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25 of the best autobiographies you won't be able to put down

And that's a promise

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selection of autobiographies
Cosmopolitan

There's nothing like a real-life read to get your blood pumping. Enter, the best autobiography books to pick up now.

From classics like I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, to new releases like Kelly Bishop's The Third Gilmore Girl, we've compiled a list of the best autobiography books you can get your hands on. Captivating, compelling and seriously candid, the main reason we love them so much is because they're essentially a window into someone else's life. We're talking everything from BTS footage of a celebrity's day-to-day to heart-wrenching accounts by real-life activists, to moving, real-world moments written by some of society's most notable historical figures. The list goes on! Craving a major case of escapism? To help spice up your reading list, here are 32 of the best autobiographies for 2024.

1

Every Kind of People: A Journey into the Heart of Care Work by Kathryn Faulke

Every Kind of People: A Journey into the Heart of Care Work by Kathryn Faulke
Now 58% Off

A moving memoir by a care worker, told through her humorous, heartbreaking and eye-opening encounters with the often overlooked and marginalised people she cares for. While open about the challenges facing the NHS and the care system, this book a celebration of humanity and of the life-changing impact of caring.

2

I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee

I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee

Baek Sehee's second volume of memoirs further explores her psychiatric sessions and struggles with dysthymia with the same empathy and insight that made I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki a worldwide bestseller.

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3

Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne

Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne

Gagne’s remarkable memoir offers a thought-provoking and surprisingly life-affirming exploration of what it means to belong to the five percent of the population categorised as sociopaths. It’s a gripping tale of a life lived on the edge of the law, a healing love story and a woman's journey to create a place for herself all in one.

4

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

Best known for her role as the formidable matriarch in hit TV show Gilmore Girls, Kelly Bishop unveils the truth about her six decades in show business in this powerful memoir full of witty insights and a special collection of personal and professional photographs.

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5

Love Me! by Marianne Power

Love Me! by Marianne Power

This intimate and inspiring memoir asks the question: Can you be happy without a partnership at the centre of your life? As Marianne Power turns forty, she wonders why marriage and kids are still so elusive for her and whether, in fact, this is what she even wants, or just what she feels like she should want.

6

Lightning Can Strike Twice: My Life as a Fury by Tommy Fury

Lightning Can Strike Twice: My Life as a Fury by Tommy Fury

The professional boxer and younger half-brother of Tyson Fury opens up about his famous family, life with Molly-Mae and his own career ambitions in his brand new memoir, claiming there's more to being a Fury than knowing how to fight.

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7

Who's That Girl?: A Memoir by Eve with Kathy Iandoli

Who's That Girl?: A Memoir by Eve with Kathy Iandoli

In this empowering, uplifting memoir, hip-hop star Eve reflects on her rise to stardom, the lasting influence she’s had on pop culture and music, and the ongoing challenge of balancing her personal and professional lives.

8

Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself by Crystal Hefner

Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself by Crystal Hefner
Now 32% Off

For years Hugh Hefner's wife Crystal Hefner promised to only say "good things." But now following Hugh's death, Crystal is revealing what really happened behind the walls of the Playboy mansion. Crystal lays bare the impact years of misogyny, and objectification had on her health.

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9

Takeaway: Stories from a childhood behind the counter by Angela Hui

Takeaway: Stories from a childhood behind the counter by Angela Hui
Now 18% Off

Ever wondered what it's like to grow up in a Chinese takeaway? Angela Hui's moving memoir takes us the other side of the counter and shows us what it was like to grow up in Wales, while working at her family's takeaway. It's a memoir that centres on the importance family, food and tradition.

10

Believe by Leigh-Anne Pinnock

Believe by Leigh-Anne Pinnock

More than a decade after she became famous overnight from her success as part of Little Mix, Leigh-Anne is telling her story for the first time, in her honest and moving memoir Believe. From growing up in a mixed-race family, to touring the world with her band mates, Leigh-Anne holds nothing back when exploring the experiences and lessons that have shaped her life so far.

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11

Airhead: The Imperfect Art of Making News by Emily Maitlis

Airhead: The Imperfect Art of Making News by Emily Maitlis

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of getting some of the most famous interviews in history (yes Prince Andrew's included), well then deep dive into Emily Maitlis' memoir which gives the inside scoop on how she creates and handles those tough news stories.

12

Living My Best Life, Hun by London Hughes

Living My Best Life, Hun by London Hughes
Now 51% Off

Comedian London Hughes takes us through the journey of her life and how she started her comedian dreams by writing letters to Lenny Henry during her childhood, to having her own Netflix special, and everything it took to get her to that moment.

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13

Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs

Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs

Small Fry takes you behind the scenes of the life of Lisa Bennan-Jobs, aka the daughter of Steve Jobs. She holds nothing back in revealing what it was like to grow up with Jobs as a father, rarely seeing the man in her early childhood. As she grew older she ended up moving in with her father, and her memoir focuses on her turbulent relationship with her parents, and what it was like to grow up in California in the 1970s and 80s.

14

Down the Drain by Julia Fox

Down the Drain by Julia Fox

Former Cosmopolitan cover star Julia Fox released her highly anticipated autobiography last year. Down The Drain details her riveting and extraordinary life so far, from recounting her parents volatile relationship, to her work as dominatrix, to raising her son, this is a book you won't be able to put down.

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15

This is Not a Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan

This is Not a Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan

Be prepared to shed a lot of tears reading this memoir from Abi Morgan, which is a searingly honest story of what happens when your world changes over night when the person you love most becomes gravely ill. It's a memoir that inspires light in the most darkest of times, and a reminder to truly live in the moment.

16

Surviving to Drive by Guenther Steiner

Surviving to Drive by Guenther Steiner
Now 30% Off

Fans of Drive To Survive, need to get their hands on the series' main character Guenther Steiner's memoir that gives readers an inside look at the entire year of an F1 calendar, from start to finish. Expect to find out more about the hiring (and firing) of drivers, race day nerves and testing a car. Oh, and it's Guenther, so expect a few "f**ks".

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17

Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

Calling all foodies, this is the memoir for you. Actor Stanley Tucci takes us on a journey through his life, telling anecdotes about his childhood growing up in an Italian American family, to on set food stories, to making dinner for his own family now. It's a heartwarming and gastronomic delight of an autobiography.

18

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
Now 40% Off

We couldn't not include arguably the most anticipated autobiography of the last decade: Britney. Published in October 2023, The Woman in Me stirred things up with a real-life account of the singer's incredible journey. "The importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last."

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19

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

A New York Times bestseller for a reason — in this "impressively funny" memoir, Jennette McCurdy bares all, recounting every unflinching detail of growing up. Sharing her struggles as a former child actor, the iCarly and Sam & Cat star references eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother. Both heartbreaking and hilarious.

20

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley, there was one girl — Malala Yousafzai — that stood up for her right to an education. But it was on Tuesday 9th October, 2012, where her life flashed before her eyes, as she was shot point-blank in the head. Surviving this, she has gone on to become one of the world's most inspirational female activists. And this book reveals all of what she went through.

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