The Ultimate Autobiography Reading List
With the constant pressure of being a public figure, who can really blame celebrities for wanting to keep their private life private? One of the only times we get a real glimpse into their secretive circle, is when they decide to release autobiographies, serving us intimate details of their life on a silver platter. Whether you’re a regular bookworm or just looking for something new, here’s a list of celebrity memoirs to get your fix of celebrity culture.
Just Kids – Patti Smith
Reading this book feels like standing in a studio and watching an artist paint the walls around you. It details Patti Smith’s young adult life and how it intertwined with Robert Mapplethorpe in the late 60’s and 70’s of New York City. It’s a time capsule for everyone and everything happening in this era. She details accounts of chance encounters with the likes of Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin, while describing a beautifully difficult relationship with Robert. It’s a tale of young love and self-discovery that will undoubtedly leave you wanting more.
I’m Glad My Mom Died – Jennette McCurdy
When this book was initially released, the shock value of the title alone seemed to be all anyone was talking about. The former iCarly star detailed how her abusive relationship with her mother impacted her childhood and shaped her path to fame. She writes about her friendship with Miranda Cosgrove and the lack thereof with Ariana Grande. There is a detailed account of how these relationships affected her as an adult by exploring themes such as religion, mental health, and eating disorders. After seeing her portrayed as a brutish, boyish character throughout her childhood, this book peels back layers of the child star that had never previously been seen.
Rememberings – Sinéad O’Connor
Rememberings is uncensored, raw, and masterfully written- everything you would expect from O’Connor. Growing up in an abusive home in Ireland, she provides a detailed account of leaving home for London, and eventually America, while navigating the underbelly of the music industry. A highlight from Rememberings is the chapter that details how- and why- she tore up a picture of the Pope on Saturday Night Live.
Down the Drain – Julia Fox
She’s everywhere, she’s so Julia. Before the book was even written, Fox herself dubbed it a masterpiece. The book is full of scandal and gossip about the celebrity world, but it also details a traumatic upbringing going back and forth from New York and Italy. She writes in such detail about her abusive relationships and drug addiction that you feel like you’re in the room, living these painful moments with her. Between the iconic fashion moments, movies, and parties, there is visceral heartbreak and grief in the way she writes. Her resilience is notable as she went from a string of friends overdosing to having her son within a matter of months.
Cash – Johnny Cash
Whether or not you would deem yourself a country fan, this book is a masterful portrait of the development of the music industry into what it is today. He details the transformation of genres like country, rockabilly, jazz, and rock and roll, all while telling some of the most insane stories a public figure has ever told. One such example was a story about being held at gunpoint in Jamaica. He spoke about how the two young assailants were hunted down by Jamaican police and killed on his behalf, and how distraught it made him feel as he saw himself in them. He also writes about his relationships with his family, other celebrities (such as Elvis Presley) and drugs. Cash is a must read for any autobiography guru.
