Read Outside the Box: Best Biographies Memoirs

A few weeks ago, I fell in love with a book: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. I read the 600 page biography in 5 days, having to force myself to put the book down for little things like sleep and showering. I wanted to shout praises for this book from the rooftops. I wanted to extol my adoration on my blog. But I review YA fiction, which this definitely is not. Of course, I could make an exception, but I've chosen a niche for my blog and I stick to it, with the exception of a few cross-over novels. So the idea for Read Outside the Box formed: a monthly feature in which I - along with my readers - will recommend favorite books outside the YA fictional genre. After all, if you're old enough to read YA, you're old enough (or at least capable) of reading other things as well. YA is simply one of many genres that many of us enjoy reading.

Biographies and memoirs have always been one of my go-to genres. I remember enjoying biographies as a kid, but my passion for them really began in high school, when I became obsessed with politics. And with that, American history. My interest in politics has waned significantly, but my love for biographies and memoirs of all kinds have remained.

Here's how this is going to work:

First I'll list some of my favorites. Following that, will be a list of my readers' favorites. Thank you so much to all of you who submitted books!!!

My Favorite Biographies and Memoirs

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

-Incredibly fascinating life. Perfect mixture of personal details and career.

Madame Secretary by Madeleine Albright

-Albright's rise from Czechoslovakia to the UN to Secretary of State

A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel

-Absolutely hilarious. Girl growing up in a quirky family in small town Indiana.

Personal History by Katharine Graham

-How Katharine Graham became head of the Washington Post. Reads like a novel.

Rocket Boys (aka October Sky) by Homer Hickam

-The movie October Sky is based on this. The book is so much better (October Sky is one of my favorite movies).

John Adams by David McCullough

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

-Tale of one screwed up family

My Life in France by Julia Child, Alex Prud'Homme

-Read about what made Julia famous - France and her introduction to French cuisine.

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

-Iranian teacher reads forbidden Western novels with female students

First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung

-Childhood survivor of the Pol Pot regime. Incredibly harrowing, yet un-put-downable.

The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss

-Dutch Jewish girls hide in a farmhouse during WWII. I read this dozens of times as an early teen.

Big Russ and Me by Tim Russert

-Memoir by the late NBC journalist of his childhood and important lessons from his father.

Readers' Favorite Biographies and Memoirs

 My Thirteenth Winter by Samantha Abeel - Annette

-About a girl with learning disabilities. Sounds great.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston - Annette

-Tale of survival in the Utah desert

When I Was a Soldier by Valerie Zenatti - Annette

-Service in the Israeli Army

Bossypants by Tina Fey - Roro, Sandy, and Melissa

-Memoir by the well-known comedian.

Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser - Sarah and Laura

Shakespeare: the World as Stage by Bill Bryson - Jackie

-Anything by Bill Bryson is a must read.

Someday My Prince Will Come by Jerramy Fine - Shoshanah

-Moves to England to fulfill dream of finding love with a prince

A Heart For Freedom by Chai Ling - Ramona

-Chinese dissident's escape after  Tiananmen Square

Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah - Amanda and Kimberly

Red Scarf Girl by Jiang Ji-Li - Kimberly

-Tale of a girl during China's Cultural Revolution. I've also read this and really enjoyed it.

Farewell, My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living by Doug Fine - Angela

-Man moves to remote New Mexico and tries to live off the land. Sounds interesting and funny.

Chosen by a Horse: How a Broken Horse Fixed a Broken Heart by Susan Richards - Angela

-Rescue and healing of a former racehorse.

Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper - Jennie

-Memoir from the CNN newscaster.

The Girl's Guide to Homelessness by Brianna Karp - Savannah

-Memoir about becoming homeless after losing corporate job.

Iron and Silk by Mark Salzman - Rachel

-Teaching English and studying martial arts in post-Cultural Revolution China.

Call Me Russell by Russell Peters - Saisei-Chan

-How Peters rose to become a leading comedian.

Furious Love by Sam Kashner and Nancy Shoenberger - Lee

-Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century.

The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma - Jennifer

-Father pledges (and succeeds) to read to daughter every night until she turns 18.

The Memory Palace by Mira Bartok - Melissa

-17-year estrangement of the author and her homeless schizophrenic mother, and their reunion.

I'll Scream Later by Marlee Matlin - Melissa

-Memoir of the award winning deaf actress.

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank - Jennie

Night by Elie Wiesel - Jennie

-Harrowing memoir of survival in the Holocaust

Keeping the Feast by Paula Butturini - Jennifer

-Love, food, and healing in Italy.

How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill - Jennifer

-A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone.

Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper - Jennifer

-Tale of an extraordinary cat and his owner (or servant, as my cat would say).

Life by Keith Richards - Mary

-Memoir by the Rolling Stones member.

What are your favorite biographies and memoirs? Have you read any of these?

Any suggestions for next month's feature?