autobiography excerpts for high school students

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12 Inspiring Memoirs and Biographies for Teens

Looking for biographies and memoirs for teens? We got you.

We love handing over an excellent biography or memoir to the young adult readers we know. There’s no better way to help them connect with history and take a walk in someone else’s shoes. Here are some of our favorite recent memoirs and biographies for teens.

Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!

1. Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

Heiligman chronicles the amazing and eccentric lives of the Van Gogh brothers, their relationship with each other, and their work.

2. Ten Days a Madwoman: The Daring Life and Turbulent Times of the Original Girl Reporter by Deborah Noyes

Known for her groundbreaking work exposing the mistreatment of patients in an asylum, Nellie Bly did not let the traditional expectations of female reporters stop her from becoming a pioneering journalist.

3. Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir by Margarita Engle

Written in verse, Engle shares the tension of living between two worlds, Cuba and Los Angeles.

4. Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March by Lynda Blackmon Lowery

Lowery shares her experience as the youngest marcher fighting for civil rights alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

5. Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, a Life in Balance  by Simone Biles

Gymnast Simone Biles shares her personal journey from foster care to Olympic gold medalist.

6. How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

After witnessing the murders of her mother and younger sister, Sandra Uwiringiyimana escaped a refugee camp in the Congo and immigrated to America. She survived and healed through art and activism.

 7.  Becoming Kareem: Growing up on and off the Court  by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Abdul-Jabbar shares how he overcame setbacks and difficulties to become a leader on and off the court.

8. The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler chronicles the life of Knud Pedersen and his classmates whose efforts to sabotage Hitler lead to the Danish resistance.

9. Lion: A Long Way Home Young Readers’ Edition by Saroo Brierley

Lost on a train at age five, homeless, and then placed in an orphanage, Brierley shares the story of how he spent years wondering about his life, searching for his home, and finally finding it.

10. The Keeper: The Unguarded Story of Tim Howard Young Readers’ Edition by Tim Howard

Diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome, Tim Howard shares the encouraging story of his childhood, long soccer career, and sudden success.

11. Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card by Sara Saedi

Saedi recounts her childhood as an undocumented Iranian living in America.

12. The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime that Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater

The lives of two teens from very different neighborhoods are forever changed and bound together by a horrific crime.

What are your favorite biographies for teens? Come and share in our  WeAreTeachers Helpline group on Facebook.

Plus, some of our favorite high school reading lists .

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Some Good Memoirs For High Schoolers To Read

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Attention high school students, get ready to embark on an adventure through the world of memoirs! But before we dive into the pages of these captivating stories, let me ask you a question: have you ever wondered what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes? Well, that’s exactly what a memoir allows you to do. You can experience life in a different time, place, and perspective through the eyes of the author. 

But don’t think for a second that these are your typical boring, dusty, textbook reads. No, no, these memoirs are full of adventure, humor, and heart. They’ll take you on a wild ride through the ups and downs of life, making you laugh, cry, and question everything in between. So, buckle up and get ready to be transported to a whole new world with some of the best memoirs out there.

Life lessons beyond the classroom: 10 must-read Memoirs for high school students that will inspire, educate, and empower

Memoirs are a powerful genre of writing that provides a glimpse into the lived experiences of an individual. Through personal anecdotes, reflections, and insights, high school students can explore their own identities and share their unique stories and short stories with others.

1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

This classic memoir is a powerful account of Maya Angelou’s childhood in the South during the 1930s and 1940s. The book explores issues of race, identity, and trauma in a powerful and poetic way. Angelou’s writing is both lyrical and honest, and her story is a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by African Americans during the Jim Crow era.

The book is a great choice for high school students who are interested in exploring themes of social justice and self-discovery and can spark important discussions about race and inequality in America.

2. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

“The Glass Castle” is a coming-of-age memoir that follows the author’s unconventional upbringing with her bohemian parents. Walls’ story is a poignant and often humorous account of resilience and the power of the human spirit.

The book explores themes of family, identity, and the importance of overcoming adversity. It is a great choice for high school students who are trying to navigate their own challenges and find inspiration in the stories of others.

3. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

This graphic novel memoir tells the story of Marjane Satrapi’s childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Satrapi’s story is a unique and powerful perspective on Iranian history and explores the challenges faced by those growing up during a time of political turmoil.

The graphic novel format is a visually engaging way for high school students to engage with the material, and the story is both entertaining and educational. The book is also a great way to introduce students to the medium of graphic novels, which are increasingly recognized as an important form of literature.

4. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

“Born a Crime” is a humorous and insightful account of Trevor Noah’s childhood in South Africa during apartheid. The book explores issues of race, identity, and family in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Noah’s writing is engaging and accessible, making this memoir a great choice for high school students who are looking to learn more about apartheid and its impact on South African society.

5. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

“Hillbilly Elegy” is a memoir that explores the author’s experiences growing up in a working-class family in Ohio and the challenges faced by many working-class Americans. The book is a timely and important look at the socio-economic issues facing America today and explores themes of poverty, addiction, and the importance of community.

Vance’s writing is honest and insightful, and the book can spark important conversations about social and economic inequality.

6. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

This nonfiction memoir tells the story of a woman whose cancer cells were used without her consent to create the first immortal human cell line. The book explores issues of ethics, scientific progress, and the human cost of medical research.

Skloot’s writing is engaging and accessible, and the book is a great choice for high school students who are interested in science and medical ethics.

7. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

The Diary of a Young Girl is a classic memoir that is a firsthand account of life in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The book is a powerful and haunting reminder of the human cost of war and intolerance and explores themes of resilience, hope, and the importance of bearing witness to history.

The book is a great choice for high school students who are interested in history and social justice.

8. Educated by Tara Westover

Educated is a memoir that tells the story of Tara Westover’s journey from a rural Idaho upbringing to earning a Ph.D. from Cambridge University. The book explores themes of education, family, and the power of self-discovery.

Westover’s writing is powerful and evocative, and the book is a great choice for high school students who are grappling with questions about their own future and the role of education in their lives.

9. Night by Elie Wiesel

The night is a memoir that is a firsthand account of the author’s experiences during the Holocaust. The book is a haunting and powerful reminder of the human cost of war and intolerance and explores themes of resilience, hope, and the importance of bearing witness to history.

Wiesel’s writing is spare and powerful, and the book is a great choice for high school students who are interested in history and social justice.

10. Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt 

Angela’s Ashes is a memoir that tells the story of the author’s childhood in poverty-stricken Ireland. The book explores themes of family, identity, and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.

McCourt’s writing is engaging and poignant, and the book is a great choice for high school students who are interested in exploring themes of social justice and the power of the human spirit.

What to look out for in a memoir for high schoolers?

When selecting a memoir for high schoolers, it’s important to consider a few key factors to ensure that the book is engaging and appropriate for this age group. Here are some things to look out for:

• Relatable and relevant themes: High schoolers will be more likely to connect with a memoir if it covers themes that are relevant to their own lives, such as friendship, family, identity, and coming of age.
• Engaging writing style: The memoir should be well-written and engaging, with a narrative that keeps the reader interested from beginning to end. It should also be accessible to high school students in terms of vocabulary and complexity.
• Appropriate content: Make sure the memoir doesn’t contain content that may be too mature or graphic for high schoolers.
• Cultural or historical significance: A memoir that provides insight into a specific culture or period in history can be a great way to expose high schoolers to new ideas and perspectives.
• Diversity: Look for memoirs written by authors from diverse backgrounds and with diverse experiences, as this can broaden high schoolers’ understanding of the world and promote empathy and understanding.

Overall, selecting a memoir that is relevant, engaging, and appropriate for high schoolers can help foster a love of reading and encourage students to explore new ideas and perspectives.

Writing a memoir can be a transformative experience for high school students. Through the process of reflecting on their experiences and sharing their stories, students can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. By developing their writing skills and cultivating their creativity, they can express themselves authentically and leave a lasting impression through their words.

Memoirs offer a valuable opportunity for high school students to connect with others and build empathy, as readers can relate to and learn from their personal anecdotes and insights. Ultimately, memoirs are a powerful genre of writing that can help students discover and share their unique voices.

Having a 10+ years of experience in teaching little budding learners, I am now working as a soft skills and IELTS trainers. Having spent my share of time with high schoolers, I understand their fears about the future. At the same time, my experience has helped me foster plenty of strategies that can make their 4 years of high school blissful. Furthermore, I have worked intensely on helping these young adults bloom into successful adults by training them for their dream colleges. Through my blogs, I intend to help parents, educators and students in making these years joyful and prosperous.

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Read an Excerpt From Young Readers Edition of 'I Am Malala'

Read an excerpt from the new edition for young readers of Malala's memoir.

— -- Malala Yousafzai, the 17-year-old who survived a Taliban attack less than two years ago to become an international advocate for education, is releasing a new edition of her bestselling memoir, " I Am Malala " for young readers around the world.

“The first thing is that we already had this book…[the] adult edition, ‘I Am Malala.’ It might be difficult for young readers to understand it, so we thought that there should be a children's edition as well,” she told ABC News’ Amy Robach. “The story's the same. It's about me. And I want to go to school, so I hope that the children will learn how important education is for them and for their country and how they should focus on it.”

Watch ABC News' Amy Robach's interview with Malala on “ Good Morning America ” Monday at 7 a.m. ET.

Read an excerpt from the prologue of the book below.

How Can I Be More Like Malala? Young Readers Meet the Teen Who Inspired the World

'I Am Malala': Excerpt of the Prologue

The ride to school was quick, just five minutes up the road and along the river. I arrived on time, and exam day passed as it always did. The chaos of Mingora city surrounded us with its honking horns and factory noises while we worked silently, bent over our papers in hushed concentration.

By day’s end I was tired but happy; I knew I’d done well on my test. “Let’s stay on for the second trip,” said Moniba, my best friend. “That way we can chat a little longer.” We always liked to stay on for the late pickup.

For days I’d had a strange, gnawing feeling that something bad was going to happen. One night I’d found myself wondering about death. What is being dead really like? I wanted to know. I was alone in my room, so I turned toward Mecca and asked God. “What happens when you die?” I said. “Howwould it feel?”

If I died, I wanted to be able to tell people what it felt like. “Malala, you silly girl,” I said to myself then, “you’d be dead and you couldn’t tell people what it was like.”

Before I went to bed, I asked God for one more thing. Can I die a little bit and come back, so I can tell people about it?

But the next day had dawned bright and sunny, and so had the next one and the one after that. And now I knew I’d done well on my exam. Whatever cloud had been hanging over my head had begun to clear away. So Moniba and I did what we always did: We had a good gossip. What face cream was sheusing? Had one of the male teachers gone for a baldness cure? And, now that the first exam was over, how difficult would the next one be?

When our bus was called, we ran down the steps. As usual, Moniba and the other girls covered their heads and faces before we stepped outside the gate and got into the waiting dyna, the white truck that was our Khushal School “bus.” And, as usual, our driver was ready with a magic trick to amuse us. That day, he made a pebble disappear. No matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t figure out his secret.

We piled inside, twenty girls and two teachers crammed into the three rows of benches stretching down the length of the dyna. It was hot and sticky, and there were no windows, just a yellowed plastic sheet that flapped against the side as we bounced along Mingora’s crowded rush-hour streets.

Haji Baba Road was a jumble of brightly colored rickshaws,women in flowing robes, men on scooters, honking and zigzagging through the traffic. We passed a shopkeeper butchering chickens. A boy selling ice-cream cones. A billboard for Dr. Humayun’s Hair Transplant Institute. Moniba and I were deep in conversation. I had many friends, but she was the friend of my heart, the one with whom I shared everything. That day, when we were talking about who would get the highest marks this term, one of the other girls started a song, and the rest of us joined in.

I don’t remember anything after that, but here’s the story that’s been told to me:Two young men in white robes stepped in front of our truck.

“Is this the Khushal School bus?” one of them asked.

The driver laughed. The name of the school was painted in black letters on the side.

The other young man jumped onto the tailboard and leaned into the back, where we were all sitting.

“Who is Malala?” he asked.

No one said a word, but a few girls looked in my direction.

He raised his arm and pointed at me. Some of the girls screamed, and I squeezed Moniba’s hand.

Who is Malala? I am Malala, and this is my story.

Malala’s ( @MalalaFund ) dream is for every girl in every country to have the opportunity for an education. Inspired by her beliefs, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers ( @lbkids ) has teamed up with First Book ( @FirstBook ) to make her hope a reality. Tweet #ISupportMalala at @lbkids and 1 book will be donated to a child in need. Learn more here: http://iammalala.pgtb.me/c4s4rd .

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18 Essay-Length Short Memoirs to Read Online on Your Lunch Break

Emily Polson

Emily Polson is a freelance writer and publishing assistant at Simon & Schuster. Originally from central Iowa, she studied English and creative writing at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, before moving to a small Basque village to teach English to trilingual teenagers. Now living in Brooklyn, she can often be found meandering through Prospect Park listening to a good audiobook. Twitter: @emilycpolson | https://emilycpolson.wordpress.com/

View All posts by Emily Polson

I love memoirs and essays, so the genre of essay-length short memoirs is one of my favorites. I love delving into the details of other people’s lives. The length allows me to read broadly on a whim with minimal commitment. In roughly 5–30 minutes, I can consume a complete morsel of literature, which always leaves me happier than the same amount of time spent doom-scrolling through my various social news feeds.

What are short memoirs? 

What exactly are short memoirs? I define them as essay-length works that weave together life experiences around a central theme. You see examples of short memoirs all the time on sites like Buzzfeed and The New York Times . Others are stand-alone pieces published in essay collections.

Memoir essays were my gateway into reading full-length memoirs. It was not until I took a college class on creative nonfiction that I realized memoirs were not just autobiographies of people with exciting lives. Anyone with any amount of life experience can write a memoir—no dramatic childhood or odd-defying life accomplishments required. A short memoir might be an account of a single, life-changing event, or it may be reflection on a period of growth or transition.

Of course, when a young adult tells people she likes writing creative nonfiction—not journalism or technical writing—she hears a lot of, “You’re too young to write a memoir!” and “What could someone your age possibly have to write about?!” As Flannery O’Connor put it, however, “The fact is that anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days. If you can’t make something out of a little experience, you probably won’t be able to make it out of a lot. The writer’s business is to contemplate experience, not to be merged in it.”

Memoir essay examples

As the lit magazine Creative Nonfiction puts it, personal essays are just “True stories, well told.” And everyone has life stories worth telling.

Here are a few of my favorite memoir examples that are essay length.

SHORT MEMOIRS ABOUT GROWING UP

Scaachi koul, “there’s no recipe for growing up”.

In this delightful essay, Koul talks about trying to learn the secrets of her mother’s Kashmiri cooking after growing up a first-generation American. The story is full of vivid descriptions and anecdotal details that capture something so specific it transcends to the realm of universal. It’s smart, it’s funny, and it’ll break your heart a little as Koul describes “trying to find my mom at the bottom of a 20-quart pot.”

ASHLEY C. FORD, “THE YEAR I GREW WILDLY WHILE MEN LOOKED ON”

This memoir essay is for all the girls who went through puberty early in a world that sexualizes children’s bodies. Ford weaves together her experiences of feeling at odds with her body, of being seen as a “distraction” to adult men, of being Black and fatherless and hungry for love. She writes, “It was evident that who I was inside, who I wanted to be, didn’t match the intentions of my body. Outside, there was no little girl to be loved innocently. My body was a barrier.”

Kaveh Akbar, “How I Found Poetry in Childhood Prayer”

Akbar writes intense, searing poetry, but this personal essay contextualizes one of his sweetest poems, “Learning to Pray,” which is cradled in the middle of it. He describes how he fell in love with the movement, the language, and the ceremony of his Muslim family’s nightly prayers. Even though he didn’t (and doesn’t) speak Arabic, Akbar points to the musicality of these phonetically-learned hymns as “the bedrock upon which I’ve built my understanding of poetry as a craft and as a meditative practice.” Reading this essay made me want to reread his debut poetry collection, Calling a Wolf a Wolf , all over again.

JIA TOLENTINO, “LOSING RELIGION AND FINDING ECSTASY IN HOUSTON”

New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino grew up attending a Houston megachurch she referred to as “the Repentagon.” In this personal essay, she describes vivid childhood memories of her time there, discussing how some of the very things she learned from the church contributed to her growing ambivalence toward it and its often hypocritical congregants. “Christianity formed my deepest instincts,” she writes, “and I have been walking away from it for half my life.” As the essay title suggests, this walking away coincided with her early experiences taking MDMA, which offered an uncanny similarity to her experience of religious devotion.

funny short memoirs

Patricia lockwood, “insane after coronavirus”.

Author Patricia Lockwood caught COVID-19 in early March 2020. In addition to her physical symptoms, she chronicled the bizarre delusions she experienced while society also collectively operated under the delusion that this whole thing would blow over quickly. Lockwood has a preternatural ability to inject humor into any situation, even the dire ones, by highlighting choice absurdities. This is a rare piece of pandemic writing that will make you laugh instead of cry–unless it makes you cry from laughing.

Harrison Scott Key,  “My Dad Tried to Kill Me with an Alligator”

This personal essay is a tongue-in-cheek story about the author’s run-in with an alligator on the Pearl River in Mississippi. Looking back on the event as an adult, Key considers his father’s tendencies in light of his own, now that he himself is a dad. He explores this relationship further in his book-length memoir, The World’s Largest Man , but this humorous essay stands on its own. (I also had the pleasure of hearing him read this aloud during my school’s homecoming weekend, as Key is an alumnus of my alma mater.)

David Sedaris, “Me Talk Pretty One Day”

Sedaris’s humor is in a league of its own, and he’s at his best in the title essay from Me Talk Pretty One Day . In it, he manages to capture the linguistic hilarities that ensue when you combine a sarcastic, middle-aged French student with a snarky French teacher.

SAMANTHA IRBY, “THE WORST FRIEND DATE I EVER HAD”

Samantha Irby is one of my favorite humorists writing today, and this short memoir essay about the difficulty of making friends as an adult is a great introduction to her. Be prepared for secondhand cringe when you reach the infamous moment she asks a waiter, “Are you familiar with my work?” After reading this essay, you’ll want to be, so check out Wow, No Thank You . next.

Bill Bryson, “Coming Home”

Bryson has the sly, subtle humor that only comes from Americans who have spent considerable time living among dry-humored Brits. In “Coming Home,” he talks about the strange sensation of returning to America after spending his first twenty years of adulthood in England. This personal essay is the first in a book-length work called I’m a Stranger Here Myself , in which Bryson revisits American things that feel like novelties to outsiders and the odd former expat like himself.

Thought-provoking Short memoirs

Tommy orange, “how native american is native american enough”.

Many people claim some percentage of Indigenous ancestry, but how much is enough to “count”? Novelist Tommy Orange–author of There There –deconstructs this concept, discussing his relationship to his Native father, his Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood, and his son, who will not be considered “Native enough” to join him as an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. “ How come math isn’t taught with stakes?” he asks in this short memoir full of lingering questions that will challenge the way you think about heritage. 

Christine Hyung-Oak Lee, “I Had a Stroke at 33”

Lee’s story is interesting not just because she had a stroke at such a young age, but because of how she recounts an experience that was characterized by forgetting. She says that after her stroke, “For a month, every moment of the day was like the moment upon wakening before you figure out where you are, what time it is.” With this personal essay, she draws readers into that fragmented headspace, then weaves something coherent and beautiful from it.

Kyoko Mori, “A Difficult Balance: Am I a Writer or a Teacher?”

In this refreshing essay, Mori discusses balancing “the double calling” of being a writer and a teacher. She admits that teaching felt antithetical to her sense of self when she started out in a classroom of apathetic college freshmen. When she found her way into teaching an MFA program, however, she discovered that fostering a sanctuary for others’ words and ideas felt closer to a “calling.” While in some ways this makes the balance of shifting personas easier, she says it creates a different kind of dread: “Teaching, if it becomes more than a job, might swallow me whole and leave nothing for my life as a writer.” This memoir essay is honest, well-structured, and layered with plenty of anecdotal details to draw in the reader.

Alex Tizon, “My Family’s Slave”

In this heartbreaking essay, Tizon pays tribute to the memory of Lola, the domestic slave who raised him and his siblings. His family brought her with them when they emigrated to America from the Philippines. He talks about the circumstances that led to Lola’s enslavement, the injustice she endured throughout her life, and his own horror at realizing the truth about her role in his family as he grew up. While the story is sad enough to make you cry, there are small moments of hope and redemption. Alex discusses what he tried to do for Lola as an adult and how, upon her death, he traveled to her family’s village to return her ashes.

Classic short memoirs

James baldwin, “notes of a native son”.

This memoir essay comes from Baldwin’s collection of the same name. In it, he focuses on his relationship with his father, who died when Baldwin was 19. He also wrestles with growing up black in a time of segregation, touching on the historical treatment of black soldiers and the Harlem Riot of 1943. His vivid descriptions and honest narration draw you into his transition between frustration, hatred, confusion, despair, and resilience.

JOAN DIDION,  “GOODBYE TO ALL THAT”

Didion is one of the foremost literary memoirists of the twentieth century, combining journalistic precision with self-aware introspection. In “Goodbye to All That,” Didion recounts moving to New York as a naïve 20-year-old and leaving as a disillusioned 28-year-old. She captures the mystical awe with which outsiders view the Big Apple, reflecting on her youthful perspective that life was still limitless, “that something extraordinary would happen any minute, any day, any month.”  This essay concludes her masterful collection,   Slouching Towards Bethlehem .

Tim O’Brien, “The Things They Carried”

This is the title essay from O’Brien’s collection, The Things They Carried . It’s technically labeled a work of fiction, but because the themes and anecdotes are pulled from O’Brien’s own experience in the Vietnam War, it blurs the lines between fact and fiction enough to be included here. (I’m admittedly predisposed to this classification because a college writing professor of mine included it on our creative nonfiction syllabus.) The essay paints an intimate portrait of a group of soldiers by listing the things they each carry with them, both physical and metaphorical. It contains one of my favorite lines in all of literature: “They all carried ghosts.”

Multi-Media Short Memoirs

Allie brosh, “richard”.

In this blog post/webcomic, Allie Brosh tells the hilarious story about the time as a child that she, 1) realized neighbors exist, and 2) repeatedly snuck into her neighbor’s house, took his things, and ultimately kidnapped his cat. Her signature comic style drives home the humor in a way that will split your sides. The essay is an excerpt from Brosh’s second book, Solutions and Other Problems , but the web version includes bonus photos and backstory. For even more Allie classics, check out “Adventures in Depression” and “Depression Part Two.”

George Watsky, “Ask Me What I’m Doing Tonight”

Watsky is a rapper and spoken word poet who built his following on YouTube. Before he made it big, however, he spent five years performing for groups of college students across the Midwest. “Ask Me What I’m Doing Tonight!” traces that soul-crushing monotony while telling a compelling story about trying to connect with people despite such transience. It’s the most interesting essay about boredom you’ll ever read, or in this case watch—he filmed a short film version of the essay for his YouTube channel. Like his music, Watsky’s personal essays are vulnerable, honest, and crude, and the whole collection, How to Ruin Everything , is worth reading.

If you’re looking for even more short memoirs, keep an eye on these pages from Literary Hub , Buzzfeed , and Creative Nonfiction . You can also delve into these 25 nonfiction essays you can read online and these 100 must-read essay collections . Also be sure to check out the “Our Reading Lives” tag right here on Book Riot, where you’ll find short memoirs like “Searching for Little Free Libraries as a Way to Say Goodbye” and “How I Overcame My Fear of Reading Contemporary Poets.”

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As they become more independent, teenagers may listen less to their parents, but may be inspired by other people they admire.

As they get ready to head out into the big wide world, learning about other people's lives, their successes and even more importantly, their failures, is a great way to prepare teens for what lies ahead.

And if your teen is a bit of a reluctant reader, they may find it easier to immerse themself in a real-life story rather than a work of fiction.

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The Diary of Anne Frank

Anne Frank was a Jewish teenager living in Amsterdam during the Second World War. She was given a diary for her 13th birthday.

For any teens who are getting cabin fever, reading Anne Frank's account of how she and her family hid in a tiny secret annexe may help them to appreciate how well off they really are! The teenager's diary accounts in some detail how her family lived, and the fear of being arrested and taken away by the Nazis.

Anne and her family were sent to concentration camps, where Anne died at the age of 16. For a 21st century version, teens can watch The Anne Frank video diaries.

All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto

George M. Johnson is a  journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist.

This personal tale takes us through his childhood, teen and college years in the states of New Jersey and Virginia, from being bullied at the age of five to embarking on sexual relationships.

Suitable for older teens as it deals with some tough topics such as toxic masculinity, gender identity and consent, being black and gay,  it will appeal to teens who are exploring their own sexuality, black teens who are looking for role models and readers who want to stand up for themselves and fight for equality.

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World

Growing up in Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai was taught to stand up for what she believes in. So when the Taliban took control of the area, and dictated that girls were not allowed to go to school, the 10-year-old resolved to fight for her rights.

It led to her being shot and nearly dying, as she rode the bus back from school.

Readers can discover how she came to have such strong views, what happened on the day she nearly lost her life, and how she has proven that one person - even a 10-year-old girl - can make a big difference. It will inspire readers to stand up for their rights and stick to their beliefs.

I will always write back

Proving how some school assignments can go further than just getting you a good grade, this story tells how 12-year-old  Caitlin Alifirenka's assignment to write to an unknown student in a far-off place turned into something life-changing.

When Caitlin first began corresponding with Martin Ganda in Zimbabwe, she began to learn about the poverty that he and his family lived in, and it opened her eyes to how other people lived, and helped to change Martin's future.

Teens will be inspired by Martin's determination to study his way out of poverty, and Caitlin's determination to help him.

Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board

Bethany Hamilton is a professional surfer, who returned to the world of elite surfing after she lost her arm in a shark attack.

In this moving story, Bethany describes how she survived that attack and found the determination and faith to continue with the sport she loved.

The books details how she adjusted her surfing style to compensate for her injury, and how her belief in God and her will power saw her putting in an impressive performance at the World Surfing Championships.

Teens will be inspired by Bethany's faith and resolve, especially young athletes who are struggling with injury or self-doubt.

Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen

Jazz Jennings already has her own hugely popular reality TV show on TLC. Jazz transitioned to life as a girl at the very young age of five and now she is one of the most recognised activists for transgendered kids, teens and adults.

In her memoir, Jazz describes how growing up in the public eye has helped to shape how the public see the transgender community.

She also describes the discrimination and bullying that she has to endure. Teens will be fascinated by how Jazz navigates adolescence, having started her life as a boy.

The Reason I Jump: One Boy's Voice from the Silence of Autism

Autistic teen Naoki Higashida wrote this autobiography at the tender age of 13.

It's not always easy to understand why some people with autism behave the way they do, so a book written from their perspective offers a rare insight that is not only fascinating, but will help teens understand and accept the behaviour of autistic friends and family.

Naoki explains why he talks loudly, what causes his panic attacks, and why he likes to jump.

This book will inspire teens to be more considerate and understanding of the people around them.

Mud Sweat and Tears Junior Edition

Bear Grylls is the ultimate adventurer. A former SAS serviceman, he is also a survival instructor, and has found fame as a writer and TV presenter.

In this memoir, he describes how he learned to sail and climb with his dad, and spent his teenage years practising mountaineering and martial arts.

But when he broke his back in a terrible parachuting accident, he defied expectation and learned to walk again, eventually climbing Everest at the age of 23.. His story will inspire teens who love the outdoor life.

Kian and Jc: Don't Try This at Home!

Entertainers Kian Lawley and Jc Caylen have 7 million subscribers on YouTube alone. Their fans will enjoy discovering how the pair of comedians found fame and huge success online with their unique offering of pranks. This book will inspire any teens who have dreamed of being an entertainer - or a YouTube star!

Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance

Olympic gold medallist Simone Biles appeared to somersault onto our screens from nowhere when she became the darling of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. But the gymnast, like all successful athletes, had spent many years perfecting her craft and overcoming a less-than-perfect start to her life.

Taken from her drug-addict mother, she was fostered and eventually adopted.

So it is even more remarkable that she managed to make her way into the highly-competitive arena of competitive gymnastics. Her story will inspire gymnasts, teens with ADHD or those who have been fostered or adopted.

Jamie Vardy From Nowhere. My Story

Jamie Vardy has made it from being an ordinary boy in Sheffield to the soccer player who led underdogs Leicester City to the top of the Premier League and won himself a place on the England team, despite early career disappointment.

His autobiography describes his childhood in Sheffield, how he was dropped from Sheffield Wednesday and found himself playing for £30 a match and his subsequent rise to the top of his profession.

His tale will be inspiring to all football fans and sportspeople.

May I Have Your Attention Please?

James Corden has achieved the dream of many a British entertainer, by becoming a huge success on the other side of the pond. His Carpool Karaoke TV show has an almost cult following.

Yet at school, he wasn't cool, or clever - in fact, he was pretty disruptive. But he never gave up, forming a boy band and going to hundreds of auditions.

It was only when he co-wrote Gavin and Stacey that his life changed. His story will be particularly inspiring for teens who haven't yet found their 'thing'.

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10 Contemporary Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs for Teens

Real-life personal stories to inspire today's teens

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For some teens, reading the life stories of others—whether they're famous authors or victims of a civil war—can be an inspiring experience. This list of highly recommended contemporary biographies , autobiographies , and memoirs written for young adults includes life lessons about making choices, overcoming monumental challenges, and having the courage to be a voice for positive change.

Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos

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In his autobiographical memoir, "Hole in My Life" (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2004), award-winning children’s and young adult author Jack Gantos shares his compelling story about making a single choice that altered his destiny. As a young man of 20 struggling to find direction, Gantos seized an opportunity for quick cash and adventure, signing on to help sail a 60-foot yacht with a cargo of hashish from the Virgin Islands to New York City. What he hadn’t anticipated was getting caught. Winner of the Printz Honor Award, Gantos holds nothing back about his experiences with prison life, drugs, and the consequences of making one very bad decision. (Due to mature themes, this book is recommended for ages 14 and up.)

While Gantos clearly made a huge mistake, as evidenced by his critically acclaimed body of work, he was able to turn his life back around. In 2012, Gantos won the John Newbery Medal for his middle-grade novel "Dead End in Norvelt" (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2011).

Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton

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"Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board" (MTV Books, 2006) is Bethany Hamilton's story. At 14, competitive surfer Bethany Hamilton thought her life was over when she lost her arm in a shark attack. Yet, despite this obstacle, Hamilton found the determination to continue surfing in her own creative style and proved to herself that the World Surfing Championships were still within reach.

In this true account, Hamilton chronicles the story of her life before and after the accident, inspiring readers to overcome obstacles by finding and focusing on an inner passion and determination. It's a wonderful story of faith, family, and courage. (Recommended for ages 12 and up.)

A movie version of ​​"Soul Surfer" was released in 2011. Hamilton has since written a number of inspirational books spun off from her original memoir.

The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara

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Brutally attacked by rebel soldiers who cut off both her hands, 12-year-old Mariatu Kamara from Sierra Leone miraculously survived and found her way to a refugee camp. When journalists arrived in her country to document the atrocities of war, Kamara was rescued. Her tale of survival as a victim of civil war to becoming a UNICEF Special Representative, "Bite of the Mango" (Annick Press, 2008) is an inspiring story of courage and triumph. (Due to mature themes and violence, this book is recommended for ages 14 and up.)

No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row by Susan Kuklin

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In their own words, four young men sent to death row as teenagers speak candidly with author Susan Kuklin in the unflinching nonfiction book, "No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row" (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 2008). The youthful offenders talk openly about the choices and mistakes they made, as well as about their lives in prison.

Written in the form of personal narratives, Kuklin includes commentary from lawyers, insights into legal issues, and the backstories leading up to each young man’s crime. It's a disturbing read, but it offers teens a perspective on crime, punishment, and the prison system from people their own age. (Due to mature subject matter, this book is recommended for ages 14 and up.)

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous and Obscure

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“He said goodbye with YouTube links.” What happens when you ask teens ranging from high-profile to just your average kid to summarize their hopes, dreams, and troubles in just six words? That's just what the editors of Smith Magazine challenged teenagers across the nation to do. The resulting collection, "I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous and Obscure" (HarperTeen, 2009), contains 800 six-word memoirs ranging in emotion from comical to profound. These fast-paced, intuitive takes on adolescent life, written for teens by teens, read like poetry and just might inspire others to think up their own six-word memoirs. (Recommended for ages 12 and up.)

Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

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Reminiscent of heart-tugging characters like Gilly Hopkins ("The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson) and Dicey Tillerman ("The Tillerman Series" by Cynthia Voigt), the life of Ashley Rhodes-Courter is a series of real-life unfortunate events that are the everyday reality for too many children in America. In her memoir, "Three Little Words" (Atheneum, 2008), Rhodes-Courter recounts the 10 harrowing years she spent in the foster care system, poignantly giving voice to children trapped in circumstances beyond their control. (Recommended for ages 12 and up.)

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

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In the early 1990s, 12-year-old Ishmael Beah was swept up in Sierra Leone’s civil war and turned into a boy soldier. Although gentle and kind at heart, Beah discovered he was capable of horrific acts of brutality. The first part of Beah’s memoir, "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2008), depicts the frighteningly easy transformation of a typical child into an angry teen with the ability to hate, kill, and wield an AK-47. The final chapters of Beah’s story are about redemption, rehabilitation, and ultimately, coming to the United States, where he attended and graduated college. (Recommended for ages 14 and up.)

I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda

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"I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives" (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2015) is a true-life tale that begins in 1997 when “typical 12-year-old American girl” Caitlin Alifirenka is tasked with a pen pal assignment at school. Her correspondence with a 14-year-old boy named Martin Ganda from Zimbabwe will eventually change both of their lives.

In the letters that go back and forth, readers learn that Alifirenka leads a life of middle-class privilege, while Ganda’s family lives in crushing poverty. Even something as simple as sending a letter is often beyond his means, and yet, Ganda makes “the only promise that I knew I could keep: that I would always write back, no matter what.”

The narrative takes the form of a dual pen-pal autobiography told in alternating voices and woven together with the help of writer Liz Welch. It covers the six-year period from Alifirenka's first letter to Ganda’s eventual arrival in America where he'll be attending college, thanks to a full scholarship arranged by Alifirenka's mom. Their inspiring long-distance friendship is a testament to just how much two determined teens can accomplish when they put their hearts and minds to it. (Recommended for ages 12 and up.)

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

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"I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliba" written by Malala Yousafza and Christina Lamb (Little, Brown and Company, 2012) is the autobiography of a girl who more than anything, wanted to learn—and was nearly put to death for her efforts.

In October 2012, 15-year-old Yousafzai was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school in her native Pakistan. This memoir traces not only her remarkable recovery but the path that led her to become the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize . It’s an account of a family touched first-hand by the brutality of terrorism, and the indomitable will of a girl who will not relinquish her education at any cost.

In a society dominated by males, it is also the heartening story of unconventional and courageous parents who bucked convention by encouraging their daughter to be all that she could be. Yousafzai's revelations are a bittersweet homage to all the remarkable accomplishments she’s achieved—and the price both she and her family have had to pay for her to achieve them. (Recommended for ages 12 and up.)

Rethinking Normal: A Memoir in Transition by Katie Rain-Hill and Ariel Schrag

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"Rethinking Normal: A Memoir in Transition" by Katie Rain-Hill and Ariel Schrag (Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2014) is the story of a 19-year-old transgender teen who grew up as a boy, but always knew she was a girl. Bullied and suicidal, Rain-Hill finds the courage to follow her truth, and with her mom’s help, is able to transform both her body and her life.

This first-person memoir not only explores what it means to identify as transgender and what it takes undergo gender reassignment surgery but also gives a non-sugarcoated account of the challenges Rain-Hill faced once the body she was living in finally aligned with her gender identity.

It’s all told with self-deprecating humor and disarming candor that draws readers in, while at the same time, reinventing the standard teen coming-of-age tale and the meaning of what it is to be “normal.” (Recommended for ages 14 and up.)

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How To Write An Autobiography

Autobiography Examples

11+ Autobiography Examples: A Detailed Guide

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Learn How to Write an Autobiography Step by Step

Basic Types of Autobiography Writing With Examples

Simple Autobiography Format for Students to Follow

Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoirs: The Differences & Similarities

Autobiography vs. Memoir - Differences & Similarities

How to Write a Memoir: Everything You Need to Know

Have you ever thought about telling your life story? 

An autobiography is like a special book about you – your experiences, ups, downs, and everything in between. 

But when it comes to autobiography writing , putting it all into words, it can feel a bit tricky, especially for students like you.

In this blog, we're here to help you understand what an autobiography is all about and make it easier for you to write one with the help of examples. 

We'll dive into practical examples and autobiography templates to help you see how it's done. 

So, let's dive in!

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• 1. Memoir Vs Autobiography Example 
• 2. Autobiography Outline Examples
• 3. How to Write an Autobiography - Examples
• 4. Autobiography Examples for Students
• 5. Personal Autobiography Examples
• 6. Famous Autobiography Examples

Memoir Vs Autobiography Example 

Memoirs and autobiographies both delve into personal experiences, but they have their own styles and purposes. 

Let’s jump into example to see what is the actual difference between memoir and autobiography:

Memoir Vs Autobiography Example PDf

Autobiography Outline Examples

Any academic or professional writing needs to follow a proper format to organize the information. And an outline is the best way to follow the proper format. It helps you organize your information and structure your data into a proper format.

Here are some autobiography outline examples to help you learn the basics of the autobiography format .

Autobiography Outline for College - Example

Autobiography Sample Outline

How to Write an Autobiography - Examples

As we have mentioned earlier, there are as many stories as there are people on earth. Each of the stories is different from the others; no two of them could be the same. 

How you present your ideas really matters. That's why using the right strategies and the correct format is essential to make your writing creative.

It is important to know the difference between autobiography and biography . These examples will help you learn how to start an autobiography that leaves a good impression on the reader’s mind.

Autobiography Sample PDF

Writing an Autobiography - Example

Autobiography Examples for Students

An autobiography is your life story. If your teacher tells you to write one, they just want to hear about your life. Even if you think your story isn't super exciting, following the structure can make it work better.

These autobiography examples for students will help you understand how you can properly format the autobiography.

Autobiography Examples for Kids 

School is a time of discovery, and what better way to explore your own journey than through the lens of an autobiography? Here are some great autobiography examples crafted specifically for kids.

Autobiography Examples Ks2

Autobiography Examples For Grade 7

Autobiography Examples For Class 6

Short Autobiography Example for Students

Here is a sample of a short autobiography for you. Give it a good read and learn how to write an excellent short autobiography.

Short Autobiography for Students - Example

High School Autobiography Example

Check out this sample and learn to write an incredible  autobiography for  high school students.

High School Autobiography - Example

Spiritual Autobiography Example for College Students

Spiritual autobiographies give a glimpse into the spiritual person's life. Have a look at the following sample spiritual autobiography and give it a good read to learn more.

Spiritual Autobiography for College Students - Example

Cultural Autobiography Examples 

Here is a sample of a cultural autobiography that contains detailed information on culture. Have a look at the sample to know more about it.

Cultural Autobiography Examples

Funny Autobiography Examples 

Autobiographies are thought to be boring and mundane, but that is not the case. You can make an interesting story, as well as funny. Learn to write a funny autobiography by this example.

Funny Autobiography Examples

Educational Autobiography Example

Here is a sample educational autobiography that will help you formulate an effective and inspiring autobiography.

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Social Class Autobiography Example

Writing a social class or sociology assignment could be a bit difficult. This sample will help you work on yours easily.

Rambling Autobiography Examples

Rambling autobiographies are like a casual conversation with a friend, where stories unfold in their own unique way. 

Let’s jump into some fascinating examples about this type of autobiography:

Personal Autobiography Examples

Personal autobiography or personal narrative essay provides a complete picture of the author’s life story. The following personal autobiography demonstrates how to write a personal narrative autobiography.

Personal Narrative Autobiography - Example

Autobiography Examples for Students About Yourself

Famous Autobiography Examples

Autobiographical essays are usually about famous people or historical figures. Just as a renowned autobiography of Benjamin Franklin tells us about his life, his unfinished records, his accomplishments, etc.

Below are some examples of famous autobiographies for your better understanding:

Famous Literacy Autobiography Example

Famous Autobiography - Sample

All in all, we have explored different examples, like understanding what makes memoirs different from autobiographies and exploring rambling ones. These examples are like guides to help you tell your own story and maybe inspire others on your writing journey. 

So, go ahead, give it a try, and have fun telling your unique tale.

And if you need assistance you can always reach out to us!

Our writers can write outstanding autobiography for you! All you have to do is place your " write an essay for me " request and we'll create your custom autobiography in no time!

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Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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How To Write An Autobiography

Autobiography Examples

Top Autobiography Examples & Samples For Your Help

Published on: Sep 10, 2021

Last updated on: Feb 12, 2024

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How to Write an Autobiography - A Step-by-Step Guide

How To Write A Memoir - A Beginner's Guide

Autobiography vs. Biography - Learn the Differences

Autobiography Format - Forms and Elements

6 Types of Autobiography and their Comparison

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An  autobiography  is a story of a person's life written down or told. They are interesting to read, but they can be even more interesting to write.

An autobiography is different from a biography. A biography is someone else's story about a person's life. But, an autobiography is the person's own story about their life.

This may make autobiographies more interesting to read than biographies. Also, they give the thoughts and feelings of the person rather than someone else's interpretation.

There are many different stories in the world. Uniquely telling your story is not easy. You need to describe what is happening to make the reader feel like they are right there with you.

In this blog, you will learn about some amazing examples of autobiographies. So, start reading now.

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Autobiography Examples For Students

An autobiography is the story of someone's life written by them. They might write about their hardships or success. Here are some examples of autobiographies that might inspire you to write your own.

Short Autobiography Examples

This is a good example of a creative and interesting autobiography to read. It will teach you how to write your own great autobiography.

Autobiography Examples For Class 6

Autobiography essays are not easy to write. They are different from other essays because they tell the story of a person's life experiences. Every person has a lot of interesting experiences, so it can be hard to choose which ones to write about.

For your help, we compiled an example that you can use for your help and make your writing process easy.

Autobiography Examples For Grade 7

Only you know yourself best. Writing an autobiography is a great way to share your life with others. Everyone has a story to tell, and writing an autobiography is one way to leave your mark on history.

Here is an example that gives you a better idea of sharing your life story with others.

Autobiography Examples For College Students

An autobiography is a text that tells your life story. It can be in the form of a  memoir , which is more informal or more formal. Autobiographies can be written for different reasons:

• To introduce yourself to the world.
• To get into a program at school, for a job, volunteering, etc.

You can find more ideas for an autobiography from this example.

Note: As a college student, you might encounter confusion distinguishing between an autobiography and a statement of purpose . While both involve personal narratives, autobiographies provide a comprehensive life story, while statements of purpose focus on specific goals and qualifications for academic or professional opportunities. Understanding their distinct purposes and structures can help streamline your application processes effectively.

Autobiography Examples For High School Students

An autobiography is a self-written biography that someone writes about themselves. They might write about all of their life or just some parts. They do this to share their experiences, put them in a larger cultural or historical context, and entertain the reader.

Take a look at the below example and create a well-written one without any mistakes.

Spiritual Autobiography Examples

A spiritual autobiography is your life story. In it, you write about how God has been present in your life. This includes your journey in and out of organized religion and everything spiritual.

Writing your spiritual autobiography is a chance for you to identify specific experiences with God. You will then reflect on how those experiences have impacted you.

Below is an example for your ease.

Autobiography Examples in Literature

An autobiography is a book written by somebody about their own life. It tells the story of the author’s life, accomplishments, things they have done, etc.

The following is an example that can help you better understand how to write an autobiography.

Cultural Autobiography Examples

A cultural autobiography is more than just telling your life story. Your cultural identity reveals your beliefs and ideas about culture. It also shows how culture affects different cultural groups that make up who you are.

You may want to write a cultural autobiography better to understand yourself and your culture's role in your life. It is important to be aware of your own cultural identity in a multicultural world and be open to other cultures.

An example of a perfect cultural autobiography is below for your help.

Educational Autobiography Examples

The educational autobiography is a way to tell your life story. This type of autobiography includes what you did in school and how it affected other parts of your life.

Take a look at this example to see how to write a good educational autobiography.

Social Class Autobiography Examples

In most sociology classes, students are assigned to write a socio-autobiography. This assignment helps them understand that the subject is relevant to their daily lives. Your interactions with society have a big impact on who you become as a person.

Writing your social class autobiography is a great way to show people how you fit into society. The following example will show what kind of social autobiography looks like.

Autobiography Examples For Kids

Children are often encouraged to write an autobiography, but few people recognize the importance of this task. Everyone has something special from their childhood that they should remember and reflect on. Writing about your life is a good way to do this.

There are many different ways to write an autobiography. If you are writing about yourself, it is best to start by writing about your early life and work experience.

You can also mention your school experiences. After that, you can write about other topics that may be of interest to readers, like your hobbies or interests.

Here is an example that will help in starting an autobiography.

We all have the opportunity to write our own story, but it doesn't always come easy. If writing about yourself seems difficult, then follow the examples mentioned above.

However, if you want a professional writer to write it for you, just say ' write an essay for me ' and consult a professional at CollegeEssay.org .

We have expert writers who will help you write an autobiography, personal narrative, college essay, and any academic assignment.

AI essay writing tools are also readily available to provide you with additional assistance and support.

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20 Best Autobiographies for High School Students

The best autobiographies for high school students are not always easy to find. It is best if you have a list so that you know what books to look for in the library or bookstore.

This article will provide you with the 20 best autobiographies for high school students , all of which are great reads!

Best Autobiographies for High School Students

It is best to read autobiographies early on in life before you get too caught up in your own story.

An autobiography is an account of someone’s life written by themselves. These autobiographies are full of great stories and offer a snapshot into different lives all over the world.

Table of Contents

The Diary Of Anne Frank

The Diary of Anne Frank is a book of the writings from the Dutch language diary kept by Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.

The family was apprehended in 1944, and Anne Frank died of typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

The diary was retrieved by Miep Gies, who gave it to Anne’s father, Otto Frank, the family’s only known survivor, just after the war was over.

The diary has since been published in more than 60 languages.

It became one of the world’s most widely read books; it has been translated into 67 languages and has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.

Boy by Roald Dahl

The boy is a coming-of-age story of Roald Dahl’s childhood in England.

The book follows the life of young Roald from his birth to age 11 when he goes away to school.

The book is written in first-person narrative with Dahl giving an account of his experiences and feelings at the time.

He describes his family and home life, school, friends, teachers, and other children he knew.

First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers

This book is a personal account of the author’s experiences in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge.

The author, Loung Ung, was five years old when her family was forced to leave Phnom Penh and work as laborers on a collective farm.

She describes how she survived by watching other children die around her from starvation and overwork.

Her father was taken away at night by soldiers; she never saw him again. In 1979, after four years of living in fear, Loung and her surviving family members escaped to Thailand.

This book gives readers an inside look into life under one of history’s most brutal regimes.

It also shows how human beings can adapt to almost anything if they have enough strength of will to survive.

The best autobiographies for high school students will take you on the author’s journey and help you to understand how they made it through tough situations.

All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto

All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto is a book that explores the author’s experience with his father, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.

The author shares his story of growing up in a family where he felt like an outsider and never quite fit in.

The memoir is divided into two parts: Part 1, “The Boy Who Wasn’t,” covers the author’s childhood and adolescence; Part 2, “The Man Who Would Be King,” discusses the author’s adulthood.

In between these sections are interludes that discuss topics such as what it means to be a man, how men relate to each other (and why they don’t), and how our society treats boys and men.

Being Jazz: My Life As A (Transgender) Teen

I am Jazz, a transgender teen. I live in the suburbs of Los Angeles with my family and two brothers.

I love hanging out with friends, shopping for clothes (I’m kind of a fashionista), and going to school.

But being a teenage girl is tough! Especially when you’re transgender.

It’s hard to know who to talk to about being trans, what kinds of hormones to take, or how best to handle bullies at school.

So I wrote this book for other transgender teens who are looking for advice and support from someone who knows what it’s like to be different from everyone else around you.

May I Have Your Attention Please?

This is a book about how to get people’s attention (and keep it) in an age of information overload.

It’s not just for business people, but for anyone who wants to be heard and understood.

The author is a former marketing executive who knows what he’s talking about.

He has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Cocacola, FedEx, GE, and Microsoft.

My Life and Hard Times by James Thurber

A collection of short stories, essays, and articles by James Thurber

The book is an amusing look at the life of a young man in New York City during the 1920s.

It is filled with stories about his adventures as a reporter for “The New Yorker”, his time spent in Paris, and his love affairs.

He also writes about how he met his wife, Althea Adams, who was a dancer.

Kian And Jc: Don’t Try This At Home!

The book Kian And Jc: Don’t Try This At Home! is a great read for anyone who’s ever been interested in the world of comedy.

It’s an amazing insight into what it takes to be a comedian, and how hard they have to work to get where they are today.

The book contains interviews with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Jimmy Carr, Johnny Vegas, and Lee Mack.

It also includes exclusive photos from their lives on stage, as well as backstage at their gigs.

I Will Always Write Back

I Will Always Write Back is a non-fiction book that chronicles the story of how Caitlin Alifirenka and her friend, Kami, met Pen Pal Andrew Nesbitt in Zimbabwe.

The book details their correspondence with Andrew for several years as well as the trip they took to visit him.

I Will Always Write Back is an inspiring read about friendship, love, and hope.

It’s a heartwarming reminder that there are still good people in this world who care about others despite all the bad news we hear every day.

It’s also an excellent way to learn more about Zimbabwean culture and history.

Night (The Night Trilogy) by Elie Wiesel

The Night is a work of historical fiction and memoir by Elie Wiesel. It is his account of the experience he and his family endured while imprisoned at Auschwitz, in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II.

Night was first published in 1960 and won the US National Book Award for Fiction that year, an award that annually recognized one “book of outstanding literary merit” published in English.

The book has been translated into more than 30 languages; over 10 million copies have been sold worldwide.

The book’s title alludes to its themes of the “night” or darkness that enveloped European civilization following the Holocaust, as well as to Eliezer’s perception of God having forsaken humanity during the Holocaust.

Courage To Soar: A Body In Motion, A Life In Balance

“ Courage To Soar ” is a book that will help you find balance in your life, and achieve the things you want to do. It’s easy to read and gives practical advice on how to make it happen.

The book has been written by a woman who knows what it’s like to have a busy life, with lots of demands on her time.

She shares her personal experiences of finding ways to balance work and family commitments, and shows how she achieved her goals.

“Courage To Soar” is available in paperback or as an ebook (for Kindle).

Mud Sweat And Tears (Junior Edition) by Bear Grylls

Bear Grylls is a British adventurer and television presenter who holds the world record for the longest ever unassisted trek to the South Pole.

His show Man vs Wild has been broadcast in over 120 countries worldwide. He’s climbed Mount Everest, crossed the Arctic Ocean, walked across America, and swum across both of Africa’s deepest lakes.

In this book, he shares his experiences of adventure through stories from his life as well as advice on how to be prepared for anything that might happen when you’re out in nature.

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

My Family and Other Animals is a classic work of natural history, memoir, and travel.

It was the first book to introduce the world to Gerald Durrell’s unique brand of humor and his unforgettable cast of characters: eccentric relatives, mischievous siblings, irascible pets, and some truly wild creatures.

The Durrell family moves from England to Corfu in 1935 when Gerald is ten years old. He befriends many animals on the island including two pet tortoises named Adolphus and Hitler.

When World War II breaks out they are evacuated back to England where they live with the rest of the Durrell family at their new home at Bournemouth.

During this time he also meets his future wife Jacquie while working for the military.

A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer

A Child Called “It” is a memoir of Dave Pelzer, a child who was abused and tortured by his mother for years.

It’s an inspirational story that will make you cry, laugh, and want to change the world.

This book is about a young boy named Dave Pelzer. He had two loving parents but he wasn’t happy with them because they didn’t give him enough attention.

His mom was too busy working and his dad was always at work or drinking beer with his friends.

When he turned five years old he started getting beaten up by his alcoholic father until one day when he tried to defend himself from being hit again by punching him in the face.

Then his father took him into the bathroom where he tied up Dave’s hands and feet with a belt. He stuck his head in the toilet bowl right up to his nose, then he flushed it several times until Dave couldn’t hold his breath any longer.

He was afraid of dying so he started to breathe the water in and out of his nose which made him choke and cough.

After that Dave’s dad started to beat him up with his belt until he passed out from the pain.

Eventually, after all of this, Dave’s dad took him to the hospital.

Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton

Bethany Hamilton’s life was changed forever when she lost her left arm in a shark attack.

This is the true story of how she overcame this tragedy and became one of the world’s most well-known surfers.

Bethany Hamilton had an incredible journey to becoming a professional surfer, overcoming obstacles that would have stopped most people in their tracks.

In Soul Surfer, Bethany tells her story with candor and humor.

She talks about the challenges she faced while learning to surf with one arm; the pain of losing friends who were taken by sharks; and how God helped her find peace even during times of despair.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Tuesdays with Morrie is a true story about the life-changing lessons learned by Mitch Albom, a sportswriter for the Detroit Free Press.

The book was published in 1997 and has sold over 3 million copies worldwide.

Mitch Albom’s professor from his college days, Morrie Schwartz, was dying of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).

To show his appreciation to his old professor, he visits him every Tuesday at the assisted living facility where he lives.

He takes notes on their conversations and writes them down as lessons that everyone should learn in life.

Tuesdays with Morrie is an inspirational book that will make you laugh and cry at the same time! It teaches us about love, loss,

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster

“Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer” is a book that describes the author’s experience on Mt. Everest in 1996 when eight people died during a single expedition.

The book was published in 1997 and became an international bestseller.

It has been translated into more than 20 languages and sold more than two million copies worldwide.

In May 1996, experienced mountaineer Jon Krakauer set out to summit Mt. Everest with Rob Hall’s Adventure Consultants expedition group, led by Hall himself and supported by guides Anatoli Boukreev and Scott Fischer.

After reaching the summit on May 10th, tragedy struck as three members of the party fell to their deaths while making their descent on the “Balcony” section of Mount Everest.

Hall, a best-selling author and one of New Zealand’s most experienced mountain climbers, had also died.

Krakauer was one of the last three climbers to reach the top, and he would later write a best-selling book about the disasters.

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream

Barack Obama’s bestseller, “ The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream ” is a reflection on what has gone wrong with America and how to fix it.

The book is written in three parts. Part one focuses on the problems facing America today.

In part two, Obama explains why he chose to run for president and gives an account of his campaign trail experiences.

Part three offers solutions to the problems discussed in part one, including a discussion of possible ways that Barack Obama could change America if elected President of the United States.

Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

The book is about Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana.

He tells of the many hardships he faced as a slave and the cruelty that was inflicted upon him by his master.

The story begins with Solomon’s childhood and ends with his return to freedom after twelve years of slavery.

A truly inspirational story that will change your perspective on life forever!

With these 20 best autobiographies for high school students , you’ll be able to find the perfect read. Share them with your friends and classmates or save them on your phone so that when you’re looking for something new, they are just a click away!

You may also like:

• 20 Best English Literature Books for High School Students
• 20 Best American History Textbooks for High School Students

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Autobiography Lesson for Middle School and High School Students

• Kellie Hayden
• Categories : High school english lesson plans grades 9 12
• Tags : High school lesson plans & tips

Read a Published Autobiography or Biography

When middle school or high school students are assigned to write an autobiography, it can be a daunting task. The teacher needs to set up a defined set of tasks for the students to complete so that the autobiography is organized and detailed. It is best if the students look at models and read autobiographies or biographies before they begin writing their own autobiography.

For the middle school student, Beverly Cleary: The Girl From Yamhill is a great book for students to read. She is a well known author who many students know. However, there are many autobiographies from which to choose. The Macmillan website gives a nice list of biographies and autobiographies for middle school students if you want to find other books to read.

Assign students to read at least one autobiography or biography. It is a nice way to work in a non-fiction read for the students. Teachers should take time to review the differences between autobiographies and biographies. The books can be a whole class read, can be read in literature circles, or can be independent reads.

Students should take note of how the autobiography or biography

• is organized
• what information was included
• what they enjoyed learning about the person

After students have finished their book, the whole class should have a discussion of what makes a good autobiography. The teacher should make a list on the board for students to take notes. The students should try to work some of the items they listed into their own autobiographies.

Guidelines for Students

Once students have read published autobiographies, they will need to write their own. This autobiography should celebrate the student’s life. This should be a positive experience and allow students to share important events in their lives.

Before assigning the autobiography, the teacher should decide the following:

• How many pages should the whole piece be?
• How will it be broken down into sections?
• Will photos need to be included?

For example, a middle school autobiography could be set up as follows:

• Four sections: birth to two years, three years to five years, kindergarten to third grade, fourth grade to present year.
• Each section should be two-to-four pages long.
• Final copies should be typed or written neatly in ink.
• Each section should include copies of pictures and/or mementos from the time period.
• A cover should be decorated, neat and colorful.
• A family tree.
• A map showing where students have lived and/or visited.

Students should include anecdotes and details that are unique to them. In addition, students could include favorite relatives, toys, music, colors, television shows, friends, movies, foods, restaurants, neighbors, etc. It can also include firsts, like their first tooth, friend, video game, cell phone, boyfriend/girlfriend, etc.

To assess the autobiography, the teacher could create a rubric and grade it based on the criteria of neatness, content, organization and writing conventions.

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These are great selections. I don't, however, think Big is similar to Sound of Thunder or Groundhog Day.

I'm not a teacher but your list prompted me to sigh up for your blog. thought provoking and well written

I would love a list of engaging short stories for my 10th grade English class that include African American characters

Sharon, That would be a great list to have. "Thank You Ma'm," which is one the above list, would work. I've also taught "Marigolds" and used excerpts from larger works like Black Boy and Invisible Man.

"A Worn Path" is a great option.

Great list! I've used many of them in my high school English classes over the years. The Scarlet Ibis is one of my personal favorites, too.

What short stories by a Mexican-background or Central American-background writer might you suggest? I saw the Cisneros' recommendation. Thank you.

Hi Christine, "American History" by Judith Ortiz Cofer or any of her other short stories would be good. I've used excerpts from Jimmy Santiago Baca's autobiography, A Place to Stand, excerpts from Luis Rodriguez's autobiography, Always Running, and short stories from Drown by Junot Diaz with high school students. Hope those help! Thanks, Brynn Allison

I purchased the lesson 4. The Lady, or The Tiger? by Frank Stockton, however I am not able to open it. It keeps giving me an error message.

Hi Stacy, Thanks for reaching out to me. It sounds like a tech issue with the download so it might be best to contact TPT Help directly about your purchase or send me an email at [email protected] and I can put in a help ticket for you. Thanks, Brynn Allison

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Autobiography passages

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Secondary Classrooms 8 Meaningful Memoirs for Middle School

Reading memoirs can help students grow their empathy and understanding of others’ perspectives. Here are 8 memoirs to incorporate into your ELA curriculum to engage your students in the experiences of others, and grow their reading comprehension skills.

“ The Drive-In Movies ” by Gary Soto (6th Grade)

In this memoir, Gary Soto recounts a Saturday from his childhood. Soto describes how he tried to quickly complete all of his chores so his mom would take him and his siblings to the drive-in movies.

Start a Discussion using Question 2, “In the context of the story, what does it mean to be grown up? In your opinion, is the narrator ‘grown up’?” Prompt students to go deeper with the additional prompt, “Cite evidence from this text, your own experience, and other literature, art, or history in your answer.”

“ Names/Nombres ” by Julia Alvarez (6th Grade)

In this memoir chronicling the personal history of her name, Julia Alvarez describes her experience immigrating to the United States from the Dominican Republic. Alvarez recounts all of the different names and nicknames she was given when others couldn’t pronounce her name correctly.

To deepen students’ understanding of Alvarez’s experience of immigrating to a country where people speak a new language, show the video in the Related Media tab, “ Julia Alvarez - The Writer’s Language .” Ask students to discuss the challenges that Alvarez describes about writing in English, “How did writing in English eventually become an important form of expression for Alvarez?”

“ Little Things Are Big ” by Jesús Colón (6th Grade)

In this short text, Colón describes a time when his actions were influenced by his identity as a man of color. He tells the story of his experience on a subway car in the 1950s and others’ perception impacted his actions.

To give students a closer look into Colón’s perspective, teachers can start a class discussion with Question 1, “Place yourself in Colón's shoes. How do you think you would have responded in this situation? Has anything similar happened to you?”

“ The Terror ” by Junot Díaz (7th Grade)

In this memoir, Junot Díaz retells an experience he had in middle school with a group of teenage bullies. The memoir follows Díaz’s experience with fear and shame up until he confronts these feelings years later.

Teaching this story provides a great opportunity to explore how authors portray emotions from a first-person point of view. Use Assessment Question 5 to help students dig into Díaz’s perspective by asking, “How does the author feel about himself when he says, ‘I hated these brothers from the bottom of my heart, but even more than them, I hated myself for my cowardice’?”

“ Us and Them ” by David Sedaris (7th Grade)

This humorous text describes young David Sedaris’ fascination with an unusual new family in his neighborhood. Despite its humor, this text tackles a major theme about identity and the separation of social groups.

To further explore this theme, assign the poem “ Identity ” by Julio Noboa from the Paired Texts tab. Have students compare what/who is the “us” and “them” in each piece.

“ In My Mom’s Shoes ” by Kat Chow (8th Grade)

In this powerful memoir, Chow jumps between years of her life in flashbacks as she reflects on losing her mother at a young age. Chow describes her feelings of grief as she walks in a pair of her mother’s shoes.

Teach this text alongside “ New Carolina City ” by Sydney Hamilton from the Paired Texts tab. Ask students to discuss how certain images and objects evoke a sense of nostalgia in both texts, and how the different forms explore this sense of nostalgia.

“ Hello, My Name is ______ ” by Jason Kim (8th Grade)

Jason Kim is an Asian American screenwriter and playwright whose memoir details his experience moving from South Korea to the United States as a child. Kim describes how he chose an American name and began to reject his Asian identity for most of his youth.This story is a great springboard for class discussions about identity.

Teachers can ask Discussion Question 2, “In the text, Kim attempts to change his Asian identity. Was he successful? Can you change your identity? Why or why not?”

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It's My Life: Multimodal Autobiography Project

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In this unit, students write autobiographies, illustrate them, and set them to music. Music is a powerful tool to evoke emotion, and students will carefully select songs to accompany the stories from their lives. Students brainstorm lists of important events in their lives, along with images and music that represent those events. They then create storyboards in preparation for the final PowerPoint project. After making revisions, they present their final projects to their peers in class. If PowerPoint is unavailable, students might create posters and play soundtracks using cassette or CD players.

Featured Resources

Stapleless Book : Students use this online tool to plan each slide of an autobiographical PowerPoint presentation.

From Theory to Practice

According to William Kist, "students should be able to both read critically and write functionally, no matter what the medium." We have "broadened the concept of literacy" (cf. Kist) to include multimodal projects so that no student will feel isolated, and every student will gain knowledge and understanding from the sharing of ideas. As the NCTE Statement on Multimodal Literacies states, "The use of different modes of expression in student work should be integrated into the overall literacy goals of the curriculum and appropriate for time and resources invested." This lesson plan encourages such integration by asking students to create multimodal presentations. Further Reading

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

• 4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
• 5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
• 6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.
• 8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
• 12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).
• It’s My Life Assignment
• Presentation Music and Image Planner
• It’s My Life Project Rubric
• Sample Multimodal Autobiography
• It’s My Life Self-Assessment

Preparation

• Arrange for the use of a computer lab, projector, and CD player.
• Familiarize yourself with PowerPoint. Visit the PowerPoint in the Classroom Website and the PowerPoint tutorials on adding sound and adding music for helpful information and guides. You may also choose to share these Web resources with your students.
• Create a model autobiography presentation for students to view (optional).
• Review fair use and copyright guidelines before having students use copyrighted music and images in their projects.
• Make copies of the Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines for School Projects , It’s My Life Assignment , Presentation Music and Image Planner , Sample Multimodal Autobiography , It’s My Life Self-Assessment , and It’s My Life Project Rubric sheets for your students.
• Test the Stapleless Book on your computers to familiarize yourself with the tool and ensure that you have the Flash plug-in installed. You can download the plug-in from the technical support page .

Student Objectives

Students will

• examine the lyrics to songs and describe how the music and words relate to their life stories.
• organize their thoughts and express their stories by using PowerPoint presentations.
• improve technical skills by familiarizing themselves with PowerPoint.
• evaluate their own work.

Session One

• Present the PowerPoint autobiography assignment to students and explain the required elements. If you have created a model presentation, you can use it to present the concept to students.
• Students will select five important events in their lives. Using written summaries of these events, they will create PowerPoint multimodal autobiographies.
• Students may use recordings from the radio or their personal music collections.
• Students will follow guidelines for fair use of copyrighted images and music. (Explain that this topic will be discussed in detail in the next session.)
• Student will present their slideshows in class. Slideshows are limited to 5–10 minutes in length.
• Students will respond to their peers’ presentations in writing.
• First day of school (e.g., preschool, kindergarten, first grade, middle school, high school)
• A special family trip or vacation
• A family event or milestone
• A personal achievement (e.g., first place in a competition)
• A personal loss
• Explain that in this stage of the writing process, students should write down all of their ideas. If they are working in groups or with the whole class, lay ground rules that encourage all students to share their ideas with the group and that discourage students from critiquing their peers’ responses during this brainstorming stage. Explain that students will have the opportunity to evaluate their lists and select the events that they want to include in their autobiographies in later sessions.
• Have students view the PowerPoint presentation Finding Your Focus: The Writing Process . Discuss the stages of the writing process—including drafting, revising, and editing—and explain that students will go through each of these stages as they work on their autobiographies. The final stage will be the actual publishing of their autobiographies in the form of PowerPoint presentations.
• Ask students to select 8–10 events from their lists and write a brief paragraph summary for each one. Students may also include events that were not included on the lists they created during their brainstorming sessions.
• Have students set aside these summaries to use in a later session. If necessary, have students complete this activity for homework.

Session Two

• Initiate a class discussion by describing a significant event from your own life (i.e., birth of a sibling, parents’ divorce, first car). You can refer to the Sample Multimodal Autobiography for an example.
• Ask a few students to share an event from their own lists, and record each event on the board.
• Have students think about the events described and to connect songs to these events. For example, a student might associate a love song with a family member’s wedding ceremony.
• How does the song make you feel?
• What images come to mind when you think of this event?
• What images come to mind when you think of this song?
• Next play a song or two that you associate with the event from your own life that you’ve described. It doesn’t matter if the songs are not “current” hits; students will understand the feelings behind the music.
• Ask students to discuss how the song fits the event and to suggest other songs they might associate with the same event.
• Have students review the summaries they wrote in Session One.
• From the list of events they described, ask students to select five to include in their autobiographical presentations.
• Pass out the Presentation Music and Image Planner and have students list each of the five events they’ll include.
• Have students use the Presentation Music and Image Planner to write the title of a song and describe an image for each event they will include in their presentations. Students can work with a classmate or in small groups if they are having trouble generating ideas. You may wish to have students begin this activity in class and then complete their planners for homework.
• Be sure to discuss lyrics with students to assure that song selections are classroom-appropriate as determined by teacher and school policy.
• Emphasize that students should avoid using music that involves profanity or derogatory remarks towards any race, gender, and/or religious affiliation. Encourage students to discuss any questionable lyrics with you in advance. Point out you will either approve students’ choice of songs and images or provide suggestions for revision on their planning sheets.
• Have you ever downloaded music or other content from the Internet? What other Internet resources have you used?
• You will need to use music for your presentations. What are some ways you can get the songs you’ll need? From what sources can you download music? Are all of these ways legal?
• Is it OK to use other people’s music in something you are creating?
• Students can use 1–5 images from the same photographer or illustrator without permission.
• Up to 10% of a song can be used in a presentation. That translates to about 30 seconds from one song.
• Students must include a bibliography of any work used in their presentations.
• Before beginning Session Three, review students’ planners to ensure that they understand the assignment and have selected appropriate images and songs. Approve each plan, providing feedback, or make suggestions for revision.
• Meet with students individually to discuss any necessary changes.

Session Three

• Tape sheets of plain paper together along the short edges.
• Divide a large piece of blank paper into equal rectangles.
• Use a blank index card for each PowerPoint slide.
• Use the ReadWriteThink Stapleless Book interactive to plan each slide of their presentation. This tool provides space for students to write the text that will appear on the slide and information about the song they will include, along with space for a simple illustration.
• Before beginning their PowerPoint presentations, students should use the storyboards to lay out their text and images, and to write the titles of the songs and specific lyrics they will use for each slide.
• Have students add the text of the paragraphs they wrote in Session One to their storyboards in this drafting session.
• Remind students of the writing process and explain that they will have the opportunity to revise their text and other elements when they reach the revising stage.
• Allow more than one session of class time to complete this work if required. You can choose to extend this activity to the next class period or have students complete their drafts for homework. Students should also have any CDs or music they want to use available for the next session.
• Provide access to a scanner for students who wish to scan photographs or other images for use in their projects.
• Before moving to the next session, review students’ drafts and provide feedback.

Sessions Four through Six

• PowerPoint in the Classroom
• PowerPoint Tutorial—Adding sound
• Demo: Add music to a presentation
• Once students are comfortable with PowerPoint and have practiced with the software, have them begin creating slides using their drafts/storyboards.
• Remind students of the guidelines for using copyrighted music in their projects.
• Share this adding sounds page from PowerPoint in the Classroom with students, which details how to add portions of a song from a CD to a PowerPoint slide.
• Review students’ progress as they work and provide assistance to students who are having difficulty using PowerPoint.
• Allow additional time as needed for students to work on their projects in or out of class.

Session Seven

• Are slides arranged in an effective way? How are the events in my autobiography arranged? Sequentially? Thematically?
• Can I do a better job of describing each event? Will the reader/viewer understand what I’m trying to communicate?
• Do the images I’ve selected adequately represent the events?
• Does the song reflect my feelings about each event?
• Guide students in working through this stage of the writing process and encourage them to make revisions that will help them more effectively communicate the information included in their autobiographies.

Sessions Eight and Nine

• When students have finished making revisions, have them take turns presenting their PowerPoint autobiographies to the class. Use a projector if you have access to one.
• After all students have completed their presentations, have them respond in writing by completing the It’s My Life Self-Assessment .
• Teach the ReadWriteThink lesson Copyright Infringement or Not? The Debate over Downloading Music to reinforce the concepts of fair use and copyright infringement explored in this lesson.
• Teach the ReadWriteThink lesson The Year I Was Born: An Autobiographical Research Project to have students further explore the autobiography writing genre.
• In place of or in addition to PowerPoint presentations, have students write a typed autobiography, a narrated audio autobiography (set to music) on CD, cassette, or MP3, or a videotaped biography. Students can use the CD/DVD Cover Creator to design and print their covers for their finished presentations.
• Have students use the Profile Publisher to enhance their autobiographies by creating one or more profiles to represent themselves at different times in their lives, with a special focus on the connection between experiences and music.

Student Assessment / Reflections

• Have students reflect on their projects by completing the It’s My Life Self-Assessment .
• Assess students’ PowerPoint projects using the It’s My Life Project Rubric .
• Professional Library
• Strategy Guides
• Student Interactives
• Lesson Plans

The Stapleless Book can be used for taking notes while reading, making picture books, collecting facts, or creating vocabulary booklets . . . the possibilities are endless!

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Success Mindset

15 best autobiographies everyone should read at least once.

Autobiographies of famous people might be more of a self-help book than a simple account of someone’s life. There are times in our lives when we lose our focus and  feel overwhelmed in life . Getting inspired by real-life stories from some of the best autobiographies can really motivate us.

Reading about other people’s diverse viewpoints and life experiences can provide us with a better perspective towards life and widen our horizon.

“Autobiography is a wound where the blood of history does not dry.” [1]

And this is right. The life lessons from these autobiographies can always inspire us to think and live differently.

15 Best Autobiographies You Need to Read

Here’re some of the best autobiographies for your perusal.

1. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin

Understand Benjamin Franklin's past even if you did not live it.

Through Writing, Franklin creates a place where his memories can live on in perpetuity, separate from his physical body, as part of collective memory.

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is an intentional attempt to rewrite his past in a way that readers – including his son and American society – will understand, even if they did not fully live it.

Franklin’s lifelong pursuit of self-improvement began at a young age. Franklin’s desire for perfection led him to devise a plan to achieve it in just 13 weeks by eliminating bad habits and acquiring the 13 virtues he considered most important.

In addition, he laid out a day in which each necessary task was given the appropriate amount of time.

2. Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

Mandela’s struggles and feats make his autobiography one of the most inspiring ones of all time.

An excerpt from Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s Autobiography, Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom , depicts the battle for black liberation in South Africa. It is one of the best autobiographies if you are looking for inspiration.

First Black President Nelson Mandela was sworn into office on May 10, 1994, ending more than three centuries of white dominance in South Africa. In the country’s first democratic elections, his party took 252 of the 400 seats up for grabs.

The opening ceremony was held in the Union Buildings amphitheater in Pretoria, which was attended by many dignitaries and political personalities from numerous countries.

Affirming his country’s invulnerability to such oppression, Mandela greeted the assembled dignitaries with a polite bow during his speech.

As the country’s first black president, he founded democracy and vowed that no one would be discriminated against, regardless of race, color, creed, or ethnicity.

That the government will treat everyone equally and with respect was a promise he made many times again. Mandela’s struggles and feats make his account one of the most inspiring autobiographies of all time.

3. The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi

Freedom fighter and activist Mohandas Gandhi led India to independence after a long and arduous struggle.

In his book “ An Autobiography: My Life and My Experiences with the Truth ,” he recounts his experiences fighting against English colonialism and spreading his philosophy, known as “Satyagraha.”.

It is, indeed one of the most popular autobiographies through the course of education in India and many countries.

Most people can’t claim Gandhi’s level of moral and ethical commitment. Despite this, he tells us of his own mistakes and how he has grown because of them.

However, these quotations illustrate Gandhi’s devotion to doing what he believes is good, from honesty to vegetarianism, from keeping commitments to self-denial. Morality is the foundation of his worldview, including the experiments that guide his daily activities.

One can even say that in the entire list this one is one of the good autobiographies that will guide you throughout your lives.

4. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

During World War II, Anne Frank was a teenage Jewish girl who wrote a diary while her family hid from the Nazis. The Diary of a Young Girl is one of the best autobiographies of all time.

She and seven others stayed in Amsterdam’s “Secret Annex” for two years before being captured and deported to German concentration camps. In 1945, Anne died in the Bergen-Belsen detention camp.

Frank’s father was the last survivor of the family. He decided to publish Anne’s diary, which details her thoughts, feelings, and observations while hiding.

It has been a best-seller worldwide and a staple of Holocaust teaching programs for decades. Her legacy is honored by several humanitarian groups, and hers is one of the best autobiographies, read in several languages by people all around the world.

5. Chronicles, Vol 1 by Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan began his incredible musical career when he landed in New York City in the early 1960s. Dylan’s own words present an intimate glimpse of Dylan’s motives, difficulties, and astonishing creativity in Chronicles, Vol 1.

On the surface, Dylan’s memoir comprises of three chapters on his childhood and youth, which are surrounded by two chapters about

Dylan’s experiences while working on two completely unappreciated albums. The literary aspect of this work is what first grabs the reader’s attention.

So it was wise to arrange the two chapters focusing on an older, more broken self between the three chapters on an artist who is still striving to find his voice, so the dreams witnessed in the latter can be seen refracted, half-lit, but are still present.

The book’s title is also relevant, as this is a work that deals a lot with debts.

6. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

The poem compares the features of a caged bird and a free bird, with a focus on the caged bird. The poem opens by describing the freedom of the free bird, which can fly wherever and whenever it wants because there are no other birds to compete with.

As a metaphor for a white person, the free bird follows the tide of air movement. In the sun’s orange light, it appears to be dipping its wings. It appears to be seizing the entire sky as it soars into the air.

Angelou also published one of the most inspiring autobiographies called I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings . As the title of her whole backstory, it is clear that this title meant a lot to Angelou.

This is what she talked about in her autobiography. She talked about how hard it was to be a black author and poet. She thought that people didn’t hear her because of her skin color.

She thought that, in some ways, she was still being enslaved. People in Angelou’s time were free, but there were still many rules in society that made many black people not feel independent.

7. The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

The Autobiography of Malcolm X talks a lot about Malcolm’s experiences with racism, and “perception” is used a lot. Malcolm says that people thought of black people in a bad way when he was growing up.

There, Malcolm says that black and white people would not be able to live together in peace because of the idea of perception, which is the main reason he wants to keep them apart.

Malcolm also talks about religion in this book. Malcolm was a big fan of Islam, and he talks about religion in this text. He says Islam is better because it doesn’t support racism.

He says that “America needs to understand Islam because this is the only religion that removes race from its society.” Indeed deserving to be added to the group of truly readable and good autobiographies.

8. Agatha Christie: An Autobiography by Agatha Christie

Unless it’s a sleazy tell-all, you’d better skip the details and get straight to the dirt; the best autobiographies of all time strike a balance between the charming and the indulgent.

Agatha Christie’s Autobiography isn’t a sleazy tell-all (a Dame wouldn’t say such things anyhow), but she does it with enough charm and humor to make it worthwhile.

It wasn’t published until 1977, a year after Agatha Christie’s demise at 85 years old when she penned her autobiography.

Christie is one of the world’s best-known mystery writers, yet the author remained a mystery for many fans of Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple.

Christie was a private person who rarely spoke to the media, never did interviews, and even disappeared for some time. Despite this, she had a long and successful career as a writer.

Christie fans finally had a chance to discover more about their favorite mystery author thanks to the release of one of the most inspiring autobiographies.

9. Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi

Although some may disagree that Andre Agassi was the greatest tennis player of all time, it is clear the Las Vegas native was the most successful at attracting attention. The tome is one of the best autobiographies for sports fanatics all over the globe.

He first appeared on the pro tour in the 1980s, wearing a flamboyant outfit sponsored by Nike. It included stone-washed denim, skintight compression shorts called “Hot Lava,” and dark sunglasses that looked like they belonged on a roulette wheel at midnight.

Many were fooled by the granite consistency of Agassi’s game

Tennis star Andre Agassi is widely regarded as one of the greatest players.

Andre’s father, who was emotionally and physically abusive, was a driving force in Andre’s early development as a gymnast.

In the book Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi , Tennis star Andre won his first grand slam at the tender age of twenty-two, which details his sporting career and personal connections with Barbara Streisand and Brook Shields.

Andre Agassi College Prep Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada, was founded due to his philanthropic endeavors, as detailed in his autobiography.

10. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

Rarely has a book about writing been so simplistic, useful, and illuminating as this one has been.

Author Stephen King’s childhood and early focus on writing to tell stories are recounted in On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft ‘s first chapter in one of his top autobiographies.

Readers will gain a new and often hilarious perspective on the development of a writer from the author’s vivid memories of his formative years in high school-college and the years leading up to his debut novel, Carrie.

Next, King discusses the essential tools of the writer’s profession, including how to use them to their full potential and keep them handy at all times.

Readers are taken on a journey through a wide range of topics, from plotting and character development to work habits and rejection, by the author.

It is a poignant tale of how King’s intense drive to write propelled him to recovery and brought him back to his life, which was serialized in the New Yorker to great acclaim.

11. A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

A Movable Feast  is one of Ernest Hemingway’s best-known works of fiction. Mary Hemingway, the author’s widow, published the memoir after her husband’s death in the 1950s, based on entries from Hemingway’s diaries from the 1920s.

The writer and his little son, Jack, lived in Paris during this time with his first wife, Hadley.

When Ernest Hemingway was a young American writer in Paris (1921–26), with his first wife Hadley Richardson, he wrote a collection of anecdotes called A Moveable Feast.

Hemingway worked as a journalist while pursuing his dream of becoming a full-time novelist in a modest apartment on Paris’s artsy Left Bank.

Several of the artists and authors mentioned in the sketches were also American ex-pats living in Paris at Hemingway’s writings. Drawing from various perspectives, the sketches show the progression of events rather than following a strict timeline.

12. Autobiography of Mark Twain by Mark Twain

Famous American author Mark Twain shares his life story with young readers in one of his best autobiographies of all time. The Autobiography of Mark Twain , as well as insights into the mind of an author and the United States when it was young and hopeful.

The period covered by Mark Twain’s Autobiography ranges from 1835 to 1910, which is a significant one in the history of the US.

Twain’s wit and insight give readers a unique perspective on the Civil War, slavery and race relations, the settlement of the American West, globe travel in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and major literary and historical works.

Twain was widely recognized as a brilliant storyteller throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and readers eagerly awaited his memoirs.

13. I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne

Through the pages of one of his popular autobiographies, the world gets to meet Ozzy Osbourne. For the first time, Ozzy reveals the details of his life to the public. After filming a TV show, he’s now released an entire book about his family’s privacy invasion. Take a tour through the life of Ozzy Osbourne.

He recalls everything from his childhood to the present day throughout his life. I Am Ozzy is Ozzy’s way of telling you about the things that have shaped him into who he is now and the things that have made him laugh. As a result, Ozzy divided his book into two parts.

“Starting Over” is what he calls the second section of the book. But he makes an intriguing choice in how to divide up a book and name the parts. He has chapters inside each portion.” At the outset of his autobiography, he says that no one expected him to write it, yet he did.

From his working-class childhood, his decision to leave the factory job for music, how his band was formed, why he is notorious for biting off bats and fowl heads, drug and alcohol problems, near-death encounters with STDs, and the realities of becoming a grandfather.

14. Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler wrote the Mein Kampf book, which translates to “My Struggle” in English. One volume was published in 1925, followed by another in the following year. It is one of the most popular autobiographies in the world.

Being one of the best autobiographies to read, the book explains Hitler’s political theory, including his views on the state, politics, and race.

In the early 1930s, Hitler amassed a small fortune thanks to the popularity of his book, Main Kampf.

After Hitler became chancellor, the book was made required reading for most Germans, and it served as a means of spreading Nazi ideology and principles throughout the country.

For instance, the book was provided to newlywed couples by the German government as a marriage gift during Hitler’s leadership in Germany.

Additionally, it was made available to all German troops serving in the field throughout World War II. Mein Kampf had sold more than 10 million copies in Germany by the end of World War II and translated them into 11 languages.

As a picture of fascism and Nazism in Germany at the time, it is still relevant today.

15. Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama

Among other things, Barack Obama was an author before he became a politician. Dreams from My Father  is a refreshing and insightful depiction of a young man pondering the big concerns of identity and belonging.

It was an emotional journey for Obama, born to an African-American father and an American mother. When his mother’s family relocated from Kansas to Hawaii, he followed in their footsteps and grew up in Indonesia.

When he finally gets to Kenya, he faces the painful truth of his father’s death and finally makes peace with his father’s two estates.

Final Thoughts

Biographies and autobiographies can improve your life by allowing you to reading others’ words and apply their knowledge and experience to your own life.

Just let these best autobiographies mentor you. You will be able to learn valuable life lessons without having to experience the same things as these famous people.

Featured photo credit: Unsplash via unsplash.com

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Student Autobiography: Examples, Outline, & Autobiography Format for Students

A student autobiography is a short paper written by a person about their life, achievements, and goals. You often need to compose one when entering a college or when applying for work. Your autobiography shows your attitude towards the chosen path. This is how you let the committee or employer know that you do want to get the position.

We’ve prepared for you a step-by-step guide that will help you write the perfect student autobiography. You will learn the difference between a biography, an autobiography, and a memoir. Then we will explain how to define a goal and outline your essay. In addition, you’ll find autobiography examples for high school and college students at the end of this article. Keep reading and write a remarkable student autobiography using our tips!

• 🆚 Biography vs. Autobiography

📝 Autobiography Format for Students

• 👣 Step-by-step Writing Guide

✏️ Short Autobiography of Myself as a Student: Example

• 👀 Student Autobiography Examples

🆚 Biography vs. Autobiography: What’s the Difference?

Biography versus autobiography. What is the difference between them?

• A biography is a story about a person written by someone else;
• An autobiography is a narration about its author.

Of course, they have many other differences and similarities.

The table below compares these two types of texts.

A common way to structure an autobiography is the past-present-future approach. This way, you can reflect on your past experiences and how they have shaped your present identity and future goals.

In the following table, you’ll find the autobiography’s main parts and great ideas for constructing a compelling narrative of your life.

👣 7 Steps to a Perfect Student Autobiography

Now let’s write a creative student autobiography! We are sure that every person has something exciting to share with others. With our guide below, you’ll be able to express your own experience.

Step 1: Determine Your Goal

The first thing you are to do before writing an autobiography is to define your goal. What are you writing your autobiography for? What is your audience? Are there any requirements? Most student autobiographies feature a similar format. However, if there are any special requirements, you should take them into account.

Below are five questions to help you set up a goal.

Step 2: Outline Your Autobiography

Start working on your student autobiography by creating your life’s timeline . It will help you structure your thoughts in a logical order and see the big picture. Then look at the list of events and choose those worth describing in the text. It is also a good idea to think of the people you will mention.

Once you’ve decided which facts to include, it’s time to draft an outline of your autobiography. A typical one consists of the following parts:

• Introduction . This section provides a general idea of who you are, what your goal is, etc. Your aim here is to grab your reader’s attention. You can do this by starting with a hook or by writing an engaging thesis statement at the end of the paragraph. It could be your goal or a childhood dream you are trying to bring to life.
• Body. This is the base of your text that should contain a description of the events selected before you start creating the outline. You might want to briefly describe your family , childhood , and hobbies . Share something personal that not many people know about. It is also a good idea to talk about your cultural background and the things you like about it. Feel free to write about your achievements and skills. Any small victory will do . It will help if you mention some of your failures but state that you have coped with them. The next thing is to present your future goals and prospects. Where does the college or job you applying for to get fit into your plans?
• Conclusion . The last paragraph of a student autobiography should summarize its main ideas. The conclusion should be more or less the same size as an introduction. Formulate the main idea of your text in one sentence. Repeat here why you want to enter a college or get a job.

Student Autobiography Outline Example

Below you’ll find an outline for an autobiography that could be written by a student who is applying for admission to a vocal department of a college.

• Basic info about the author: name, age, the city they live in.
• Thesis statement: I feel empowered to make a meaningful contribution to art as a vocalist.
• When I was a child, I enjoyed watching talent shows with singers and wanted to be like them. My parents sent me to music school, and a path to my dream began.
• I gave many concerts as a soloist in the choir. I took part in several singing competitions. It was not easy to get the victory, especially with such professional competitors. But I have not given up and practiced my skills, so I have managed to win some of them.
• Now the project of my life is to go further and become a professional vocalist. I would like to go to this college because I believe that you have the best professors that help students develop excellent singing skills.
• Since my childhood, I have done everything I could to sing professionally. The next step to my dream is to enter and graduate from college.

Step 3: Start Writing Your Autobiography

Now, after you have prepared an autobiography outline, let’s proceed to the writing itself. You have already completed the most challenging part. In the introduction, you might want to write a catchy and creative thesis statement or a hook that will draw the reader’s attention.

BTW, if you need any help with formulating a thesis statement, you can use our free thesis maker .

Here are some ideas for your introduction:

• I wondered, how can I become a desired position ?
• The desired position inspires many people to be better. That is why I have chosen this path.
• I decided to enter the name of college , just like my relative/friend did.

Step 4: Write the Body

The body part is the most important one because here you write about your life in detail. You need to expand on the topics you have touched upon in the outline. Be honest and write whatever you find interesting. When you come to the difficult period of your life, do not write about yourself as a victim of circumstances. You need to prove yourself strong and committed to your goal.

Make sure your paragraphs are in a logical order and do not contradict each other in any way. Use linking words to connect the paragraphs coherently. If you do not know how to use them, look at the paragraphs’ examples later in the article!

Step 5: Conclude Your Autobiography

The conclusion is the part where you paraphrase the ideas you have stated in the introduction. Here you also need to summarize the points you have made in the body. Need help with making a summary quickly? Use our free summarizing tool !

Then you need to define the central idea of the autobiography about yourself in one or two sentences. It has to be short, simple, and memorable so that the committee would remember you.

Please do not forget to pay more attention to your goals and plans. Explain how the place you are applying for is going to help you in achieving them. Be sure to add why you think you will fit the position.

Step 6: Title Your Autobiography

We recommend that you do not choose a title for your student autobiography before writing the text itself. This must be the second last step you take because you do not know what your essay is going to be. You may consider some titles after you have composed an outline .

The purpose of the title is to attract attention and be remembered by the reader. The last thing you want to do is to create a boring heading. Write a catchy or inspiring phrase, your motto, or something that characterizes your life journey.

Here are some examples of good and bad titles:

Step 7: Proofread & Relax

The last step you will take is to give yourself a day or at least a couple of hours break. Then read through your autobiography again and check for errors. Maybe you want to add or change something? If the final result suits you, then you have done a great job and can relax. Congratulations, you have your autobiography written!

You might need to write an autobiography when applying to college, seeking scholarships, or as a form of self-reflection. We created a short example to use as a helpful reference for crafting your autobiography. Check it out!

Ralph Emerson once wrote that every artist was first an amateur. My journey as an art student has been a colorful canvas of experiences shaped by a deep-rooted passion for creativity. From a young age, I was immersed in a world of artistic expression, surrounded by the vibrant strokes of my parents’ masterpieces. Growing up in a household where creativity flowed like a river, I was inspired to explore the boundless possibilities of artistic expression. Today, I find myself fully immersed in the world of art, navigating the rich tapestry of art history and contemporary trends. Through my studies, I have had the privilege of honing my craft under the guidance of esteemed mentors, each imparting invaluable insights that have further enriched my artistic journey. Looking towards the future, I aspire to bring my vision to life through my first solo exhibition, where I can share my art with the world. I’m excited about what’s to come and determined to leave a mark in the art world with my work.

👀 Student Autobiography: Examples

In this section, you’ll find great autobiography examples for high school and college students. Use them for inspiration and as templates. They are written as a paper to enter a college in the first case and to get a job with the second. Read them through, and you will be ready to compose your bio!

Autobiography Example for High School Students

A dream i want to share with others.

Autobiography Example for College Students

It turned out not as i expected.

Congrats, now you know everything you need to write an exciting autobiography! We hope our article and student autobiography examples were useful to you. Check out the FAQ section to get rid of all the remaining questions and start writing your essay as soon as possible!

❓ Student Autobiography FAQ

How to start an autobiography.

The first sentence of your autobiography contains your name, age, and status (a high-school student, a college student, or your profession). Then you should present yourself in more detail. What your family is, where you were born and what school you went to. It is very easy and you do not have to imagine anything.

How to conclude an autobiography?

In your autobiography conclusion, you should restate a thesis if you have one and summarize the key points of your text. You don’t have to give any new information here. Make sure you have written about your goals and expectations for the college or job you want to get. Those who will read your essay have to know why you are interested in the position.

How to title an autobiography?

Remember to title your autobiography after it is written. Read your paper through and identify its main idea. What have you emphasized and paid most attention to? Point it out in the title, but do not exaggerate, be confident. It would be best if you draw attention to your person so that the committee or an employer wishes to read it.

How long should an autobiography be?

It depends on your goal. If you want to describe your life to a vast audience, you may write a book of any length you want. When you need to get a job or enter a college, the appropriate size of an autobiography is five paragraphs.

🔗 References

• Autobiography | Definition, History, Types, Examples, & Facts
• Autobiography | Definition of Autobiography by Merriam-Webster
• 9 Tips For Writing Your Autobiography | Everyday Health
• Writing My Autobiography: A Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
• The Autobiography of a Student – JSTOR
• Memoir | Definition of Memoir at Dictionary.com

How To Write An Autobiography

Autobiography Examples

Last updated on: May 20, 2024

Autobiography Examples: Inspiration & Guidelines to Get You Started

By: Cordon J.

Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.

Published on: Mar 22, 2023

Writing an autobiography can be a daunting task. It's hard to know where to start and how to organize your thoughts into something meaningful. 

You don't want the process of writing your life story to take forever, but you also want it to be well-crafted and engaging for readers. 

Autobiography Examples make it easy! 

Our free, downloadable templates provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to write a compelling autobiography that will capture the attention of your audience. 

With our resources, you'll have everything you need at your fingertips so that creating an amazing autobiography is simple and hassle-free!

Read the blog to get some free and downloadable examples for your help.

On this Page

What is an Autobiography?

An autobiography is the story of a person’s life, written by that person. 

It is a first-person account of an individual’s life experiences and it can also be referred to as a memoir. 

Autobiographies tell stories about people who have lived through important events in history. They made meaningful contributions to society or reached notable level of success. 

Types of Autobiography

Let’s take a look at some common types of autobiographical writing . 

1. Traditional Autobiography 

The traditional autobiography is a detailed chronological account of someone's life, written by them. 

This type of autobiography usually contains information about major events and accomplishments, as well as everyday experiences.

2. Memoir vs Autobiography

A memoir is similar to a traditional autobiography in that it documents someone's life experiences. 

However, it focuses more closely on specific moments or topics in order to capture a particular mood or tell an individual story. 

Memoirs often include themes such as overcoming adversity or coming-of-age stories. They also tend to be more conversational and less formal than traditional autobiographies. 

3. Personal Essay 

Personal essays tend to draw connections between seemingly unrelated topics in order to create meaning for the reader. 

In some cases, these essays may contain elements of memoir; however, the main focus is on ideas rather than events. 

4. Confessional Story 

Finally, confessional stories are raw accounts of difficult times in an author’s life. They offer insights into how they overcame those struggles and/or what they learned from them. 

This type of writing tends to be more emotionally vulnerable than other forms of autobiographical writing. 

Autobiography Outline - Samples

Academic or professional writing must follow and adhere to a proper structure in order to arrange the information. And, as the preferred method of structuring material, an outline is the best way to do it. It aids in the organization of your information and its arrangement into a logical format.

Here is a sample autobiography format to help you get started.

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Autobiography Outline Sample for College

Autobiography Sample for Students

An autobiography is a narrative of one's life.

Even if you believe that your life story isn't very interesting, following the typical structure might help you make it engaging.

The following example of an autobiography for students will assist you in formatting your own.

Autobiography Outline Example

Short Autobiography for Students - Example

Here's an example of a student's short life history. Take the time to read it through and learn how to construct a great brief biography.

High School Autobiography - Example

Here is a helpful sample to help you get started with your high-school autobiography assignment.

Spiritual Autobiography for College Students - Example

Spiritual autobiographies are stories written by people who have a deep spiritual connection. Have a look at the following spiritual autobiography sample to gain some insight into how one person's life is spiritually influenced.

Cultural Autobiography for Class 6

Cultural autobiographies are different from the traditional kind of autobiography. It is mainly because the writer narrates his cultural status and identity. He tells the readers about how culture influenced his life experiences and life events.

Here is a sample to help you know more and better.

Autobiography Examples For Grade 7 

Biographies are a great way to learn about the lives of important people. They provide insight into their successes and challenges, as well as inspiration for others. 

Here are some examples of autobiographies that could be suitable for Grade 7 students to read.

Autobiography Examples for Grade 7

Funny Autobiography Examples for Kids 

Biographies and autobiographies are considered dull and flat, but this is not the case. You may make your tale compelling as well as amusing. Learn how to create a funny autobiography by studying this example.

Funny Autobiography for Kids - Example

Personal Narrative Autobiography - Examples

The personal narrative essay is a type of autobiography that provides a full picture and story of a person’s life. The following personalized narrative autobiography shows how to create one.

Autobiography Examples in Literature

Autobiographies are often found in literature, as authors may choose to tell their own life stories.  They can be powerful and inspiring tools for readers to gain a greater understanding of themselves and others. 

Check out this  list of some of the greatest autobiographies in literature:

Autobiography Example in Literature

Educational Autobiography Examples 

Educational autobiography examples can provide insight into the educational experiences of an individual. It can also provide a glimpse into how they have grown and developed over time.  

These autobiographies are often used in college admissions essays, scholarship applications, or job interviews.

Here is an example of  an educational autobiography written by a college student:

Educational Autobiography Examples 

Social Class Autobiography Examples 

Understanding the effects of social class on an individual’s life experience can be difficult to grasp. 

Here are some examples of social class autobiographies that illustrate ways in which social class has impacted various people's lives.

Social Class Autobiography Examples 

Famous Autobiography - Examples

Autobiographies are usually about famous people or historical figures. Benjamin Franklin's unfinished notes, for example, chronicle his life in considerable detail, as do his outstanding achievements and other information.

Autobiography Examples About Yourself 

Writing an autobiography about yourself can be a great way to tell your story and provide a keepsake for future generations. 

It’s also a chance to reflect on the experiences that have shaped who you are today. 

Start writing your biography by using our examples as a reference point to provide a vivid picture of your life experiences. 

Autobiography Examples About Yourself

How to Start an Autobiography? 

Let's dive into the basics of how to get started with your own autobiography. 

• Choose Your Topic Carefully: Before you begin writing, ask yourself why you want to write an autobiography in the first place. Chances are, there is some event or experience in your life that has inspired you. 

Make sure the topic of your autobiography is something that is both interesting and meaningful to you. 

• Brainstorm Ideas and Outline Your Story: Once you’ve settled on a topic, it’s time to start putting all of your thoughts together into a coherent story. 

Start by brainstorming ideas related to your chosen topic. You might even want to create a mind map or timeline so that you can focus on the bigger picture. 

How to Write an Autobiography

Now that you have outlined what will be included in your story, it’s time for the fun part—writing! 

• Begin by introducing yourself and then jump right into the narrative portion of your autobiography. 
• Tell readers about different events from throughout your life as if they were happening in real time. 
• Don’t forget details like names, places, dates, emotions, conversations—these are all important elements that make up a good story! 

Here is an example to assist you.

Revise and Edit Your Work

Once you have finished writing your story, it’s important to go back through it. Make sure everything makes sense and flows properly from one paragraph or section to the next. 

Don't forget also check for grammar mistakes! 

After everything looks perfect give it one final read-through before submitting it or sending it off for publishing!

If you want a detailed guidance on how to write an autobiography, you can check out this video of reference!

Do's and Don'ts of a Biography

• Research thoroughly about the subject of your biography and check facts carefully before including them in your narrative.
• Use vivid and descriptive language to draw readers in and make them feel like they are there with the subject of the biography.
• Make sure that the language of your biography is appropriate for the intended audience. 
• Use quotes from people who knew the subject to add depth and authenticity to the story. 
• Include important dates, timelines, and other details that help readers understand the subject's life more fully.

Don'ts: 

• Don’t include too much detail or irrelevant information as this can distract from the main story and bore your readers. 
• Don’t present your own opinions or feelings about the subject of the biography. Keep your narrative unbiased and objective.
• Don’t use language that is overly flowery or dramatic. A straightforward and accurate writing style is generally more effective in biographies. 
• Avoid using cliches or overused phrases as these can make your writing seem unoriginal and formulaic.
• Don’t include information about the subject that could be considered private or sensitive. Respect their privacy and only use information that is publicly available. 

Starting Phrases for a Biography 

Here are some starting  phrases to help you begin writing a biography:

1. Born and raised in ________, I have always been passionate about _______.

2. Growing up, my parents instilled in me the importance of ______ and ______.

3. After completing my education at ______, I decided to pursue a career in _______.

4. From that point on, I dedicated myself to mastering the ____ and honing my skills in ______.

5. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work on various projects that have allowed me to hone my ______ abilities.

6. My greatest accomplishment to date is _______, which has been a huge source of personal pride and satisfaction for me.

7. I am constantly striving to learn more, grow and develop my skills in the areas of _______ and ________.

8. I believe that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible and this drives me to continue pushing myself every day. 

9. I am passionate about making a difference in the lives of others and believe that through my work, I can make an impact on the world around me. 

10. I am constantly exploring new ideas and ways to bring my vision to life and help others realize their potential. 

In final words,

We hope that the examples and samples given in the blog have provided enough guidance for your work. Download them and use them as templates to write a great autobiography.

In case of any confusion, work with our essay writers here at MyPerfectPaper.net . 

Professional writers at our platform are always here to help you. Our paper writer service works 24/7 to ensure a top grade for everyone.

So, hire a paper writer today and let us handle your writing woes!

Need fast help with writing? Try our free essay writer tool! Perfect for when you're in a rush or need a quick solution. Start writing stress-free now!

Law, Education

Cordon. is a published author and writing specialist. He has worked in the publishing industry for many years, providing writing services and digital content. His own writing career began with a focus on literature and linguistics, which he continues to pursue. Cordon is an engaging and professional individual, always looking to help others achieve their goals.

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• How To Write An Autobiography: Tips, Ideas & Guidelines to Write Your Life Story

• Different Types of Autobiography Writing With Examples

• How to Write an Autobiography Format Easily?

• Autobiography vs. Biography - What are the Differences?

• Autobiography vs. Memoir - How Are They Different?

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Autobiography Examples for Students That are Seriously Inspiring

An autobiography is one of the most important essays for students aspiring to get admitted into a college of their choice. Here is an article that will give you some examples and also tips on how you can write one for yourself.

As a student, an autobiography is usually essential when applying to colleges for higher studies. It may be the deciding factor for our admission. Hence, you have to make sure it provides those details of your life that are not visible in your grades, your application, and your letters of recommendation. Those details that inspired you to study what you have applied for, that have affected your life in some way, and have contributed to you becoming the person you are today, are expected in this essay. The examples provided here will help you develop a good autobiographical essay.

Examples of Autobiographical Essays

Aspiring to be an eco-friend.

What would we do without water? A question to which answers range from “drink coke” to just “die”. No one mentions the part in between: the long wait, which includes making the most of the little water you get, however muddy and mucky it is, and finally giving up hope, and then dying.

I come from India, a land that is as urban as it is rural, a land that is as advanced as it is behind the times. India is a country where one part of the city gets non-stop running and drinking water, while another has to wait for water; water, that is imperative to the sustenance of all human beings. While I was lucky enough to belong to the part of the city where we were blessed with continuous water supply, it is a school assignment that took me to the other side.

Our assignment merely involved spending a day in a slum and writing about our experience. But what I had there was not a mere experience, it was the facing of a harsh reality that slum-dwellers experience every single day. As we entered the area, my eyes caught a long line of women waiting with containers at a common tap, for water which was supplied only between 1 pm and 2 pm every day. Within one hour, water was to be collected for 500 slum-dwellers, which was to suffice for drinking, eating, bathing, and cleaning. I watched in horror as women ran to the front, trying to catch every drop of water and leaving disappointed because they didn’t make it in time. One of those women began weeping, because she had an ailing child at home, and she couldn’t even provide him with enough water to take care of him. I offered her the bottle of water I was carrying for myself, which obviously was not enough, but could be used for temporary relief. As I followed her home, I saw her son, writhing in pain and waiting for water so he could take his medicine. The cause of his illness was the muddy water that he had consumed a couple of days ago because that day, no water was provided to the slum. She went to him and took him in her lap, and gave him a sip of water from the bottle I had given her, with the medicine. It helped, but it was not enough. It was too late. As he writhed in pain, she and I watched helplessly. He succumbed within half an hour.

On that day I decided that I would do anything it took to prevent an individual from dying because of lack of water. I would make sure that people understand the importance of preserving and utilizing water resourcefully. It is with this burning desire that I apply for the environmental studies course at your esteemed university. It is every citizen’s responsibility to do their bit to help the environment and its richest resource, water. However, someone has to do more than their bit, and I aspire to be one of them. I want to ensure that first I, and then the world understands the value of every drop of water we drink, bathe with, wash our clothes with, and use to throw water balloons at others.

I request you to go through my academic profile and consider my request for admission to your prestigious course. I assure you that I will not fail your decision.

The Healer of Little Minds

Change is inevitable in everyone’s life. But when it comes at the age of 10, particularly when you have led a sheltered life, you don’t know how to deal with it; more so, when the person who sheltered you has gone. I am an only child, and I was hardly close to my mother. When my father passed away, she had no one but me, and I no one but her. That was one of the biggest changes I had to deal with at that time – the loss of my father, and building a real relationship with my mother. It wasn’t easy for her either; after all she also lost the person who sheltered her and did an exceedingly good job at that.

She had to take care of me, ensure that I didn’t falter at any point in life because “she couldn’t take care of me single-handedly”, and take care of herself so she could fulfill her duties as my mother and my father. I didn’t know how I could help, except try to give her faith about the fact that I would turn out just fine. I missed my father, but I couldn’t talk to her about it, because if I did, it would hurt her more; it would make her doubt her abilities as a parent. But I did wish there was someone I could talk to; someone who would understand without judging me or my mother, someone who could tell me what to do when I felt I was inadequate. Insecurities are a part of every child’s life, but everyone deals with them differently. Some suppress their emotions, others vent them openly. I resorted to the former.

I wonder if my life would be different if I spoke to someone and did things differently, if I relied on someone’s judgment other than mine. I can’t change the past, but I do know that I can be that person that hears out children and their insecurities, and analyze how grown-up they are irrespective of their age. I am aware that child psychology is not merely about helping children cope with the loss of a parent. It involves a lot more, a deep look into the minds of children that we consider to be so little, but who are as disturbed or worse than those of adults. I understand the need for children to express themselves outside the family, without being pressured to live up to what their families have dreamed for them. I understand that they need to be allowed a channel for their emotions and why they suppress those channels. And I want to be that person they can talk to, the person who will listen, understand, and help mold their lives differently, for the better.

I have a strong affinity for children, which is evident from the fact that I have been babysitting for neighbors and relatives since I was in my early teens. Children open up to me quite easily, and that makes it all the simpler for me to communicate with them. As of now, I can only give you my word that I will do my best as a student of the course in child psychology offered by your university. I request you to consider my application and grant me admission to the course, a decision that I assure you will not regret.

Beauty is Truth, Truth is Beauty

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” – Edgar Degas

This quote sums up beautifully what I believe about art. Those who create art know the kind of enriching experience it provides. Art changes a person, and that is the change I experienced when I chanced upon a graphic designing project for an assignment in school. It may sound trivial, even silly, but just about anything can be a window to a whole new world, and a whole new career.

Making diagrams was never fun, but when I realized that I could do it in a more efficient manner on a computer than by hand, I jumped at the idea. This was definitely simpler, and in the process, I realized I could do so much more with a simple software. I could create so much more. So much did my passion for “playing with the software” increase, that I started using it to create a host of unique graphics. This led to me designing a wedding invitation for my sister’s wedding, which surprisingly, the entire family liked and approved. Since then, I have been taking up several projects where I create traditional, eclectic, and contemporary invitations for various occasions. This simple process gives me a kind of pleasure no other activity gives me. The experience of creating something so special for someone whom it means so much to is exhilarating.

This is why I wish to hone my skills as a graphic designer. While art as a whole is easy to embrace, it is the little technical details that refine it and make it the beauty it is. I am confident that my basic knowledge of the art will serve as a solid foundation for my career in this field. My style is simple; I find beauty in simplicity and like to maintain it so. I believe that the lesser there is to focus on, the easier it is to embrace the wholeness of a piece of art. My attached portfolio will display exactly what I am capable of doing, and how much I am capable of learning. I hope this provides a suitable base on which you will grant me admission to the course in graphic designing in your prestigious institute.

Tips for Students to Write a Good Autobiography

Every college receives a thousand applications each academic year that it has to process. This also means they receive autobiographies in the same number. Yours must be worth a read.

• Avoid clichés. Talk about experiences that have inspired you to take the decision to apply for a particular course.
• You may be extremely passionate about studying something, but if that passion doesn’t reflect in your autobiography, you may be overlooked. You must explicitly portray your love for the particular field and how as a graduate in that subject, you can make a real difference.
• Start with a high-impact sentence and make sure the rest of your essay justifies the impact you create in the beginning. Avoid mentioning your name, age, and place of birth unless it is imperative to the experience you are going to talk about.
• Your autobiography should portray your growth and development as a student as well as a human being. It should be a window to your personality for the reader.
• While all your experiences may not be positive, the lessons your learn from them should. Conclude on a positive note explaining why you deserve to be a part of that particular course.
• Don’t forget to edit your essay thoroughly. Have it read by different people of different age groups and backgrounds so that they can give you their feedback and you can improvise.

The key to writing a good autobiographical essay is to let your thoughts flow rather than put them in a fixed format. It is only then that you will be able to evoke emotion in the reader and help him feel the way you do about your career.

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‘I Came as a Shadow: An Autobiography,’ by John Thompson with Jesse Washington: An Excerpt

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At the end of the fifth grade, the nuns told my mother that because I was “retarded,” I had to leave Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I guess the help wasn’t so perpetual after all. My mother knew there was nothing wrong with me intellectually. Now I realize that when my mother always told me to speak my mind, she was teaching me more than that I had the right to say what I thought. She also was saying I should not let myself be interpreted or defined as something I was not. She had a lot of wisdom about how the world operated. She wanted me to stand up for myself and not be apologetic for the things God intended everyone to have.

My mother enrolled me in the sixth grade in the Washington public school system, at Harrison Elementary School at 13th and V Streets Northwest. My teacher there was a tall, no-nonsense Black woman named Sametta Wallace Jackson.

I would not be where I am today if not for Sametta Wallace Jackson. One of the first things she told us in her classroom was, “Good odor or no odor. Good hair or no hair. Comb it or cut it off.” Then she put her feet up where we all could see them. She had some big feet. She said, “Go ahead and laugh now. Laugh as loud as you want, because this is the last day laughing at these big feet will be allowed.” She focused as much on how to behave with manners and respect as she did on reading, writing, and arithmetic. We knew not to yawn in her class. We would never even imply Mrs. Jackson was boring. We knew someone was in charge, and it wasn’t us.

[ Return to the review of “I Came as a Shadow.” ]

After a few days in her classroom, Mrs. Jackson told me, “You’re not stupid. You just can’t read.” At that moment, she changed my life. She was able to see potential and ability in me that those nuns could not. She cared enough about me as a person not to make assumptions based on what things looked like from the outside.

Mrs. Jackson called my mother in to school and told her I needed a reading specialist. We went all over the city looking for one. I saw some troubled children at these places, kids with behavioral problems, maybe some mental health issues. I saw kids reading books upside down. I didn’t know what all that meant at my young age, but I knew something wasn’t right, and I knew I was being lumped in with them. Once I was taken into a room where a white man sat behind a desk. He said, “Name everything you can think of.” I’m thinking it had to be a trick, because there was no end to what I could think of. It would take all day just to go through what I played with in the woods behind the projects. I named some things I saw in the room, then named some other things, but after a while it felt silly and awkward. No matter what you say, you’re leaving a whole lot out. I think it was the same sort of test they employed to keep Black people from voting—asking how many jelly beans in a jar, or how many bubbles in a bar of soap. No matter what, you can’t really answer the question. The man behind the desk gave my mother an official diagnosis that I had a learning disability.

After a few experiences like that, I started to wonder, in my unformed mind, if there really was something wrong with me. But my mother remained supportive and reassuring, and the fact she and Mrs. Jackson had confidence in me is what got me through. I knew they didn’t think I was stupid.

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