In an already bumper year for nonfiction releases and political tell-alls, Michelle Obama’s memoir Becoming has been smashing sales records. Shipping 1.4 million copies in just its first week, it set a new record for first-week sales at the 145 year-old bookstore chain, Barnes & Noble.
But it’s not the only biography that’s been taking bookstores by storm this year. Many of the unforgettable books we’ve read this year come from authors representing all walks of life. Some of them have made history while others were subject to the whims of the past until they determined to speak for themselves.
These stories show the transformative power of education, the freedom and hope that faith provides, and the determination that propels us onward and upward to new heights: voices from Death Row and the White House, from the moon and back down to the golf course, read up on some remarkable lives.
The former first lady shares intimate, personal details of her childhood and family, how she met the man who would become the 44th President of the US. From a precocious and willful child to a role model for young women, Becoming helps us understand a defining figure of the past decade.
Stories of religious zealots in the US pop up in the news from time to time, but what would it be like to grow up with them? Tara Westover describes her experiences being raised in such an environment and the culture shock from what many of us take for granted. As she progresses through college, she discovers how she can ultimately define her own narrative.
The events of the space race are now over fifty years behind us. They have become almost mythological. Kurson’s book sheds light on the people and tensions that helped define the achievement of NASA’s Apollo 8 mission.
Living in California during the 80s and 90s, plus also being the daughter of Apple’s CEO may sound ideal, but Lisa Brennan-Jobs’s book shows some of the personal costs of being so deeply involved with someone considered a visionary and revolutionary.
Raised by born-again Christians. Budding musician. Club promoter. Founder of an NGO providing potable water praised by the likes of President Barack Obama. Any one of these could make for a compelling story. Scott Harrison has been all of them.
Beth Comstock has faced numerous headwinds throughout her career. From the choice to raise her child as a single parent to being a woman and an introvert in divisions and roles that are traditionally thought to cater to men and extroverts. Throughout, she demonstrates an adaptability and creativity that allowed her to excel where many of her male counterparts sank.
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The image of Texas frequently involves rugged individualism. Cecile Richards is certainly no exception, standing up for her ideals and building communities to drive change. Involved in some of the most contentious issues of our day, Richards’s story serves as an example of moral fortitude.
How should one feel after almost thirty years on death row for a crime one did not commit? Bitter? Upset? How would one stay sane? Anthony Ray Hinton’s journey showcases many shortcomings in the legal system, but also serves as a tribute to the strength of the human spirit even in the worst of circumstances.
Joshua is a writer and photographer often found wandering the Seattle area with a hat on his head, a camera or two on his neck, and a notebook in his pocket. \nJoshua recommends checking out Cal Newport’s \nDeep Work\n.”
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