The Lives That Made History: 10 Best Biographies You Should Read

One of the significant ways to be inspired in life is by stories of people who have lived remarkably and made significant impact in history. Fortunately, their stories have been collated into several biographies that have continued to stimulate and impart people through the years.

1. A Promised Land by Barack Obama

Former president Obama in his book provides an intimate and detailed insight into his story, as a senator and ultimately becoming the first Black American president of the United States of America.

2. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

This book is based on the life of former Olympian and WWII Navy Airman Louis Zamperini, showcasing his astonishing experience as a survivor of three Japanese POW camps. The biography also delves into his life as a America war hero and delivering his message of forgiveness later on.

3. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

This real life, thought-provoking biography provides insight into how doctors collected cancer resistant cells from Henrietta Lacks in 1951 without informing her family. The story of the first immortal human cell factory, and how HeLa Cell’s everlasting properties were used in advancing scientific research, holds fundamental implications for opening dialogue on bioethics.

4. Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormick

This book by Malala Yousafzai provides deep insight into the life journey of Malala following a group of gun-wielding Taliban radicals attack on her school in Pakistan.

5. Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

This book tells the life story of South African comedian, Trevor Noah childhood during apartheid-period era. It is a fascinating story of childhood anchored in wit and wisdom and humor.

6. Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín

Brooklyn narrates the story of an Irish immigrant named Eilis Lacey to the United States of America, painting the portraits of Ireland immigrant communities and vividly narrating essential aspects of everyday life at the time.

7. If Beale Street Could Talk By James Baldwin

This recreation of the life story of Fonny and Tish portrays the unique account of black America’s experience during the 1950s and 1960s packed with slices of reality, eroticism, racism and love.

8. Nietzsche: A Philosophical Biography by Rüdiger Safranski

This is an overview of the life of the irrepressible philosopher with detailed anecdotes and comprehensive analysis that cut through Friedrich Nietzsche’s ideas, literary theories and some unspecified moments of new discoveries.

9. Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance

This biography walked-over the colossal spoor and successes of Musk’s innovative and eventful life, through his troubled childhoods in South Africa, Cybercafe experiences in Canada and scaling numerous entrepreneurial offers unlike any other technological billionaire dead or alive. The biography provides clarity on his organisational and working culture mannerisms, travelling across his multimedia, SpaceX plants and his ongoing exploration to save the earth.

10. The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone

The biography relates several lines about Elizebeth Smith, the amassing powers detective of the Allies during World War the woman, brings at to life a confessorial blanket of Smith’s controversial work with the intelligence agencies, The biography relates several lines about Elizebeth Smith, the amassing powers detective of the Allies during World War.

These are some of the books that are must-read if you enjoy deep diving into vast important aspects of people achieving great life accomplishments, both for thinkers and dreamers.