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The best memoirs and biographies of 2023 have three traits in common: they’re insightful, evocative, and direct.
Fans of the Beatles and 1970s rock will appreciate this insider perspective of Lennon’s final day and the music business.
PREMIUM
I Sing To Use the Waiting: A Collection of Essays About the Women Singers Who’ve Made Me Who I Am
Readers who enjoyed Jessica Hopper’s The First Collection of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic and Hanif Abdurraqib’s They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us are the perfect audience for this book.
PREMIUM
Nobody Needs To Know: A Memoir
Pagonis’s memoir is an intimate look into their life being intersex, offering readers a glimpse into their triumphs, struggles, and journey toward self-acceptance. A raw, can’t-stop-istening experience.
A uniquely told story full of vibrant characters and heart-wrenching emotion, this is a surefire recommendation for any library where memoirs and poetry circulate well.
McCrae has created a nonlinear and intricate patchwork, stitching together the forgetting and remembering wrought by childhood trauma. This poetic meditation on family and history should appeal to readers of Harrison Mooney’s Invisible Boy and Natasha Trethewey’s Memorial Drive.
PREMIUM
The Young Man
Although this audio is brief, listeners will be riveted by Ernaux’s exquisite insight and heartfelt memories of a precious year in her life. This latest addition to Ernaux’s oeuvre is a must-purchase for all nonfiction audio collections.
Gulman’s profession as a performer translates into an excellent audiobook. This is unmissable and highly recommended for all audio memoir collections.
Flannery relives the nostalgia of early aughts Los Angeles with her revealing memoir. This disturbing look at the inner workings of American Apparel intrigues, though listeners shouldn’t expect a tidy conclusion.
A timely audio, highly recommended for those wanting to learn more about Ukraine’s tumultuous history and resilient culture.
With remarkable storytelling, heartfelt narration, and a powerful message, listeners will delight in stories of Marshall’s awkward teen years and sorrow as he describes moments of loss and grief. A perfect blend of heartwarming, hilarious, and horrendous, this memoir is unforgettable and highly recommended for all collections.
This genuinely transformative memoir from a woman who survived the Taliban regime and is now working as a computer scientist in the U.S. vividly demonstrates the power of education, especially for women. Young adults, college students, and listeners wanting to learn more about Afghanistan should find this unforgettable.
A heartbreaking yet uplifting memoir of a woman recovering from past wounds and embracing healing and hope. For readers of Jeannette Walls’s The Glass Castle.
For musical theater enthusiasts, historians, and those interested in the Rodgers family legacy. Share, too, with fans of Baranski’s work.
Cooper’s strength as a performer makes this audiobook an enjoyable listen. Recommended for libraries where interest in celebrity memoirs is high.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a candid coming-of-age story of survival and self-discovery. Recommended for fans of moving memoirs about religion, resilience, and relationships, such as Michelle Dowd’s Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult and Lisa Nikolidakis’s No One Crosses the Wolf.
A heartfelt memoir of a woman trying to better understand her parentage and herself. It is a must-have for all biography collections.
The multi-talented Thomas will appeal to listeners who like excellently narrated personal stories with deep feelings sprinkled with joy and humor. This delightful collection is highly recommended for all audio memoir collections.
An inspiring audio that helps remove some of the stigma associated with mental health care. Listeners will empathize with Jarvis’s struggle to heal and might see themselves or their loved ones in her narrative.
Listeners will love how Lin doesn’t stick to the script in this engaging insider’s look into the big business of the small screen.
Wertz’s immersive and sometimes very funny tale hardly fits the “completely average” subtitle, yet nearly everyone can see themselves somewhere in her story, cheer her on, and enjoy the surprise ending.
Silenced for years, Spears uses this memoir to tell the world the truth about her life and to celebrate her newfound freedom. It is a must-purchase for all collections.
A must for readers interested in stories about overcoming adversity and learning about the power of faith and perseverance.
Biographies about tennis champ Rafael Nadal and legendary editor Judith Jones, along with a memoir by actor Tom Selleck, top the list of personal stories.
PREMIUM
Us
This charming, even humorous chronicle of a journey fraught with immense complications will be welcomed by romance lovers as well as those looking for information about trans matters. An empathic adventure for teens and adults.
This poignant meditation on a body that seems difficult to understand or love, but all too easily exploited, challenges readers to contemplate the complexity of human selves, including their own.
A brief, rare, and powerful testimony that offers a firsthand account from a survivor who was a child when she experienced the horrors inside the walls of the Warsaw Ghetto.
Concise essays that clearly convey that the fight for racial justice must continue in the face of backlash. A must-purchase for all collections.
This memoir by a white historian is a necessary addition to collections. She come to terms with her racial past and learns how to affect change.
This lyrical memoir will motivate readers to look to the stars and to do what they can to ensure everyone has a seat at the scientific table.
An excellent choice for young adults, college students, and anyone wanting to learn more about Afghanistan.
A welcome addition to memoir collections. The book is at its best when Trotter talks about his family and his love of art.
A short but emotional read. Great for memoir fans and patrons who don’t typically gravitate toward nonfiction.
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
Honored for their fictional works, these authors also pen nonfiction. Find the newest from Caleb Carr, Lydia Millet, Salman Rushdie, and Amy Tan.
An absorbing and thought-provoking memoir that provides a clear and compelling argument for police reform.
PREMIUM
Hearts of Darkness: Serial Killers, the Behavioral Science Unit, and My Life as a Woman in the FBI
A gripping and readable memoir that’s an essential read for audiences who want to understand the history of the FBI and the BSU. True-crime fans will enjoy Monroe’s tales about some of the most memorable cases she worked.
PREMIUM
Dog’s Breakfast
A must-have for Invincible Summer fans looking to fill in missing installments. A supplementary purchase for libraries where zines and memoir-style graphic novels circulate well.
With humor and humility, Jancewicz and Stevenson (creators of the webcomic The Touring Test) share their tale of pursuing a world record via music venues across the 50 states. It’s also sprinkled with tips on packing light for road tripping and how to be a better audience member; young adults and veterans of the indie music scene will find something to love.
Stone’s memoir will certainly appeal to curious readers and fans of this icon of rock and soul music.
A well-written, fun, name-dropping tell-all about the rich and famous as only a 90-year-old who has seen it all can offer.
A gripping, provocative book that will engage readers of titles about track, international sports, gender politics, and acceptance.
PREMIUM
Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey
A passionate firsthand account of historical events and a compelling coming-of-age tale in one.
Harkness delivers one of the best releases of 2023 in this exhilarating, heartbreaking, and often humorous memoir. Add it to the collection right away.
The tension and fear of wanting to tell one’s story, to be seen, to know and be known are palatable throughout Ito’s stunning, brave, extraordinary book.
Their path is not always easy, and some of their conversations are painfully raw, but through it all, their love and respect for each other shine brightly.
This book by an author who exemplifies patriotism will remind readers of the need to expose those who try to subvert democracy for their own benefit.
A moving memoir with touching, humorous stories and expertly narrated insights on parenting and life.
Bell’s powerful story of his life and commentary on racism are made even more impactful by his poignant illustrations.
PREMIUM
Sonic Life
Moore’s compelling (if lengthy) memoir covers an era in rock music that is just beginning to get its due.
A sweet and intimate retrospective of a long and prolific career. This book will make readers feel like they’ve sat down with Nelson, who has just regaled them with tales.
PREMIUM
Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life
Schwarzenegger provides a useful, logical, and sometimes humorous blueprint for general readers to achieve a successful and satisfying life, although he chooses to avoid talking about his own misconduct.
A memoir that’s both touching and funny. Readers will see how Begley finds joy in life in spite of his battles.
PREMIUM
Being Henry: The Fonz…and Beyond
Winkler’s personality shines through in this memoir and cements his status as a beloved celebrity for multiple generations.
A well-written and thoroughly absorbing memoir. Naji gives readers an understanding of the Egyptian justice system and the risks taken by anyone who might challenge it, even inadvertently.
This recommended story is one that needs to be told. It will inspire many people, especially girls and women, to overcome obstacles to their success.
Reflective yet urgent, reverberating with feeling. Dixon beautifully articulates how loneliness is paradoxically a narrative that people experience together, even as they experience it in spaces of isolation, vulnerability, and loss.
Kurzweil’s highly recommended memoir is unlike any other. It will leave readers with much to contemplate.
Fall’s mix of memoir, business advice, and self-help is targeted to men but inspirational for anyone, especially those who may be going through something similar to what he has experienced.
Rannells’s top-notch narration makes this laugh-out-loud listen a must-purchase for patrons who are fans of his work or enjoy well-crafted memoirs.
PREMIUM
Stalking Shakespeare: A Memoir of Madness, Murder, and My Search for the Poet Beneath the Paint
Anyone with an interest in the Shakespeare author controversy or academic research in general should enjoy Durkee’s colorful account of dark winters spent obsessing over “his homespun collection” of “mugshot bards.”
Will appeal to listeners seeking a candid, creative conversation that offers intriguing insight into celebrity and self. Recommended for fans of Martin’s wit and wisecracks.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a raw rock-and-roll memoir. Recommended for fans of arts and entertainers’ stories that include their coping with trauma and landing triumphs.
The content is exceptional, but the undistinguished narration makes this an optional purchase where the print version is available.
Familiarity with the author’s comedic career is unnecessary to appreciate his story. This title will undoubtedly generate new fans.
Warm, human, unfailingly engaging, this lovely collection should appeal widely. As usual, she writes like a dream.
PREMIUM
Pageboy: A Memoir
Page’s honesty and vulnerability is striking, and watching him find happiness as he grows into his true self is inspiring.
This updated edition makes an already fascinating, important story more accessible for readers of Jewish history and storytelling.
More than a memoir, this book demonstrates why stories matter and how to utilize them for positive change.
A heartfelt memoir. The author’s ability to follow his passions and find his place in the world will resonate with many readers, especially those interested in multicultural narratives.
Christian readers and fans of Tara Westover’s Educated or Cheryl Strayed’s Wild will be captivated by this inspirational journey of self-discovery and reinvention.
A storytelling masterpiece, this work will appeal to Neill’s fans and those interested in the film industry.
PREMIUM
A Place for Us: A Memoir
An honest, profound memoir that speaks to the struggle of belonging and the power of finding community.
Craig’s infectious passion for birding, racial equity, and environmental activism are conveyed with joy and sensitivity. An exuberant memoir that is recommended for all collections.
Reminiscent of Morgan Jerkins’s This Will Be My Undoing, Holt’s essays are a much needed addition to social justice collections.
From excitement to curiosity to pensiveness, Seely captures the layered emotions of parents anticipating an empty nest and embarking on new experiences of their own. Recommended for readers of travel adventure.
Possanza inspires with stories of found or chosen families, loving friendships, and hope even in disheartening times.
Chin’s skillfully narrated account of her family and the history of Chinese Americans in the United States resonates with passion, wonder, and sorrow. An absorbing and timely work; highly recommended for any audio history collection.
PREMIUM
The White Mosque: A Memoir
A complex and inviting work with broad appeal. Part memoir, part travelogue, and part microhistory, as well as a discussion of religion, race, and identity, this is a welcome addition to any audio memoir or travel collection.
Share with listeners looking for a creative blend of memoir and fiction, grounded by humor and regret.
While Seamans strives to make this book accessible to all readers, equine enthusiasts and horse owners will benefit most from its content.
Funny, honest, relatable, and smart, this audiobook will enhance any library’s political science or memoir collection.
Butcher provides a nonsensationalist glimpse into the real world of crime scene investigations, serving as a knowledgeable yet sensitive guide. This is a title that could well become required reading in the field; share with readers of Paul Holes’s Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases.
PREMIUM
Choosing To Run: A Memoir
Fans of books such as Christopher McDougall’s Born To Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen and Haruki Murakami’s memoir What I Talk About When I Talk About Running will sprint through the story of this amazing athlete.
PREMIUM
George: A Magpie Memoir
Listeners interested in birds and animal rescue will enjoy this winsome peek into a magpie’s personality and habits.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a lyrically told life story. Recommended for fans of family and relationship fiction and nonfiction, especially titles concerning refugees, racism, and reconciliation.
Irby’s pitch-perfect narration makes this unfiltered, honest essay collection in audio an essential purchase. A great recommendation for fans of Mia Mercado, David Sedaris, and Phoebe Robinson.
Eloquently written and movingly narrated, Webster’s thought-provoking biography/memoir will likely appeal to anyone wanting insight into the United States’ divisive racial politics.
An illuminating and inspirational memoir, laying bare the present-day horrors of genocide and calling for action.
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