What are some famous biography books that students should read?
This list also includes autobiographies.
Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl
Be grateful for all the beauty that still exists around you.
This diary is not your typical autobiography. Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who went into hiding with her family and a few companions during World War II. This lovely work captures everything a thirteen-year-old girl goes through, including typical girlhood consciousness, friendships with other girls, boy crushes, and academic achievements.
It also describes her life in hiding, including her emotional ups and downs, her thoughts on other people's actions, and her loneliness. Her diary comes to an end shortly after she turns fifteen.
2. Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs
“The greatest way to forecast the future is to invent it,” says Steve Jobs.
He describes Jobs as "obnoxious" and "bristly" in the same breath as "solicitous" and "emotionally attuned," giving readers a full picture of the history, behavioural peculiarities, and emotional crudity that made him a legend. Indeed, Jobs told Isaacson that he and his Apple staff could "have a rip-roaring fight and that brutal honesty" in meetings and that he didn't know how to handle such circumstances with a "velvet glove" approach. Be aware that, despite Jobs' reputation as a control freak throughout his life, he offered Isaacson entire editing freedom in drafting the book and swore not to miss any little details (like he usually did with everything in his life).
Nonetheless, after reading the book, one gets a strong sense of belonging to the movement that gave birth to the Apple goods we use (or see utilised) today.
3. Richard Branson's Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way
You can only get somewhere if you are daring. If you're a risk-taker, the trick is to guard against the worst-case scenario.
Richard is a true adventurer, and reading his book 'Losing My Virginity' taught me to value risk-taking. Of course, there is a price to pay, but what is life without risks? Richard was always accomplishing something exceptional, whether it was making things happen, navigating monopolised sectors, or breaking through strong political forces.
His voyage was lovely because it had a soul; all he wanted to do was give his small part to making the world a better place to live in. Humanity still comes first in the end, and Richard has demonstrated this via his friendships, businesses, and adventures. The book is lengthy, but it is well worth the time spent reading it.
4. Jordan Belfort's The Wolf Of Wall Street
The best intentions in the world are nothing more than that if they aren't followed through on.
You may have seen the film directed by Martin Scorcese and starring Leonardo Dicaprio. However, to truly comprehend Jordan Belfort's thoughts, one must read his book and then ask themselves, "How did he accomplish it?"
For once, you don't get to read about someone's troubles; instead, you get to read about the decadence that comes with a million bucks - a fact that many billionaires try to hide. It's alright to be human, to be captivated by money to the point where you forget who you are, because we all make mistakes; no one is perfect. I admire folks who can own up to their nonsense more than those who simply talk about their problems and act as if they've never done anything wrong because of their fortune. This guy lived his life to the fullest; the only regret is that he caused harm to others in the process, but we all do it while seeming to be so pure in public.
We forget the derogatory names we've called our business associates, friends, and family members and project perfect images of them. Personally, I'd rather get drunk with an enemy than a pretentious family member or friend.
5. Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air
You'll never achieve perfection, but you can believe in an asymptote that you're constantly aiming for.
What could be worse than a doctor being ill?
In the epilogue, Paul's wife thanks him for his efforts in finishing the book. Despite the fact that this book is primarily about his medical experience, it contains a thought: what makes life worthwhile in the face of death? This is sad, jarring, and powerful enough to make you realise how important the time you're in right now is.
We spend our days either planning for the future or complaining about the past. In the thick of all of these fights, we often lose sight of the present moment. This book chronicles his struggle along this trip, in which he not only lived but also strived. We will not be remembered if we live simply for ourselves, but rather when we bring worth to the lives of others. My main takeaway was that nothing is free; we must pay for everything.
So, if we strive to escape suffering in any way, it's the same as closing our eyes to the plain reality.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
