biography in the paper

How to Write a Good Academic Biography (Part 1)

When your journal article gets accepted or you are preparing for a public presentation, you will often be asked for a short academic biography. For many people, these academic bios are more difficult to write than a dissertation. How do you sum up yourself and your work in 3-5 sentences? What do you need to include? What should you leave out?

What You Should Do

• Start with your full name followed by your current position, your general interests, and your current project, keeping them all very brief.
• If you are within a year of receiving a prestigious award, mention that as well.
• Finally, finish with a sentence that’s personal: add a hobby, a pet’s name, the city you live in—whatever you are comfortable with that is personal but not too private.

What You Should Avoid

• Avoid speaking in the first person, i.e., don’t use “I.”
• Don’t divulge details beyond your current position.
• In a longer bio of multiple paragraphs, you may add more awards and information about your master’s and bachelor’s degrees, but not in a short bio. Moreover, don’t add anything that happened before grad school—including your place of birth. For example:

Hi! My name is Scott. I was originally born in Vermont and now I’m a professor at North Yankee University in Fargone, New York (in upstate New York). I study antelopes’ migration patterns and their impact of native grain growth. My interest in antelopes began as a teenager when I first saw one in the wild. I did my undergrad degree in biology at SUNY and my masters and UCLA and my PhD in Forestry at Hunter College.

Related: Finished drafting your academic biography and heading for an international conference? Check out this post now!

The above example is far too casual and Scott’s work and current position are overshadowed by all the other random details. This can be written in a much better way:

Scott Sampson is a professor of Wildlife Biology at North Yankee University. His work focuses specifically on the migration patterns of antelope and their impact on the growth of native grain. His favorite place to do research in his backyard, which opens to the Akron National Forest.

This improvised version is concise, relevant, and makes Scott’s bio appear professional while giving a short description of his personal details.

Longer Bios

For longer bios, follow the same basic rules, but go into a bit more depth about your work, your education, and your future projects or interests. You may also consider adding a line about your immediate family. But as always, leave the personal details for a short and friendly mention at the end of the bio.

Mostly, your bio will be used by someone to introduce you at a conference or public event so if you write your bio using these tips, you will help them give a smooth and accurate introduction. Remember that the bio is the first thing that people know about you so pack it full of the most important things about yourself!

If you would like to know more about different formats of academic biography, read the next article in this series!

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How to Write a Good Academic Biography (Part 2)

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How to Write a Biography

Biographies are big business. Whether in book form or Hollywood biopics, the lives of the famous and sometimes not-so-famous fascinate us.

While it’s true that most biographies are about people who are in the public eye, sometimes the subject is less well-known. Primarily, though, famous or not, the person who is written about has led an incredible life.

In this article, we will explain biography writing in detail for teachers and students so they can create their own.

While your students will most likely have a basic understanding of a biography, it’s worth taking a little time before they put pen to paper to tease out a crystal-clear definition of one.

What Is a Biography?

A biography is an account of someone’s life written by someone else . While there is a genre known as a fictional biography, for the most part, biographies are, by definition, nonfiction.

Generally speaking, biographies provide an account of the subject’s life from the earliest days of childhood to the present day or, if the subject is deceased, their death.

The job of a biography is more than just to outline the bare facts of a person’s life.

Rather than just listing the basic details of their upbringing, hobbies, education, work, relationships, and death, a well-written biography should also paint a picture of the subject’s personality and experience of life.

Full Biographies

Teaching unit.

Teach your students everything they need to know about writing an AUTOBIOGRAPHY and a BIOGRAPHY.

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Features of a Biography

Before students begin writing a biography, they’ll need to have a firm grasp of the main features of a Biography. An excellent way to determine how well they understand these essential elements is to ask them to compile a checklist like the one-blow

Their checklists should contain the items below at a minimum. Be sure to help them fill in any gaps before moving on to the writing process.

The purpose of a biography is to provide an account of someone’s life.

Biography structure.

ORIENTATION (BEGINNING) Open your biography with a strong hook to grab the reader’s attention

SEQUENCING: In most cases, biographies are written in chronological order unless you are a very competent writer consciously trying to break from this trend.

COVER: childhood, upbringing, education, influences, accomplishments, relationships, etc. – everything that helps the reader to understand the person.

CONCLUSION: Wrap your biography up with some details about what the subject is doing now if they are still alive. If they have passed away, make mention of what impact they have made and what their legacy is or will be.

BIOGRAPHY FEATURES

LANGUAGE Use descriptive and figurative language that will paint images inside your audience’s minds as they read. Use time connectives to link events.

PERSPECTIVE Biographies are written from the third person’s perspective.

DETAILS: Give specific details about people, places, events, times, dates, etc. Reflect on how events shaped the subject. You might want to include some relevant photographs with captions. A timeline may also be of use depending upon your subject and what you are trying to convey to your audience.

TENSE Written in the past tense (though ending may shift to the present/future tense)

THE PROCESS OF WRITING A BIOGRAPHY

Like any form of writing, you will find it simple if you have a plan and follow it through. These steps will ensure you cover the essential bases of writing a biography essay.

Firstly, select a subject that inspires you. Someone whose life story resonates with you and whose contribution to society intrigues you. The next step is to conduct thorough research. Engage in extensive reading, explore various sources, watch documentaries, and glean all available information to provide a comprehensive account of the person’s life.

Creating an outline is essential to organize your thoughts and information. The outline should include the person’s early life, education, career, achievements, and any other significant events or contributions. It serves as a map for the writing process, ensuring that all vital information is included.

Your biography should have an engaging introduction that captivates the reader’s attention and provides background information on the person you’re writing about. It should include a thesis statement summarising the biography’s main points.

Writing a biography in chronological order is crucial . You should begin with the person’s early life and move through their career and achievements. This approach clarifies how the person’s life unfolded and how they accomplished their goals.

A biography should be written in a narrative style , capturing the essence of the person’s life through vivid descriptions, anecdotes, and quotes. Avoid dry, factual writing and focus on creating a compelling narrative that engages the reader.

Adding personal insights and opinions can enhance the biography’s overall impact, providing a unique perspective on the person’s achievements, legacy, and impact on society.

Editing and proofreading are vital elements of the writing process. Thoroughly reviewing your biography ensures that the writing is clear, concise, and error-free. You can even request feedback from someone else to ensure that it is engaging and well-written.

Finally, including a bibliography at the end of your biography is essential. It gives credit to the sources that were used during research, such as books, articles, interviews, and websites.

Tips for Writing a Brilliant Biography

Biography writing tip #1: choose your subject wisely.

There are several points for students to reflect on when deciding on a subject for their biography. Let’s take a look at the most essential points to consider when deciding on the subject for a biography:

Interest: To produce a biography will require sustained writing from the student. That’s why students must choose their subject well. After all, a biography is an account of someone’s entire life to date. Students must ensure they choose a subject that will sustain their interest throughout the research, writing, and editing processes.

Merit: Closely related to the previous point, students must consider whether the subject merits the reader’s interest. Aside from pure labors of love, writing should be undertaken with the reader in mind. While producing a biography demands sustained writing from the author, it also demands sustained reading from the reader.

Therefore, students should ask themselves if their chosen subject has had a life worthy of the reader’s interest and the time they’d need to invest in reading their biography.

Information: Is there enough information available on the subject to fuel the writing of an entire biography? While it might be a tempting idea to write about a great-great-grandfather’s experience in the war. There would be enough interest there to sustain the author’s and the reader’s interest, but do you have enough access to information about their early childhood to do the subject justice in the form of a biography?

Biography Writing Tip #2: R esearch ! Research! Research!

While the chances are good that the student already knows quite a bit about the subject they’ve chosen. Chances are 100% that they’ll still need to undertake considerable research to write their biography.

As with many types of writing , research is an essential part of the planning process that shouldn’t be overlooked. If students wish to give as complete an account of their subject’s life as possible, they’ll need to put in the time at the research stage.

An effective way to approach the research process is to:

1. Compile a chronological timeline of the central facts, dates, and events of the subject’s life

2. Compile detailed descriptions of the following personal traits:

•      Physical looks
•      Character traits
•      Values and beliefs

3. Compile some research questions based on different topics to provide a focus for the research:

• Childhood : Where and when were they born? Who were their parents? Who were the other family members? What education did they receive?
• Obstacles: What challenges did they have to overcome? How did these challenges shape them as individuals?
• Legacy: What impact did this person have on the world and/or the people around them?
• Dialogue & Quotes: Dialogue and quotations by and about the subject are a great way to bring color and life to a biography. Students should keep an eagle eye out for the gems that hide amid their sources.

As the student gets deeper into their research, new questions will arise that can further fuel the research process and help to shape the direction the biography will ultimately go in.

Likewise, during the research, themes will often begin to suggest themselves. Exploring these themes is essential to bring depth to biography, but we’ll discuss this later in this article.

Research Skills:

Researching for biography writing is an excellent way for students to hone their research skills in general. Developing good research skills is essential for future academic success. Students will have opportunities to learn how to:

• Gather relevant information
• Evaluate different information sources
• Select suitable information
• Organize information into a text.

Students will have access to print and online information sources, and, in some cases, they may also have access to people who knew or know the subject (e.g. biography of a family member).

These days, much of the research will likely take place online. It’s crucial, therefore, to provide your students with guidance on how to use the internet safely and evaluate online sources for reliability. This is the era of ‘ fake news ’ and misinformation after all!

COMPLETE TEACHING UNIT ON INTERNET RESEARCH SKILLS USING GOOGLE SEARCH

Teach your students ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF THE INFORMATION ERA to become expert DIGITAL RESEARCHERS.

⭐How to correctly ask questions to search engines on all devices.

⭐ How to filter and refine your results to find exactly what you want every time.

⭐ Essential Research and critical thinking skills for students.

⭐ Plagiarism, Citing and acknowledging other people’s work.

⭐ How to query, synthesize and record your findings logically.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING Tip #3: Find Your Themes In Biography Writing

Though predominantly a nonfiction genre, the story still plays a significant role in good biography writing. The skills of characterization and plot structuring are transferable here. And, just like in fiction, exploring themes in a biographical work helps connect the personal to the universal. Of course, these shouldn’t be forced; this will make the work seem contrived, and the reader may lose faith in the truthfulness of the account. A biographer needs to gain and maintain the trust of the reader.

Fortunately, themes shouldn’t need to be forced. A life well-lived is full of meaning, and the themes the student writer is looking for will emerge effortlessly from the actions and events of the subject’s life. It’s just a case of learning how to spot them.

One way to identify the themes in a life is to look for recurring events or situations in a person’s life. These should be apparent from the research completed previously. The students should seek to identify these patterns that emerge in the subject’s life. For example, perhaps they’ve had to overcome various obstacles throughout different periods of their life. In that case, the theme of overcoming adversity is present and has been identified.

Usually, a biography has several themes running throughout, so be sure your students work to identify more than one theme in their subject’s life.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING Tip: #4 Put Something of Yourself into the Writing

While the defining feature of a biography is that it gives an account of a person’s life, students must understand that this is not all a biography does. Relating the facts and details of a subject’s life is not enough. The student biographer should not be afraid to share their thoughts and feelings with the reader throughout their account of their subject’s life.

The student can weave some of their personality into the fabric of the text by providing commentary and opinion as they relate the events of the person’s life and the wider social context at the time. Unlike the detached and objective approach we’d expect to find in a history textbook, in a biography, student-writers should communicate their enthusiasm for their subject in their writing.

This makes for a more intimate experience for the reader, as they get a sense of getting to know the author and the subject they are writing about.

Biography Examples For Students

• Year 5 Example
• Year 7 Example
• Year 9 Example

“The Rock ‘n’ Roll King: Elvis Presley”

Elvis Aaron Presley, born on January 8, 1935, was an amazing singer and actor known as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Even though he’s been dead for nearly 50 years, I can’t help but be fascinated by his incredible life!

Elvis grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a tiny house with his parents and twin brother. His family didn’t have much money, but they shared a love for music. Little did they know Elvis would become a music legend!

When he was only 11 years old, Elvis got his first guitar. He taught himself to play and loved singing gospel songs. As he got older, he started combining different music styles like country, blues, and gospel to create a whole new sound – that’s Rock ‘n’ Roll!

In 1954, at the age of 19, Elvis recorded his first song, “That’s All Right.” People couldn’t believe how unique and exciting his music was. His famous hip-swinging dance moves also made him a sensation!

Elvis didn’t just rock the music scene; he also starred in movies like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock.” But fame came with challenges. Despite facing ups and downs, Elvis kept spreading happiness through his music.

Tragically, Elvis passed away in 1977, but his music and charisma live on. Even today, people worldwide still enjoy his songs like “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Elvis Presley’s legacy as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll will live forever.

Long Live the King: I wish I’d seen him.

Elvis Presley, the Rock ‘n’ Roll legend born on January 8, 1935, is a captivating figure that even a modern-day teen like me can’t help but admire. As I delve into his life, I wish I could have experienced the magic of his live performances.

Growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis faced challenges but found solace in music. At 11, he got his first guitar, a symbol of his journey into the world of sound. His fusion of gospel, country, and blues into Rock ‘n’ Roll became a cultural phenomenon.

The thought of being in the audience during his early performances, especially when he recorded “That’s All Right” at 19, sends shivers down my spine. Imagining the crowd’s uproar and feeling the revolutionary energy of that moment is a dream I wish I could have lived.

Elvis wasn’t just a musical prodigy; he was a dynamic performer. His dance moves, the embodiment of rebellion, and his roles in films like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock” made him a true icon.

After watching him on YouTube, I can’t help but feel a little sad that I’ll never witness the King’s live performances. The idea of swaying to “Hound Dog” or being enchanted by “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in person is a missed opportunity. Elvis may have left us in 1977, but he was the king of rock n’ roll. Long live the King!

Elvis Presley: A Teen’s Take on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Icon”

Elvis Presley, born January 8, 1935, was a revolutionary force in the music world, earning his title as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Exploring his life, even as a 16-year-old today, I’m captivated by the impact he made.

Hailing from Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis grew up in humble beginnings, surrounded by the love of his parents and twin brother. It’s inspiring to think that, despite financial challenges, this young man would redefine the music scene.

At 11, Elvis got his first guitar, sparking a self-taught journey into music. His early gospel influences evolved into a unique fusion of country, blues, and gospel, creating the electrifying genre of Rock ‘n’ Roll. In 1954, at only 19, he recorded “That’s All Right,” marking the birth of a musical legend.

Elvis wasn’t just a musical innovator; he was a cultural phenomenon. His rebellious dance moves and magnetic stage presence challenged the norms. He transitioned seamlessly into acting, starring in iconic films like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock.”

However, fame came at a cost, and Elvis faced personal struggles. Despite the challenges, his music continued to resonate. Even now, classics like “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” transcend generations.

Elvis Presley’s impact on music and culture is undeniable. He was known for his unique voice, charismatic persona, and electrifying performances. He sold over one billion records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling solo artists in history. He received numerous awards throughout his career, including three Grammy Awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Elvis’s influence can still be seen in today’s music. Many contemporary artists, such as Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, and Justin Timberlake, have cited Elvis as an inspiration. His music continues to be featured in movies, TV shows, and commercials.

Elvis left us in 1977, but his legacy lives on. I appreciate his breaking barriers and fearlessly embracing his artistic vision. Elvis Presley’s impact on music and culture is timeless, a testament to the enduring power of his artistry. His music has inspired generations and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING TEACHING IDEAS AND LESSONS

We have compiled a sequence of biography-related lessons or teaching ideas that you can follow as you please. They are straightforward enough for most students to follow without further instruction.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 1:

This session aims to give students a broader understanding of what makes a good biography.

Once your students have compiled a comprehensive checklist of the main features of a biography, allow them to use it to assess some biographies from your school library or on the internet using the feature checklist.

When students have assessed a selection of biographies, take some time as a class to discuss them. You can base the discussion around the following prompts:

• Which biographies covered all the criteria from their checklist?
• Which biographies didn’t?
• Which biography was the most readable in terms of structure?
• Which biography do you think was the least well-structured? How would you improve this?

Looking at how other writers have interpreted the form will help students internalize the necessary criteria before attempting to produce a biography. Once students have a clear understanding of the main features of the biography, they’re ready to begin work on writing a biography.

When the time does come to put pen to paper, be sure they’re armed with the following top tips to help ensure they’re as well prepared as possible.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 2:

This session aims to guide students through the process of selecting the perfect biography subject.

Instruct students to draw up a shortlist of three potential subjects for the biography they’ll write.

Using the three criteria mentioned in the writing guide (Interest, Merit, and Information), students award each potential subject a mark out of 5 for each of the criteria. In this manner, students can select the most suitable subject for their biography.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 3:

This session aims to get students into the researching phase, then prioritise and organise events chronologically.

Students begin by making a timeline of their subject’s life, starting with their birth and ending with their death or the present day. If the student has yet to make a final decision on the subject of their biography, a family member will often serve well for this exercise as a practice exercise.

Students should research and gather the key events of the person’s life, covering each period of their life from when they were a baby, through childhood and adolescence, right up to adulthood and old age. They should then organize these onto a timeline. Students can include photographs with captions if they have them.

They can present these to the class when they have finished their timelines.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 4:

Instruct students to look over their timeline, notes, and other research. Challenge them to identify three patterns that repeat throughout the subject’s life and sort all the related events and incidents into specific categories.

Students should then label each category with a single word. This is the thematic concept or the broad general underlying idea. After that, students should write a sentence or two expressing what the subject’s life ‘says’ about that concept.

This is known as the thematic statement . With the thematic concepts and thematic statements identified, the student now has some substantial ideas to explore that will help bring more profound meaning and wider resonance to their biography.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 5:

Instruct students to write a short objective account of an event in their own life. They can write about anyone from their past. It needn’t be more than a couple of paragraphs, but the writing should be strictly factual, focusing only on the objective details of what happened.

Once they have completed this, it’s time to rewrite the paragraph, but they should include some opinion and personal commentary this time.

The student here aims to inject some color and personality into their writing, to transform a detached, factual account into a warm, engaging story.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING BIOGRAPHIES

Teach your students to write AMAZING BIOGRAPHIES & AUTOBIOGRAPHIES using proven RESEARCH SKILLS and WRITING STRATEGIES .

• Understand the purpose of both forms of biography.
• Explore the language and perspective of both.
• Prompts and Challenges to engage students in writing a biography.
• Dedicated lessons for both forms of biography.
• Biographical Projects can expand students’ understanding of reading and writing a biography.
• A COMPLETE 82-PAGE UNIT – NO PREPARATION REQUIRED.

FREE Biography Writing Graphic Organizer

Use this valuable tool in the research and writing phases to keep your students on track and engaged.

WRITING CHECKLIST & RUBRIC BUNDLE

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To Conclude

By this stage, your students should have an excellent technical overview of a biography’s essential elements.

They should be able to choose their subject in light of how interesting and worthy they are, as well as give consideration to the availability of information out there. They should be able to research effectively and identify emerging themes in their research notes. And finally, they should be able to bring some of their personality and uniqueness into their retelling of the life of another.

Remember that writing a biography is not only a great way to develop a student’s writing skills; it can be used in almost all curriculum areas. For example, to find out more about a historical figure in History, to investigate scientific contributions to Science, or to celebrate a hero from everyday life.

Biography is an excellent genre for students to develop their writing skills and to find inspiration in the lives of others in the world around them.

HOW TO WRITE A BIOGRAPHY TUTORIAL VIDEO

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES RELATED TO BIOGRAPHY WRITING

How to write an Autobiography

How to Write a Historical Recount Text

15 Awesome Recount & Personal Narrative Topics

Personal Narrative Writing Guide

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How to write a biography essay

The complete guide on biographical storytelling

Anyone can learn how to write a perfect biography essay about someone else’s life by making sure to focus on true, objective facts about a specific person. First, determine the scope of the person’s life (years), pick a central theme, and write out the biography using the classic narrative arc.

Many college courses include an essay writing component, and a biography essay is one of the types of essays that you may encounter, especially if you are taking courses in liberal arts disciplines such as history or cultural studies. This guide from Ultius will provide you with a thorough overview of how to write an effective biography essay. The guide will include the following sections:

• purpose of a biography essay
• biography and culture
• elements of a good biography essay
• how to write a great biography essay
• samples/examples
• additional information

After reading this guide, you should feel confident in your ability to write a strong biography essay, or at least in your ability to find the right kind of help to write such an essay.

Purpose of a biography essay

"Biography" literally means the story of a life. So, when you write a biography essay, what you are trying to do is to write the story of someone's life. ( Autobiography is a related concept that refers to the story of your own life.) If your biography essay is successful, then by the end of reading it, the reader should have a clear idea of what your subject did in his/her life and why his/her life was interesting and/or important enough to be the subject of a biography essay.

According to the Ultius glossary, a biography is a detailed descriptions of a famous person’s life and accomplishments (as a genre). Biographies typically contain intricate details of the subject’s personal life and sometimes include an analysis of the person’s personality and attributes.

A biography essay is similar to other forms of essays, such as the narrative essay, insofar as it involves telling a story. A biography essay, however, is supposed to be rooted in historical fact, and it should describe your subject using objective tone and language.

Narrative essay how-to guide. Click here is you are interested in learning how to write a narrative essay instead.

There are two important things to remember about a biography essay.

1. It is a true story that describes the life of your subject. You are not allowed to just make things up, and there should be scholarly documentation confirming that what you are writing is valid.

2. It is a story about someone else, generally a famous historical figure . If you were writing about yourself, that would be a memoir, which for present purposes should be considered as different from a biographical essay.

Only use details and facts that can be verified through documents or existing sources. An important hallmark of biography essays is that they are true.

The importance of biography essays

The English writer Samuel Johnson had this to say about biographies:

"No species of writing seems more worthy of cultivation than biography, since none can be more delightful or more useful, none can more certainly enchain the heart by irresistible interest, or more widely diffuse instruction to every diversity of condition.”

The main idea here is that my reading biographies, people can gain insight into the lives of other people who have done amazing things. This can be enchanting in its own right, and it can also provide the reader with inspiration for his own life and help the reader look at his own life with fresh eyes.

Stuck with writing? Essay services from Ultius can help with biography writing.

For example, are you interested in doing philosophy? If so, you may find it inspiring to read biographies such as:

• Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius , by Ray Monk
• Albert Camus: A Life , by Olivier Todd
• Søren Kierkegaard: A Biography , by Joakim Garff

A nice thing about the genre of biography is also that biographies are written about a huge range of different figures in different disciplines, meaning that you can find biographical subject that may specifically interest you or move your heart.

Biography and culture

Biographies play an important role in preserving human cultural memory: it is like history, except focused on the life of one person. People have been telling stories about heroes and other admirable figures since the beginning of the human species.

Modern biography, though, is somewhat different from the old heroic stories, in that modern biography is supposed to be objective and scholarly, and it is generally rooted in a secular view of time and history. In other words, modern biographies are based in reason more than imagination, and they are not supposed to include magical and/or irrational events.

Biography vs. legend

Biography is a modern scholarly discipline that has some similarities to the much older genre of the legend, but it is also different in some important ways.

So, the genre of biography carries on the old tradition of telling stories about the lives of admirable figures. But whereas the old legends were more imaginative and quasi-fictional in their tellings, modern biography is supposed to be based on reason and objective, verifiable facts about the life of the subject.

Elements of a good biography essay

In order to write a compelling biography essay, there are certain elements that you will have to include. Here are some of them.

Linear narrative arc

This may seem somewhat obvious, but a human life naturally resembles a story, starting with birth and ending in death, with various drama and events happening in between. This is the natural arc that you should follow when writing your biography essay. In general, you should begin your essay with the birth of your historical figure and then follow him/her through the events of his/her life until death.

Some biography essays might be able to get with innovations such as non-linear structure, but unless you really know what you are doing, that can get very confusing, and your biography essay would be difficult to follow. So, for all intent and purpose, we can say that following a linear narrative arc is a best practice for writing a biography essay.

Different types of narrative structures

These are some of the possible types of narrative structure. When writing a biography essay, you are strongly advised to stick to the linear structure.

The linear structure is the standard for most biographies; it starts at a specific point in the protagonist's life and moves forward in chronological order. Nonlinear structure is more complex as this style moves between time periods with time skips and flashbacks. Thematic structure strategically conveys given and new information to frame and insert specific themes.

Choose a compelling biography essay subject

For your biography essay, your subject will be the person whose life story you will be writing. In order for your biography essay to be effective, you will have to pick a subject who is interesting, important, or otherwise qualified to be the subject of a biography essay. You should ask yourself the question: why choose your subject, and what has your subject done that deserves to be recorded and remembered?

Of course, there's a sense in which every single human life is interesting and important. But for the purposes of your biography essay, you will want to dig deeper and consider why your subject is worthy of being remembered in the collective cultural memory.

An effective biography usually focuses on someone who has affected history, or someone who has achieved a high level of excellence within his/her discipline or field.

Søren Kierkegaard: A very important philosopher

Kierkegaard would be an example a good subject for a biography essay, because his works are generally considered a turning point in modern philosophy.

The subject of your biography essay does not necessarily need to be well-known. In fact, it can be a lot of fun to dig into the life of someone is not well known but should be. The important thing is that your subject must be compelling, and there must be a solid reason why his/her story should be told.

Also, when picking a subject, you may want to make sure that you actually like your subject. That can make writing a biography essay more fun, and your respect for the subject (or lack thereof) will also probably come across in your writing. If you want to convince others that your subject is compelling, then it would help if you find him/her compelling.

Choose biographical (life) events wisely

A lot can happen in a life, and it would probably be impossible for you to include everything there is to know about your subject within a single biography essay. So, you should choose the high point, or the most important points, and then focus on those.

Events in the life of Kierkegaard

These are key events that could be the focus of a biography essay on Kierkegaard.

Garff, Joakim. Søren Kierkegaard: A Biography. Princeton: Princeton U P, 2007.

How to write a great biography essay

Now that you know about the elements of a biography essay, you can follow these steps in order to ensure that your biography essay turns out to be a success.

Next, integrate the specific biography related aspects listed below.

Determine the scope of your biographical essay

Again, your biography essay won't be able to include everything there is to know about your subject. So, you will want to map out the scope of your biography essay before you get started. The birth and death of your subject are the logical starting and ending points for your essay. Then, you will want to select a few events or accomplishments in the life of your subject that are worthy of remembrance.

You can develop a full-fledged outline, or you can use a table like the one developed above. Either way, though, you will have to have a clear idea of where you will begin, where you will end, and the path that you will take from the beginning to the end.

Compile credible sources

Your biography essay has to be rooted in verifiable facts about the life of your subject. This means that it is important that you identify and document the sources of your information. The essay sources should generally be scholarly in nature, and you should avoid using websites to the greatest extent possible. This is because it is often difficult to tell whether the content on websites have been drawn from credible sources.

Questions to ask when compiling sources

If there are references listed on a website about your subject, then you should trace those references back to the original academic sources. Those are the sources you should use for your biography essay.

Write in a clear and compelling style

Remember: with your biography essay, you are at least partly trying to show your reader why your subject is interesting and why he/she deserves to have an essay written about him/her.

Your interest in your subject should come across in your writing style. After all, if you feel bored with your subject, then why should anyone else pay attention?

The language you use should be scholarly (but still filled with imagery ), but you should also focus on varying sentence structure, using excellent word choice, and other writing techniques that tell the life story of your subject in a compelling way that does justice to the importance of your subject.

Samples/examples

See the example biographical essay below for a clear example of how it needs to be written.

As the sample shows, it’s very important to be focused on true details. Please see the list of blog posts below for more examples of biography essays:

• Biography essay on Hillary Clinton
• Biography essay on Frank Rosolino
• Short essay on Edgar Allan Poe

If you need more help or would like something written for your own needs, consider buying custom essays from Ultius . Our talented writes can help you get something done in as fast as three hours.

Additional information

That brings us to the close of this guide on the biography essay. Here is a recapitulation of some of the best practices that have been covered here.

Develop a focused arc

You should use a linear narrative structure, starting with the birth of your subject, ending with their death, and focusing on selected key events and accomplishments in the subject's life.

Write in the scholarly mode

Although a biography essay is a kind of "story," it should still be written in a rational, scholarly way, and referencing in MLA or Chicago style is usually required for this kind of essay.

Love your subject

If you get to choose your subject, then you should pick a subject that you personally admire. This will make the writing process more fun, and your interest will also show in your writing and make the biography essay more enjoyable for the reader.

Find help if you need it

Finally, Ultius has plenty of resources that can help you write a successful biography essay and hone your skills as a writer. Please feel free to lean on us.

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How to Outline a Biography

Last Updated: July 4, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Stephanie Wong Ken, MFA . Stephanie Wong Ken is a writer based in Canada. Stephanie's writing has appeared in Joyland, Catapult, Pithead Chapel, Cosmonaut's Avenue, and other publications. She holds an MFA in Fiction and Creative Writing from Portland State University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 52,297 times.

Writing a biography can seem daunting, as you are trying to explore the entirety of someone's life on the page. The key to writing a good biography is outlining it before you dive in. A strong, detailed outline will work through key events chronologically. To outline a biography, start by discussing early life and childhood. Then, go into adulthood and current life, or later life and death if the person is no longer alive.

Discussing Early Life and Childhood

• For example, you may write, “RuPaul Andre Charles, born November 17, 1960 in San Diego, California.”

• For example, you may write, “RuPaul's mother, Ernestine Charles, was from Louisiana. RuPaul's father was Irving Charles. They divorced in 1967.”

• For example, you may write, “RuPaul grew up in San Diego, California and moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his sister when he was 15.”

• For example, you may write, “At 15 years old, RuPaul attended a performing arts school in Atlanta. After he graduated, he focused on his budding stage career, opting not to attend college.”

• For example, you may write about the person's experience with abuse at the hands of a parent. Or you may mention that the person struggled with a learning disability in middle school that would go undiagnosed until later in their life.

Outlining Adulthood

• For example, you may write, “Martha Graham went to Brown University from 1967-1981, majoring in dance. She worked under famous dancers and choreographers in the performance industry at Brown. She graduated with honors.”

• For example, you may write, “Martha Graham met choreographer Dash Nam in a dance class at Brown. They became romantic and professional partners, collaborating on a number of early performances. Nam would later play a major role in Graham's performing company in New York City.”

• For example, you may write, “Martha Graham worked as a bartender while at Brown to support herself. She then created performances for a small stipend until she was able to open her own performing company in 1987 with the help of Dash Nam.”

• For example, you may write, “Martha Graham was rejected from several major dance companies and was unemployed for several years. In frustration, Graham decided to open her own dance company and studio, using funds from friends and colleagues. It later became the premier dance company in America.”

Detailing Current Life and Impact

• For example, you may write, “RuPaul currently resides on a ranch in Wyoming with his partner of twenty years, Australian painter George LeBar. He continues to produce several successful television shows and is a continued advocate for the LGBTQ community.”

• For example, you may write, “In her later life, Graham fell into a depression and battled alcohol addiction. She died in 1991 at the age of 96 from pneumonia. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Northern New Mexico.”

• You can also include your own opinions about the person's overall life. You may include a short section on the impact the person had, or continues to have, on you.
• For example, you may write about how the person influenced a generation of artists or how the person impacted the way we view technology in the 21st century.

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/writing/how-to-write-a-biography.html
• ↑ https://www.apsu.edu/writingcenter/writing-resources/Biography-Outline.pdf
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-bio/

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How To Write Biography: Learn How To Do It Fast And Easy

Help! What is a biography essay? I don’t know how to write a biography paper! Don’t worry about it; we are here to help. We know that the biography essay can be a bit tricky to write. Most students panic when they realize they don’t have enough time to complete the essay or when they hit a writer’s block. The good news is that we have included all the necessary information about the bibliography in this blog post – as well as a great guide to help you write it.

You’ll learn what this paper is and how it is structured. We’ll also show you how to write biographical essay papers correctly. Finally, the complete sample written by our experts and the list of tips, tricks and advice will help you do an even better job. You’ll probably get some bonus points too. Ready? Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

First, what is a biographical essay, what is included in a biography, learn how to start a biography essay quickly, the complete guide to writing a biography paper, a sample biography for your consideration, biography tips, tricks and advice.

Let’s start with the beginning. What is a biographical essay?

A biographical essay is a type of academic paper that tells the story of a person’s life, usually focusing on their achievements, experiences, and impact on the world. The purpose of a biographical essay is to provide an in-depth and accurate portrayal of the subject’s life while highlighting key events and significant moments that shaped their character and legacy.

A biographical essay typically follows a chronological structure, beginning with the person’s early life and progressing through their major accomplishments, challenges and significant events. You may also include some information about the subject’s family, education, career, relationships, and personal values.

To write a great biographical essay, you need to conduct extensive research and gather accurate information about the person’s life. You should be prepared to review historical documents, conduct interviews with people who knew the person and consult several other reliable sources. You must then synthesize the information and create a compelling and engaging narrative that covers the subject’s life and accomplishments in great depth.

The first step is deciding what to put in biography. There is no set list of chapters that need to be included. A biography is not a research paper, thesis or dissertation. However, there are some common elements of a biography that you should consider adding to your paper (some, like the introduction and conclusion, are mandatory):

• Introduction. The introduction provides an overview of the person’s life, including their name, occupation and significance.
• Background information. This chapter provides context and background information about the person’s life, including their upbringing, family and education.
• Major life events. The essay should cover the major life events of the person, such as their accomplishments, challenges and contributions to their field or society.
• Personal qualities. It is important to include information about the person’s personality traits, values and beliefs. Bring the character to life using a carefully-crafted narrative.
• Impact and legacy. The bibliography essay should also cover the person’s impact and legacy, both during their lifetime and after their death.
• Death. If the subject is deceased, you can often write a short paragraph about the circumstances surrounding their death.
• Conclusion. The conclusion summarizes the person’s life and impact, and provides final thoughts on their significance and legacy.

Don’t know how to start a biography essay? The introduction of a biography essay is a very important part of the essay as it sets the tone and captures the reader’s attention. Here are some tips that should help you start the biography paper correctly:

The first one or two sentences should be attention-grabbing and captivating. Write a surprising fact, a quote from your subject or an interesting anecdote. After you’ve hooked the reader, provide some background information on your subject. This can include their name, their occupation or profession, and their significance in their field or in history. Now it’s time to briefly outline your subject’s life. You don’t need to go into great detail at this point; just give the reader an overview of who your subject is and what they are known for. Finally, end your introduction with a thesis statement that outlines the main argument of your essay. This will give the reader an idea of what to expect from the rest of the paper.

Make your introduction concise and organize it in a logical manner, using short paragraphs if necessary. It’s the very first thing your readers see, aside from the title of the paper.

Now that you know the features of a biography and how to start the essay, it’s time to get down to business. We’ll show you how to write biography essay papers quickly by following a simple step-by-step guide. After you read our guide, you’ll realize that biography writing is not as difficult as it sounds:

• Choose a great topic. Select a person that you find interesting and who has left a significant legacy on humanity. Make sure you have enough primary and secondary sources available to conduct thorough research.
• Conduct extensive research. Use a variety of primary and secondary sources, including books, articles, interviews, photos, videos, and other archival material to gather information about the person’s life and work. Take careful notes and write down the source of each piece of information.
• Organize your notes. Organize your notes into categories or themes to make it easier to catch subtle patterns and connections. Create an outline of the paper to organize your thoughts. The outline also ensures that your paper flows logically.
• Write the introduction. Begin with an opening sentence that captures the reader’s attention (the hook) and introduces the subject. Provide some background information about the person and their significance. At the end of the intro, write your thesis statement.
• Write the body paragraphs. Write the main body of the paper, focusing on the person’s life and work. Each paragraph should discuss a single important idea or fact. Use primary sources whenever possible to provide a detailed and accurate account of the person’s achievements and experiences. Include both personal and professional information to provide a comprehensive view of the person’s life.
• Write a short critical analysis. It’s often a good idea to include your own critical analysis of the person’s impact and contributions to society. Discuss their strengths and weaknesses and evaluate their legacy.
• Write the conclusion. Summarize the key points of the paper and provide some final thoughts on why the subject is important and on why you’ve chosen the topic.
• Write the References section. It’s very important to use proper citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, etc.) to give credit where credit is due.
• Edit and proofread your work. Read the paper carefully to ensure that it is free of errors and flows smoothly. Make any necessary edits and corrections. It’s a good practice to do this twice.

We know you’re probably looking for a biography example that you can use as a template for your next paper. This is why our helpful experts have written a sample biography for you, which you can get in touch with us right now to receive! If you are interested in our services, we are always happy to provide great biography examples that are professional writers can type up and research vigorously.

It’s time for some tips, tricks and advice on how to get the biography written perfectly. Remember that you also need to follow every guideline set forth by your teacher. Here are some that should be a great biography essay assignment help :

Always choose a subject that that you feel passionate about to make the research and writing process more enjoyable. Examine the ways in which significant events served as pivotal moments in both the life and works of the individual. Use a clear and concise writing style that is easy to read and understand. Avoid using overly complex language or technical jargon that might confuse the reader. The simpler the better. Include both personal and professional information about the subject. This will help the reader understand the person on a deeper level and appreciate their accomplishments more. While it’s important to present the subject in a positive light, it’s also important to be objective and avoid bias. Present the facts in an impartial way and let the reader draw his own conclusions. Don’t forget to edit and proofread your essay carefully to ensure that it is free of errors and that it flows smoothly. It’s a good idea to have someone else read your essay to provide feedback and catch any mistakes you might have missed.

Get Help With Your Biography Assignment

Do you need a bit of help with your biography assignment? Maybe you need somebody with more experience than you to make some tweaks to the structure of your paper. Or perhaps you need a great outline to get you started. Our writers, editors and proofreaders can get it done, and offer top notch college homework help . Here, you can get biography help in a matter of minutes, even in the middle of the night. Our customer support department is online 24/7 to help you find an expert to help with your assignment.

Our creative ENL writers can finish a unique biography essay in as little as 3 hours. We are a top tier provider of academic writing services that has been helping students get an A+ on their every assignment for more than 10 years. Our experts can help high school, college and university students with any class, any course and any paper.

Need a bio example you can use in your own project? Need some more tips on how to do a great job on your biography paper? Or perhaps you don’t really know how to conclude a biography. Just reach out to us and get a custom written essay or research paper tonight!

What are the 5 elements of a biography?

As with any piece of writing about a person, a biography should be accurate about the person you are writing about. Five elements of a biography could be: the name of the person, his or her achievements, relationship with family, views and life outlook, and important life events.

What does a good biography include?

A good biography will go in depth about a person’s life. It will include the early life of the subject, their pathway in life and what they have achieved. A good biography will also be interesting to read, and will place the story of the subject in today’s context, giving it the importance needed.

What is an example of a popular biography?

Some examples of popular biographies include: Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert, Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, and Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. Blight.

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How to Write a Biography (Examples & Templates)

A biography is a written account of a person’s life that details their life in chronological order. Another person usually writes this detailed account, and it contains reports of their childhood, career, major life events, relationships, and social impact. It also details their relationships with their family, children, and life accomplishments.

The best way to find out more about a popular figure is through reading their biographies, so you need to make sure you get the correct information. Before writing a biography, you need to do a lot of research and interviews to represent a person’s life accurately.

Types of Biography

A biography is the story of someone’s life as written by another writer. Most biographies of popular figures are written years, or even decades, after their deaths. Authors write biographies of popular figures due to either a lack of information on the subject or personal interest.

A biography aims to share a person’s story or highlight a part of their life.

There are different types of biographies, depending on the story. Some biographies are written true to the story, while some are written as fictional works. Biographies can give you true understanding of a person on an internal as well as external level along with a lot of life lessons.

Autobiography

An autobiography is different from a biography because it is written by the subject of the story, themselves. The author writes in the first-person narrative, and it flows step-by-step like a story of their life. Autobiographies contain personal accounts of the subject’s life, along with their perspectives and opinions on events in their life.

How To Write a Biography

Pick a subject.

Picking a subject is the first step in writing a biography. You can pick an already famous person or a relatively unknown person with a great life story. If you already have a few in mind, you can start by asking yourself some questions such as;

• What has the subject accomplished that makes them a good subject?
• Have they had an impact on society?
• Is the subject a celebrity or a well-known personality?
• Will the biography appeal to a wide audience?

Get Permission

When you pick a subject, the next thing to do is to get permission from them or their family or rights owners. Although, with some historical figures, there may not be any need for permission. Getting permission from your subject makes it easier for you to get stories to put into your book. You can get the chance to obtain additional personal stories and anecdotes that will make your book more interesting by doing so as well.

Do The Research

Research is the most important part of a biography’s process as the entire content of the book is dependent on it. Irrespective of what you know about the subject, you need to carry out as much research as possible to get the story’s facts precisely.

Biography research comes from various sources, depending on the book’s subject. Firsthand reports from family, friends, or personal accounts from the subjects are primary sources. They are usually the most accurate and reliable, and they are crucial for a biography. Secondary sources come from other sources like magazines or documentaries.

Pick a Format

Biographies come in various formats, with each of them having their pros and cons. A typical biography will start at the beginning, usually with the birth and childhood of the subject. Yet, if the biography’s theme involves a different event in their life, the author may want to explore the flashback option or one with concurrent events from different times.

Usually, biographies have a theme or a general life lesson at the center. The author’s role is to tell the subject’s story leading up to the major event.

Which-ever format you choose should place the theme at the center, with the other events detailing the journey.

Create a Timeline Of The Story

Since a biography takes place in chronological order, there needs to be a timeline of the events in the right order. The timeline should contain the key events in the subject’s life, in the order the author plans on revealing them. A great way to declutter the story and keep it interesting is to use flashbacks . This way, the author can introduce past events and explain later events excluding the element of monotony.

Add In Your Thoughts

The good thing about biographies is that you don’t have to stick to the hard facts only. As the author, you can share your opinions and emotions in writing. The author has the freedom to do this by commenting on a significant action by the subject in a manner that describes why they feel the subject may have done what they did.

The author can also include commentary on events depicted in the biography – how it was influenced society or its impact on the lives around them. Recounting these events through a different perspective can make the biography more relatable and interesting to read.

FAQ’s

Why is a biography template important.

A biography template has an outline that makes the writing easier for the author. Biography templates usually contain a sample timeline, format, and questions that provide more information about the subject. With a great biography template, you can cut your writing time in half and spend less time coming up with an outline.

How are biographies better in comparison to autobiographies

Since a different person writes biographies, they tend to be more objective and somewhat accurate than autobiographies. An autobiography tells things from the author’s perspective, so their views and perspective cloud it. Thus, a biography will likely tell a more factual story.

These are the important steps you need to take to help you write a great biography. Now, to make things easier for you, we have a free customizable autobiography and biography template that you can use to start your first book. Get the template and start writing today

What are some of the most important elements to keep in consideration while writing a biography?

Any author looking to write a biography must consider the factors below. They aren’t the only important factors, but a biography isn’t complete without them. • Date and place of their birth • Academic background • Professional expertise • Death, if deceased • Facts and anecdotes about the person • Main accomplishments • Detailed accounts of their child and adult life

Biographies tell the untold stories of some incredibly relevant people in the world. But biographies are not always strictly accurate. So, every biographer needs to follow the necessary steps to provide a biography with all the requirements.

Related Documents

How to Write a Biography Essay and Get an A+

03 July, 2020

7 minutes read

Author:  Elizabeth Brown

Got a chance to write about your idol but need help with realization? Read our article to know the secrets of effective biography essay writing. Whoever you decide to write a biography essay about, don’t try to include random information at once. The person you describe would not like it. Instead, read our article about how to write a biography essay correctly and, more importantly, take pleasure in composing it. We’ll share some smart tips and tricks that you’ll find particularly useful for your writing.

What is a biographical essay?

Some tend to mistakenly attribute biographical essay to the process of writing about themselves. But actually, biography definition has nothing to do with you. It’s more about telling the engaging story about a person’s life. This individual can be anyone: a famous historical figure, a well-known actor, politician, dancer, musician, artist, writer, inventor – you get the point. Such task sounds intriguing and interesting, and indeed it is. A biographical essay is a great chance to dilute simple academic tasks with a pinch of new article full of interesting facts and opinions.

Biography essay outline

Before writing a biography essay, it’s important to pay attention to essay structure and build up a biography outline. An outline is generally a schematic plan that helps to organize biography essays in accordance with the writer’s preference. In this, the primary task is to create a list of the most significant facts you’ll want to develop in the essay. The easiest way of arranging an outline is to add a numbered list indicating the main points, and a list of sub-points marked with bullets. Also, don’t forget to include a biography thesis statement that’ll sum up the main idea of your essay in one sentence.

How to start a biography essay?

Before writing, you first need to understand what to include in a biography essay. An eloquent biography essay always starts with the introduction of a chosen person. The initial step of writing it involves the inclusion of such information as the person’s name, date of their birth, and the place they were born in. Of course, it’s not a uniform set of data necessary for this part. You can take the situation in your hands and write about some cultural or historical background surrounding one’s birthplace or the day they were born. Adding such information to the introductory part will help to create some context by connecting you and readers closer to the described character and broadening the common knowledge with more absorbing facts.

How to write a biography essay about someone else?

When people ask how to write a biography paper, the only thing they think of is a random flow of ideas about someone’s life. In fact, writing a biography paper is more complicated. The section following the introduction is devoted to life description. Here, you’ll need to feature early life and childhood of a chosen person. This part should cover general information about their parents, and divert readers’ attention to some facts related to their origin, education, and relationship status. Next, focus more on education and place where the person grew up. In this section, include more detailed information about the critical moments of their childhood life, like the name of the school they studied in or the point of moving to another city or town. Perhaps there are more facts worthy of note, such as family problems or health issues that revolved around one’s childhood. If there are such, include them as well.

The second section of your biographical essay will tell readers about someone’s adulthood. Depending on the person, this piece of story can be outlined differently. For example, you can write about their university or college life, or indicate their first job. The point here is to chronologically depict a period of moving from childhood to adult life. Then, talk about the formation of a person’s career path, starting with the first working experience and ending with the remarkable moment of revealing talents and skills that shaped their life. In the next paragraph, mention the person’s relationship during their adulthood. If applicable, describe how someone special helped them to become successful or motivated them throughout their career. Another significant aspect in this section has to do with the person’s success, in which readers could know about their notable accomplishments and achievements.

The final section of a biography essay will touch the person’s current or later life. If they are alive, include the overlook of their place of living and write about their activities. You can also add such information as to their current projects or career plans, along with other meaningful facts about their life.

If the person you’re writing about is no longer living, emphasize on the brightest moments at the sunset of their life. Mention the definitive moments and aspects, and write about the cause of their deaths.

Other tips on writing a biography

If you want your biography essay to leave a great impact on readers, don’t conclude it with a simple explanation of why this or that person died and what their latest works were. This is only factual information which brings no specific value to your essay and, more importantly, doesn’t breathe life into it. To wrap up your essay content with a memorable grabber, include a couple of sentences in which write about the person’s legacy. That is, add the opinion of why this individual’s activity became an exceptional contribution to the world’s history, and why they have changed some aspects of their field.

Biography essay writing is a responsible task that aims at showing a well-acclaimed person from the best light. Therefore, you need to write about one’s life as you would about your mother – with maximum details and showing respect for that person. So follow our advice to compose an A+ biography essay that you and your audience will enjoy reading.

Note that our company provides academic writing help. You can buy a Biography essay written from scratch by our  essay writer .

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What Is Biography? Definition, Usage, and Literary Examples

Biography definition.

A  biography  (BYE-og-ruh-fee) is a written account of one person’s life authored by another person. A biography includes all pertinent details from the subject’s life, typically arranged in a chronological order. The word  biography  stems from the Latin  biographia , which succinctly explains the word’s definition:  bios  = “life” +  graphia  = “write.”

Since the advent of the written word, historical writings have offered information about real people, but it wasn’t until the 18th century that biographies evolved into a separate literary genre.  Autobiographies  and memoirs fall under the broader biography genre, but they are distinct literary forms due to one key factor: the subjects themselves write these works. Biographies are popular source materials for documentaries, television shows, and motion pictures.

The History of Biographies

The biography form has its roots in Ancient Rome and Greece. In 44 BCE, Roman writer Cornelius Nepos published  Excellentium Imperatorum Vitae  ( Lives of the Generals ), one of the earliest recorded biographies. In 80 CE, Greek writer Plutarch released  Parallel Lives , a sweeping work consisting of 48 biographies of famous men. In 121 CE, Roman historian Suetonius wrote  De vita Caesarum  ( On the Lives of the Caesars ), a series of 12 biographies detailing the lives of Julius Caesar and the first 11 emperors of the Roman Empire. These were among the most widely read biographies of their time, and at least portions of them have survived intact over the millennia.

During the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church had a notable influence on biographies. Historical, political, and cultural biographies fell out of favor. Biographies of religious figures—including saints, popes, and church founders—replaced them. One notable exception was Italian painter/architect Giorgio Vasari’s 1550 biography,  The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects , which was immensely popular. In fact, it is one of the first examples of a bestselling book.

Still, it wasn’t until the 18th century that authors began to abandon multiple subjects in a single work and instead focus their research and writing on one subject. Scholars consider James Boswell’s 1791  The Life of Samuel Johnson  to be the first modern biography. From here, biographies were established as a distinct literary genre, separate from more general historical writing.

As understanding of psychology and sociology grew in the 19th and early 20th centuries, biographies further evolved, offering up even more comprehensive pictures of their subjects. Authors who played major roles in this contemporary approach to biographing include Lytton Strachey, Gamaliel Bradford, and Robert Graves.

Types of Biographies

While all biographical works chronicle the lives of real people, writers can present the information in several different ways.

• Popular biographies are life histories written for a general readership.  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks  by Rebecca Skloot and  Into the Wild  by Jon Krakauer are two popular examples.
• Critical biographies discuss the relationship between the subject’s life and the work they produced or were involved in; for example,  The Billionaire Who Wasn’t: How Chuck Feeney Secretly Made and Gave Away a Fortune  by Conor O’Clery and  Unpresidented: A Biography of Donald Trump  by Martha Brockenbrough.
• Historical biographies put greater understanding on how the subject’s life and contributions affected or were affected by the times in which they lived; see  John Adams  by David McCullough and  Catherine the Great  by Peter K. Massie.
• Literary biographies concentrate almost exclusively on writers and artists, blending a conventional  narrative  of the historical facts of the subject’s life with an exploration of how these facts impacted their creative output. Some examples include  Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay  by Nancy Milford and  Jackson Pollock: An American Saga  by Gregory White Smith and Steven Naifeh.
• Reference biographies are more scholarly writings, usually written by multiple authors and covering multiple lives around a single topic. They verify facts, provide background details, and contribute supplemental information resources, like bibliographies, glossaries, and historical documents; for example,  Black Americans in Congress, 1870-2007  and the  Dictionary of Canadian Biography .
• Fictional biographies, or biographical novels, like  The Other Boleyn Girl  by Philippa Gregory, incorporate creative license into the retelling of a real person’s story by taking on the structure and freedoms of a novel. The term can also describe novels in which authors give an abundance of background information on their characters, to the extent that the novel reads more like a biography than fiction. An example of this is George R.R. Martin’s  Fire and Blood , a novel detailing the history of a royal family from his popular  A Song of Ice and Fire

Biographies and Filmed Entertainment

Movie makers and television creators frequently produce biographical stories, either as dramatized productions based on real people or as nonfiction accounts.

Documentary

This genre is a nonfictional movie or television show that uses historical records to tell the story of a subject. The subject might be a one person or a group of people, or it might be a certain topic or theme. To present a biography in a visually compelling way, documentaries utilize archival footage, recreations, and interviews with subjects, scholars, experts, and others associated with the subject.

Famous film documentaries include  Grey Gardens,  a biography of two of Jacqueline Kennedy’s once-wealthy cousins, who, at the time of filming, lived in squalor in a condemned mansion in the Hamptons; and  I Am Not Your Negro , a biography of the life and legacy of pioneering American author James Baldwin.

Television documentary series tell one story over the course of several episodes, like  The Jinx :  The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst , a biography of the real estate heir and alleged serial killer that focused on his suspected crimes. There are many nonfiction television shows that use a documentary format, but subjects typically change from one episode to the next, such as A&E’s  Biography  and PBS’s  POV .

These films are biographical motion pictures, written by screenwriters and performed by actors. They often employ a certain amount of creative liberty in their interpretation of a real life. This is largely done to maintain a feasible runtime; capturing all of the pivotal moments of a subject’s life in a 90- or 120-minute movie is all but impossible. So, filmmakers might choose to add, eliminate, or combine key events and characters, or they may focus primarily on one or only a few aspects of the subject’s life. Some popular examples:  Coal Miner’s Daughter , a biography of country music legend Loretta Lynn;  Malcom X , a biopic centered on the civil rights leader of the same name; and  The King’s Speech , a dramatization of Prince Albert’s efforts to overcome a stutter and ascend the English throne.

Semi-fictionalized account

This approach takes a real-life event and interprets or expands it in ways that stray beyond what actually happened. This is done for entertainment and to build the story so it fits the filmmaker’s vision or evolves into a longer form, such as a multi-season television show. These accounts sometimes come with the disclaimer that they are “inspired by true events.” Examples of semi-fictionalized accounts are the TV series  Orange Is the New Black ,  Masters of Sex , and  Mozart of the Jungle —each of which stem from at least one biographical element, but showrunners expounded upon to provide many seasons of entertainment.

The Functions of Biography

Biographies inform readers about the life of a notable person. They are a way to introduce readers to the work’s subject—the historical details, the subject’s motivations and psychological underpinnings, and their environment and the impact they had, both in the short and long term.

Because the author is somewhat removed from their subject, they can offer a more omniscient, third-person narrative account. This vantage point allows the author to put certain events into a larger context; compare and contrast events, people, and behaviors predominant in the subject’s life; and delve into psychological and sociological themes of which the subject may not have been aware.

Also, a writer structures a biography to make the life of the subject interesting and readable. Most biographers want to entertain as well as inform, so they typically use a traditional  plot  structure—an introduction,  conflict , rising of tension, a climax, a resolution, and an ending—to give the life story a narrative shape. While the ebb and flow of life is a normal day-to-day rhythm, it doesn’t necessarily make for entertaining reading. The job of the writer, then, becomes one of shaping the life to fit the elements of a good plot.

Writers Known for Biographies

Many modern writers have dedicated much of their careers to biographies, such as:

• Kitty Kelley, author of  Jackie Oh! An Intimate Biography; His Way: The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra ; and  The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty
• Antonia Fraser, author of  Mary Queen of Scots ;  Cromwell; Our Chief of Men ; and  The Gunpowder Plot: Terror and Faith in 1605
• David McCullough, author of  The Path Between the Seas; Truman ; and  John Adams
• Andrew Morton, author of  Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words; Madonna ; and  Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography
• Alison Weir, author of  The Six Wives of Henry VIII; Eleanor of Aquitaine: By the Wrath of God; Queen of England ; and  Katherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and His Scandalous Duchess

Examples of Biographies

1. James Boswell,  The Life of Samuel Johnson

The biography that ushered in the modern era of true-life writing,  The Life of Samuel Johnson  covered the entirety of its subject’s life, from his birth to his status as England’s preeminent writer to his death. Boswell was a personal acquaintance of Johnson, so he was able to draw on voluminous amounts of personal conversations the two shared.

What also sets this biography apart is, because Boswell was a contemporary of Johnson, readers see Johnson in the context of his own time. He wasn’t some fabled figure that a biographer was writing about centuries later; he was someone to whom the author had access, and Boswell could see the real-world influence his subject had on life in the here and now.

2. Sylvia Nasar,  A Beautiful Mind

Nasar’s 1998 Pulitzer Prize-nominated biography of mathematician John Nash introduced legions of readers to Nash’s remarkable life and genius. The book opens with Nash’s childhood and follows him through his education, career, personal life, and struggles with schizophrenia. It ends with his acceptance of the 1994 Nobel Prize for Economics. In addition to a Pulitzer nomination,  A Beautiful Mind  won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography, was a  New York Times  bestseller, and provided the basis for the Academy Award-winning 2001 film of the same name.

3. Catherine Clinton,  Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom

Clinton’s biography of the abolitionist icon is a large-scale epic that chronicles Tubman’s singular life. It starts at her birth in the 1820s as the slave Araminta Ross, continuing through her journey to freedom; her pivotal role in the Underground Railroad; her Moses-like persona; and her death in 1913.

Because Tubman could not read or write, she left behind no letters, diaries, or other personal papers in her own hand and voice. Clinton reconstructed Tubman’s history entirely through other source material, and historians often cite this work as the quintessential biography of Tubman’s life.

4. Megan Mayhew Bergman,  Almost Famous Women

Almost Famous Women  is not a biography in the strictest sense of the word; it is a fictional interpretation of real-life women. Each short story revolves around a woman from history with close ties to fame, such as movie star Marlene Dietrich, Standard Oil heiress Marion “Joe” Carstairs, aviatrix Beryl Markham, Oscar Wilde’s niece Dolly, and Lord Byron’s daughter Allegra. Mayhew Bergman imagines these colorful women in equally colorful episodes that put them in a new light—a light that perhaps offers them the honor and homage that history denied them.

Further Resources on Biography

Newsweek  compiled their picks for the  75 Best Biographies of All Time .

The Open Education Database has a list of  75 Biographies to Read Before You Die .

Goodreads put together a list of readers’  best biography selections .

If you’re looking to write biographies,  Infoplease  has instructions for writing shorter pieces, while  The Writer   has practical advice for writing manuscript-length bios.

Ranker  collected  a comprehensive list of famous biographers .

Related Terms

• Autobiography
• Short Story

• BookBub Partners Blog

Book Marketing & Publishing Tips

Writing Your Author Bio? Here Are 20 Great Examples. (Plus a Checklist!)

October 15, 2020 by Diana Urban

Writing your author bio can be a daunting task, but a well-crafted bio can help readers learn more about what makes you and your books so interesting. You should regularly maintain your bio on places like your BookBub Author Profile so fans and potential readers seeking you out can learn more about you and why they should pick up your latest book.

Stuck on what to include? While there is no one-size-fits-all formula, here are some examples of author bios we love so you can get some inspiration when crafting your own bio. We’ve also created an Author Biography Checklist with recommendations on what to include, as well as where to keep your author bio up to date online.

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1. Ramona Emerson

Ramona Emerson is a Diné writer and filmmaker originally from Tohatchi, New Mexico. She has a bachelor’s in Media Arts from the University of New Mexico and an MFA in Creative Writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts. After starting in forensic videography, she embarked upon a career as a photographer, writer, and editor. She is an Emmy nominee, a Sundance Native Lab Fellow, a Time-Warner Storyteller Fellow, a Tribeca All-Access Grantee and a WGBH Producer Fellow. In 2020, Emerson was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Film and Media Industries for the State of New Mexico. She currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she and her husband, the producer Kelly Byars, run their production company Reel Indian Pictures. Shutter is her first novel.

Why we love it: Ramona makes a splash as a new author by detailing her extensive experience in both writing and filmmaking. Her background makes an effective setup for her debut novel about a forensic photographer.

2. Courtney Milan

Courtney Milan writes books about carriages, corsets, and smartwatches. Her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly , Library Journal , and Booklist . She is a New York Times and a USA Today Bestseller. Courtney pens a weekly newsletter about tea, books, and basically anything and everything else. Sign up for it here: https://bit.ly/CourtneysTea Before she started writing romance, Courtney got a graduate degree in theoretical physical chemistry from UC Berkeley. After that, just to shake things up, she went to law school at the University of Michigan and graduated summa cum laude. Then she did a handful of clerkships. She was a law professor for a while. She now writes full-time. Courtney is represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.

Why we love it: Courtney concisely leads with her accolades and bestseller status before diving into more personal information with a witty tone. She also includes a call-to-action for readers to sign up to Weekly Tea, one of her mailing lists.

3. Adam Silvera

Adam Silvera is the number one New York Times bestselling author of More Happy Than Not , History Is All You Left Me , They Both Die at the End , Infinity Son , Infinity Reaper , and—with Becky Albertalli— What If It’s Us . He was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start for his debut. Adam was born and raised in the Bronx. He was a bookseller before shifting to children’s publishing and has worked at a literary development company and a creative writing website for teens and as a book reviewer of children’s and young adult novels. He is tall for no reason and lives in Los Angeles. Visit him online at www.adamsilvera.com .

Why we love it: Adam begins his bio with his bestseller accolades and a list of his popular titles. But we especially love how he also includes his previous experience in children’s literature. It’s a fantastic way an author can craft a unique and credible bio using information besides accolades or bestseller status.

4. Farrah Rochon

USA Today Bestselling author Farrah Rochon hails from a small town just west of New Orleans. She has garnered much acclaim for her Crescent City-set Holmes Brothers series and her Moments in Maplesville small town series. Farrah is a two-time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America and has been nominated for an RT BOOKReviews Reviewers Choice Award. In 2015, she received the Emma Award for Author of the Year. When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading, cooking, traveling the world, visiting Walt Disney World, and catching her favorite Broadway shows. An admitted sports fanatic, she feeds her addiction to football by watching New Orleans Saints games on Sunday afternoons. Keep in touch with Farrah via the web: Website: https://www.farrahrochon.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/farrahrochonauthor Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/FarrahRochon Instagram: https://instagram.com/farrahrochon/ Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2povjuZ Join my online Fan Club, the Rochonettes! https://www.facebook.com/groups/FarrahRochon/ Farrah’s Books In Order: The Holmes Brothers Deliver Me (Mar. 2007) Release Me (May 2008) Rescue Me (Jan. 2009) Chase Me (Jan. 2017) Trust Me (May 2017) Awaken Me (Jan. 2018) Cherish Me (Jun. 2018) Return To Me (Aug. 2019) New York Sabers Huddle With Me Tonight (Sept. 2010) I’ll Catch You (Mar. 2011) Field of Pleasure (Sept. 2011) Pleasure Rush (Mar. 2012) Bayou Dreams A Forever Kind of Love (Aug. 2012) Always and Forever (Jan. 2013) Yours Forever (Mar. 2014) Forever’s Promise (Apr. 2014) Forever With You (Feb. 2015) Stay With Me Forever (Aug. 2015) Moments in Maplesville A Perfect Holiday Fling (Nov. 2012) A Little Bit Naughty (Mar. 2013) Just A Little Taste (Jan. 2014) I Dare You! (Nov. 2014) All You Can Handle (June 2015) Any Way You Want It (Feb. 2016) Any Time You Need Me (June 2016) Standalones In Her Wildest Dreams (Jan. 2012) The Rebound Guy (July 2012) Delectable Desire (Apr. 2013) Runaway Attraction (Nov. 2013) A Mistletoe Affari (Nov. 2014) Passion’s Song (Feb. 2016) Mr. Right Next Door (Sept. 2016) Anthologies A Change of Heart (The Holiday Inn Anthology – Sept. 2008) No Ordinary Gift (Holiday Brides Anthology – Oct. 2009) Holiday Spice (Holiday Temptation Anthology – Sept. 2016) Christmas Kisses (Reissue–Contains Tuscan Nights and Second-Chance Christmas previously published by Harlequin Kimani

Why we love it: Farrah packs a lot of information into that first paragraph, elegantly describing the awards she’s received and has been nominated for. We also love how she makes it easy for readers to find her on whichever social media platform they prefer and to discover which book to start with for each series.

5. Angie Fox

New York Times bestselling author Angie Fox writes sweet, fun, action-packed mysteries. Her characters are clever and fearless, but in real life, Angie is afraid of basements, bees, and going up stairs when it is dark behind her. Let’s face it. Angie wouldn’t last five minutes in one of her books. Angie is best known for her Southern Ghost Hunter mysteries and for her Accidental Demon Slayer books. Visit her at www.angiefox.com

Why we love it: We love how Angie distinguishes herself from her characters, making herself relatable to readers. She also mentions her bestseller status and best-known works in a humble way.

6. Tiffany D. Jackson

Tiffany D. Jackson is the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly , Monday’s Not Coming , and Let Me Hear a Rhyme . A Walter Dean Myers Honor Book and Coretta Scott King–John Steptoe New Talent Award winner, she received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University, earned her master of arts in media studies from the New School, and has over a decade in TV and film experience. The Brooklyn native still resides in the borough she loves. You can visit her at www.writeinbk.com .

Why we love it: This is an excellent example of a short, concise bio — a perfect snippet for journalists, bloggers, or event coordinators who need to grab Tiffany’s bio for their article or programming.

7. Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander is the New York Times Bestselling author of 32 books, including The Undefeated ; How to Read a Book ; Solo ; Swing ; Rebound , which was shortlisted for prestigious Carnegie Medal; and his Newbery medal-winning middle grade novel, The Crossover . He’s also the founding editor of Versify, an imprint that aims to Change the World One Word at a Time. Visit him at KwameAlexander.com

Why we love it: We adore how Kwame calls out his aim to “change the world one word at a time” along with a handful of his best-known books. Short and sweet!

8. Glynnis Campbell

For deals, steals, and new releases from Glynnis, click FOLLOW on this BookBub page! Glynnis Campbell is a USA Today bestselling author of over two dozen swashbuckling action-adventure historical romances, mostly set in Scotland, and a charter member of The Jewels of Historical Romance — 12 internationally beloved authors. She’s the wife of a rock star and the mother of two young adults, but she’s also been a ballerina, a typographer, a film composer, a piano player, a singer in an all-girl rock band, and a voice in those violent video games you won’t let your kids play. Doing her best writing on cruise ships, in Scottish castles, on her husband’s tour bus, and at home in her sunny southern California garden, Glynnis loves to play medieval matchmaker… transporting readers to a place where the bold heroes have endearing flaws, the women are stronger than they look, the land is lush and untamed, and chivalry is alive and well! Want a FREE BOOK? Sign up for her newsletter at https://www.glynnis.net Tag along on her latest adventures here: Website: https://www.glynnis.net Facebook: bit.ly/GCReadersClan Goodreads: bit.ly/GlynnisGoodreads Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/GlynnisCampbell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/GlynnisCampbell Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/GlynnisCampbell BOOK LIST: The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch: THE SHIPWRECK A YULETIDE KISS LADY DANGER CAPTIVE HEART KNIGHT’S PRIZE The Warrior Daughters of Rivenloch: THE STORMING A RIVENLOCH CHRISTMAS BRIDE OF FIRE BRIDE OF ICE BRIDE OF MIST The Knights of de Ware: THE HANDFASTING MY CHAMPION MY WARRIOR MY HERO Medieval Outlaws: THE REIVER DANGER’S KISS PASSION’S EXILE DESIRE’S RANSOM Scottish Lasses: THE OUTCAST MacFARLAND’S LASS MacADAM’S LASS MacKENZIE’S LASS California Legends: THE STOWAWAY NATIVE GOLD NATIVE WOLF NATIVE HAWK

Why we love it: Like other authors, Glynnis leads with her bestseller status, but not before making sure readers know to follow her on BookBub! We like how her personality shines through in her all-caps calls to action and that she includes the characteristics of her books in a fun way so readers will know what to expect from her work.

9. Laurelin Paige

Laurelin Paige is the NY Times , Wall Street Journal , and USA Today bestselling author of the Fixed Trilogy . She’s a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching edgy black comedy on Netflix or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She’s also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn’t do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio. You can connect with Laurelin on Facebook at facebook.com/LaurelinPaige or on twitter @laurelinpaige. You can also visit her website, laurelinpaige.com , to sign up for emails about new releases. Subscribers also receive a free book from a different bestselling author every month.

Why we love it: We love Laurelin’s bio because she lets her fun personality shine through! She also includes information about a monthly giveaway she runs through her mailing list, which is enticing and unique.

10. Mia Sosa

Mia Sosa is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic comedies. Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly , Kirkus Reviews , Booklist , and Library Journal , and have been praised by Cosmopolitan , The Washington Post , Buzzfeed , Entertainment Weekly , and more. Book Riot included her debut, Unbuttoning the CEO , in its list of 100 Must-Read Romantic Comedies, and Booklist recently called her “the new go-to author for fans of sassy and sexy contemporary romances.” A former First Amendment and media lawyer, Mia practiced for more than a decade before trading her suits for loungewear (okay, okay, they’re sweatpants). Now she strives to write fun and flirty stories about imperfect characters finding their perfect match. Mia lives in Maryland with her husband, their two daughters, and an adorable dog that rules them all. For more information about Mia and her books, visit www.miasosa.com .

Why we love it: This is such a well-constructed bio, with a paragraph for each (1) listing accolades and praise from trade reviews, (2) including a blurb about Mia’s overall author brand, (3) describing her previous work experience and how she became an author, and (4) sharing personal information and directing readers to where they could learn more.

11. Aiden Thomas

Aiden Thomas is a trans, Latinx, New York Times Bestselling Author with an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Originally from Oakland, California, they now make their home in Portland, OR. Aiden is notorious for not being able to guess the endings of books and movies, and organizes their bookshelves by color. Their books include Cemetery Boys and Lost in the Never Woods .

Why we love it: A well-known advocate of diverse books, Aiden leads with their identity markers to connect right away with readers of similar identities. The rest of their concise bio fits information about their bestseller status, education, location, personality, and popular titles into just a few short sentences!

12. Wayne Stinnett

Wayne Stinnett is an American novelist and Veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Between those careers, he’s worked as a deckhand, commercial fisherman, divemaster, taxi driver, construction manager, and over the road truck driver, among many other things. He now lives on a sea island, in the South Carolina Lowcountry, with his wife and youngest daughter. They also have three grown children, five grand children, three dogs and a whole flock of parakeets. Stinnett grew up in Melbourne, Florida and has also lived in the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and Cozumel, Mexico. His next dream is to one day visit and dive Cuba.

Why we love it: What better way to introduce an author of novels about travel, seafaring, and military adventures than to share his first-hand experiences! By weaving in relevant professional background and a glimpse of his home life by the sea, Wayne demonstrates deep knowledge of his subjects to his readers, as well as connecting with them on a personal level by describing his family and goals for the future.

13. June Hur

June Hur was born in South Korea and raised in Canada, except for the time when she moved back to Korea and attended high school there. She studied History and Literature at the University of Toronto. She began writing her debut novel after obsessing over books about Joseon Korea. When she’s not writing, she can be found wandering through nature or journaling at a coffee shop. June is the bestselling author of The Silence of Bones , The Forest of Stolen Girls , and The Red Palace , and currently lives in Toronto with her husband and daughter.

Why we love it: We love how June includes her background and what inspired her writing. Sharing a story’s origins is a wonderful way to meaningfully connect with readers.

14. Claire Delacroix

Bestselling author Claire Delacroix published her first medieval romance in 1993. Since then, she has published over seventy romance novels and numerous novellas, including time travel romances, contemporary romances and paranormal romances. The Beauty , part of her successful Bride Quest series, was her first book to land on the New York Times list of bestselling books. Claire has written under the name Claire Cross and continues to write as Deborah Cooke as well as Claire Delacroix. Claire makes her home in Canada with her family, a large undisciplined garden and a growing number of incomplete knitting projects. Sign up for Claire’s monthly medieval romance newsletter at: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/622ca9849b7136a9e313df83 Visit Claire’s website to find out more about her books at http://delacroix.net

Why we love it: While Claire has an extensive backlist, she succinctly describes her publishing success and subgenres. She also includes all of her pen names so readers can easily find her, no matter which name they’re looking for.

15. Vanessa Riley

Vanessa Riley writes Historical Fiction and Historical Romance (Georgian, Regency, & Victorian) featuring hidden histories, dazzling multi-culture communities, and strong sisterhoods. She promises to pull heart strings, offer a few laughs, and share tidbits of tantalizing history. This Southern, Irish, Trini (West Indies) girl holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and a MS in industrial engineering and engineering management from Stanford University. She also earned a BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Penn State University. Yet, her love of history and lattes have overwhelmed her passion for math, leading to the publication of over 20+ titles. She loves writing on her southern porch with proper caffeine.

Why we love it: Vanessa launches into her bio by sharing the specific time periods she writes in, as well as the diverse characters and emotions her readers can look forward to, appealing directly to her ideal audience . She then shares a bit of personal info, leaving readers with an image of her in her element: writing on a porch while sipping tea.

16. April White

April White has been a film producer, private investigator, bouncer, teacher and screenwriter. She has climbed in the Himalayas, survived a shipwreck, and lived on a gold mine in the Yukon. She and her husband share their home in Southern California with two extraordinary boys and a lifetime collection of books. Her first novel, Marking Time , is the 2016 winner of the Library Journal Indie E-Book Award for YA Literature, and her contemporary romantic suspense, Code of Conduct , was a Next Generation Indie Award and RONE Award Finalist. All five books in the Immortal Descendants series are on the Amazon Top 100 lists in Time Travel Romance and Historical Fantasy. More information and her blog can be found at www.aprilwhitebooks.com .

Why we love it: April’s bio is short and sweet, but is packed with interesting information. She was a private investigator and survived a shipwreck? How can you not want to learn more about this author? She also elegantly includes her books’ status and subgenre in the last paragraph, along with a call-to-action for readers to learn more.

17. Julia Quinn

#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don’t read (or write) romance, and if you watch reruns of the game show The Weakest Link you might just catch her winning the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code. On December 25, 2020, Netflix premiered Bridgerton , based on her popular series of novels about the Bridgerton family. Find her on the web at www.juliaquinn.com .

Why we love it: Julia takes a unique approach, making her bio more voicey and focused on her interests. Yet she keeps it up to date, including her latest news in the last sentence (above the call-to-action).

18. Rick Mofina

USA Today bestselling author Rick Mofina is a former journalist who has interviewed murderers on death row, flown over L.A. with the LAPD and patrolled with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police near the Arctic. He’s also reported from the Caribbean, Africa and Kuwait’s border with Iraq. His books have been published in nearly 30 countries, including an illegal translation produced in Iran. His work has been praised by James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen, Jeffery Deaver, Sandra Brown, James Rollins, Brad Thor, Nick Stone, David Morrell, Allison Brennan, Heather Graham, Linwood Barclay, Peter Robinson, Håkan Nesser and Kay Hooper. The Crime Writers of Canada, The International Thriller Writers and The Private Eye Writers of America have listed his titles among the best in crime fiction. As a two-time winner of Canada’s Arthur Ellis Award, a four-time Thriller Award finalist and a two-time Shamus Award finalist, the Library Journal calls him, “One of the best thriller writers in the business.” Join Rick Mofina’s newsletter from his website and receive a free eBook! You can also find Rick Mofina’s new exclusive serialized thriller, The Dying Light , by subscribing to Radish Fiction com For more information please visit www.rickmofina.com https://www.facebook.com/rickmofina or follow Rick on Twitter @Rick Mofina

Why we love it: Including Rick’s first-hand experiences as a journalist lends him credibility in his genres of Crime Fiction and Thrillers. He also includes a list of well-known authors who have praised his work, and these endorsements may encourage those authors’ fans to give Rick a try. The free ebook offer effectively sweetens the deal!

19. J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of the literary TV show A Word on Words . She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, been optioned for television, and has been published in 28 countries. J.T. lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

Why we love it: This is a great example of a concise bio suitable for use in any blog or publication. J.T. keeps to just the essential ingredients of a professional author bio: accolades, genres, experience, and a bit of what she’s up to today for a personal touch.

20. James S.A. Corey

James S.A. Corey is the pen name for a collaboration between Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. James is Daniel’s middle name, Corey is Ty’s middle name, and S.A. are Daniel’s daughter’s initials. James’ current project is a series of science fiction novels called The Expanse Series. They are also the authors of Honor Among Thieves: Star Wars (Empire and Rebellion).

Why we love it: We love co-author bios that reveal how the duo came up with their pseudonym as a fun fact for readers! We also like that the reminder of this bio simply points readers straight to their buzziest works.

Want to share this post? Here are ready-made tweets:

Click to tweet: If you’re writing your author bio, these examples are so helpful! #writetip #pubtip http://bit.ly/1OSBcDO

Click to tweet: Make sure to keep your author bio updated! Here are some great bio examples, PLUS a printable checklist of what to include and where to keep it up to date. #amwriting http://bit.ly/1OSBcDO

This post was originally published on October 15 2015 and has been updated with new examples and a PDF checklist!

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Last updated on Feb 24, 2022

How to Write a Killer Author Bio (With Template)

An author bio is a brief passage, usually about a paragraph , that introduces an author and sums up their work, their authorly credentials, and anything else their readers might need to know about them. 

While author bios may seem like an afterthought, or something to fill up the backmatter of your book , it’s actually an unassuming but valuable piece of copy. Done well, an author bio can give you credibility and introduce your readers to your other works. It can also be used in other promotional or publishing materials, as former Penguin Random House marketer Rachel Cone-Gorham explains:

“An author bio is something that will let readers get a sense of who you are, and is an important part for pitching media and book proposals.” 

For this reason, it’s important to get your bio right. Here is a 4-step process for writing your author bio:

1. Start with the facts readers need to know

2. open up with relevant biographical details, 3. wow them with your credentials, 4. finish it off with a personal touch.

Start your bio with an opening byline that quickly summarizes your profile, plus your most recent release. In a world full of skimmers, some readers may not get past the first couple of lines of your bio, so it’s important to frontload the essentials. 

For instance, a byline might read:

“Jane Doe is a Professor of Anthropology at UCLA and author of Insights Into Our Past: Tracing the Legacy of Intergenerational Trauma in 19th Century America .”

“Jane Doe is a poet, writer, and author of the new novel We Were Already There .”

If your work has won any prestigious awards or earned bestseller status, make sure to mention that here, too.

The great part about writing a one-liner as your opener is that it can double as a short bio for guest articles, social media, etc. — all of which can be a valuable part of your book publicity plan . 

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Example: An attention grabbing intro

Novelist and short story writer Brandon Taylor's whole bio is great, but check out his heavy hitting first sentence that instantly tells you everything you really need to know:

If you’re stuck for words, you can use his bio, and other great “ About the Author ” examples for inspiration. 

RESOURCE: Your free author bio template

FREE RESOURCE

Grab our Author Bio Template

Use this to write an awesome “about me” in less than 5 minutes.

Your author bio is, naturally, a chance for you to introduce yourself, but it’s also an opportunity for you to introduce readers to your body of work, and share a little about your writing history. If you have other titles that you’ve released previously, now’s the time to mention them.

You may also want to include any personal connections to your work, and signpost why they’re relevant. For instance:

With over a decade of writing obituaries for the local paper, Jane has a uniquely wry voice that shines through in her newest collection of essays, which explore the importance we place on legacy.

A professionally trained electrician, Jane has spent the last decade reading and writing romance novels giving her characters a palpable spark! Her latest work is the sequel to her debut novel, In the Arms of a Stranger .

Have an author bio already, but want a second opinion on it? Take our quick quiz to see if it checks off all of the boxes.

Let us grade your author bio

Find out if your author bio is a 10/10. Takes one minute.

Top Tip: Write in the third person

Despite the fact that an author often writes or approves their own bio, it should be written in the third person — ‘they’ rather than ‘I’. Not only is this the industry standard, it also makes it easier to toot your own horn, which you should definitely be doing here.

Example: An author’s lived experience

One great example of a bio that shares biographical details is author Niyati Tamaskar , whose memoir Unafraid draws on her own experiences of cancer and the cultural baggage surrounding it. You can learn more about Niyati and her publishing story here .

Niyati Tamaskar is a mother, engineer, entrepreneur, public speaker, and author. She speaks on issues of cultural bias, the stigma of cancer, and more. Her speaking and media appearances include her signature TEDx talk, a cover and feature spread in Columbus magazine on her journey and message of destigmatizing cancer, and a video created by Breastcancer.org on “How Niyati Tamaskar Overcame Cultural Cancer Stigma to Become an Advocate”—aimed at highlighting the minority experience while facing cancer.

An important job of an “About the Author” section is to boost your credentials, says editor Rachel: “You want to show your qualifications and credibility so that a reader will feel validated in choosing your book to read.”

That being said, it’s not a good idea to start listing every softball trophy you won in middle school. Only stick to credentials that directly relate to the content of your book. According to Rachel, “Qualifications can include writing courses, college degrees, awards, bestseller lists, and accolades or, for fiction authors, even a lifetime of interest.” Here are a few of her examples:

Jane has an MFA in creative writing from Vermont College, and was the recipient of the Vermont College creative writing award.

Jane is a historian at Vermont College and has spent over a decade researching World War 2.

Jane has traveled extensively around Eastern Europe, learning about the history of the region and walking the paths of her characters.

For non-fiction authors, your credentials are incredibly relevant as readers are far more likely to trust an authority on a subject, while fiction authors can focus more on why they write in a specific genre.

Book marketing consultant Rob Eagar suggests that another way to boost your credibility is to “to weave in any endorsements you may have received from well-known outlets… Readers pay more attention to authors with a proven track record.”

For example:

[Famous author] says Jane Doe is a unique new voice in the thriller genre.

How to Build an Amazing Author Blog

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Example: Amanda Ripley’s expert qualifications

One author using their credentials to their best advantage is non-fiction author Amanda Ripley. Check out her “About the Author”: 

Top tip: Keep it short

A good author bio is efficient beyond just the first line, as book launch specialist Joel Pitney suggests:

“People don't want to read long bios! Keep it under 300 words. Only include relevant materials and be as succinct as possible. If you've won a lot of awards, for example, only include the most impressive ones. Same goes if you’ve published a couple of books; only include your most successful three.”

Author bios are not a place for you to delve into a lengthy explanation of your history. However, you also don’t want your bio to be devoid of any personality. Adding a bit of color to your bio helps readers imagine who you are. Plus, if they can relate to you, it might be an extra push for them to buy your book. 

That’s why Joel Pitney suggests: “If there's room, and it's relevant, you can add some color, like where you live or something interesting that might not obviously relate to your writing career, but that makes you a more interesting person.”

This can be done subtly, like by referring to your location in your byline: 

“New-York based psychologist, Jane Doe…”

Or you can include a brief illustration of your lifestyle, says Rachel: “Jane lives and works out of her home at the base of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, and spends her summers hiking and camping with her two children and husband.”

Finally, marketing consultant Rob suggests closing out with a quippy-one liner that illustrates what kind of writer you are. “If your writing is known for its humor, let it show in your bio.” For example:

Jane hopes to write her next novel soon, if she can stop reading other people's novels instead.

Example: Natalie Barelli’s chatty tone

Check out fiction writer Natalie Barelli’s bio for an example of personalization done right: 

Natalie Barelli can usually be found reading a book, and that book will more likely than not be a psychological thriller. Writing a novel was always on her bucket list, and eventually, with Until I Met Her, it became a reality. After He Killed Me is the second and final book in her Emma Fern Series. When not absorbed in the latest gripping page-turner, Natalie loves cooking, knits very badly, enjoys riding her Vespa around town, and otherwise spends far too much time at the computer. She lives in Australia, with her husband and extended family.

An author bio is unique to the writer, so everyone’s will look different — but by following our 4-step process and using the author bio template, you’ll include everything you need to maximize your chances of winning over readers.

And if you’re looking for more inspiration on how to build your online presence, check out more examples of the “ About the Author ” section or our course on how to build an author mailing list:

How to Build Your Author Mailing List

Learn how to connect with your audience and sell more books with email.

8 responses

Diane says:

07/06/2018 – 09:10

Excellent post! I really liked the way explained each point with examples. Author can write a big book but broke into sweat when it comes to write a bio about themselves. Sometimes they also need paper writing help. It have to be short and interesting, not boring. In that case your article will help them to write a killer one.

Nancy Man says:

20/06/2018 – 00:10

This was super helpful -- thanks! Sticking to these four elements worked great for me. I've finally got a bio that I'm not rolling my eyes at. :)

Antigone Blackwell says:

08/12/2018 – 19:01

If someone is reading this article, it is highly unlikely that they can boast being bestselling authors or share that they are on the third book of a highly successful series. More examples with start up authors would be great.

India Government Schemes says:

12/03/2019 – 11:42

This is awesome, but i am seeing in this days mostly hide there Bio in Blogs, But they don't know In The Blog Author Bio is also a Ranking Factor in the Google Search Ranking.

Joe Robinson says:

08/05/2019 – 12:28

Very helpful article that has helped me write my author bio for my upcoming book "Move Your Marriage to Greatness" a Marriage Replenishment Work designed to help couple achieve extraordinary accomplishments that are uncommon in many marriages today. I appreciate you making this article available.

Jitender Sharma says:

10/09/2019 – 05:00

Thanks for your post

Mike aantonio says:

14/11/2019 – 10:06

After reading the bio. samples mentioned above. Is it really necessary to introduce the author as a third party. Can't we directly say " Hi I am a blogger from so and so ......."

↪️ Martin Cavannagh replied:

15/11/2019 – 09:15

You can do... but it's not standard practice.

Comments are currently closed.

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How To Write A Biography Of An Author?

Writers find creating an author bio one of the most daunting tasks. A perfectly written author bio can make it easier for the readers to know the writer better giving a concise and quick overview of their writing.

Ideally, it is a brief passage, mostly a paragraph, which introduces the author, mentions their credentials, work summary, details of other creations, and provides details of anything else that a reader may be interested in knowing.

An author must try to regularly update their bio so potential readers and fans seeking them can get access to the essential details about them. This guide contains everything you need to know about how to write a biography of an author. Further, we will also give you some author biography examples for easier understanding.

• What does an author bio include?

What Is The Basic Template For An Author’s Bio?

• How To Write An Author Biography For A Book?
• Author Biography For The Journal
• Author Biography For A Research Paper
• Author’s Bio For A Blog?

Tips To Keep In Mind

Frequently asked questions, what does an author bio include.

In all honesty, there is no one-size-fits-all formula. However, if you know about the author, you can easily personalize and compile the information to match your requirements.

So, ideally, what should an author bio have? The author bio should include author’s name, distinguished accomplishments, and a call to action. Ideally, contain the biography in a maximum of sixty to ninety words in length.

See, if, for instance, the bio is to be attached with a dramatic book, you can include some drama based books in the author’s bio. Similarly, if you have a funny book at hand, you can include some humor related work done by the author in the bio.

Personalize the bio to suit your target audience (both readers and future publishers) and genre. Further, in the author bio, you can include links to the author’s socials. It will help your readers get an insight into author’s personal life.

A photograph should also be a part of the author’s bio.

Now, let us look at the biography template and what should it cover with some author biography examples.

How to write an author biography? Here is a basic template for an author’s bio.

1. Commence with a Byline

It is a single-line statement that gives an insight into who the author is and includes the book’s name.

2. Talk about the theme of the book

Next, you need to state what the author writes about:

• Fiction or non-fiction
• Previously published books
• Area of interest

3. List down the credentials.

Herein, you will provide author’s credentials. It can include best-seller lists, college degrees, and accolades. If you are a fiction writer, you can also talk about your life interests.

4. Add a personal touch.

Adding color to the bio helps the reader imagine who you are and if they can relate to you. It is your way of nudging the reader to buy the book. Some things you can add are:

• Including the location in your byline.
• Some peek into your lifestyle.
• One-liner to illustrate the kind of author you are.

How To Write An Author Biography?

How to write a biography of an author? Here is a guideline for assistance.

1. Use a professional picture.

Typically, authors also like to include a picture in their author bio. It should be a professional headshot of you looking grave or smiling. Be very careful with the headshot. Readers automatically equate an unprofessional picture with your book’s quality.

2. Keep the opening catchy for an instant connection.

Your Byline is the first thing that the reader reads about you. So, do not let it go in vain. You can use the vital and relevant facts that the readers and agents care about the most. It should also have the name of your book.

Adding personal information like:

• Your place of birth
• When you started writing
• Your contributions to the writing field
• Where you are from
• Your previous publications and awards

These personal details can help formulate a bond between you and the reader. The idea is to ensure the reader knows your background to feel connected and motivated to know further.

3. Know the genre and the audience

To decide the audience and genre, answers the two questions:

• Who are you writing for?
• What is this book about?

Ideally, the author’s bio should complement the subject matter and the genre. You may confuse your potential audience if the biography is irrelevant to the book and genre.

Now, think about the target audience. You probably had a type of reader in mind when you wrote this book. Every writer should know who will buy and read the book. After understanding the target audience, you can write the bio to meet that person’s needs.

You can include an excerpt from your personality if you are a fiction author. Also, if you have achieved something extraordinary, talk about it in the credentials.

On the contrary, for the non-fiction authors, readers are interested more in your life and credentials. It helps them know what qualifies you to create a book on this subject.

Some authors have adopted a unique strategy of creating an avatar of their ideal customer – with a name, personality, and location. It is an excellent marketing effort and helps create a concise author bio.

4. Write in the third person.

Of course, you are writing the bio, but you should still write it in the third person. It gives it a professional and trustworthy tone and makes it easy to display and read everywhere.

For instance:

Instead of – I am a three-time published author.

Go for – Ravin is a three-time published author.

5. Keep it short

Your bio should be as impactful and informative as possible. Also, list your hobbies and all facets of your careers, but you should still curtail it to 400 words.

6. Mark your achievements and awards

Do not shy away from including things you have achieved in your life. It becomes essential if you do not have direct authority in the subject matter or credentials. It makes it easy for the audience to know why they must spare their time to go through your book.

For instance, it can be a significant show point if you win a national championship in chess. These tell the reader that you have done several other things in life beyond this book.

However, if you have nothing specific to include in your achievements and credentials, you can list your interests and passions. It can have anything you love writing about or enjoy doing, or a hobby, particularly if it is associated with the book.

7. Make it relatable

An author bio should be a peek into your views, world, personality, and values. It also should give away what a reader must expect from your writing. Ideally, if a reader likes you, they will also enjoy what you write. Because in your book, every page has your essence in it.

So, if you make the bio relatable and depict your personality, the readers connect with it better. It invokes curiosity, and they want to read the book to satiate this.

8. Make it look credible.

We live in a digital-friendly world. So, you never know, when someone comes up and asks you, ‘why should I listen to you?’ Readers who pay for the book have every right to question you, especially if it relates to the authenticity, reliability, and accuracy of something mentioned by you.

So, from your bio, you need to be honest and maintain credibility. For this, your bio should answer three questions:

• Why should the readers believe you?
• Why are you qualified to write on the subject?
• Why should they buy your book?

9. Social media links

Lastly, you want the reader to connect with you. You do not want the relationship with your reader to end with this book. It is vital to hold on to them. It will help you in the second book and so on.

When they connect with you outside of the book (on social media), they know about you as a person in your skin and blood. It makes them feel closer to you. So, leave your link to give them a peek into your life.  

Bio Writing Based on Types of Publication

How to write a biography of an author for a book.

• Your author bio should be brief. So, do not talk about every facet of your hobbies and career. You can keep it short and crisp. It is best to contain all the information in 400 words.
• Write it in the third person to make it seem more professional.
• Commence the bio with a one-liner, stating your name, the book’s title, your profession, and where you are from.
• So, make it exciting and relevant, and get creative. Keep it as close to the book’s genre and theme. You can mention your achievements, but unless directly associated with the book or too exciting or adventurous, please keep it brief.
• Include some information about your interests and hobbies to establish a bond with the reader. Lastly, put a professional, good-quality picture. Let us see one of the best author biography examples.

“Victoria Lee grew up in Durham, North Carolina, where she spent twelve ascetic years as a vegetarian before discovering that spicy chicken wings are, in fact, a delicacy. She’s been a state finalist competitive pianist, a hitchhiker, a pizza connoisseur, an EMT, an ex-pat in China and Sweden, and a science doctoral student. She’s also a bit of a snob about fancy whiskey. Victoria writes early in the morning, then spends the rest of the day trying to impress her Border collie puppy and make her experiments work.”

Source: Victoria Lee Press Kit

How To Write An Author Biography For The Journal?

It should include a biographical statement with your complete name. Further, list your academic program, interest in the writing’s subject and genre, personal history, and field placement. The word length should not be over 75 words for a journal author bio. Here is one of the best journal author biography examples.

“Kathryn Saclarides is a second-year social administration student at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. She received a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and Spanish from Vanderbilt University and a master’s in bioethics from La Universidad Pontificia de Comillas in Madrid, Spain. Her current field placement is with the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC). She is interested in migration patterns, ethnic neighborhoods, and transnational communities.”

Source: The University of Chicago

How To Write An Author Biography For A Research Paper?

An author bio for the research paper should list your degrees, information about your alma mater, year of qualifications, and subject of study. In addition, you can also talk about your current area of work. Lastly, to make the reader feel familiar, including some personal details can help. You can also include your awards and accolades. Keep it brief, but try to include all vital information. Write the whole bio in the third person.

“Paul Linn received the M.Sc. degree in engineering from the ABC University of Technology, Poland, in 1991 and a Ph.D. degree in applied mathematics from the University of XYZ, the US, in 1990. He currently works as an assistant professor at the Institute of Computer Engineering, ABC University of Technology. His current research interests include the dynamics and control of robotic systems, adaptive control and social robots.”

How To Write An Author Biography For A Blog?

Start with personal details about yourself. Explain what you do in the third person. Include an element of validation so that the readers see you as a credible source. In addition, list some interesting details about yourself. Provide links to your social media and include an inbound link to the website for SEO optimization. Overall, the bio should be concise. You can have a professional-looking headshot to add as a picture with the bio.

“Kiel Berry is the Executive Vice President of Machine Shop. Prior to Machine Shop, Kiel worked at Creative Artists Agency and began his career at JPMorgan Investment Banking. Kiel is the author of STUNT: Navigate The Journey. Follow him on Twitter at @kielberry.”

• Inject a sense of your personal, unique style
• Speak about endorsements from renowned figures
• Include only relevant details.
• Link the title to the book’s sales page.
• Add headlines like bestselling or award-winning to the Byline if applicable.
• Use the bio to cross-promote other books.
• Do not forget to update the bio regularly.
• Do not write in anything other than the 3rd person.
• Make it engaging and personal.
• Use a friendly, warm tone.

Bonus Tip – Do not exceed more than 100 words.

Related : Article Title Writing Guide , How to Write an Academic Book Review? , How to write a synopsis? , How to prepare an article outline?

Ques 1. Can I write a book with no experience?

Ans . Yes, you can always write a book without any experience. There is always a first time for everything.

Ques 2. How do I write a biography about myself?

Ans . You should start in third person and go on to

• Introduce yourself – your first name and last name.
• State your brand or company’s name.
• List your professional role
• Discuss your values and passions
• Mention your interests
• Talk about your professional achievements
• Include links to your socials and a headshot

Ques 3. Where does the author bio go in a book?

Ans . You will find the author’s bio on the last left-hand page of the book. Some writers also place it on the book’s back cover, toward the bottom.

Ques 4. Are Author bio generators useful? Name a few tools for the same.

Ans . Yes, author bio generators can be beneficial for creating a good biography.

Some tools that can help are:

• Author Bio Box
• Molongui Authorship
• Co-Authors Plus
• Simple Author Box
• About Author
• Awesome WordPress Author Bio
• Avatar Elementor Author Box

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Biography Project: Research and Class Presentation

• Resources & Preparation
• Instructional Plan
• Related Resources

Set the stage for high-interest reading with a purpose through a biography project. Students work together to generate questions they would like to answer about several well-known people, then each student chooses one of these and finds information by reading a biography from the library and doing Internet research. Students create a graphic organizer (a web) to organize the facts they have found and share what they have learned about their subjects through oral presentations. Students evaluate themselves and their classmates by using a rubric during the research and graphic organizer-creation process and by giving written feedback on one another's presentations.

Featured Resources

Bio-Cube : This planning tool can help students organize their research; use it as an extension to the lesson and have them outline the lives they' researched before writing their own biographies.

From Theory to Practice

• By using graphic organizers, students write or draw meanings and relationships of underlying ideas. This has been shown to improve students' ability to recall content.
• By summarizing information, students improve in including ideas related to the main idea, generalizing, and removing redundancy.
• By working in cooperative groups, students may increase their learning of reading strategies through peer discussion. They may also lead to better comprehension.

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

• 7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
• 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).

Materials and Technology

• School or classroom library with a broad selection of biographies
• Computers with Internet access and printing capability
• Index cards
• Oral Presentation Peer Feedback Form
• Oral Presentation Rubric

Student Objectives

Students will

• Learn to ask relevant questions before beginning a research project
• Learn to take notes and categorize information as they create graphic organizers
• Improve comprehension as they read and skim text for main ideas and details
• Develop research skills (book and Internet) with the purpose of teaching the class what they have learned
• Think critically as they use rubrics and written feedback to evaluate their classmates and themselves

Session 1: Before Reading

Sessions 2 to 5, session 6: after reading, sessions 7 to 9: class presentations.

Have students use their webs and the online Bio-Cube tool to plan and write biographies of the person they have researched. When they are finished, ask students to share the books with a younger class.

Student Assessment / Reflections

Possible student assessments include:

• Use the Web Rubric to grade the students' webs.
• Use the Oral Presentation Rubric to grade students' presentations based on the quality and completeness of information given.
• Observe and evaluate students' participation in group work and ability to critique other students' presentations based on their comments on the Oral Presentation Peer Feedback Form .
• Calendar Activities
• Lesson Plans
• Strategy Guides

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• Kindergarten K

What is Biography

Written by: Laura Carpenter

April 25, 2024

Time to read 0 min

A biography is a non-fiction genre that tells the story of a person's life, providing a detailed account of their experiences, accomplishments, and significant events. Biographies offer readers a glimpse into the lives of notable individuals, shedding light on their personal struggles, triumphs, and contributions to society.

Whether you are interested in learning about historical figures, cultural icons, or influential leaders, our collection of biographies is sure to inspire and inform. Browse our website to discover a diverse range of biographical works that celebrate the rich tapestry of human experiences.

From bestselling authors to unsung heroes, our biographies showcase the power of storytelling and the resilience of the human spirit. Uncover the extraordinary stories that have shaped our past and continue to inspire us today.

Explore our selection of biographies and discover the remarkable lives that have left an indelible mark on the world. Immerse yourself in the captivating narratives of individuals who have overcome adversity, challenged the status quo, and left a lasting legacy for future generations to admire. Experience the power of biography and uncover the untold stories that have shaped the course of history.

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How to Write a Bibliography for a Research Paper

Do not try to “wow” your instructor with a long bibliography when your instructor requests only a works cited page. It is tempting, after doing a lot of work to research a paper, to try to include summaries on each source as you write your paper so that your instructor appreciates how much work you did. That is a trap you want to avoid. MLA style, the one that is most commonly followed in high schools and university writing courses, dictates that you include only the works you actually cited in your paper—not all those that you used.

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• If your assignment calls for a bibliography, list all the sources you consulted in your research.
• If your assignment calls for a works cited or references page, include only the sources you quote, summarize, paraphrase, or mention in your paper.
• If your works cited page includes a source that you did not cite in your paper, delete it.
• All in-text citations that you used at the end of quotations, summaries, and paraphrases to credit others for their ideas,words, and work must be accompanied by a cited reference in the bibliography or works cited. These references must include specific information about the source so that your readers can identify precisely where the information came from.The citation entries on a works cited page typically include the author’s name, the name of the article, the name of the publication, the name of the publisher (for books), where it was published (for books), and when it was published.

The good news is that you do not have to memorize all the many ways the works cited entries should be written. Numerous helpful style guides are available to show you the information that should be included, in what order it should appear, and how to format it. The format often differs according to the style guide you are using. The Modern Language Association (MLA) follows a particular style that is a bit different from APA (American Psychological Association) style, and both are somewhat different from the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS). Always ask your teacher which style you should use.

A bibliography usually appears at the end of a paper on its own separate page. All bibliography entries—books, periodicals, Web sites, and nontext sources such radio broadcasts—are listed together in alphabetical order. Books and articles are alphabetized by the author’s last name.

Most teachers suggest that you follow a standard style for listing different types of sources. If your teacher asks you to use a different form, however, follow his or her instructions. Take pride in your bibliography. It represents some of the most important work you’ve done for your research paper—and using proper form shows that you are a serious and careful researcher.

Bibliography Entry for a Book

A bibliography entry for a book begins with the author’s name, which is written in this order: last name, comma, first name, period. After the author’s name comes the title of the book. If you are handwriting your bibliography, underline each title. If you are working on a computer, put the book title in italicized type. Be sure to capitalize the words in the title correctly, exactly as they are written in the book itself. Following the title is the city where the book was published, followed by a colon, the name of the publisher, a comma, the date published, and a period. Here is an example:

Format : Author’s last name, first name. Book Title. Place of publication: publisher, date of publication.

• A book with one author : Hartz, Paula.  Abortion: A Doctor’s Perspective, a Woman’s Dilemma . New York: Donald I. Fine, Inc., 1992.
• A book with two or more authors : Landis, Jean M. and Rita J. Simon.  Intelligence: Nature or Nurture?  New York: HarperCollins, 1998.

Bibliography Entry for a Periodical

A bibliography entry for a periodical differs slightly in form from a bibliography entry for a book. For a magazine article, start with the author’s last name first, followed by a comma, then the first name and a period. Next, write the title of the article in quotation marks, and include a period (or other closing punctuation) inside the closing quotation mark. The title of the magazine is next, underlined or in italic type, depending on whether you are handwriting or using a computer, followed by a period. The date and year, followed by a colon and the pages on which the article appeared, come last. Here is an example:

Format:  Author’s last name, first name. “Title of the Article.” Magazine. Month and year of publication: page numbers.

• Article in a monthly magazine : Crowley, J.E.,T.E. Levitan and R.P. Quinn.“Seven Deadly Half-Truths About Women.”  Psychology Today  March 1978: 94–106.
• Article in a weekly magazine : Schwartz, Felice N.“Management,Women, and the New Facts of Life.”  Newsweek  20 July 2006: 21–22.
• Signed newspaper article : Ferraro, Susan. “In-law and Order: Finding Relative Calm.”  The Daily News  30 June 1998: 73.
• Unsigned newspaper article : “Beanie Babies May Be a Rotten Nest Egg.”  Chicago Tribune  21 June 2004: 12.

Bibliography Entry for a Web Site

For sources such as Web sites include the information a reader needs to find the source or to know where and when you found it. Always begin with the last name of the author, broadcaster, person you interviewed, and so on. Here is an example of a bibliography for a Web site:

Format : Author.“Document Title.” Publication or Web site title. Date of publication. Date of access.

Example : Dodman, Dr. Nicholas. “Dog-Human Communication.”  Pet Place . 10 November 2006.  23 January 2014 < http://www.petplace.com/dogs/dog-human-communication-2/page1.aspx >

After completing the bibliography you can breathe a huge sigh of relief and pat yourself on the back. You probably plan to turn in your work in printed or handwritten form, but you also may be making an oral presentation. However you plan to present your paper, do your best to show it in its best light. You’ve put a great deal of work and thought into this assignment, so you want your paper to look and sound its best. You’ve completed your research paper!

Back to  How To Write A Research Paper .

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Town and Country

The 50 Best Biographies of All Time

Posted: May 24, 2024 | Last updated: May 24, 2024

Biographies have always been controversial. On his deathbed, the novelist Henry James told his nephew that his “sole wish” was to “frustrate as utterly as possible the postmortem exploiter” by destroying his personal letters and journals. And one of our greatest living writers, Hermione Lee, once compared biographies to autopsies that add “a new terror to death”—the potential muddying of someone’s legacy when their life is held up to the scrutiny of investigation.

But despite its long history dating back to ancient Rome and Sumeria, biography as a genre didn’t really pop off until the middle of the twentieth century, when we became obsessed with celebrity culture. Since then, biographies of presidents, activists, artists, and musicians have regularly appeared on bestseller lists, while Hollywood continues to adapt them into Oscar bait like A Beautiful Mind, The Imitation Game , and Steve Jobs .

Why do we read so many books about the lives and deaths of strangers, as told by second-hand and third-hand sources? Is it merely our love for gossip, or are we trying to understand ourselves through the triumphs and failures of others?

To keep this list from blossoming into hundreds of titles, we only included books currently in print and translated into English. We also limited it to one book per author, and one book per subject. In ranked order, here are the best biographies of all time.

50) The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo, by Tom Reiss

You’re probably familiar with The Count of Monte Cristo , the 1844 revenge novel by Alexandre Dumas. But did you know it was based on the life of Dumas’s father, the mixed-race General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, son of a French nobleman and a Haitian slave? Thanks to Reiss’s masterful pacing and plotting, this rip-roaring biography of Thomas-Alexandre reads more like an adventure novel than a work of nonfiction. The Black Count won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 2013, and it’s only a matter of time before a filmmaker turns it into a big-screen blockbuster.

49) Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret, by Craig Brown

Few biographies are as genuinely fun to read as this barnburner from the irreverent English critic Craig Brown. Princess Margaret may have been everyone’s favorite character from Netflix’s The Crown , but Brown’s eye for ostentatious details and revelatory insights will help you see why everyone in the 1950s—from Pablo Picasso and Gore Vidal to Peter Sellers and Andy Warhol—was obsessed with her. When book critic Parul Sehgal says that she “ripped through the book with the avidity of Margaret attacking her morning vodka and orange juice,” you know you’re in for a treat.

48) Inventor of the Future: The Visionary Life of Buckminster Fuller, by Alec Nevala-Lee

If you want to feel optimistic about the future again, look no further than this brilliant biography of Buckminster Fuller, the “modern Leonardo da Vinci” of the 1960s and 1970s who came up with the idea of a “Spaceship Earth” and inspired Silicon Valley’s belief that technology could be a global force for good (while earning plenty of critics who found his ideas impractical). Alec Nevala-Lee’s writing is as serene and precise as one of Fuller’s geodesic domes, and his research into never-before-seen documents makes this a genuinely groundbreaking book full of surprises.

47) Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original, by Robin D.G. Kelley

The late American jazz composer and pianist Thelonious Monk has been so heavily mythologized that it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. But Robin D. G. Kelley’s biography is an essential book for jazz fans looking to understand the man behind the myths. Monk’s family provided Kelley with full access to their archives, resulting in chapter after chapter of fascinating details, from his birth in small-town North Carolina to his death across the Hudson from Manhattan.

46) Frank Lloyd Wright: A Biography, by Meryle Secrest

There are dozens of books about America’s most celebrated architect, but Secrest’s 1998 biography is still the most fun to read. For one, she doesn’t shy away from the fact that Wright could be an absolute monster, even to his own friends and family. Secondly, her research into more than 100,000 letters, as well as interviews with nearly every surviving person who knew Wright, makes this book a one-of-a-kind look at how Wright’s personal life influenced his architecture.

45) Ralph Ellison: A Biography, by Arnold Rampersad

Ralph Ellison’s landmark novel, Invisible Man , is about a Black man who faced systemic racism in the Deep South during his youth, then migrated to New York, only to find oppression of a slightly different kind. What makes Arnold Rampersand’s honest and insightful biography of Ellison so compelling is how he connects the dots between Invisible Man and Ellison’s own journey from small-town Oklahoma to New York’s literary scene during the Harlem Renaissance.

44) Oscar Wilde: A Life, by Matthew Sturgis

Now remembered for his 1891 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde was one of the most fascinating men of the fin-de-siècle thanks to his poems, plays, and some of the earliest reported “celebrity trials.” Sturgis’s scintillating biography is the most encyclopedic chronicle of Wilde’s life to date, thanks to new research into his personal notebooks and a full transcript of his libel trial.

43) A Surprised Queenhood in the New Black Sun: The Life & Legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks, by Angela Jackson

The poet Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1950, but because she spent most of her life in Chicago instead of New York, she hasn’t been studied or celebrated as often as her peers in the Harlem Renaissance. Luckily, Angela Jackson’s biography is full of new details about Brooks’s personal life, and how it influenced her poetry across five decades.

42) Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century, by Dana Stevens

Was Buster Keaton the most influential filmmaker of the first half of the twentieth century? Dana Stevens makes a compelling case in this dazzling mix of biography, essays, and cultural history. Much like Keaton’s filmography, Stevens playfully jumps from genre to genre in an endlessly entertaining way, while illuminating how Keaton’s influence on film and television continues to this day.

41) Empire of Deception: The Incredible Story of a Master Swindler Who Seduced a City and Captivated the Nation, by Dean Jobb

Dean Jobb is a master of narrative nonfiction on par with Erik Larsen, author of The Devil in the White City . Jobb’s biography of Leo Koretz, the Bernie Madoff of the Jazz Age, is among the few great biographies that read like a thriller. Set in Chicago during the 1880s through the 1920s, it’s also filled with sumptuous period details, from lakeside mansions to streets choked with Model Ts.

40) Penelope Fitzgerald: A Life, by Hermione Lee

Hermione Lee’s biographies of Virginia Woolf and Edith Wharton could easily have made this list. But her book about a less famous person—Penelope Fitzgerald, the English novelist who wrote The Bookshop, The Blue Flower , and The Beginning of Spring —might be her best yet. At just over 500 pages, it’s considerably shorter than those other biographies, partially because Fitzgerald’s life wasn’t nearly as well documented. But Lee’s conciseness is exactly what makes this book a more enjoyable read, along with the thrilling feeling that she’s uncovering a new story literary historians haven’t already explored.

39) Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath, by Heather Clark

Many biographers have written about Sylvia Plath, often drawing parallels between her poetry and her death by suicide at the age of thirty. But in this startling book, Plath isn’t wholly defined by her tragedy, and Heather Clark’s craftsmanship as a writer makes it a joy to read. It’s also the most comprehensive account of Plath’s final year yet put to paper, with new information that will change the way you think of her life, poetry, and death.

38) Pontius Pilate, by Ann Wroe

Compared to most biography subjects, there isn’t much surviving documentation about the life of Pontius Pilate, the Judaean governor who ordered the execution of the historical Jesus in the first century AD. But Ann Wroe leans into all that uncertainty in her groundbreaking book, making for a fascinating mix of research and informed speculation that often feels like reading a really good historical novel.

37) Bolívar: American Liberator, by Marie Arana

In the early nineteenth century, Simón Bolívar led six modern countries—Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela—to independence from the Spanish Empire. In this rousing work of biography and geopolitical history, Marie Arana deftly chronicles his epic life with propulsive prose, including a killer first sentence: “They heard him before they saw him: the sound of hooves striking the earth, steady as a heartbeat, urgent as a revolution.”

36) Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History, by Yunte Huang

Ever read a biography of a fictional character? In the 1930s and 1940s, Charlie Chan came to popularity as a Chinese American police detective in Earl Derr Biggers’s mystery novels and their big-screen adaptations. In writing this book, Yunte Huang became something of a detective himself to track down the real-life inspiration for the character, a Hawaiian cop named Chang Apana born shortly after the Civil War. The result is an astute blend between biography and cultural criticism as Huang analyzes how Chan served as a crucial counterpoint to stereotypical Chinese villains in early Hollywood.

35) Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay, by Nancy Milford

Edna St. Vincent Millay was one of the most fascinating women of the twentieth century—an openly bisexual poet, playwright, and feminist icon who helped make Greenwich Village a cultural bohemia in the 1920s. With a knack for torrid details and creative insights, Nancy Milford successfully captures what made Millay so irresistible—right down to her voice, “an instrument of seduction” that captivated men and women alike.

34) Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson

Few people have the luxury of choosing their own biographers, but that’s exactly what the late co-founder of Apple did when he tapped Walter Isaacson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer of Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin. Adapted for the big screen by Aaron Sorkin in 2015, Steve Jobs is full of plot twists and suspense thanks to a mind-blowing amount of research on the part of Isaacson, who interviewed Jobs more than forty times and spoke with just about everyone who’d ever come into contact with him.

33) Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov), by Stacy Schiff

The Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov once said, “Without my wife, I wouldn’t have written a single novel.” And while Stacy Schiff’s biography of Cleopatra could also easily make this list, her telling of Véra Nabokova’s life in Russia, Europe, and the United States is revolutionary for finally bringing Véra out of her husband’s shadow. It’s also one of the most romantic biographies you’ll ever read, with some truly unforgettable images, like Vera’s habit of carrying a handgun to protect Vladimir on butterfly-hunting excursions.

32) Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare, by Stephen Greenblatt

We know what you’re thinking. Who needs another book about Shakespeare?! But Greenblatt’s masterful biography is like traveling back in time to see firsthand how a small-town Englishman became the greatest writer of all time. Like Wroe’s biography of Pontius Pilate, there’s plenty of speculation here, as there are very few surviving records of Shakespeare’s daily life, but Greenblatt’s best trick is the way he pulls details from Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets to construct a compelling narrative.

31) Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own, by Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

When Kiese Laymon calls a book a “literary miracle,” you pay attention. James Baldwin’s legacy has enjoyed something of a revival over the last few years thanks to films like I Am Not Your Negro and If Beale Street Could Talk , as well as books like Glaude’s new biography. It’s genuinely a bit of a miracle how he manages to combine the story of Baldwin’s life with interpretations of Baldwin’s work—as well as Glaude’s own story of discovering, resisting, and rediscovering Baldwin’s books throughout his life.

30) The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk, by Randy Shilts

If you’ve never seen the 2008 film Milk starring Sean Penn, you might not be familiar with the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California before his assassination in 1978. Shilts’s biography provides a much more detailed look at the policies and politics Milk fought against in San Francisco to become one of the most crucial advocates for LGBTQ+ rights in American history.

29) The Brontë Myth, by Lucasta Miller

Without Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë, we’d have no Wuthering Heights , no Jane Eyre , no The Tenant of Wildfell Hall —and something like half as many BBC television and radio adaptations. The thing that makes Lucasta Miller’s “metabiography” so absorbing is that she doesn’t just recount the lives of the three Brontë sisters in Victorian Yorkshire; she also narrates her own process of discovery as she realizes just how much their first biographer—a family friend who tried to sugarcoat their personal lives—misrepresented the Brontë family.

28) Heartbeat of Struggle: The Revolutionary Life of Yuri Kochiyama, by Diane C. Fujino

Yuri Kochiyama is best known as the woman who held Malcolm X in her arms as he died in the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan, but she was also “the most prominent Asian American activist to emerge during the 1960s.” Fujino’s biography traces Kochiyama’s life from her family’s experience in an internment camp for Japanese Americans to her advocacy for a variety of causes as an activist—some of which remain extremely controversial to this day, resulting in a remarkable story that will challenge you in every chapter.

27) Wong Kar-Wai: Auteur of Time, by Stephen Teo

In just ten films released between 1988 and 2013—including In the Mood for Love and Fallen Angels —the Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai established himself as a revolutionary, one-of-a-kind director. This engrossing book covers Kar-Wai’s story up until his seventh film, but where it really shines is when Teo turns his attention to the interplay between Kar-Wai’s life and the movies themselves. One can only hope for a follow-up that examines Kar-Wai’s three most recent releases— 2046, My Blueberry Nights , and The Grandmaster .

26) The Journey of Crazy Horse: A Lakota History, by Joseph M. Marshall III

You probably learned about the Battle of Little Bighorn in grade school, but this well-paced biography of the Lakota warrior known as Crazy Horse reveals many new details, thanks to Marshall III’s extensive on-the-ground research with oral historians in the Black Hills and beyond. At just over 300 pages, it’s also one of the shortest biographies on this list, which makes it a great gift for readers who are leery of 1,000-page doorstoppers.

25) The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke, by Jeffrey C. Stewart

Speaking of 1,000-page doorstoppers! Despite his status as the “father of the Harlem Renaissance,” Alain Locke isn’t quite the household name that many of his mentees became, like Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Jacob Lawrence. Stewart’s massive biography is absolutely worth its page count—not just because of its velvet-smooth writing about Locke himself, but also because of its revelations about other members of the Harlem Renaissance who were influenced by Locke.

24) Ida: A Sword Among Lions, by Paula J. Giddings

Born into slavery in Mississippi, Ida B. Wells became an investigative journalist after she was thrown from a train car she was attempting to desegregate in 1884. With the eye of a novelist and an exquisite mix of historical summary and dramatic scenes, Giddings traces Wells’s career fighting for civil rights and women’s suffrage from Memphis to Chicago.

23) The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez: A Border Story, by Aaron Bobrow-Strain

Bobrow-Strain’s suspenseful book is the story of an undocumented immigrant, Aida Hernandez, whose mother brought her from Mexico to Arizona to escape her abusive father. After having a child of her own, Aida was deported back to Mexico, and had to fight the American immigration system to be reunited with her son. It’s a chilling look at how U.S. detention centers and immigration courts wreak havoc on the lives of impoverished and vulnerable people.

22) Ali: A Life, by Jonathan Eig

On the heels of his books about Jackie Robinson and Lou Gehrig, the celebrated Chicago sports biographer Jonathan Eig turns his eye to Muhammad Ali in this soaring book based on more than five hundred interviews. It’s also filled with new revelations from long-classified FBI and U.S. Department of Justice files on Ali—and it’s the basis for an upcoming Ken Burns documentary.

21) Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman, by Robert K. Massie

All four of Massie’s Romanov books are fantastic. His biography of Peter the Great earned a Pulitzer Prize, but it can’t help but feel like a prequel to the main event when Catherine (the queen who overthrew Peter in 1724) is an infinitely more fascinating character. If you loved the Hulu TV series The Great (of course you did!) based on Peter and Catherine’s marriage, this book is the perfect entry point into Russia’s imperial dynasty, which reigned from 1613 until the 1917 revolution.

20) Anne Sexton: A Biography, by Diane Wood Middlebrook

Shortlisted for the National Book Award in 1991, Middlebrook’s shocking biography of Anne Sexton made waves for detailing the poet’s infidelity and incest—including the sexual assault of her husband and children. Many of its revelations came from recordings of Sexton’s psychiatric sessions, which were given to Middlebrook by the poet’s therapist and sparked a controversy upon the book’s publication for violating doctor-patient confidentiality. More than thirty years later, it remains a truly chilling read.

19) Joan of Arc: A History, by Helen Castor

Castor’s spellbinding biography of Joan of Arc never really feels like a biography—it feels more like an HBO adaptation of a George R. R. Martin novel. There’s a throne, quite a few castles, and a whole lot of blood in her vivid and violent portrait of fifteenth-century France, as Castor narrates how the fates of nations were swayed by a teenage warrior-woman who believed she could hear the voice of God.

18) The Equivalents: A Story of Art, Female Friendship, and Liberation in the 1960s, by Maggie Doherty

In the 1960s, five extraordinary women met at Radcliffe College’s experimental Institute for Independent Study: the writers Anne Sexton, Maxine Kumin, and Tillie Olsen, and the artists Barbara Swan and Marianna Pineda. Doherty’s moving and masterful group biography shows how these women influenced one another while reshaping conversations about American feminism and culture.

17) The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, by Edmund Morris

The first of three books in Morris’s series on Teddy Roosevelt won both a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award for biography—the closest thing a biographer can get to an EGOT. As the title indicates, The Rise covers the first four decades of Roosevelt’s life between 1858 and 1901, when he “transformed himself from a frail, asthmatic boy into a full-blooded man.” You might expect a presidential biography to be a solemn affair, but reading Morris feels like watching a rock opera.

16) The Song Poet: A Memoir of My Father, by Kao Kalia Yang

Few biographers write about their own fathers, but after winning multiple awards for her memoir, The Latehomecomers , Kao Kalia Yang retold the life of her dad in this powerful book written with a daughter’s unique sense of compassion and awe. Bee Yang, a Hmong refugee who immigrated to Minnesota during the Laotian Civil War, shared the story of his people through singing poetry. His own story will absolutely make you cry.

15) Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, by David W. Blight

If you write a book about Frederick Douglass, the influential abolitionist who escaped from slavery in Maryland, you have to compete with Douglass’s own autobiographies, including 1845’s gripping Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave . But Blight’s biography—the literary equivalent of a six-season character-study television series like The Sopranos —is among the best ever written, garnering a Pulitzer Prize and the Lincoln Prize in 2019.

14) Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston, by Valerie Boyd

Zora Neale Hurston is on this list twice: once for a book she wrote, and again for a book written about her. Hurston’s latest biographer, Valerie Boyd, was an exquisite narrative journalist who explored every facet of Hurston’s life—her writing, of course, but also her friendships, her sexuality, and her spirituality.

13) The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X, by Les Payne and Tamara Payne

The Paynes’s biography of Malcolm X won both a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, a stunning achievement they absolutely deserved. Les Payne spent almost thirty years writing the bulk of the book, while his daughter Tamara completed it and added additional materials after his death. The Dead Are Arising is a perfect companion to Malcolm X’s autobiography, filling in the gaps and adding new context to his tumultuous life story.

12) W.E.B. Du Bois: A Biography 1868-1963, by David Levering Lewis

Originally published as two volumes in 1993 and 2000—both of which won Pulitzer Prizes—this 900-page omnibus is a remarkably told chronicle of the life of W.E.B. Du Bois, the “premier architect of the civil rights movement in America.” With its attention to detail and sweeping historical context, reading it is akin to watching a Ken Burns documentary.

11) Washington: A Life, by Ron Chernow

Best known for writing the book that inspired the Broadway musical Hamilton —as well as biographies of Ulysses S. Grant, John D. Rockefeller, and the J.P. Morgan dynasty—Chernow’s best book might be this Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of America’s first president, George Washington. Why? Because Chernow will change your impression of Washington from a boring, frowning statesman to something like an 18th-century punk rocker who liked to dance with women and hunt foxes, all while pulling no punches when it comes to Washington’s military failures and ownership of slaves.

10) The Twelve Caesars, by Suetonius

One of the earliest biographies still in print is this chronicle by the Roman historian Suetonius, written in 121 AD. Two millennia later, it remains the best record of the lives of the first twelve Roman emperors—Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian—and it’s surprisingly easy to read for something almost as old as the Colosseum.

9) A Beautiful Mind, by Sylvia Nasar

A Beautiful Mind is a powerful, heart-wrenching book about the Nobel Prize-winning mathematician John Nash, who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and is now famous following a 2001 film about his life starring Russell Crowe. More than most books on this list, A Beautiful Mind is full of great dialogue, like the opening exchange between Nash and a Harvard professor who asks, “How could you, a mathematician, believe that extraterrestrials were sending you messages?” Nash responded, “Because the ideas I had about supernatural beings came to me the same way my mathematical ideas did.”

8) Alan Turing: The Enigma, by Andrew Hodges

The 2014 Benedict Cumberbatch film, The Imitation Game , was based on this heartbreaking 1983 biography of Alan Turing, the English mathematician who invented one of the earliest mechanical computers and helped the Allied Powers win World War II, only to be chemically castrated by the British government under laws prohibiting “homosexual acts.” But like Heather Clark’s biography of Sylvia Plath, Hodges doesn’t overemphasize the worst parts of Turing’s life, and the WWII material is as thrilling as a John Le Carré novel.

7) Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry, by Imani Perry

Imani Perry just won a National Book Award for her memoir, South to America , but she also wrote a stunning biography of Lorraine Hansberry, the queer Chicago playwright behind A Raisin in the Sun whose social activism drew the attention of the FBI. The MacArthur Fellow writer Jacqueline Woodson said reading Looking for Lorraine “feels as though Ms. Hansberry has walked into my living room and sat down beside me”—the highest praise a biographer could possibly hope for.

6) Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo", by Zora Neale Hurston

Written nearly 100 years ago but never published until 2018, this book from the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God is the riveting story of the last presumed survivor of the Altantic slave trade, Cudjo Lewis, including his capture in Africa, his journey on the Middle Passage, and his life as a slave in Alabama before the Civil War. Thanks to Hurston’s intimate first-person narration and her preservation of Lewis’s vernacular dialect, it feels like listening to the most fascinating conversation you’ve ever eavesdropped on, and it provides a devastating first-hand account of what it was like to live through the worst atrocity in American history.

5) Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo, by Hayden Herrera

Herrera’s 1983 masterpiece is the definitive biography of Frida Kahlo, adapted by Julie Taymor into the 2002 film Frida starring Salma Hayek. It’s all here in gorgeously written detail: Kahlo’s accident, her paintings, her marriage, her affairs, and her impact on both Mexican history and art. It’s also extremely valuable for correcting the historical record that Kahlo herself sometimes misrepresented for effect—like when she changed her own birth year to match the beginning of Mexico’s revolution.

4) Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life, by Ruth Franklin

It’s rare for the biography of a great writer to be just as good as said writer’s best work, but that’s certainly the case with Ruth Franklin’s captivating book about Shirley Jackson. Her sentences are so good! Her plotting is so smooth! Plus, fans of The Haunting at Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle will eat up Jackson’s real-life inspiration behind those unforgettable novels.

3) Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder, by Caroline Fraser

Fraser’s first-ever biography is a genuine masterpiece, both for the quality of its writing and the depth of insights it brings to the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the Midwestern author of the Little House on the Prairie books between 1932 and 1943. It won the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award for biography in 2018, and it conveys such a strong sense of place, you can smell the Dakota milkweed and switchgrass.

2) The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York, by Robert A. Caro

Every volume of Caro’s four-part (so far) series on Lyndon Johnson is amazing, but his crowning achievement might still be this biography of Robert Moses, the urban planner who reshaped New York City in the mid-twentieth century. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1975, and you can instantly see why from page one: Caro can set a scene and establish characters as well as Martin Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola.

1) The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family, by Annette Gordon-Reed

“Until very recently, American historians were no more receptive to arguments about a sexual relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings than The Da Vinci Code 's Catholic Church was to a romance between Jesus and Mary Magdalene,” wrote the historian Jane Dailey in 2010. But everything changed thanks to Annette Gordon-Reed’s groundbreaking research proving that Jefferson had children with one of his own slaves. This comprehensive biography of Hemings’s family before, during, and after their lives at Monticello belongs on the biography genre’s Mount Rushmore thanks to Gordon-Reed’s revelatory investigation and her stellar narration of history from a previously hidden perspective.

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Sean “Diddy” Combs

Sean Combs, also known as “Diddy,” has produced big-name artists like Mariah Carey, created the Sean John clothing line, and recorded his own platinum albums, starting with No Way Out in 1997.

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1969-present

Latest News: Sean Combs Apologizes for Hotel Assault

Combs addressed the footage in an Instagram video posted May 19 . “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that... I mean, I hit rock bottom—but I make no excuses,” he said. “My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.” The 54-year-old rapper also said he began attending rehab and therapy after the incident.

Combs won’t be prosecuted because the case is outside the statute of limitations in California, according to USA Today . The timeline is one year for simple assault and three years for felony assault.

Cassie, a 37-year-old singer whose real name is Casandra Ventura, alleged in a federal lawsuit filed in November 2023 that Combs raped and physically abused her during their relationship, including an incident that took place inside a hotel. The case was settled one day after its filing, and Combs had previously denied the allegations.

Since then, three more women and music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones have filed their own lawsuits against Combs over similar sexual misconduct and threatening behavior. This March, authorities searched the rapper’s properties in Los Angeles and Miami in connection to a federal sex trafficking investigation, though it’s not clear if Combs is its subject.

Quick Facts

Music producer and bad boy entertainment, “i’ll be missing you” and early albums, shooting controversy, later albums: from the saga continues to the love album, acting career, net worth and entrepreneurial ventures, girlfriend yung miami, sexual assault lawsuits, who is sean combs.

Known professionally as “Diddy,” Sean Combs launched his music production company, Bad Boy Entertainment, in 1993, and worked with artists like Mariah Carey , Mary J. Blige , and Biggie Smalls . After Biggie was murdered in 1997, Combs recorded the tribute “I’ll be Missing You,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 11 weeks and launched Combs’ first album, No Way Out , to platinum status before it captured a Grammy Award . Beyond music, Combs launched the Sean Jean apparel line, has a host of acting credits, worked in reality television, and had a tequila brand. His reputation has cratered since November 2023 when he began facing multiple lawsuits for physical and sexual abuse; Combs has denied any wrongdoing.

FULL NAME: Sean Love Combs BORN: November 4, 1969 BIRTHPLACE: New York, New York CHILDREN: Quincy, Justin, Christian, Chance, D’Lila, Jessie, and Love ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Scorpio

Sean Love Combs was born Sean John Combs on November 4, 1969, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Raised by his mother after his father was murdered in 1974, Combs grew up in Mt. Vernon, New York, and attended a Catholic boys school in the Bronx.

Over the years, Combs has gone by various names, including Puffy, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy, and Love, which he legally made his middle name in 2021. He earned the nickname Puffy in high school because of his habit of puffing out his chest to make his body seem bigger.

Combs majored in business administration at Howard University, producing weekly dance parties and running an airport shuttle service while attending classes. He dropped out to pursue an internship at Uptown Records, which led to a talent director position. Combs rapidly rose to the level of vice president and had success producing several key artists for Uptown but left the company in the early 1990s.

In 1993, Combs started his own production company, Bad Boy Entertainment, working with upcoming and established rap, hip-hop, and R&B recording artists such as Mariah Carey , New Edition, Method Man, Babyface, TLC , Boyz II Men, Lil’ Kim , SWV, Aretha Franklin , Mary J. Blige , Faith Evans , and Biggie Smalls . In 1996, Combs was named as ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year. By 1997, Bad Boy Entertainment had sold nearly $100 million in recordings and made a multimillion-dollar deal with Arista Records for management of the label.

After his friend Biggie Smalls was murdered in 1997, Combs recorded the tribute “I’ll be Missing You,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 11 weeks and launched Combs’ first album, No Way Out (1997), to platinum status. Nielsen SoundScan named No Way Out as the third best-selling LP of 1997, with more than 3.4 million copies sold in the United States. Both the single “I’ll Be Missing You” and the album No Way Out won Grammys the following year for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rap Album, respectively.

Combs released his second album, Forever , in 1999.

In December 1999, Combs and his then-girlfriend, actor and singer Jennifer Lopez , were allegedly involved in a shooting incident at a New York City nightclub, where three people were injured. Combs was later charged with four counts of illegal gun possession and one count of bribery; prosecutors claimed that he offered his driver, Wardel Fenderson, $50,000 to say that the loaded gun police had found at the scene of the crime was Fenderson’s. His trial began in late January 2001.

On March 16, 2001, Combs was cleared of all charges, as was his bodyguard, Anthony “Wolf” Jones. Combs’ protégé, the young rapper Jamal “Shyne” Barrow—who was accused of firing wildly inside the nightclub and injuring the three bystanders—was found guilty of assault, reckless endangerment, and criminal possession of a weapon but was cleared of the more serious charge of attempted murder.

In 2001, Combs released his third studio album, The Saga Continues... Next came two compilation albums: 2002’s We Invented the Remix followed by Bad Boy’s 10th Anniversary...The Hits in 2004. As part of the Bad Boys II movie soundtrack, Combs collaborated with rappers Nelly and Murphy Lee in 2004 to produce the hit “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” which earned the trio a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

Although his Bad Boy music label began waning, it found new life with Combs’ 2006 release Press Play , which featured Brandy, Mary J. Blige , and Timbaland. Three years later, Combs formed the group Diddy-Dirty Money, which found commercial success with the release of their 2010 album Last Train to Paris .

Combs flirted with retirement from his music career more than once but has yet to follow through. He returned with another collaboration album in 2014 with 11 11 , a project with Guy Gerber. The next year’s MMM was a mixed tape featuring Grizzle, Pusha T, French Montana, and Future, among others. Then, September 2023 saw the release of The Love Album: Off the Grid , his first solo record in 17 years. Two months later, it earned Combs a 2024 Grammy nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album.

No Way Out 2 , his long promised follow-up to his hit 1997 album, has yet to be released. In March 2022, producer Stevie J told HipHopDX that he and Combs were working on the album in Florida with Jay Electronica, as Diddy was finishing The Love Album .

Beginning in 2001, Combs has taken on various acting roles, often playing himself, in movies such as Made (2001), Monster’s Ball (2001), Carlito’s Way: Rise to Power (2005), Get Him to the Greek (2010), Muppets Most Wanted (2014), and Girls Trip (2017). On the small screen, he’s appeared on shows such as CSI: Miami , Hawaii Five-O , and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia .

In 2004, he took on a new challenge in his acting career, playing Walter Lee Younger in Broadway’s revival of A Raisin in the Sun , as well as the TV adaptation in 2008, for which he received an NAACP Award for Outstanding Actor.

According to Celebrity Net Worth , Combs’ fortune is estimated at around $800 million as of April 2024. He has built his wealth from his musical and entrepreneurial endeavors.

The consummate entrepreneur founded his clothing line, Sean John, in 1998. He expanded his apparel holdings in 2008 by acquiring the hip-hop clothing line Enyce from Liz Claiborne for $20 million. In 2016, Combs sold Sean John but repurchased it in 2022.

The music mogul branched into reality television as an executive producer starting in 2002 with MTV’s Making the Band , which most famously created the all-girl group Danity Kane. In August 2008, Combs continued working in the genre with the premiere of his VH1 series I Want to Work for Diddy and, shortly after, P. Diddy’s Starmaker on MTV .

In 2013, Combs launched his own music-oriented cable network called Revolt. He stepped down as the network’s chairman in November 2023 amid a flurry civil lawsuits claiming Combs sexual assaulted multiple people. (He has denied any wrongdoing. For more information, see Sexual Assault Lawsuits below.)

The entrepreneur had ties to the liquor industry for many years. In 2007, Combs forged a deal with the vodka brand Cîroc, owned by alcoholic beverage giant Diageo, to help with its development. Seven years later, he bought DeLeón Tequila in a joint venture with Diageo. The company and Combs parted ways in January 2024 after settling a lawsuit Combs had filed that accused Diageo of underinvesting in both brands, partly on account of race. Diageo purchased Combs’ half of DeLeón for approximately $200 million .

In December 2017, after the owner of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers announced his intention to sell the team, Diddy tweeted that he was throwing his hat into the ring as a buyer, adding, “There are no majority African American NFL owners. Let’s make history.” He was joined by other prominent athletes interested in an ownership stake, including basketball star Stephen Curry and quarterback-turned-activist Colin Kaepernick . Ultimately, hedge fund billionaire David Tepper bought the team the following summer.

Combs is a dad to seven children: Quincy, Justin, Christian, Chance, D’Lila, Jessie, and Love. The kids are from his relationships with four different women.

Combs’ oldest child is his adopted son, Quincy, who was born in June 1991. Combs’ longtime ex-girlfriend Kim Porter had Quincy in a previous relationship. Combs and Porter, a model, had three more kids together: Christian “King” in April 1998 and twin daughters D’Lila and Jessie in December 2006. The couple ended their relationship for good in 2007. Porter died unexpectedly at age 47 in November 2018.

His son Justin was born in December 1993. Combs had Justin with Misa Hylton, who works in fashion and whom he dated in the early ’90s.

His oldest daughter, Chance, was born in July 2006. Her mother is businesswoman Sarah Chapman. According to People , Combs and Chapman never publicly dated. They remain close amid their coparenting duties.

In December 2022, Combs announced he had welcomed his youngest child, Love. She is the daughter of Combs and model Dana Tran and was born that October, according to an Instagram post Combs later shared to celebrate her first birthday.

Combs has never been married despite several high-profile relationships. He is currently dating rapper Yung Miami, whose real name is Caresha Brownlee. The couple went public with their reportedly open relationship in June 2022. Yung Miami is one-half of the rap duo City Girls and, like Combs, is a parent. She has a son and a daughter.

Previously, the music producer dated fashion stylist Misa Hylton, former model Kim Porter, singer and actor Jennifer Lopez , and singer Casandra Ventura, whose stage name is Cassie. Combs was also romantically linked to actor Cameron Diaz and model Naomi Campbell .

In the fall of 2023, multiple women filed lawsuits against Combs that claim he sexually assaulted them. He is also facing a suit for sexual harassment from a fellow music producer.

On November 17, 2023, The New York Times reported his former girlfriend Cassie filed a lawsuit seeking “unspecified damages” and alleging Combs physically abused her, forced her to have sex with other men during the course of their relationship, and raped her in 2018 toward the end of their relationship. Combs vehemently denied the allegations, according to his lawyer. Just one day after filing the suit, Cassie reached an undisclosed settlement with Combs . “I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control,” she said. Months later, in May 2024, CNN released a security video of Combs assaulting Cassie inside a Los Angeles hotel in March 2016, throwing her to the ground and appearing kicking her twice. He apologized on Instagram two days later for his “disgusting” behavior in the footage.

Less than a week after the settlement with Cassie, two other women filed civil lawsuits accusing Combs of sexual abuse. One plaintiff alleged Combs drugged and raped her in 1991 then distributed footage of the attack without her consent, according to the Associated Press . The other woman says Combs and R&B singer Aaron Hall sexually assaulted her and a friend in the early 1990s. Days later, Combs physically assaulted the plaintiff, who says she was 16 years old at the time, while trying to stop her from speaking out. Hall hasn’t commented on the lawsuit. The two cases against Combs are ongoing as of March 2024.

Following another suit filed on December 6 accusing the rapper of raping a 17-year-old in 2003, Combs released a statement denying all of the allegations against him: “I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday.”

Combs’ legal entanglements continued to grow in 2024. In February, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones filed a federal lawsuit accusing Combs of sexually harassing and threatening him for more than a year. Then in late March, Department of Homeland Security agents conducted authorized searches of Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami. CNN and The Los Angeles Times reported the searches were related to a federal sex trafficking investigation, though it’s unclear if Combs is the target of the inquiry. One of his attorney’s asserted Combs’ innocence the day after the raids: “This unprecedented ambush—paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence—leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.”

The lawsuits have had ramifications for Combs outside of court. In November 2023, he resigned as chair of his TV network, Revolt. The next month, a planned Hulu reality series featuring Combs and his family was canceled.

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Love in the age of the pickup artist, death is not the end, most popular, against advice, it’s all over, wanting bad things, on being an arsehole.

Baker, Bernhard and me

When my now-wife Nicolette lent me her hardcover edition of The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker in 2016, I regarded it as a strange and somewhat foreboding presence. For the two to five months that it sat unread on my desk—in part due to the thick pieces of yellowing paper with indecipherable scrawls that were glued to the insides of the front and back covers (Nicolette had bought it used), and in part due to the way lent books generally tended to oppress me, beckoning me until I read them, which paradoxically caused me not to want to read them—it created a low-level, one-sided strain on my burgeoning relationship. The novel’s vivid presence in my bedroom—lying dumbly on my desk next to a mess of papers and books—slowly faded until I could barely see it; but as The Mezzanine disappeared with repeated sight, it grew ever more vivid in my mind: The Mezzanine expanded inside me, as all neglected obligations, like a tumor; it became burdensome and big, afflicting me, especially when I considered that I would need to respond to it in a way that not only matched Nicolette’s enthusiasm but was also insightful (Nicolette and I had only been dating for one or two months when she lent me the book, and I wanted to impress her)—feeling the increasingly tortuous fact of The Mezzanine half-reveal itself in my mind whenever we talked on the phone—“Is she going to ask about The Mezzanine ?”; “Should I just lie and say I started it, 1 1. I’d already done this with Tenth of December by George Saunders, and she had in fact asked me about it; I was fortunately able to navigate away from the subject without betraying the fact that I hadn’t actually read any of it (I told her I’d read “the first story”), but remained aware that sooner or later my dishonesty about reading things would likely be revealed (it eventually was, and is something we joke about now). then actually start it after we hang up the phone?”—then slink back into my subconscious after we hung up.

The physical dimensions of the novel (long and skinny) unsettled me, and the cover—a drawing of a man ascending an escalator from the perspective of someone going down the adjacent escalator (appearing to me then mainly as abstract black, purple and white shapes: diagonal rectangle, ovular splashes, 2 2. There are three thought bubbles above the escalator man’s head, increasing in size, and three more circles on what appears to be a robot or a robot-like man(?) half-off frame, but nothing that would qualify as “ovular.” “curlicues” 3 3. There are no curlicues. and a floating man in a hat 4 4. He is not floating. )—in addition to the interior pages, which included footnotes so large that they occasionally took up more than half the page, didn’t entice me; it seemed an intuitively belligerent first 5 5. second book to recommend; too effortfully and distastefully “inventive.” But when another friend, a writer I admired (who would later go on to publicly accuse me of stealing his idea for an anthology I edited, which he also contributed to, called Pets ) recommended it to me, I finally picked it up off my desk. I cracked it open (the spine literally creaked) and read the first chapter, after which I was buzzing with excitement. The Mezzanine took place over the course of a single escalator ride, and began with long digressions, often in footnotes, about various objects that the narrator was carrying, as well as objects associated with those things: shoelaces, the function of bags, straws 6 6. “I stared in disbelief the first time a straw rose up from my can of soda and hung out over the table, barely arrested by burrs in the underside of the metal opening. I was holding a slice of pizza in one hand, folded in a three-finger grip so that it wouldn’t flop and pour cheese-grease on the paper plate, and a paperback in a similar grip in the other hand—what was I supposed to do? The whole point of straws, I had thought, was that you did not have to set down the slice of pizza to suck a dose of Coke while reading a paperback. I soon found, as many have, that there was a way to drink no-handed with these new floating straws: you had to bend low to the table and grasp the almost horizontal straw with your lips, steering it back down into the can every time you wanted a sip, while straining your eyes to keep them trained on the line of the page you were reading.” and more. I loved it, and I read it in two sittings.

As occasionally happens, a particular novel, read at a particular time, has a profound and instantaneous effect. The Mezzanine made me laugh out loud, and propelled me forward, but it also had that mysterious quality that can’t be anticipated or feigned: it made me want to imitate it. Its cerebral, labyrinthine sentences, which were simultaneously jubilant and precise, often making unexpected connections between things 7 7. “On sunny days like this one, a temporary, steeper escalator of daylight, formed by intersections of the lobby’s towering volumes of marble and glass, met the real escalators just above their middle point, spreading into a needly area of shine where it fell against their brushed-steel side-panels, and adding long glossy highlights to each of the black rubber handrails which wavered slightly as the handrails slid on their tracks, like the radians of black luster that ride the undulating outer edge of an LP.” and written with palpable delight, 8 8. “It seemed that I always liked to have one hand free when I was walking, even when I had several things to carry: I liked to be able to slap my hand fondly down on the top of a green mailmen-only mailbox, or bounce my fist lightly against the steel support for the traffic lights, both because the pleasure of touching these cold, dusty surfaces with the springy muscle on the side of my palm was intrinsically good, and because I liked other people to see me as a guy in a tie yet carefree and casual enough to be doing what kids do when they drag a stick over the black uprights of a cast-iron fence. I especially liked doing one thing: I liked walking past a parking meter so close that it seemed as if my hand would slam into it, and at the last minute lifting my arm out just enough so that the meter passed underneath my armpit.” surprised me. The Mezzanine would, I intuited, with increasing conviction as it settled into my subconscious, serve as a perfect model for my own writing.

I had, seven months prior, gotten sober again after relapsing on benzodiazepines and opiates, during which I lost an enormous amount of money in a months-long blackout and ruined my role in the highly lucrative but illegal operation I’d become a part of. During this time, I didn’t write at all, despite telling myself that I was doing my relatively non-time-consuming and lucrative work in order to “give myself time to write,” and still thinking of myself in those nebulously cringe terms—cringe especially when applied as an identity, as opposed to a simple descriptor of one’s primary activity—“writer” and “author.” I wanted to start writing again, but had yet to find a way back in. In high school, I’d published two poetry books and a handful of articles, and had written a story collection on my laptop, which, in a fit of sickness, I’d given to my dealer—without backing up any of the writing—for around forty dollars’ worth of heroin.  

After getting sober for the first time, my relationship with literature changed. Before, I only liked bleak books about depressed people (Richard Yates, Jean Rhys, Albert Camus), but once my life started to get better, I didn’t know what I liked anymore. I made a new friend (our relationship developed with such intensity that I adopted many of his mannerisms and verbal tics, and other friends who I’d known my whole life began to ask in earnest if we were gay), who recommended many books I hadn’t previously read: Thomas Pynchon, Don DeLillo, Hermann Hesse, Carlos Fuentes—but nothing took. The so-called “alt lit” pioneer, and one of my favorite novelists, Tao Lin—who served as my primary “model” in high school—no longer occupied the same role in my artistic life: before getting sober, I operated somewhat unconsciously, imitating Tao’s tone and style out of an adolescent identification with it, but now that I was coming into newfound self-awareness, I felt overwhelmed with possibility; I didn’t know how to write. I made haphazard attempts—falling back into past modes or ham-fistedly trying new things, which I frustratedly tried to “create out of nothing”—but for the most part I focused on other aspects of my life, wondering ambiently whether writing had been merely a drug-fueled delusion, or its own kind of “drug,” which allowed me to escape from reality and gave me an excuse to aestheticize my self-centered neurosis.  

That is, until I read The Mezzanine .

Well, actually, no—I’m editorializing. Now, looking back after having written and published a novel that somewhat facetiously mentions The Mezzanine and was written in a The Mezzanine -esque style, it’s likely that I’m reading The Mezzanine back into my life and giving it a more prominent role than it actually had; The Mezzanine didn’t exactly get me out of my post-drug-kingpin-attempt literature slump (others— The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis , Gordon Lish and his protégés, the literary magazine NOON [which I flailingly imitated to varying degrees, but never felt truly able to “own”]—came before).

However, The Mezzanine did give me a glimpse of a way forward: my tiny stories, which I began writing again in part due to Nicolette concurrently writing short stories, would now occasionally include long, labyrinthine sentences, like Baker, as well as attempts at Bakerian interiority—which verged on neuroticism but also contained moments of observation-based joy. Still, it ultimately amounted to very little until I came into contact with another novel, which reemerged semiconsciously years after I had first read it, and which influenced me as I worked on what became my debut novel, The Novelist . That novel was Woodcutters , by Thomas Bernhard.

My memory of how I came to learn of Woodcutters is unclear: it may have been that my friend Michael Clune—an English professor and writer whose memoir White Out is perhaps the only book about drugs and recovery I’ve truly loved—recommended it; then, after googling, I saw that Tao had written a short review of it (or this could have been reversed, as Clune had also written about Woodcutters ); I have a vague memory of the writer who accused me of stealing his anthology idea telling me about Woodcutters , and tweeting that he was also going to write a novel like Woodcutters , then messaging him to say I was also writing a novel like Woodcutters (however, when I search his username on Twitter + “woodcutters,” there is no such tweet 9 9. The fact-checker for this essay, Julia, said she “found the tweet (or a very similar one) pretty easily…,” the difference being that the actual tweet says that the writer “began” writing it, not that he was “going to.” ); but in any case, I obtained Woodcutters at some point while Nicolette and I were dating “long distance” (she was getting her MFA in Maryland; I was working a minimum-wage job in Cleveland, technically unable to leave the state due to being on probation). Despite my driver’s license being suspended, and my suspended sentence being two to three years in jail (if I ever got pulled over, thus violating my probation, I’d have to serve the time), I’d drive to visit Nicolette roughly once monthly; and I recall lying on her creaky twin bed during one of my visits, greedily reading Woodcutters , trying not to cackle too loudly so as not to wake up her roommates.

Like The Mezzanine , Woodcutters gave me that pleasurably disorienting sensation of being propelled, almost thrown, forward: as I read, my eyes moved faster than my brain, like an impatient child dragging his elderly parent behind, such that the pace produced a gnawing ache. The rhythmic, recursive, ever-darkening prose struck me as nothing short of genius: it made a claim on me (which, I’d learn later, after publishing The Novelist [which explicitly mentions both Baker and Bernhard on the back of the book jacket, as well as within the novel itself], was such a common occurrence that it was a cliché among those “in the know”; W. G. Sebald, for example, said that one shouldn’t talk too openly about Bernhard’s influence on them, because “then you get shoved in a box labeled Bernhard, and never get out” 10 10. The actual quote is: “I was always, as it were, tempted to declare openly from quite early on my great debt of gratitude to Thomas Bernhard. But I was also conscious of the fact that one oughtn’t to do that too openly, because then immediately one gets put in a drawer which says Thomas Bernhard, a follower of Thomas Bernhard, etc., and these labels never go away.” ), and when, about nine months later, I got off probation early for “good behavior” and moved to Maryland to live with Nicolette, I began writing more seriously—first a tortured third-person novel about my experience as a drug addict and criminal, then a first-person novel about writing my failing novel (in the style of both The Mezzanine and Woodcutters ), and I felt, once again, the power of having an orienting model, even if by then I retained only a distant memory of certain hazy details of the prose (recursive repetition, rant/anecdotal digression-type sections, “being funny,” attention to small detail, and “stretching time” so that small movements created a sense of tension and rising action).

While working on The Novelist , I read roughly three pages of U and I by Nicholson Baker—a nonfiction book about Baker’s obsession with John Updike—which Tao, as well as an ex-friend who’d also served as a kind of model for me briefly, had recommended many years prior, but which I put down when I saw that, like my novel, U and I was about writing, or trying to write, and also began with an opening sentence that contained the word “keyboard.” The Mezzanine and Woodcutters were only present in the background of my consciousness, and not, as would have been the case if I read U and I right then, in the foreground. (Two months ago, when I finally read U and I —after the writer Zans Brady Krohn texted me saying she was reading U and I —I would comfortingly recognize the dissimilarities between it and The Novelist , while also feeling mimetically inspired to write an essay with a similar structure, as a way of finally writing an essay I’d been drafting and redrafting, connecting Nicholson Baker and Thomas Bernhard, and exploring the role of imitation in artistic production, in the hopes that my attempt would result in something valuable or even “new” [after publishing The Novelist , despite the novel “wearing its influences on its sleeve”—literally mentioning The Mezzanine and Woodcutters on the book sleeve—reviewers would frequently make a point to talk about how original and new the novel was, my self-conscious imitation having resulted paradoxically in a book “unlike any other,” 11 11. I don’t know where I got this from. When I googled “the novelist jordan castro ‘unlike any other’” I dimly glanced at some results, but didn’t read any. I might be thinking of Michael Clune’s blurb, which begins, “This book, better than any other I know…” Another blurb, by Kimberly King Parsons, does call it “wholly unique.” according to one reviewer].)

In U and I , Baker explores his relationship with John Updike through what he facetiously calls “closed book examination”: he doesn’t actually read or revisit any more of Updike’s work—of which he’s read, he calculates, less than half—although he does go back later to insert the actual quotes in brackets, after his own misremembered quotes. Baker jokes that he could start a new school of criticism: “memory criticism,” in which one treats his “haphazard book-memories as a fund of data on which to operate.” 12 12. I know that this is the correct quote because, while I didn’t revisit the book for this piece, I did revisit my pitch, which included this phrase. Baker fantasizes about the outcome of creating this new “school” of criticism before disavowing it and saying that the last thing he would want is “manifesto-fame,” which would cheapen his project overall, and invariably lead to a kind of imposter syndrome (not his phrase) from which he might then never escape. Baker, in creating “closed book examination,” or “memory criticism,” would become a “manifesto” guy—and this would be the end of his career as a serious novelist.

Yes! I thought as I read U and I , feeling my mischievous, troll instincts emerge: I could do what Baker did with Updike, but with Baker . I could mimic Baker’s somewhat creepy near-eulogization of a still-living writer as a pretext for finally writing my Baker/Bernhard essay! I could U and I Baker, just as Baker had U and I ’d Updike. This was my way in.

I had already basically done “closed book examination”—or rather “closed book imitation”—with The Novelist ; now I could do “memory criticism” in essay form, cheekily goading Baker while making connections between him and Bernhard, while also creating an effect—like all literature I enjoyed—of a particular texture of consciousness, which interested me much more than the pushes-in-glasses-and-gives-a-learned-analysis thing I’d been attempting.

So this was it. My chance at finally writing my Baker/Bernhard essay. I texted Zans about wanting to write the essay, or maybe something about pitching the essay, before I finished reading U and I , and she said something like, “That’s great. And you and Baker talk!”  

My excitement at the prospect of the essay quickly turned into near-panic, as I scanned my brain for moments where I might have accidentally made it seem as though Baker and I “talked.” Zans’s text concerned me twofold: 1) In what I’d read so far of U and I , Baker and Updike hadn’t interacted directly (perhaps Zans had inadvertently given something away about the end of the book?); and 2) Baker and I didn’t really “talk,” we’d only briefly interacted once over Twitter DM, which, it dawned on me, she likely saw, after I posted a screenshot of the first line of his DM to my Instagram story, and that was what she was probably referring to.

My and Baker’s single interaction was meager, and, in my view, didn’t constitute a proper “conversation”: I had messaged him to ask if I could send him a copy of The Novelist , after a review of another novel in the New Yorker opened with a sentence about The Novelist and mentioned The Mezzanine shortly thereafter. Baker replied with a message that began, “jeepers -,” which made my heart flutter; I was delighted by the “jeepers”—my first interaction with Nicholson Baker had included the word “jeepers”! What was the rest of the message going to say? I couldn’t think of any more appropriate word to pop up in my inbox beneath his name that could so thoroughly confirm my distant impression of him as “jolly”: jeepers! Before opening the message, I screenshotted it (while it was still unread, showing only his name, Twitter avatar and the first line of his message, “jeepers – let me try…”), and posted it on my Instagram story. But as I relished in the “jeepers” and responded to the Instagram story replies (“So cool!”; “No waaaay”; [heart emoji]), I neglected the central thing: I failed to actually respond to Nicholson Baker.

When I finally opened his message later that night, intent on responding, I saw that he had in fact sent two messages—one typo-ridden message, 13 13. “Hi Jordan many thanks for those kind words. I’m at for writing and for the kindness about my writing” then another, two minutes later, which began with “jeepers -” 14 “jeepers – let me try again Hi Jordan many thanks for those kind words. I’m at [address]. The Novelists sounds interesting! Best regards Nick” —and so I got nervous, then distracted, and decided to wait. The next day, when I told Nicolette that I still needed to respond to Baker, she encouraged me to stop thinking so much and just “fire one off,” which I agreed would be the most efficacious approach: but when I went into my Twitter inbox, nearly 24 hours after his initial responses, I saw, to my dismay, that Nicholson had sent me yet another message. I clicked it.

“The Novelist not plural.”

I couldn’t believe it. I reread his initial responses: he had, I noticed then, referred to The Novelist as “The Novelists.” Nicholson must have sent his initial responses, seen that I had seen the message, then gone back the next day to read his message again, possibly wondering why I hadn’t responded yet, then recognized his error—which, in my excitement and haste, I failed to notice (yet another way Nicholson was ongoingly proving himself to be more linguistically exacting than I was)—and corrected himself.

I told Nicolette that, though I had initially intended to fire off a response, the situation now seemed to call for something more. We joked about me writing a sequel to The Novelist called The Novelists , 15 14. This riff was actually from a Gchat conversation that I had with Tao on another day. then she took my phone out of my hand and wrote the response herself, which I glanced at, grimacing at how it began—“Amazing!” 16 15. The whole message read, “Hey! Amazing, sounds good, i’ll send it over this week. hope you had a great weekend” with a heart emoji. —but hitting send regardless. “Amazing!” wasn’t something I’d normally lead with, but I sensed—due to Nicholson’s neurotically following up to correct his entirely forgivable typo—that time was of the essence, and any response would be preferable to further delay.

So, while my U and I essay wouldn’t include any significant interactions between Baker and me, it would at least include our Twitter DMs, which contained some implicit, humorously fraught Baker-narrator-esque interiority. I didn’t have to worry about Baker being put off by it—my limited interaction with Baker and my relative insignificance in “the literary world” made it such that I would never be able to match the bizarre, serial-killery quality of Baker’s book-length treatment of Updike (like the scene where Baker is at a party for the Atlantic , and asks Tim O’Brien, somewhat flounderingly, whether or not he thought Updike would show up).  

Whereas Baker began writing about Updike for the Atlantic , I would begin writing about Baker for Harper’s ; 17 16. As you can undoubtedly see, this essay has been published in The Point , not Harper’s . When I sent a pitch to Jon Baskin, my editor for this piece, I already had another essay on contract with Harper’s , with a different editor, and they said they didn’t normally take multiple assignments from the same writer simultaneously, unless he had an extant, ongoing relationship with the journal, which I did not. While I was still waiting for the first essay to come out, and thus for a verdict on whether Harper’s was interested in this one, Jon was fired from Harper’s , and went back to editing exclusively for The Point . My other Harper’s essay, on weight lifting, was the “most read” on the site after the issue’s release in January, but despite that success, my Harper’s editor felt that this piece “would be hard to justify running for a general interest audience” (which I can understand). Additionally, he noted, it reminded him of a 2015 book called B & Me by J. C. Hallman, which I’d never heard of, but which seemingly did exactly the thing I’m doing in this essay (sans Bernhard), although possibly, according to the Amazon description, was focused more on Baker’s sex books, which I’ve never felt personally compelled by. the thought of finally publishing something about these two writers was exhilarating to me. I was eager to get started.

Besides the review in the New Yorker (which I couldn’t read more than a paragraph of, because I didn’t have a subscription), people didn’t tend to focus on my work’s kinship with Baker as much as with Bernhard—the LA Times published an article about Bernhard’s influence on contemporary novels, which featured The Novelist and butchered quotes by me 18 17. Looking back at it now, the quotes are actually fine, and it was uncharitable of me to call them “butchered.” I remember feeling self-conscious about the piece when it came out, and perhaps this lingering association of my own discomfort with the LA Times piece led me to project onto the quotes themselves, looking for something in my memory to blame for my weird feelings, when in reality it had nothing to do with the quotes. —despite the fact that I felt much more indebted to Baker than to Bernhard, who is only ironically invoked in The Novelist , when the narrator begins writing “his own version of Woodcutters ” two-thirds of the way through the novel.

And it was precisely due to this public association with Bernhard, and not Baker, that I feared Baker wouldn’t like The Novelist . After the publication of The Novelist , I received an email from a stranger in Paris who said that he was also writing a novel in the tradition of Woodcutters and The Mezzanine , and that he had actually talked to “Nick Baker” (the stranger felt comfortable calling him “Nick,” whereas I was still only able to appropriately muster a “Nicholson,” or, as in most of this essay, the even more formal “Baker”), during which time Baker had apparently told him that he “hated” Bernhard. If Baker hated Bernhard, perhaps he would also hate my novel.

But why would Baker hate Bernhard? At first, I assumed it was because Baker and Bernhard were similar. They both wrote dense, rhythmic, labyrinthine sentences; they both had written essentially “plotless” novels that took place over the course of mere minutes or hours; they were both funny. I’d felt compelled by the French theorist René Girard’s idea that people disliked each other not due to their differences but due to their similarities , and I thought this might be applicable here. Girard’s central thesis was about what he called “mimetic desire”: we want things not because of their inherent value, but because we see someone else wanting the same things. When this leads to conflict, we exaggerate or even manufacture differences between ourselves and our rival in order to justify our superior claim on the object. This mimetic rivalry then moves from being primarily about the object of desire to being primarily about the rival—thereby causing us to despise people who we are in fact quite similar to and who we might, under different circumstances, be disposed to admire. Baker would be one of many in a long list of authors who concealed their admiration for another author from themselves due to their similarities.

More, Baker and Bernhard both wrote about imitation. U and I is about Baker’s relationship with Updike, who was a mimetic model for Baker (even culminating in what Girard would call “mimetic doubling,” wherein Updike seems, near the end of the book, to take Baker as his own model, thus entering into the cycle of mimetic reciprocity, whereby the imitated becomes the imitator, and so on). This reciprocal escalation, under circumstances where the mimetic doubles are closer in proximity to one another, can lead to rivalry, which is exactly the subject of Thomas Bernhard’s The Loser , wherein two aspiring piano virtuosos enter into a triangular relationship with each other and the pianist Glenn Gould. The narrator of The Loser and his friend Wertheimer want to “be Glenn Gould,” whereas Glenn Gould wants to be “the Steinway itself”—the two friends are mirror images of one another, competing with each other due to wanting the same thing, each becoming more similar to the other in the process, until eventually Wertheimer (who has committed suicide) is revealed to be a kind of scapegoat for the narrator, who himself has quit playing the piano and given up on life due to his failure to become Glenn Gould. For Girard, in human relationships as well as in art, imitation is primary: we learn to read, write, speak, even see by imitating others. Imitation precedes all. Artistic production, as opposed to welling up out of some mysterious place within, like the Romantics believed, was fundamentally imitative (Harold Bloom, I think, 19 18. I haven’t read him (just as Baker hadn’t read him at the time of writing U and I ), and when I googled I couldn’t find the quote. (From Julia, during fact-checking: “You’re likely thinking of the title of one of Bloom’s books, A Map of Misreading . That book has a couple lines that do essentially amount to the assertion that great literature is created by great misreadings.”) said that great literature is created by great misreadings of great work). Literature isn’t written in a vacuum; our eyes are made of other eyes; the contents of our inner lives belonged to other people first. Imitation was a prerequisite for writing, not necessarily a mark against it.

If Girard was right, then just as Baker wanted to be Updike, I wanted to be Baker. But I also wanted to be Bernhard, and Baker apparently did not. I initially suspended judgment, hoping it wasn’t true—until I encountered something that seemed to speak directly to the situation later on in U and I .

Baker’s admiration for Updike, which permeates the entire book, is not without limits: Baker at one point expresses a surprising distaste for a passage in Updike about a woman’s “yellowy breasts,” 20 19. In a short story in Pigeon Feathers , Updike’s narrator (who resembles Updike) tells his wife (who resembles Updike’s wife), “In the morning, to my relief, you are ugly. … The skin between your breasts is a sad yellow.” due to Baker’s inability to read it without imagining how Updike’s wife would have likely felt upon reading the passage herself. Baker wrote that fiction’s main function should be to “delight and instruct,” and should not be wielded as a weapon against others, whether real or fictional. Perhaps this was why Baker didn’t like Bernhard, whose narrators were often cruelly ungenerous, endlessly talking shit about almost everyone and everything that they thought of or encountered.

Baker’s assertion that fiction should “delight and instruct” 21 20. As Julia pointed out, the idea that writing ought to “delight and instruct” wasn’t Baker’s own invention but a reference to the ancient Roman poet Horace’s Ars Poetica . almost offended me: Why couldn’t fiction do all kinds of things, including, for example, offend and tear down? But the reactionary voice that welled up in me like a sob in response to Baker’s proposition was recognizably old: I had believed in the value of “offense” and “tearing down” in the past but had recently become disillusioned with them as literary modes for their own sake. I, too, thought literature should delight and instruct, and was perhaps merely responding to the possibility that Baker might misunderstand my own novel’s intent, which was exoterically, at times, to offend and tear down, but was esoterically, I realized now, meant to delight and instruct. Delighting and instructing, I defensively considered, almost imagining myself as Baker, asking and then half-answering my own semiconscious question about what it might mean to “delight and instruct,” did not necessarily mean writing ideologically or thinly, but rather entertainingly, exuberantly 22 21. The word I was thinking of here was “ecstatically,” from the line “Nabokov writes prose the only way it should be written: ecstatically.” —as the Updike line about Nabokov’s prose goes (referenced in U and I )—with the reader fundamentally in mind. But this couldn’t have been what Baker meant by “delight and instruct,” or at least it couldn’t have been all he meant, because if we agreed, as I thought we did, that fiction should “delight and instruct,” then why did Baker not like Bernhard, whereas I liked him a lot?

In Baker’s “Art of Fiction” interview, he says, “Mainly, I just want a book to be funny”; 23 22. “Most of the time, what I want from a book is for it to be funny.” perhaps humor is what he meant by “delight”? But if this were the case, if humor was the main Bakerian criterion, why didn’t he like Bernhard, who was among the funniest novelists I’d ever read? Perhaps it had more to do with the “instruct” part of the equation. Was Bernhard insufficiently “instructive”?

Despite being read by many as a kind of extreme pessimist, Bernhard had always felt counterintuitively life-affirming to me. In an episode of Montez Radio I recorded with Michael Clune—during which Clune read an excerpt of his novel-in-progress, written from the perspective of a pedophile priest, and we talked about the value of dark comedy in literature—Clune told me about Mikhail Bahktin’s application of Christian iconoclasm in the context of literary fiction: we often mistake the symbols of the Ultimate for the truly Ultimate—which is fundamentally ineffable and indescribable, escaping any symbolic box we try to cram it into—and we tend to make idols of these symbols, thus inadvertently worshiping our own creation instead of the Truly Divine. A relentless “tearing down,” in this case, could work to reveal a truer divinity than the lesser gods or idols we worship by mistake. So Bernhard could be instructive in this regard: while he seemingly assaults all morality and goodness, what he actually assaults are lesser goods , endlessly chipping away at them in order to get closer to the Truly Divine. (Clune may have also discussed Keats’s idea of “negative capability,” which he wrote about in his book A Defense of Judgment , but which I can never remember the actual meaning of, and may be thinking of here solely due to its containing the word “negative.”) Bernhard’s prose also contained a kind of joy that burst through the bleakness of what it expressed; perhaps, as it says on Clune’s website, “Literary style isn’t decoration but a form of knowledge,” and can thus be “instructive” even if the content is deceptively amoral, or even immoral or mean.

However, my defense of Bernhard still feels a little haphazard (or perhaps I feel a desire to hedge, in case Baker actually reads this and disagrees). Surely, for example, Dostoevsky is more instructive than Bernhard (who loved Dostoevsky); or Tolstoy is more instructive than Bernhard (who Baker mentions in U and I , when he calls Anna Karenina “the perfect novel” 24 23. Though I could remember this clearly, and have in fact told multiple people that Baker says this in U and I , Julia tells me: “This is the only mention in the book of Anna Karenina , when he’s listing what little he remembers of various books he’s read: ‘Anna Karenina survives as a picnic basket containing a single jar of honey.’” After reading Julia’s comment, and feeling dismayed, I frantically downloaded U and I , so I could search specific words and phrases easily without having to flip through pages, and it turns out that, as Julia said, he does not call Anna Karenina “the perfect novel.” Unable to believe that I had been so wrong, I spent nearly thirty minutes online, searching variations of “Nicholson Baker,” “Anna Karenina,” “Tolstoy” and “perfect novel,” and eventually was able to find the quote: in his “Art of Fiction” interview in the Paris Review , Baker says, “Sometimes I take a peek at Anna Karenina , which is the best novel I’ve read.” 25 24. Clune also mentioned Anna Karenina on our radio show, and kept pronouncing it Anna Ka-re-na . ). Baker’s The Mezzanine was certainly “instructive” for me while writing The Novelist (just as U and I has been instructive for me while writing this essay); however, I doubt that this is the kind of instruction Baker had in mind.

Another way, besides his writing, that Baker was instructive for me had to do with age and cigars. While living in Maryland, not yet having finished a draft of The Novelist , I watched an interview with Baker on YouTube, where he sat on a stage talking to a woman in black. Baker was serious but jovial (it’s hard to know how much of this apparent “joviality” was a result of what he said, or the fact that he was balding and had puffy gray hair and round rosy cheeks). During the interview, Baker mentioned smoking cigars—a brand called “Fausto” or “Faustus” (I’m tempted to say “Faustus 500,” although that can’t be right 26 25. It was “Fausto” (from the YouTube video “Nicholson Baker: Delighting in the Details,” posted by Chicago Humanities Festival). )—to get him through writing The Mezzanine . 27 26. It was actually Traveling Sprinkler . The cigars, he said in an awestruck tone, were “powerful,” and he described them in a borderline psychedelic way, as only an inexperienced and hypersensitive smoker or drug user could: it was, after all, just a cigar. “It’s hard to finish a book,” he said, “you get three quarters of the way through and it’s still not done.” Therefore, “you need help.” So Baker used cigars.

I felt inspired, if a little bored, by the interview; but as an ex-smoker, I didn’t need any more of a reason to rekindle my relationship with nicotine, especially if it would help me with my novel. So that week I went to the cigar store around the corner from my house and purchased a cigar. I proceeded to mimic Baker’s method: I drove to the edge of the woods where I liked to hike, parked my car and smoked a cigar, while sitting in the driver’s seat and working on my novel with the laptop on my thighs. In the same interview, Baker mentioned having set the arbitrary goal of finishing his debut novel by the time he was thirty. I was 26 when I first watched the interview; from that moment on I decided that I, too, would finish my debut novel before I turned thirty—and I finished the first draft of The Novelist at 27; it came out when I was 29. Baker, on the other hand, was 31 when The Mezzanine came out. So I had him beat there.

My relationship with Nicholson Baker was mimetic in the way Girard described, at least in some respects: I have never pretended to despise Baker; in fact I have always greatly admired him and his writing, but I also wanted to acquire certain qualities of that writing as “my own”; I wanted, in some sense, to use Baker, like a tool, or to take some of Baker’s essence, like a fantastical supervillain sucking up his spirit from the dead letters on the page, or his moving image in a YouTube video, thus acquiring new powers. In the end, I imitated Baker—just as Baker had imitated Updike, and Updike had imitated Nabokov, and so on—and as a result, came up with something “new.” The role of imitation in literature has been concealed, like a secret, in favor of some mystifying “inspiration” or “creativity”—but the fact remains: we become who we are by trying and failing to become other people. And in our failure we succeed in differentiating ourselves, albeit only superficially.

Art credit: Max Rumbol.  Portrait in Progress , 2021. Acrylic, buttons, oil shoelace, wax crayon on wood & cotton, 48 x 36 in. Private collection, courtesy of the artist and Richard Heller Gallery, Los Angeles.  The Window , 2021. Acrylic, graphite, oil, oil stick, pigment and wood stain on wood and linen, 40 x 32 in. Fundación MEDIANOCHEO, ES. Courtesy of the artist and Ojiri Gallery, London. 

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