotes from various people in her life, including her mother, daughter, brother, friends, and more. It's available for purchase on Amazon.
Amazon
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
Paramahansa Yogananda, an Indian and American Hindu monk and yogi, helped introduce meditation and Kriya Yoga to millions of people via his organization, Self-Realization Fellowship. He passed away in 1952 at the age of 59, but in 1946, he publishedAutobiography of a Yogi.
The book has since been translated into over 50 languages and called "one of the 100 Best Spiritual Books of the Twentieth Century." Paramahansa tells stories from his childhood, the decade of training he received from a yoga master, and the 30 years he spent living and teaching in America.
"Also recorded here are his meetings with Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Luther Burbank, the Catholic stigmatist Therese Neumann, and other celebrated spiritual personalities of East and West," per the synopsis.
You can visit Amazon to purchase your own copy of Autobiography of a Yogi today.
Amazon
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Author, poet, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou wrote seven memoirs over the course of her life, but I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings marked the first. Published in 1969, it chronicles her arrival in a Southern town, alongside her brother, Bailey, to live with her grandmother and the prejudice they endured. Then, at just 8 years old, she was attacked by a man in St. Louis.
"Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, and her own strong spirit and the ideas of great authors will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned," the synopsis reads.
Featuring a foreword by Oprah Winfrey, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is available for purchase on Amazon.
Amazon
I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne
Much of the world came to know Ozzy Osbourne after he formed and became the lead vocalist of Black Sabbath in 1968. Just over a decade later, he launched his solo career and has released 13 studio albums, cementing himself as an icon in the heavy metal genre.
In 2011, Ozzy also published his tell-all autobiography, I Am Ozzy, which reveals all the details of his rock-and-roll lifestyle. It shares the tale of his tough upbringing and how he turned to music for salvation. Yet, in addition to fame and fortune, Ozzy also became entangled with "booze and chemicals."
"The stories of Ozzy's days on the road are now those of legend–biting the head off a live bat, the tragic plane crash that took the life of his best friend and writing partner, Randy Rhoades–but few know of the real heartbreak he suffered during those days of hard living. In the end, it was the love of his family that saved him," per the book's synopsis.
To read more about "Ozzy finally coming clean," you can get I Am Ozzy on Amazon.
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