best biographies of marilyn monroe

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The 10 Best Books on Marilyn Monroe

Essential books on marilyn monroe.

There are countless books on Marilyn Monroe, and it comes with good reason, she was an actress, model, and singer who became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s.

“Sometimes things fall apart, so that better things can fall together,” she remarked.

In order to get to the bottom of what inspired one of America’s cultural icons to the height of her crafts, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best books on Marilyn Monroe.

Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe by Anthony Summers

Marilyn Monroe, born in obscurity and deprivation, became an actress and legend of the twentieth century, romantically linked to famous men from Joe DiMaggio to Arthur Miller to John F. Kennedy. But her tragic death at a young age, under suspicious circumstances, left behind a mystery that remains unsolved to this day.

Anthony Summers interviewed more than six hundred people, laying bare the truths – sometimes funny, often sad – about this brilliant, troubled woman. The first to gain access to the files of Monroe’s last psychiatrist, Summers uses the documents to explain her tangled psyche and her dangerous addiction to medications. He establishes, after years of mere rumor, that President Kennedy and his brother Robert were both intimately involved with Monroe in life – and in covering up the circumstances of her death.

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe by J. Randy Taraborrelli

When Marilyn Monroe became famous in the 1950s, the world was told that her mother was either dead or simply not a part of her life. However, that was not true. In fact, her mentally ill mother was very much present in Marilyn’s world and the family dynamic that unfolded behind the scenes is a story that has never before been told…until now. In this groundbreaking book, Taraborrelli draws complex sympathetic portraits of the women so influential in the actress’ life, including her mother, her foster mother, and her legal guardian.

He also reveals, for the first time, the shocking scope of Marilyn’s own mental illness, the identity of Marilyn’s father and the half-brother she never knew, and new information about her relationship with the Kennedys – Bobby, Jack, and Pat Kennedy Lawford. Explosive, revelatory, and surprisingly moving, this is the final word on the life of one of the most fascinating and elusive icons of the 20th Century.

The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe by Donald H. Wolfe

Fifty years after her death, the Marilyn Monroe mystique remains as strong and alluring as ever. In  The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe , author Donald H. Wolfe, a former Hollywood screenwriter and film editor, examines the tragic starlet’s final weeks and offers startling evidence to support his provocative claim that Marilyn’s alleged suicide was, in fact, a homicide. A powerful and intimate look into the dark side of Hollywood and John F. Kennedy’s Camelot,  this gem among books on Marilyn Monroe  is a must-read for movie buffs, true crime aficionados, and the many still enchanted by the Monroe magic.

Marilyn Monroe: The Biography by Donald Spoto

Spoto’s biography of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe makes use of over 150 interviews and more than 35,000 pages of previously sealed files, including Monroe’s diaries, letters, and other personal and revealing documents. This necessary addition to the ever-growing index of books on Marilyn Monroe reveals new details of every aspect of her life, from her guarded childhood, and her relationships with men and marriages, to her mysterious death. Spoto comments on previous books about Marilyn, and puts to rest questions regarding Monroe’s connection with the Kennedys.

Fragments by Marilyn Monroe

Beyond the headlines – and the too-familiar stories of heartbreak and desolation – was a woman far more curious, searching, witty, and hopeful than the one the world got to know. Now, for the first time, readers can meet the private Marilyn and understand her in a way we never have before. Fragments   is an unprecedented collection of written artifacts – notes to herself, letters, even poems – in Marilyn’s own handwriting, never before published, along with rarely seen intimate photos.

Jotted in notebooks, typed on paper, or written on hotel letterhead, these texts reveal a woman who loved deeply and strove to perfect her craft. They show a Marilyn Monroe unsparing in her analysis of her own life, but also playful, funny, and impossibly charming. The easy grace and deceptive lightness that made her performances indelible emerge on the page, as does the simmering tragedy that made her last appearances so affecting.

Marilyn Monroe: A Biography by Barbara Leaming

Basing her research on new interviews and on thousands of primary documents, including revealing letters by Arthur Miller, Elia Kazan, John Huston, Laurence Olivier, Tennessee Williams, Darryl Zanuck, Marilyn’s psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Greenson, and many others, Barbara Leaming has reconstructed the tangles of betrayal in Marilyn’s life. For the first time, a master storyteller has put together all of the pieces and told Marilyn’s story with the intensity and drama it so richly deserves.

Marilyn Monroe: The Private Life of a Public Icon by Charles Casillo

Marilyn Monroe. Her beauty still captivates. Her love life still fascinates. Her story still dominates popular culture. Now, drawing on years of research and dozens of new interviews, this biography cuts through decades of lies and secrets and introduces you to the Marilyn Monroe you always wanted to know: a living, breathing, complex woman, bewitching and maddening, brilliant yet flawed.

Charles Casillo studies Monroe’s life through the context of her times – in the days before feminism. Before there was adequate treatment for Marilyn’s struggle with bipolar disorder. Starting with her abusive childhood, this biography exposes how – in spite of her fractured psyche – Marilyn’s extreme ambition inspired her to transform each celebrated love affair and each tragedy into another step in her journey towards immortality. Casillo fully explores the last two years of her life, including her involvement with both John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert, and the mystery of her last day.

My Sister Marilyn by Berniece Miracle

Few people know that Marilyn Monroe had a sister, and even fewer know the story of their relationship during Marilyn’s rise from obscurity to fame. In My Sister Marilyn , Berniece Baker Miracle, working with her daughter Mona Rae, tells the story she has kept private for fifty years.

Marilyn in Manhattan by Elizabeth Winder

In November of 1954 a young woman dressed plainly in a white oxford, dark sunglasses, and a black pageboy wig boards a midnight flight from Los Angeles to New York. As the plane’s engines rev she breathes a sigh of relief, lights a cigarette and slips off her wig revealing a tangle of fluffy blonde curls. Marilyn Monroe was leaving Hollywood behind, and along with it a failed marriage and a frustrating career. She needed a break from the scrutiny and insanity of LA. She needed Manhattan.

In Manhattan, the most famous woman in the world can wander the streets unbothered, spend hours at the Met getting lost in art, and afternoons buried in the stacks of the Strand. Marilyn begins to live a life of the mind in New York; she dates Arthur Miller, dances with Truman Capote and drinks with Carson McCullers. Even though she had never lived there before, in New York, Marilyn is home.

My Story by Marilyn Monroe

Written at the height of her fame but not published until over a decade after her death, this autobiography of actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe poignantly recounts her childhood as an unwanted orphan, her early adolescence, her rise in the film industry from bit player to celebrity, and her marriage to Joe DiMaggio. In this intimate account of a very public life, she tells of her first (non-consensual) sexual experience, her romance with the Yankee Clipper, and her prescient vision of herself as “the kind of girl they found dead in the hall bedroom with an empty bottle of sleeping pills in her hand.”

The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe by Sarah Churchwell

There are many Marilyns: sex goddess and innocent child, crafty manipulator and dumb blonde, liberated woman and tragic loner.  The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe   reviews the unreliable and unverifiable – but highly significant – stories that have framed this Hollywood legend, all the while revealing the meanings behind the American myths that have made Marilyn what she is today.

In incisive and passionate prose, cultural critic Sarah Churchwell uncovers the shame, belittlement, and anxiety that we bring to the story of a woman we supposedly adore and, in the process, rescues a Marilyn Monroe who is far more complicated and credible than the one we think we know.

When Marilyn Met the Queen by Michelle Morgan

In July 1956, Marilyn Monroe arrived in London – on honeymoon with her husband Arthur Miller – to make The Prince and the Showgirl with Sir Laurence Olivier. It was meant to be a happy time…

Marilyn would work during the day at Pinewood Studios, in Iver Heath, while Arthur would write. Then, in the evening, the couple would be able to relax together in their private English country cottage.

But the cottage was a mansion, in Englefield Green, and Marilyn, used to living in tiny hotel rooms and apartments, felt herself being watched. She was, by several of owner Lord Drogheda’s servants, who were selling stories to the papers.

And when filming began, all did not go as hoped. Over time, Marilyn grew to hate Olivier; the feeling was mutual.

Marilyn found herself a curiosity for the frequently hostile British press. She took solace in bike rides in Windsor Great Park, in small acts of kindness from members of the public, and in a growing fascination with Queen Elizabeth, whom she longed to meet – and eventually did.

If you enjoyed this guide to essential books on Marilyn Monroe, check out our list of The 10 Best Books on Andy Warhol !

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The world of books is deep and diverse, with a new literary adventure waiting around every corner. Whether you enjoy gripping mysteries, thrilling romances, in-depth histories, soaring fantasies or entertaining memoirs, there are more books out there than you could ever hope to finish in a lifetime. Whether you’re interested in finding out more about your favorite genre or branching out into a new genre, we can help you with lists, reviews and more.

Fiction encompasses a fantastic array of different styles, ranging from historical fiction to epic fantasy. Some fiction genres are highly experimental, playing with alternative methods of storytelling and deliberately refusing to adhere to expectations, but other genres just seek to give their readers a new take on a familiar tale.

• Young Adult

The young adult genre is a broad term for books aimed at older teenagers and young adults. These books often explore themes that are relevant to adolescents, such as the struggle for identity or experiencing the pains and joys of love for the first time. Young adult fiction often borrows from other genres for its conventions and settings.

Fantasy fiction invites its readers to imagine that magic is real. Although these books are often cloaked in the trappings of the medieval era, with damsels in distress and dragon-slaying heroes, modern-day fantasy has also become popular. Fantasy novels are often epic in scope, dropping the fate of the world on their protagonists’ shoulders.

Literary Fiction

In literary fiction, authors carefully craft novels that focus more on theme and the art of writing than on deep characterization or elaborate plots. These books use layered prose, heavy symbolism and experimental structure to explore deep themes. The pacing in literary fiction is often quite slow, forcing the reader to carefully peel back the hidden layers of the work.

Middle Grade

Middle grade fiction features works written for children between the ages of 8 and 12. Stories in middle-grade fiction often feature multiple characters, subplots and expansive world building. The themes in these books tend to be broader and less controversial than those in older fiction, but they often address subjects relevant to children in this age group, such as bullying.

Thrillers/Suspense

Thrillers focus on elaborate plots and gripping action to keep the reader turning the pages. Some thrillers focus on an all-encompassing mystery, dropping clues throughout the narrative to keep the reader guessing. Other suspense books place their resourceful heroes in mortal peril, constantly navigating a sea of danger as they grapple with determined adversaries. There are many subgenres of thrillers, including political thrillers, legal thrillers, military thrillers and more.

Romance novels focus on two characters falling in love and the obstacles they must confront to stay together. Although these novels may include subplots, the romance is always the central element of the story. These books are set in a variety of time periods and usually feature a happy ending. Some subgenres are heavily policed by their publishers and follow well-established formulas to construct their stories.

Children’s Fiction

Children’s books are designed to entertain children while helping them learn colors, words, numbers and more. These books include colorful artwork, simple plotlines and memorable characters. Children’s books for the very young feature pictures and few words, and older children can enjoy books with simple sentences.

Science Fiction

Science fiction is set in the alternate worlds of tomorrow. This genre covers a wide variety of subgenres, from sweeping space operas to character-driven stories exploring the impact of speculative technologies. Some stories research the science behind their alternate worlds thoroughly and sometimes become science fact. Other books play fast and loose with the science underpinning their alternate worlds, using the science fiction setting as a fantastic backdrop on which to spin an elaborate tale.

Women’s Fiction

Books in this genre focus on the stories of women learning more about themselves and their relationships with others. Although there are no clear rules regarding this genre, most books include emotional reflection and an optimistic ending. Authors of women’s fiction often seek to build a complex and nuanced character portrait of their subjects.

• Historical Fiction

History comes to life in historical fiction, allowing readers to experience historical events through the lens of a fictional character. Authors of historical fiction spend hours carefully researching the historical periods they write about, lending authenticity to their works. Another popular branch of historical fiction is alternative history, which explores what might have happened if famous historical events had turned out differently.

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Memoirs give readers an intimate look into someone’s life, such as an actor or musician. Unlike biographies, memoirs typically have a narrow focus, centering on individual stories from the author’s life instead of their entire life. Memoirs have been popular since ancient times; Julius Caesar, for example, penned several memoirs about significant battles from his life.

Narrative nonfiction is an emerging genre that pairs facts with creative writing. Although the information presented in narrative works is accurate, the author uses storytelling techniques from the world of fiction to create a page-turning narrative.

Self-help books offer practical advice on a variety of subjects, from relationships to home organization. These books aim to help readers better themselves and solve personal problems. Authors of self-help books range from celebrities to notable experts.

Religion/Spirituality

The books in this genre seek to elevate readers to a new understanding of a particular belief system. Many books in this genre focus on the world’s major religions. Other authors take a closer look at human spirituality outside of religion, offering uplifting stories to inspire readers.

Business/Finance

Business and finance books focus on hard financial matters and can cover investment, budgeting, running a small business and more. For example, a personal finance book may teach its readers techniques to get out of debt or pay for college. A book written for a business owner may offer new ways to market a business or advice on customer service.

History books tell readers about significant events from the past. Some history books are massive tomes and detail expansive topics, such as the American Civil War. History books can also cover narrow timeframes in great detail. For example, multiple historians have written about the day Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, helping to reconstruct that day for modern readers.

True Adventure/Crime

Since the publication of Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood,” true crime novels have risen significantly in popularity. These books follow the details of shocking and infamous crimes taken from the headlines, offering a more detailed picture of these disturbing events than newspapers can offer. Some true crime books focus strictly on the facts of the case and may take years of research, but others stray into speculation when the facts are thin.

Humor/Gift Books

The goal of humor books is simple: Make the reader laugh. Authors accomplish this mission through different means, such as a chaptered book offering a humorous examination of a particular theme or through pictures depicting amusing scenes. Professional comedians frequently write their own humor books to bring their routines to the masses.

Health/Fitness

Health and fitness books cover a variety of topics, including healthy eating, weight-lifting and more. Many of these books offer complete lifestyle advice with well-defined diets. Celebrities, doctors and fitness experts write most of the books in this genre.

Cultural/Social Issues

Cultural and social books look at important and difficult issues facing people today, such as racism or inequality. History plays a role in explaining the background of social issue books, but typically these books focus on current events. Many of these books also serve as advocacy pieces, aiming to convince readers to change their opinions or get involved in the book’s cause.

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