Reviews+

In LJ’s yearly examination of this reader-favorite genre, we found four leading trends that examine trauma and mortality, offer insight into the impact of war, readily confront mental health concerns, and experiment with hybrid forms and genres.

In these reissues of his memoirs (reviewed in the April 2023 issue of LJ), record producer Simon Napier-Bell, known for his work with Wham! and the Yardbirds, gives readers a racy but shrewd glimpse of the British music scene. 

Spare by Prince Harry is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.

A landmark biography about George Floyd, an unprecedented work from Alice Walker, and a first for a Missouri political figure are among the highlights of the best memoirs of 2022.

LJ’s first memoir preview looks at the trends in this season’s bumper crop of life stories.

A poetic life, a fractured family, and a tale of second chances. The best memoirs and biographies of 2021.

The biographies and memoirs most in demand by readers are from Barack Obama, Bob Woodward, Michael Cohen, Matthew McConaughey, and Jerry Seinfeld.

Trent Preszler uncovers family heirlooms in Little and Often. Paris Without Her by Gregory Curtis explores the depths of grief. Lorenzo Carcaterra's Three Dreamers is a reflective story of family.

In July, poet and writer Saeed Jones spoke with LJ about his latest work, How We Fight for Our Lives: A Memoir. Jones is also the author of the award-winning poetry collections Prelude to Bruise (2014) and When the Only Light Is Fire (2011).