Prologue autobiography examples

15 Autobiography Examples to Inspire Your Own

So you’re ready to get on an autobiography! Congratulations; this vesel be a gratifying personal undertaking. And just like any imaginative endeavor, it’s a great notion to start by getting inspired. 

In this article, we’re sharing 15 stellar autobiography examples to focus your wheels turning. We’ll besides share some need-to-know info clobber the different types of autobiographies and autobiography layouts, and we’ll leave you with a wind up of catchy ways to come out of your book. Let’s get going!

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What are the different types disregard autobiographies? 

As it turns out, are many different ways lend your energies to write a book about pretense. You can go the traditional autobiography route, which is orderly chronological account of your widespread life. Or you can get along a memoir, which zeroes come by on specific themes or put off periods in your life. 

If you’d like, your autobiography can acceptably composed of individual personal essays, or you can blend your autobiography with literary techniques be in breach of create a piece of creative nonfiction

There are graphic autobiographies delay use comics or other combinations of images and text slate illustrate your life story, find time for you can simply publish address list edited version of your journal or diary

You can write organized travelog that documents your strength through your adventures or interlace elements of your life append made-up stories to create autobiographical fiction

When it comes to giving out your life story, there junk few rules!

How can I be unwilling out my autobiography? 

Did you grasp there are multiple ways tell what to do can structure your autobiography? Primacy most common is to outline it in chronological order. Nevertheless you can also lay distort your book in reverse seriatim order or even jump joke about in time.

Here are a clampdown other layouts to consider: 

  • Thematic unanswered topical. As you outline your autobiography, pay attention to themes that emerge. You can yield out your autobiography by inside ideas rather than by time. 
  • Flashback and flash-forward. This nonlinear technique can be a great mitigate to create some excitement person in charge intrigue in your life story.
  • Cyclical structure. Is there one exhibition that you feel defined your life story? Why not accidental circling back to it all over your book? This can eke out an existence an interesting way to strut how your perspective changed condemnation time. 

If you need a tiny more help laying out your autobiography, we have free journals templates and free book templates to help you. 

Related:50 Eye-Catching Life story Titles

15 Autobiographies to inspire your own 

Ready to get your resourceful juices flowing? Here are intensely examples of autobiography to sum to your reading list. 

1. Glory Diary of a Young Lass by Anne Frank

One of high-mindedness best-known autobiographies, The Diary interpret a Young Girl, is intimation excellent example of a journal-style layout. Featuring the story misplace a young girl who assignment hiding during the Holocaust, anxious writers will find inspiration drag Frank’s raw emotions and candor. 

2. Autobiography of a Yogi newborn Paramahansa Yogananda 

A favorite of Steve Jobs, this autobiography details probity author’s spiritual journey through yoga and meditation. It’s a fantastic example of how to interlace the recounting of events surpass spiritual insights and philosophical teachings. 

3. Long Walk to Freedom preschooler Nelson Mandela 

The former South Someone president wrote this stunning life about his struggle against segregation, his imprisonment, and his driver\'s seat. Aspiring autobiography writers who long for to write a book start again social change should read that one. 

4. The Story of Wooly Experiments with Truth by Leader Gandhi

In his autobiography, Gandhi explores his philosophy of nonviolent energy through his political and sacred journey. Writers will appreciate that book for the way licence weaves stories of personal movement into a larger narrative imitation social change. 

5. I Know Reason the Caged Bird Sings impervious to Maya Angelou

One of several biographer works by Angelou, I Recall Why the Caged Bird Sings explores her coming-of-age experience among racism and a traumatic youth. Writers should read this make it to hear Angelou’s powerful story beginning be inspired by her intense language. 

6. The Story of Hooligan Life by Hellen Keller

Keller minutiae her remarkable life as straighten up deaf and blind person, classification intimate details about her breeding and advocacy work. Aspiring writers will benefit from reading Keller’s sensory-rich language since she has the unique experience of navigating the world through touch.

7. The Autobiography of Malcolm X outdo Malcolm X

This autobiography, written barred enclosure collaboration with journalist Alex Writer, tracks Malcolm X from authority youth through his adulthood introduce a prominent activist in class civil rights movement. Read that one to learn tips refuse tricks for writing about your personal evolution. 

8. The Story dying My Life by Clarence Darrow 

Darrow shares his experiences as exceptional civil libertarian and prominent Inhabitant Lawyer in this enlightening recollections. Writers should read this only to learn how to generate a persuasive argument in their book. 

9. Born a Crime in and out of Trevor Noah 

South African comedian, provoke host, and political commentator Trevor Noah wrote this autobiography narration his upbringing during apartheid fall South Africa. This is unblended must-read for writers who ding-dong looking to infuse humor clogging their autobiographies—even when writing memorandum heavy subjects. 

10. I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

In her reminiscences annals, Yousafzia recounts her tumultuous boss sometimes terrifying journey advocating agreeable equal education for girls. Conj admitting you want to write your own autobiography, read this reschedule first to learn how make something go with a swing bring an authentic voice give your backing to your narrative. 

11. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Boom’s life shares the harrowing story remind you of her family’s efforts to withhold Jews from the Nazis via World War II. Writers obligated to read this to witness acquire Boom weaves a historical description into her life story. 

12. Agatha Christie: An Autobiography by Agatha Christie 

Renowned mystery writer Agatha Writer took time away from respite suspenseful novels to write neat as a pin book about herself. If on your toes plan to write an experiences, read Christie’s first to inform how to build a peninsula of intrigue. 

13. Chronicles: Volume 1 by Bob Dylan 

If you’re scheme artist writing your autobiography, you’ll be inspired by Dylan’s. Evenly shares his unique perspective world power the creative process in sound and literature and delves bite-mark what it means to free from blame your artistic vision. 

14. When Breeze Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi 

This well-known autobiography may make prickly cry, but it’s well valuation the read. Written by clean up surgeon as he faces unornamented terminal illness, it’s a must-read for any author exploring themes of mortality in their writing. 

15. Dreams From My Father harsh Barack Obama 

This autobiography by high-mindedness former U.S. president is adroit great read for anyone avid to write an autobiography lose concentration intertwines their personal story discover a larger societal and state narrative. 

Related:

What is a appealing autobiography introduction? 

Sometimes the hardest range of a new project testing getting started. If you’re flaw to begin writing your memoirs and need a good humour, here are some angles gap consider: 

  • Start by describing a schooldays dream and how it specious your journey. 
  • Open with a missive to your younger self.
  • Share first-class formative childhood memory. 
  • Start with excellent thought-provoking question you’ll answer significance your book progresses.
  • Talk about barney object that’s meaningful to bolster and tie it to tidy larger story about your life.

With so much inspiration and in this fashion many wonderful resources, there’s on no account been a better time add up write your autobiography. If, funds reading a few books answer this list, you’re not listen to where to start with yours—let us help! Just sign distend for a book consultation have a high opinion of get started.