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10 Must-Read Biographies of Indians Who Transformed The Nation

Here�s a list of 10 biographies of pioneering Indians -- from Dr Ambedkar and Satyajit Ray to APJ Abdul Kalam and Kapil Dev -- that will leave you inspired.

1. Dilip Kumar: The Definitive Biography by Bunny Reuban

2. Satyajit Ray: The Inner Eye by Andrew Robinson

3. The Man Who Knew Infinity (Srinivasa Ramanujan) by Robert Kanigel

4. Sir C V Raman by Uma Parameswaran

5. Beyond the Last Blue Mountain (JRD Tata) by R M Lala

6. Gandhi Before India (M K Gandhi) by Ramachandra Guha

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8 Library Cafes Across India to Bookmark For Your Travels

What�s better than freshly brewed coffee? A great book to go with it! Choose from a wide selection of literary works at these library cafes across the country.

7. Waiting for a Visa – BR Ambedkar

8. Wings of Fire – An Autobiography by APJ Abdul Kalam and Arun Tiwari

9. Straight from the Heart: An Autobiography – Kapil Dev

10. The Race of My Life by Milkha Singh

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• Autobiographies, Biographies & Memoirs

10 Best Biography Books and Memoirs to Read

Welcome to a world where reality often exceeds fiction, where the lives of extraordinary individuals unfold like captivating tales waiting to be discovered. 

Memoirs and biography books offer a gateway into the hearts and minds of people who have shaped history or experienced remarkable journeys. Imagine delving into the triumphs and tribulations of iconic figures, feeling their struggles, victories, and moments of vulnerability. 

Join us on a journey through some of the best biographies of lives well-lived.

We have something for everyone from biographies & autobiographies of Indians, autobiography books in Hindi , and international memoir books and true stories.

Biographies & Autobiography Books of Famous Indians

These biography books illuminate the essence of India’s diverse culture, spirituality, and enduring legacy on the global stage.

Adman Madman by Prahlad Kakar & Rupangi Sharma

In 1971, clutching a princely sum of three hundred rupees in his pocket, Prahlad Kakar arrived in Bombay Central station. During his early days of dire struggle, he slept on benches in train stations and on the sofas of reluctant friends. Scratching the underbelly of Colaba Causeway, he learnt many life lessons for his survival and eventual climb to notoriety.

Four decades later, he swears by Murphy’s law, ‘Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.’ Murphy is certainly not a figment of anyone’s imagination, but a gargoyle plucked from VT station, who is sitting crouched on your shoulder and waiting for an opportunity to pee into your ear. Come and share some uproarious laughs with the Indian ad industry’s feared and beloved leprechaun as he takes you on this rollercoaster ride. From the bizarre to the brazen, prepare yourself for one hell of a journey.

Why does Prahlad have the right to lay claim to Shabana Azmi’s second toe?

Why did Satish Shah pretend to be a chauffeur during a shoot?

Can a parachute-landing fall save you from a dating disaster?

How did a pig drive a member of the film crew straight to the shrink?

Meet Dumbell the Doberman. And Head of Outstanding Collections.

In this no-holds-barred memoir, Prahlad serves up scoops of his most unforgettable experiences, peppered with viciously funny anecdotes from his personal life and seasoned with lessons on how to tell a riveting story in thirty seconds.

Learn secrets of the trade to create memorable brands. Travel behind the scenes of celebrated advertisements that launched the careers of models who then went on to become famous Bollywood actors. Hear about the genesis of this accidental serial entrepreneur. And, above all, learn how to live life with complete abandon from none other than the enfant terrible of the advertising industry. As the man who wears many hats, literally and figuratively, Prahlad tips his hat to life’s incidental wisdom with raucous laughter.

From those who have a love for advertising to those who have a zest for life, from the young to the old, this memoir will capture your heart and your mind, and tickle your funny bone.

Statutory Warning: This book may cause you to fall off your chair!

Insatiable: My Hunger for Life by Shobhaa Dé

‘I promise not to be three things–profound, pedantic and pretentious,’ says Shobhaa De, as she begins her heart-warming book.

It’s a promise India’s most beloved writer delivers on in her irreverent memoir about the year leading up to her landmark seventy-fifth birthday. Quintessential exuberance and keen observations firmly in place, she tells us about travelling solo, feasting (and fasting) with family and friends, the triumphs and losses that accompany ageing, the vagaries and vulnerabilities of being a writer and, above all, how food connects people in the most unexpected places and delightful ways.

From where to find the most delicious lassi in Jaipur, her obsession with kasundi and conversations with a Nobel Laureate who is a gourmet to M.F. Husain’s last food khwaish and what’s served at Aamir Khan’s dinner table, Shobhaa takes us into the dining rooms of politicians, artists and celebrities, to festivals and parties and other social events, and, more privately, into her home, where food is always the prime subject of conversation.

In Insatiable , Shobhaa reminds us of the many delights and disappointments that the banquet of life offers, even as she examines the shared emotional hunger for happiness and love that binds us all.

The Scrapper’s Way by Damodar Padhi

So, you were not born with a silver spoon? You did not study in a ‘well-known’ school? You could not afford to go to a great college? You were not privileged enough to secure your dream job? Like it or not, but we live in an unequal world; life here does not promise fair treatment to every individual. If you were born lucky and could afford it all, this book can at best intrigue you a bit, but it is not really meant for you. If not, this is exactly the book you need. Welcome to the Scrapper’s club. The only two things you need to be here are a dream to succeed and an urge to face life as it appears before you without whining. This book does not promise you the moon (and neither will it deliver any). For more than three decades, Damodar Padhi has used this time-tested and all weather resistant (read resilient) approach with great success. If you are someone who equates success to only money and power, keep the book back on the shelf and browse on. But if you are looking for success that includes financial freedom, happiness, and purpose, we are ON. The Scrapper’s Way will take you through life’s many crossroads and teach you the art of making sensible personal choices both at work and in personal life, and above all purpose to enrich every aspect of it. One part in every story as a behind-the-scenes memoir, the other part as the fuel to make you think; this book will lay out your own path to success in an unequal world.

Indian Lives – Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay: The Art of Freedom by Nico Slate

In 1947, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay made an unexpected visit to a gloomy government building in New Delhi to confront one of the gravest crises facing the newly independent nation-the fate of the millions of refugees pouring across the borders with Pakistan. She had no official standing, but somehow managed to arrange for a piece of land just outside the capital, where a model town would be built to house 30,000 people. This town is today’s Faridabad.

This is just one of the many efforts-often forgotten-made by an indomitable woman who strove to empower others throughout her life. Born a Saraswat Brahmin in Mangalore, Kamaladevi was a performing artist, a Gandhian, a social reformer, an educationist, an institution builder, a patron of the arts, an author, a visionary. She built bridges across divides decreed by tradition, while establishing her own identity as an Indian woman finding a place for herself in a male-dominated world. Her dream was of an India that was free not just of colonial rule but of the shackles of poverty, caste oppression and gender disparities.

Nico Slate’s new and definitive biography explores the life of Kamaladevi, one of the most inspiring figures of twentieth-century India.

This is the third book in the Indian Lives series , edited and curated by Ramachandra Guha.

Snakes, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll : My Early Years by Romulus Whitaker & Janaki Lenin

A legend in the arena of wildlife conservation and affectionately hailed as the ‘Snakeman of India’, Romulus Whitaker has had a lifelong love affair with the ‘fierce creatures’ that share our planet. This first volume of his fascinating memoir brings the India of the 1950s and the US of the 1960s to life.

When his mother married and moved to Mumbai, Whitaker was transplanted from a conventional childhood in the US to what was for him the exciting world of India. At boarding school in Kodai, he kept a pet python under his bed and realized that all he really wanted to do was work with snakes. Sent to the US for college, Whitaker preferred snakes to lecture halls and left to work in a snake farm. The adventures that ensue are hair-raising and often hilarious.

Snakes, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll tells the story of a boy who would become one of the greatest conservationists of his generation, discovering the wonders of India’s extraordinary natural world.

The Last Courtesan: Writing My Mother’s Memoir by Manish Gaekwad

The 1993 Bow Bazaar bomb blast in Calcutta brought an end to the kothas in the busy commercial district. Over the next few years, as dance bars and disco music replaced the old-world charm of mujras, kathak and thumri, the tawaifs began to abandon the profession. Rekhabai, a courtesan, found herself at a crossroads, facing an uncertain future. Where should she go? What should she do next?

Originally from the Kanjarbhat tribe, Rekhabai was sold and trained as a tawaif while she was still a child. In the 1980s, when kothas were no longer recognized as centres for aesthetics, and society disapproved of the tawaif’s art, as they felt it was sex work in the guise of adakari (performance), Rekhabai made a name for herself in Calcutta and Bombay as a singing-dancing star. It was an era when she had to dodge guns, goons and Ghalib’s ghazals to carve out her own destiny, provide for her large family and raise her son in an English-medium boarding school.

In this poignant memoir, she narrates the unbelievable story of her survival to her son with candour, grace and humour, never missing a beat and always full of heart.

Anandibai Joshee: A Life in Poems by Shikha Malviya

Anandibai Joshee (1865-87) was not only India’s first female physician, but also the first Indian woman to travel across the forbidden ‘black waters’ and pursue an education in the United States – with the help of a kind American ally.

The poems in Shikha Malaviya’s Anandibai Joshee: A Life in Poems are a chronological rendering of Anandibai’s life-from her birth and childhood in the bustling town of Kalyan in Maharashtra and her marriage to an eccentric man sixteen years older, to early childbirth and the loss of her infant, from which her desire to become a doctor was born.

With elegance and a stark beauty, these poems bring to life the struggles and accomplishments of a woman who travelled across the seas to pursue a medical education before her return to India as a doctor. While her adventures were cut short by tragedy, her story lives on through these poems that thunder from across the decades with a voice that cannot be silenced.

Biographies & Autobiography Books in Hindi

Here’s a list of some biography books that have been translated to Hindi to enable larger readership. So, take your pick! Read these memoir books in Hindi or English.

Gujarmal Modi – Sahsi Udyogpati by Sonu Bhasin & Dheeraj Kumar Agarwal

The year was 1932, and a young man had just been banished from the state of Patiala. His crime? He had refused a glass of wine in the celebratory party at the Patiala Palace. It had not mattered to the maharaja that the man was a teetotaller.

The ban proved to be a boon as the thirty-year-old left Patiala and created one of the largest business empires in India. Looking for a new location to set up his factory, Gujarmal zeroed in on a sleepy village, Begumabad, on the outskirts of Delhi. It is here that the seeds of the Modi Group were sown. Starting with a sugar mill, he established a conglomerate with businesses including tyres, textiles, copy machines, cigarettes, pharmaceuticals, oil and steel, to name a few.

This is the story of a resolute, ambitious young man who saw adversity as an opportunity and went on to create history. In the process, he set up some of the finest factories, created an industrial town that was way ahead of its time, generated large-scale employment and gave Indian manufacturing new wings. Gujarmal’s ten per cent allocation from earnings towards social responsibility, long before it became a corporate buzzword, and human resource initiatives became benchmarks in the history of Indian business.

A treasure trove of learnings for modern-day entrepreneurs, this book celebrates the man and his vision, grit, determination and spirit of entrepreneurship.

Ye Jeevan Khel Mein by Girish Karnad , Srinath Perur & Madhu Joshi

Girish Karnad was one of modern India’s greatest cultural figures: an accomplished actor, a path-breaking director, an innovative administrator, a clear-headed and erudite thinker, a public intellectual with an unwavering moral compass, and above all, the most extraordinarily gifted playwright of his times.

Ye Jeevan Khel Mein, the Hindi translation of Karnad’s memoirs, This Life at Play, covers the first half of his remarkable life – from his childhood in Sirsi and his early engagement with local theatre, his education in Dharwad, Bombay and Oxford, to his career in publishing, his successes and travails in the film industry, and his personal and writerly life.

Moving and humorous, insightful and candid, these memoirs provide an unforgettable glimpse into the life-shaping experiences of a towering genius, and a unique window into the India in which he lived and worked.

Udaan: Air Deccan ka Safar by Capt. G R Gopinath

This is the journey of a boy born in a remote village, who went from riding a bullock cart to owning an airline, a journey of an entrepreneur who built India’s first and largest low-cost airline Filled with rich anecdotes of everyday struggles and joys, this is the awe-inspiring story of Captain G.R. Gopinath. This autobiography narrates in gritty detail Captain Gopinath’s incredible journey: quitting the Indian Army in the late 1970s with a princely gratuity of Rs 6500, going back to his farm land inundated by the river, converting a piece of barren land to set up a farm for ecologically sustainable silkworm rearing, winning the Rolex award for it, his loves and passions, his extraordinary determination to launch an airline (which touched a crazy market cap of US$ 1.1 billion in less than four years ), in the process rewriting aviation history.

Ritu Nanda by Sathya Saran

Meet Ritu Nanda. As Raj Kapoor’s daughter, she was part of the first family of Bollywood. Her marriage to Rajan Nanda of the Escorts Group led to her joining another illustrious family. Yet, she went on to carve her own identity as an insurance advisor and even got her name into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Ritu Nanda: Fir Bhi Rahenge Nishaniyan is the story of a woman who shed her shyness and stepped into the limelight, taking on a variety of roles – entrepreneur, insurance advisor, author, negotiator and pioneer. It’s about her quiet determination, grace and courage as she lived every moment to its fullest, even while battling a dreaded disease, and touched the lives of everyone around her. It’s also about those who added colour to the kaleidoscope of her life – her family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers.

With tributes from her sambandhi Amitabh Bachchan, family members Randhir Kapoor, Rima Jain, Kareena Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor, as well as friends such as Karan Johar, Sonali Bendre, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Gauri Khan and many others, this is the story of a woman like no other. Meet Ritu Nanda. You will be happy you did.

Ek Sadharan Si Zindagi: Har Peedhi ki Gatha by Ashok Lavasa

The world consists mainly of ordinary people leading simple lives. Their stories remain unheard as they haven’t been written about. But their lives inspire because they are a vindication of certain lasting values that survive in every society and keep us connected with the unseen forces that govern us.

In Ek Sadharan Si Zindagi, the Hindi translation of An Ordinary Life, former Election Commissioner of India Ashok Lavasa tells one such warm story. He weaves the experiences of his father, Udai Singh, into the narrative of a fast-changing India to show how his Bauji’s principles served as a moral compass in his life – and can in ours too. Through a series of incidents, he explores the virtues of honest living and illustrates that it is possible to prosper in a world of rising aspirations and cut-throat competition while preserving one’s ideals.

Reflective and philosophical, Ek Sadharan Si Zindagi is imbued with the grounded wisdom of an earlier Indian generation and its way of life, which is both ordinary and extraordinary, unique and universal at the same time.

Woh Jo Hain by Meghna Gulzar

‘Papi says it is wrong of parents to presume that they know better, or know more than their child does. They may be biologically older than their child, but in their experience as parents, they’re of the same age. So if I was his two-year-old daughter, he was my two-year-old father. And we were both learning and evolving together — he as my father and me as his daughter.’ All of us know Gulzar as a film-maker, screenplay and dialogue writer, lyricist par excellence, author and poet. Woh Jo Hain… presents a facet of the icon that none of us are aware of — as a father. In iridescent prose, his daughter, Meghna, documents his life, revealing the man behind the legend: in every way a hands-on father, who prepared her for school without fail every day, braiding her hair and tying her shoelaces, and who despite his busy career in cinema, always made it a point to end his workday at 4 p.m. because her school ended at that time, and who wrote a book for her birthday every year till she was thirteen. From her earliest memories of waking up in the morning to the strains of him playing the sitar to him writing the songs for her films now, Meghna presents an intimate portrait of a father who indulged her in every way and yet raised her to be independent and confident of the choices she made. She also records his phenomenal creative oeuvre, the many trials and tribulations of his personal and professional life, through all of which she remained a priority. Beautifully designed and illustrated with never-before-seen photographs, Woh Jo Hain… offers an incredible insight into the bond between a father and a daughter.

Other Memoir Books and True Stories

Hindi and Indian biography books are not all that we have for you! Here are some international memoir books and true stories.

From tales of resilience to heartwarming accounts of love, these stories offer a glimpse into the human history.

City on Fire: A Boyhood in Aligarh by Zeyad Masroor Khan

Zeyad Masroor Khan was four years old when he realized that an innocent act of clicking a switch near a window overlooking the street could trigger a riot. As the distant thud of a crowd grew closer and calls for murder rent the air, he got his first taste of growing up in Upar Kot, a Muslim ghetto in Aligarh. Khan’s world was far-removed from the Aligarh of popular imagination-of poets, tehzeeb and the intellectual corridors of the Aligarh Muslim University. His was a city where serpentine lanes simmered with violence, homes fervently prayed to dispel the omnipresent fear of a family member turning up dead, and the soft breeze that blew over crowded terraces carried rumours of a bloodthirsty mob on the prowl.

In his coming-of-age memoir, Khan writes, with searing honesty and raw power, about the undercurrents of religious violence and the ensuing ‘othering’ that followed him everywhere he went: from his schooldays in Aligarh, when hopping over to the lending library to the ‘Hindu’ part of town to find his favourite comic book or lighting candles with neighbours on Diwali was fraught with tension; through his years as a college student in Delhi, where being denied apartments because of his name was the norm; to ultimately becoming a journalist documenting history of his country as it happened.

City on Fire is a rare, visceral portrait of how everyday violence and hate become a part of our lives and consciousness; a society where name and clothes mark out a person as the ‘other’. It is as much an incisive examination of religion and violence, imagined histories and fractured realities, grief and love in today’s India, as it is a paean to the hope of continued unity, to an idea of India.

Gurkha Brotherhood by Kailash Limbu

‘Sometimes my mind reaches back, beyond the far and the arid landscapes of war, to memories of childhood that fill me with happiness and laughter.’

Considered to be among the finest infantrymen in the world, the Gurkhas are proud, brave warriors who have seen combat across the globe. In five tours of active service in Afghanistan that involved dangerous resupply missions and offensive patrols that took them to the heart of the ‘killing zone’, Captain Kailash Limbu and his men of the 2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles came under frequent attack from Taliban fighters. Captain Limbu lost several friends and colleagues from the close-knit Gurkha brotherhood, and on many occasions feared he himself would not live to see the end of the day. His means of coping with the trauma of conflict was to travel back to his childhood in a remote Himalayan village in Nepal. But even there, amid the simplicity of mountain life, danger and tragedy lurked…

In this searingly honest memoir, Captain Limbu celebrates his Gurkha heritage, relates remarkable stories of courage, and confronts demons that have shaped but not broken him.

House Of Gucci: The Âmovie Tie-inã by Sara G. Forden

The sensational true story of murder, madness, glamour, and greed that shook the Gucci dynasty, now fully updated with a new afterword.

On March 27, 1995, Maurizio Gucci, heir to the fabulous fashion dynasty, was slain by an unknown gunman as he approached his Milan office. In 1998, his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani Martinelli–nicknamed “The Black Widow” by the press–was sentenced to 29 years in prison, for arranging his murder.

Did Patrizia murder her ex-husband because his spending was wildly out of control? Did she do it because her glamorous ex was preparing to marry his mistress, Paola Franchi? Or is there a possibility she didn’t do it at all?

The Gucci story is one of glitz, glamour, intrigue, the rise, near fall and subsequent resurgence of a fashion dynasty. Beautifully written, impeccably researched, and widely acclaimed, The House of Gucci will captivate readers with its page-turning account of high fashion, high finance, and heart-rending personal tragedy.

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• Best Biography Books / Biography / Biography Books / Biography Books India

Best Biography Books That Every Indian Should Read

by Yash Sharma · Published July 8, 2021 · Updated August 24, 2022

The following best biography books deserves to be read by every Indian irrespective of his or her caste, creed, religion, color,  and ethnicity. It includes books on Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Sardar Patel The Iron Man Of India, Rani Laxmibai, JRD Tata, PV Narasimha Rao, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Saheb Kanshiram, Feroze Gandhi, Dara Sikhoh, Guru Nanak, and Baba Saheb Ambedkar. 

14 Best Biography Books For Indian Readers

1. The life of Mahatma Gandhi by Louis Fischer

2. Without Fear, The life and trial of Bhagat Singh by Kuldeep Nayar

3. The Man who unified India by Balraj Krishna

4. Rani Laxmibai the warrior queen of Jhansi by Pratibha Ranade

5. Beyond the last blue Mountain, A life of J.R.D. Tata by R.M. Lala

6. Half Lion how PV Narasimha Rao transformed India by Vinay Sitapati

7. Love and Revolution the authorised biography of Faiz Ahmed Faiz by Ali Madeeh Hashmi

8. Jawaharlal Nehru A biography by Frank Moraes

9. Syama Prasad Mookerjee life and times by TathaGata Roy

10. Kanshiram, leader of the Dalits by Badri Narayan

11. Feroze the forgotten Gandhi by Bertil Falk

12. The Emperor who never was, Dara Sikhoh in mughal India by Supriya Gandhi

13. Guru Nanak: The First Sikh Guru by Harish Dhillon

14. Ambedkar towards an enlightened India by Gail Omvedt

The life of Mahatma Gandhi by Louis Fischer

The more you read Gandhi, the more you realise his ingenuity and the love and admiration for his people. The life of Mahatma Gandhi by Louis Fischer is a necessary book to read. The way he interpreted Mohandas Gandhi is laudable. 

Biography book on Mahatma Gandhi. 

For the detailed article you can read from here – Mahatma Gandhi

Order your copy from here – The Life of Mahatma Gandhi by Louis Fischer

Without Fear, The life and trial of Bhagat Singh by Kuldeep Nayar –

Without Fear by Kuldip Nayar is a brilliant book. Within a few hundred pages the author has unravelled the life and times of legendary Sardar Bhagat Singh.

Without Fear by Kuldeep Nayar

For the detailed article you can read from here – Bhagat Singh

Order your copy from here – Without Fear, The Life and Trial Of Bhagat Singh by Kuldeep Nayar

The Man who unified India by Balraj Krishna

Miniscule of people in Indian history can match the stature of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The more you read about Sardar the more you realise that how great he was. The iron man of India single handedly assimilated more than 560 Princely States into the Indian union. A feat in itself. 

The Man Who Unified India, Sardar Patel

For the detailed article you can read from here – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Order your copy from here – The man who unified India by Balraj Krishna

Rani Laxmibai the warrior queen of Jhansi by Pratibha Ranade 

 Rani Laxmibai, The Warrior Queen Of Jhansi is a concisely written book about the Queen-cum-diplomat-cum-warrior of Hindustan who died on the battlefield like a brave soldier while fighting the forces of the British East India Company.

Biography of Rani Laxmibai

For the detailed article you can read from here – Rani Laxmibai

Order your copy from here – Rani Laxmibai, The Warrior Queen Of Jhansi

Beyond the last blue Mountain, A life of J.R.D. Tata by R.M. Lala 

Beyond the last blue mountain, A life of J. R. D. Tata is a nicely written biography of the former Chairman of Tata Sons and the only Indian industrialist till date who was bestowed with the prestigious, Bharat Ratna award.

J.R.D Tata, The Father of the Indian Aviation

For the detailed article you can read from here – J. R. D. Tata

Order your copy from here – Beyond the last blue mountain by R.M. Lala

Half Lion how PV Narasimha Rao transformed India by Vinay Sitapati 

Half lion, how PV Narasimha Rao transformed india, is brilliantly researched biography of the man who not only dismantled the so called ”Licence-permit-quota” Raj and opened up the Indian economy, but he also applied in letter and spirit the ancient Vedic principle of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam, which means ‘The world is one big family’.

Narasimha Rao, The Father of the Indian economic reforms

For the detailed article you can read from here – P. V. Narasimha Rao

Order your copy from here – Half Lion how P.V. Narasimha Rao Transformed India by Vinay Sitapati

Love and Revolution the authorised biography of Faiz Ahmed Faiz by Ali Madeeh Hashmi 

ये दाग़ दाग़ उजाला, ये शब-गज़ीदा सहर वो इन्तज़ार था जिस का, ये वो सहर तो नहीं

(This stained light, this night-bitten dawn;

This is not that long awaited day break)

Subh-e azadi (Dawn of independence) was written way back in August 1947 by the revolutionary Urdu Poet, Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

Faiz Saheb was a poet of few words. In fact, each and every word of his represents the sentiment of a common man. That’s why he’s still revered throughout the Indian subcontinent.

Love and Revolution, Faiz Ahmed Faiz is the authorised biography of the legendary Urdu Poet, Faiz.

The main USP of this book is that within few hundred pages the author (Grandson of Faiz) has unravelled the life and times of Faiz Saheb.

Biography of Faiz Ahmed Faiz

For the detailed article you can read from here – Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Order your copy from here – Love and Revolution, Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Jawaharlal Nehru A biography by Frank Moraes 

Jawaharlal Nehru, A biography, is a well analysed and written in a very crafty manner by Frank Moraes. Although, before I write on this topic, I wanna tell you people one thing for sure that this book is not everyone’s cup of tea. But if you have already read about history of the Indian freedom movement and especially the contribution of Pandit Nehru in the Indian freedom struggle, then, you can surely go for this book.

The First Prime Minister of Independent India, Pandit Nehru. 

For the detailed article about Jawaharlal Nehru you can read from here – Jawaharlal Nehru

Order your copy from here – Jawaharlal Nehru by Frank Moraes

Syama Prasad Mookerjee life and times by TathaGata Roy 

Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Life and times, is thoroughly researched and a well written book. In fact this is the only complete biography we have at present on Dr Mookerjee, The founder of the Bhartiya Jana Sangh. 

Syama Prasad Mookerjee, The Founder of the Jana Sangh

For the detailed article you can read from here – Syama Prasad Mookerjee

Order your copy from here – Syama Prasad Mookerjee Life and Times by TathaGata Roy

Kanshiram, leader of the Dalits by Badri Narayan 

Kanshiram, leader of the Dalits is a concisely written biography of  Kanshiram Of BSP

Manyavar Kanshiram was the founder of the Bahujan samaj party (BSP), and after Baba Saheb Ambedkar he is one of the most important icons for the Dalits of Hindustan. 

Kanshiram, The leader of the Dalits. 

For the detailed article you can read from here – Manyavar Kanshiram

Order your copy from here – Kanshiram leader of the Dalits by Badri Narayan

Feroze the forgotten Gandhi by Bertil Falk 

Feroze the forgotten gandhi, is the story of the man who not only forgotten by the Nehru-Gandhi family but also by the people of India. A good book indeed. 

The Forgotten Gandhi by Bertil Falk. 

For the detailed article you can read from here – Feroze Gandhi

Order your copy from here – Feroze the forgotten Gandhi by Bertil Falk

The Emperor who never was, Dara Sikhoh in mughal India by Supriya Gandhi 

The Emperor Who Never Was, Dara Shikoh in Mughal India is a meticulously researched and narratively written biography of the Mughal Prince, Dara Shikoh.

Although, it’s a book about the life and times of Dara Shikoh but it also tells us lots of things about the Mughals, especially the role of the Mughal women in administration and other necessary chores.

Biography of Dara Shikoh

For the detailed article you can read from here – Dara Shikoh

Order your copy from here – The Emperor who never was, Dara Shikoh in Mughal India

Guru Nanak: The First Sikh Guru by Harish Dhillon 

The world needs Baba Guru Nanak and his philosophy now than ever before.

Guru Nanak, The First Sikh Guru is a readable and a concisely written biography of the founder of the world’s youngest religion, The Sikhism.

Biography of Guru Nanak

For the detailed article you can read from here – Guru Nanak

Order your copy from here – Guru Nanak, The First Sikh Guru

Ambedkar towards an enlightened India by Gail Omvedt

It’s a concisely written biography about the Chief architect of the Indian Constitution and one of the foremost intellectuals of the twentieth century. 

Dr BR Ambedkar, The Father of the Indian Constitution

Order your copy from here – Ambedkar towards an enlightened India by Gail Omvedt

These are some of the best biography books which I’ve read and strongly recommend to Indian readers. As, reading, writing and gaining knowledge is a continuous process so I’ll add more best biography books in the near future too.

I hope you like these recommendations about the best biography books. Thanks for reading, Jai Hind.

Tags: Best Biography Books Biography Books Biography Books India

Yash Sharma

Namaste reader, My name is Yash, and books for me are like a medicine, which removes my ignorance and also helps me in behaving more like a human.Though I live in the world’s largest democracy, India, but when I look around, I realized that this democratic nation of mine has turned into a kind of feudal oligarchy or kleptocracy, where people from a particular community or I would say particular surname has hijacked this democracy, and the political parties in India has turned itself into a kind of family enterprises where the family members are the only shareholders. And I want to change this, and books are a weapon which is helping me, so that I can help others and my nation.Shukriya for reading this Thought of mine.

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10 Must-Read Biographies On Inspirational People From India

Biographies always end up becoming a source of inspiration and many authors have compiled accounts on impactful Indians whose lives are worth sharing. We’ve shortlisted the 10 best biographies you should read.

Outlaw: india’s bandit queen and me by roy moxham.

Roy Moxham’s biography of spine-chilling events that occurred in Phoolan Mallah’s life was a result of his journey and friendship with her in the later years of her life. Known as ‘bandit queen’ in India, Phoolan hailed from a poor rural family in Uttar Pradesh. She was gang-raped and abused many times before she became a gang leader and then a Member of the Parliament in India. Roy’s biography is a gripping story of the incredible woman who was gunned down in 2001.

Akhada: The Authorized Biography of Mahavir Singh Phogat by Saurabh Duggal

Sir C V Raman by A. Krishna Bhatt

This biography by A. Krishna Bhatt gives an intimate account of Nobel Prize winner C. V. Raman’s life . Bhatt’s research reveals how Raman was a jovial person, always curious and a great teacher. The book makes C. V. Raman more human, going beyond the image of a worshipped physicist. Raman’s humble beginnings and great achievements are a source of inspiration.

The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of The Genius Ramanujan by Robert Kanigel

Robert Kanigel paints a picture of Srinivasa Ramanujan’s life since childhood in Tamil Nadu, India. His family couldn’t send him to school after a point but that didn’t stop Ramanujan from studying pure mathematics and working under the British mathematician G. H. Hardy. In his biography , Robert delves into Ramanujan’s struggle to be taken seriously and eventually being recognised for his contributions in mathematics.

Beyond the Last Blue Mountain by R. M. Lala

Beyond The Last Blue Mountain is one of the best biographies written about an Indian. The book is divided into four parts, taking the readers through the details of Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata’s childhood and milestones. J.R.D Tata’s interest in aviation that led to the beginning of the aviation industry in India and his contributions as an industrialist, are discussed comprehensively. The last part of the book talks about his friendships, personal life and how he kept it away from the public eye.

Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan by Shrabani Basu

Shrabani Basu’s detailed chronicle of Noor Inayat Khan makes the biography a riveting read. Noor was an Indian-origin Briton from an affluent family. As a shy, sensitive girl, she chose the most unlikely work for herself, in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the Second World War. She lived a life of danger and adventure before being killed in a concentration camp in Dachau. Basu’s book is heartwarming and inspirational.

Husain: Portrait of an Artist by Ila Pal

The late Maqbool Fida Husain, better known as M.F. Husain , was a peculiar but charming figure of the 20th-century. No one knows much about the man, except that he was an internationally acclaimed modern painter who always walked barefoot with a paintbrush in his hand. The image almost became his brand statement. Ila Pal goes deep into M.F. Husain’s life and reveals his wit and thought process. Ila met the painter in 1961 and made him her case study for 50 years and the biography is a beautiful culmination of that association.

Gandhi Before India by Ramachandra Guha

Gandhi Before India is a deviation from what is usually written about M.K. Gandhi who is revered as ‘father of the nation’ for his mammoth contributions to India’s independence movement. Ramachandra Guha’s detailed research spans across four continents. He writes about Gandhi’s formative years in South Africa and personal details of his life as a father and husband. Ramachandra’s beautifully written biography paints Gandhi in a different light and tells us why M. K. Gandhi was an inspirational figure.

Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb by Jerry Pinto

Jerry Pinto is probably one of the best Indian authors of the 21st-century and his biography on Helen tells everything we ever wanted to know about the French-Burmese actress. An icon in Bollywood , Helen came to the country as a refugee from Burma. To support her widowed mother and two brothers she worked as a chorus dancer in Hindi films. At her career’s peak she was called the ‘H-Bomb’.

Lilavati’s Daughters by Indian Academy of Sciences

The collection of biographical essays on women scientists of the 19th and 20th-century is nothing but inspirational. The book tells us about botanist E. K. Janaki Ammal, chemist Asmita Chatterjee, physician Anandibai Joshi, anthropologist Iravati Karve, biochemist Kamala Sohonie, medical researcher Kamal Ranadive and a few others who pioneered women’s education in India at a time when women were hardly allowed to finish high school.

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Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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50 best autobiographies & biographies of all time

Enlightening and inspiring: these are the best autobiographies and biographies of 2024, and all time. .

Reading an autobiography can offer a unique insight into a world and experience very different from your own – and these real-life stories are even more entertaining, and stranger, than fiction . Take a glimpse into the lives of some of the world's most inspiring and successful celebrities , politicians and sports people and more in our edit of the best autobiographies and biographies to read right now.

• New autobiographies & biographies
• Inspiring autobiographies & biographies
• Sports autobiographies & biographies
• Celebrity autobiographies & biographies
• Political & historical autobiographies
• Literary autobiographies & biographies

The best new autobiographies and biographies

Sociopath: a memoir, by patric gagne.

The most unputdownable memoir you’ll read this year, Sociopath is the story of Patric Gagne, and her extraordinary life lived on the edge. With seering honestly, Patric explains how, as a child she always knew she was different. Graduating from feelings of apathy to petty theft and stalking, she realised as an adult that she was a sociopath, uncaring of the impact of her actions on others. Sharing the conflict she feels between her impulses, and her desire to live a settled, loving life with her partner, Sociopath is a fascinating story of one woman’s journey to find a place for herself in the world. 

Charles III

By robert hardman.

Meet the man behind the monarch in this new biography of King Charles III by royal expert and journalist Robert Hardman. Charting Charles III’s extraordinary first year on the throne, a year plighted by sadness and family scandal, Hardman shares insider details on the true nature of the Windsor family feud, and Queen Camilla’s role within the Royal Family. Detailing the highs and lows of royal life in dazzling detail, this new biography of the man who waited his whole life to be King is one of 2024’s must-reads. 

Naked Portrait: A Memoir of Lucian Freud

By rose boyt.

When Rose Boyt finds her old diary in a cardboard box in the summer of 2016, she is transported back to 1989 and her teenage years, a time she never remembered as especially remarkable. However, as Rose reads her accounts of sitting for her father, the painter Lucian Feud, she begins to realise how extraordinary and shocking her experiences truly were. In Naked Portrait: A Memoir of Lucian Freud , Rose Boyt explores her relationship with her father with fresh eyes, painting a vivid portrait of the brilliant, complex man he was. 

Air and Love

By or rosenboim.

When Or Rosenboim was growing up, she knew little of her family’s complex history, with her memories of family instead rooted in the traditional dishes her grandmothers prepared with love. After they had both passed away, she began to explore their recipe books, full of handwritten notes for how to make kneidlach balls in hot chicken broth, cinnamon-scented noodle kugel and stuffed vine leaves. There, Or learned of their shared past, one fraught with displacement and change. Interspersing her family’s story with their cherished recipes, Or Rosenboim’s Air and Love is a memoir about food, migration and family.

Lisa Marie Presley's memoir

By lisa marie presley.

Lisa Marie Presley was never truly understood . . . until now. Before her death in 2023, she’d been working on a raw, riveting, one-of-a-kind memoir for years, recording countless hours of breathtakingly vulnerable tape, which has finally been put on the page by her daughter, Riley Keough.

Went to London, Took the Dog: A Diary

By nina stibbe.

Ten years after the publication of the prize-winning  Love, Nina  comes the author’s diary of her return to London in her sixty-first year. After twenty years, Nina Stibbe, accompanied by her dog Peggy, stays with writer Debby Moggach in London for a year. With few obligations, Nina explores the city, reflecting on her past and embracing new experiences. From indulging in banana splits to navigating her son's dating life, this diary captures the essence of a sixty-year-old runaway finding her place as a "proper adult" once and for all.

Literature for the People

By sarah harkness.

When Daniel and Alexander Macmillan moved to London from the Scottish Highlands in 1830, little did they know that the city was on the brink of huge social change, and that they would change publishing forever. This is the story of the Macmillan brothers who, after an impoverished, working-class childhood, went on to bring Alice in Wonderland and numerous other literary classics and ideas to the world. Through meticulous research and highly entertaining storytelling, Sarah Harkness brings to life the two men who founded a publishing house which has stood the test of time for almost two centuries. 

Hildasay to Home

By christian lewis.

The follow-up to his bestselling memoir Finding Hildasay , in Hildasay to Home Christian Lewis tells the next chapter of his extraordinary journey, step by step. From the unexpected way he found love, to his and Kate's journey on foot back down the coastline and into their new lives as parents to baby Marcus, Christian shares his highs and lows as he and his dog Jet leave Hildasay behind. Join the family as they adjust to life away from the island, and set off on a new journey together. 

Life's Work

By david milch.

Best known for creating smash-hit shows including NYPD Blue and Deadwood, you’d be forgiven for thinking that David Milch had lived a charmed life of luxury and stardom. In this, his new memoir, Milch dispels that myth, shedding light on his extraordinary life in the spotlight. Born in Buffalo New York to a father gripped by drug-addiction, Milch enrolled at Yale Law befire being expelled and finding his true passion for writing. Written following his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s in 2015, in Life’s Work Milch records his joys, sadnesses and struggles with startling clarity and grace. 

Will You Care If I Die?

By nicolas lunabba.

In a world where children murder children, and where gun violence is the worst in Europe, Nicolas Lunabba's job as a social organizer with Malmö's underclass requires firm boundaries and emotional detachment. But all that changes when he meets Elijah – an unruly teenage boy of mixed heritage whose perilous future reminds Nicolas of his own troubled past amongst the marginalized people who live on the fringes of every society. Written as a letter to Elijah,  Will You Care If I Die?  is a disarmingly direct memoir about social class, race, friendship and unexpected love.

The best inspiring autobiographies and biographies

By yusra mardini.

After fleeing her native Syria to the Turkish coast in 2015, Yusra Mardini boarded a small dinghy full of refugees headed for Greece. On the journey, the boat's engine cut out and it started to sink. Yusra, her sister, and two others took to the water to push the overcrowded boat for three and a half hours in open water, saving the lives of those on board. Butterfly is Yusra Mardini's journey from war-torn Damascus to Berlin and from there to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Game. A UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and one of People magazine's 25 Women Changing the World, discover Yusra and her incredible story of resilience and unstoppable spirit.

Finding Hildasay

After hitting rock bottom having suffered with depression for years, Christian Lewis made an impulsive decision to walk the entire coastline of the UK. Just a few days later he set off with a tent, walking boots and a tenner in his pocket. Finding Hildasay tells us some of this incredible story, including the brutal three months Christian Lewis spent on the uninhabited island of Hildasay in Scotland with no fresh water or food. It was there, where his route was most barren, that he discovered pride and respect for himself. This is not just a story of a remarkable journey, but one of depression, survival and the meaning of home. 

The Happiest Man on Earth

By eddie jaku.

A lesson in how happiness can be found in the darkest of times, this is the story of Eddie Jaku, a German Jew who survived seven years at the hands of the Nazis. Eddie Jaku always considered himself a German first, and a Jew second. All of that changed in November 1938, when he was beaten, arrested and taken to a concentration camp. But through his courage and tenacity he still came to live life as 'the happiest man on earth'. Published at the author turns one hundred, The Happiest Man on Earth is a heartbreaking but hopeful memoir full of inspiration. 

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3 lessons to learn from Eddie Jaku

I know why the caged bird sings, by maya angelou.

A favourite book of former president Obama and countless others, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , recounts Angelou’s childhood in the American south in the 1930s. A beautifully written classic, this is the first of Maya Angelou's seven bestselling autobiographies. 

I Am Malala

By malala yousafzai.

After speaking out about her right to education almost cost her her life, Malala Yousafzi refused to be silenced. Instead, her amazing story has taken her all over the world. This is the story of Malala and her inspirational family, and of how one person's voice can inspire change across the globe. 

In Extremis: The Life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin

By lindsey hilsum.

In her job as a foreign correspondent, Marie Colvin reported from some of the most dangerous places in the world. It was a job that would eventually cost her her life. In this posthumous biography of the award-winning news journalist, Lindsey Hilsum shares the story of one of the most daring and inspirational women of our times with warmth and wit, conveying Colvin's trademark glamour. 

The best memoirs

This is going to hurt, by adam kay.

Offering a unique insight into life as an NHS junior doctor through his diary entries, Adam Kay's bestselling autobiography is equal parts heartwarming and humorous, and oftentimes horrifying too. With 97-hour weeks, life and death decisions and a tsunami of bodily fluids, Kay provides a no-holds-barred account of working on the NHS frontline. Now a major BBC comedy-drama, don't miss this special edition of This Is Going To Hurt including a bonus diary entries and an afterword from the author. 

The Colour of Madness

By samara linton.

The Colour of Madness  brings together memoirs, essays, poetry, short fiction and artworks by people of colour who have experienced difficulties with mental health. From experiencing micro-aggressions to bias, and stigma to religious and cultural issues, people of colour have to fight harder than others to be heard and helped. Statistics show that people from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds in the UK experience poor mental health treatment in comparison to their white counterparts, and are more likely to be held under the Mental Health Act. 

Nothing But The Truth

By the secret barrister.

How do you become a barrister? Why do only 1 per cent of those who study law succeed in joining this mysterious profession? And why might a practising barrister come to feel the need to reveal the lies, secrets, failures and crises at the heart of this world of wigs and gowns? Full of hilarious, shocking and surprising stories,  Nothing But The Truth  tracks the Secret Barrister’s transformation from hang ‘em and flog ‘em, austerity-supporting twenty-something to a campaigning, bestselling, reforming author whose writing in defence of the law is celebrated around the globe.

Is This Ok?

By harriet gibsone.

Harriet spent much of her young life feeding neuroses and insecurities with obsessive internet searching and indulging in whirlwind ‘parasocial relationships'. But after a diagnosis of early menopause in her late twenties, her relationship with the internet took a darker turn, as her online addictions were thrown into sharp relief by the corporeal realities of illness and motherhood. An outrageously funny, raw and painfully honest account of trying to find connection in the age of the internet,  Is This Ok? is the stunning literary debut from music journalist, Harriet Gibsone. 

A Letter to My Transgender Daughter

By carolyn hays.

This moving memoir is an ode to Hays' transgender daughter – a love letter to a child who has always known herself. After a caseworker from the Department of Children and Families knocked on the door to investigate an anonymous complaint about the upbringing of their transgender child, the Hays family moved away from their Republican state. In A Girlhood, Hays tells of the brutal truths of being trans, of the sacrificial nature of motherhood and of the lengths a family will go to shield their youngest from the cruel realities of the world. Hays asks us all to love better, for children everywhere enduring injustice and prejudice.

by Michelle Obama

This bestselling autobiography lifts the lid on the life of one of the most inspiring women of a generation, former first lady Michelle Obama. From her childhood as a gifted young woman in south Chicago to becoming the first black First Lady of the USA, Obama tells the story of her extraordinary life with humour, warmth and honesty. 

Kitchen Confidential

By anthony bourdain.

Regarded as one of the greatest books about food ever written, Kitchen Confidential lays bare the wild tales of the culinary industry. From his lowly position as a dishwasher in Provincetown to cooking at some of the finest restaurants across the world, the much-loved Bourdain translates his sultry, sarcastic and quick-witted personality to paper in this uncensored 'sex, drugs, bad behaviour and haute cuisine' account of life as a professional chef. Bourdain's tales of the kitchen are as passionate as they are unpredictable, as shocking as they are funny.

Everything I Know About Love

By dolly alderton.

Dolly Alderton, perhaps more than any other author, represents the rise of the messy millennial woman – in the very best way possible. Her internationally bestselling memoir gives an unflinching account of the bad dates and squalid flat-shares, the heartaches and humiliations, and most importantly, the unbreakable female friendships that defined her twenties. She weaves together personal stories, satirical observations, a series of lists, recipes, and other vignettes that will strike a chord of recognition with women of every age. This is a memoir that you'll discuss with loved ones long after the final page. 

The best sports autobiographies and biographies

By chris kamara.

Presenter, commentator, (sometimes masked) singer, footballer, manager and campaigner, Kammy's action-packed career has made him a bona fide British hero. Kammy had a tough upbringing, faced racism on the terraces during his playing career and has, in recent years, dealt with a rare brain condition – apraxia – that has affected his speech and seen him say goodbye to Sky Sports. With entertaining stories of his playing career from Pompey to Leeds and beyond; his management at Bradford City and Stoke; his crazy travels around the world; of  Soccer Saturday  banter; presenting  Ninja   Warrior ; and the incredible friendships he's made along the way,  Kammy  is an unforgettable ride from one of Britain's best-loved broadcasters.

Alone on the Wall

By alex honnold.

In the last forty years, only a handful of climbers have pushed themselves as far, ‘free soloing’ to the absolute limit of human capabilities. Half of them are dead. Although Alex Honnold’s exploits are probably a bit  too  extreme for most of us, the stories behind his incredible climbs are exciting, uplifting and truly awe-inspiring. Alone on the Wall  is a book about the essential truth of being free to pursue your passions and the ability to maintain a singular focus, even in the face of mortal danger. This updated edition contains the account of Alex's El Capitan climb, which is the subject of the Oscar and BAFTA winning documentary,  Free Solo .

On Days Like These

By martin o'neill.

Martin O’Neill has had one of the most incredible careers in football.   With a story spanning over fifty years, Martin tells of his exhilarating highs and painful lows; from the joys of winning trophies, promotion and fighting for World Cups to being harangued by fans, boardroom drama, relegation scraps and being fired. Written with his trademark honesty and humour,  On Days Like These  is one of the most insightful and captivating sports autobiographies and a must-read for any fans of the beautiful game.

Too Many Reasons to Live

By rob burrow.

As a child, Rob Burrow was told he was too small to be a rugby player. Some 500 games for Leeds later, Rob had proved his doubters wrong: he won eight Super League Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups, three World Club Challenges and played for his country in two World Cups. In 2019 though, Rob was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and given just two years to live. He went public with the news, determined to fight it all the way. Full of love, bravery and kindness, this is the story of a man who has awed his fans with his positive attitude to life.

With You Every Step, a celebration of friendship by Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield

At home with muhammad ali, by hana yasmeen ali.

Written by his daughter Ali using material from her father's audio journals, love letters and her treasured family memories, this sports biography offers an intimate portrait of one of boxing's most legendary figures, and one of the most iconic sports personalities of all time. 

They Don't Teach This

By eniola aluko.

In her autobiography, footballer Eni Aluko addresses themes of dual nationality, race and institutional prejudice, success, gender and faith through her own experiences growing up in Britain. Part memoir, part manifesto for change, They Don't Teach This is a must-read book for 2020. 

The best celebrity autobiographies and biographies

By adrian edmondson.

From brutal schooldays to 80s anarchy, through The Young Ones and beyond, Berserker! is the one-of-a-kind, fascinating memoir from an icon of British comedy, Adrian Edmondson. His star-studded anecdotes and outrageous stories are set to a soundtrack of pop hits, transporting the reader through time and cranking up the nostalgia. But, as one would expect, these stories are also a guaranteed laugh as Ade traces his journey through life and comedy. 

Beyond the Story

In honor of BTS's 10th anniversary, this remarkable book serves as the band's inaugural official release, offering a treasure trove of unseen photographs and exclusive content. With Myeongseok Kang's extensive interviews and years of coverage, the vibrant world of K-pop springs to life. As digital pioneers, BTS's online presence has bridged continents, and this volume grants readers instant access to trailers, music videos, and more, providing a comprehensive journey through BTS's defining moments. Complete with a milestone timeline, Beyond the Story stands as a comprehensive archive, encapsulating everything about BTS within its pages.

Being Henry

By henry winkler.

Brilliant, funny, and widely-regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood, Henry Winkler shares the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia and the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own. Since the glorious era of  Happy Days  fame, Henry has endeared himself to a new generation with roles in such adored shows as  Arrested Development and  Barry , where he’s revealed himself as an actor with immense depth and pathos. But Being Henry  is about so much more than a life in Hollywood and the curse of stardom. It is a meaningful testament to the power of sharing truth and of finding fulfillment within yourself.

What Are You Doing Here?

By floella benjamin.

Actress, television presenter, member of the House of Lords – Baroness Floella Benjamin is an inspiration to many. But it hasn't always been easy: in What Are You Doing Here?   she describes her journey to London as part of the Windrush generation, and the daily racism that caused her so much pain as a child. She has gone on to remain true to her values, from breaking down barriers as a Play School presenter to calling for diversity at the BBC and BAFTA to resisting the pressures of typecasting. Sharing the lessons she has learned, imbued with her joy and positivity, this autobiography is the moving testimony of a remarkable woman.

Life Lessons

By jay blades.

‘Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.’ Let Jay’s words of wisdom – gleaned from his own triumphs over adversity – help you to find your best path through life. Filled with characteristic warmth and humour, Jay talks about the life lessons that have helped him to find positivity and growth, no matter what he’s found himself facing. Jay shares not only his adventures and escapades but also the way they have shaped his outlook and helped him to live life to the fullest. His insight and advice give you everything you need to be able to reframe your own circumstances and make the best of them.

A Funny Life

By michael mcintyre.

Comic Michael McIntyre specialises in pin-sharp observational routines that have made him the world's bestselling funny man. But when he turns his gaze to himself and his own family, things get even funnier. This bracingly honest memoir covers the highs, lows and pratfalls of a career in comedy, as Michael climbs the greasy pole of success and desperately attempts to stay up there.

by Elton John

Elton John is one of the most successful singer/songwriters of all time, but success didn't come easily to him. In his bestselling autobiography, he charts his extraordinary life, from the early rejection of his work to the heady heights of international stardom and the challenges that came along with it. With candour and humour, he tells the stories of celebrity friendships with John Lennon, George Michael and Freddie Mercury, and of how he turned his life around and found love with David Furnish. Me is the real story of the man behind the music. 

And Away...

By bob mortimer.

National treasure and beloved entertainer, Bob Mortimer, takes us from his childhood in Middlesborough to working as a solicitor in London in his highly acclaimed autobiography. Mortimer’s life was trundling along happily until suddenly in 2015 he was diagnosed with a heart condition that required immediate surgery and forced him to cancel an upcoming tour. The book covers his numerous misadventures along his path to fame but also reflects on more serious themes, making this both one of the most humorous and poignant celebrity memoirs of recent years. 

by Walter Isaacson

Based on interviews conducted with Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson's biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is filled with lessons about innovation, leadership, and values and has inspired a movie starring Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet and Seth Rogen. Isaacson tells the story of the rollercoaster life and searingly intense personality of creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized the tech industry. Although Jobs cooperated with this book, he asked for no control over what was written and put nothing off limits, making this an unflinchingly candid account of one of the key figures of modern history.

Maybe I Don't Belong Here

By david harewood.

When David Harewood was twenty-three, his acting career began to take flight and he had what he now understands to be a psychotic breakdown. He was physically restrained by six police officers, sedated, then hospitalized and transferred to a locked ward. Only now, thirty years later, has he been able to process what he went through. In this powerful and provocative account of a life lived after psychosis, critically acclaimed actor, David Harewood, uncovers a devastating family history and investigates the very real impact of racism on Black mental health.

Scenes from My Life

By michael k. williams.

When Michael K. Williams died on 6 September 2021, he left behind a career as one of the most electrifying actors of his generation. At the time of his death, Williams had nearly finished his memoir, which traces his life in whole, from his childhood and his early years as a dancer to his battles with addiction. Alongside his achievements on screen he was a committed activist who dedicated his life to helping at-risk young people find their voice and carve out their future. Imbued with poignance and raw honesty,  Scenes from My Life  is the story of a performer who gave his all to everything he did – in his own voice, in his own words.

The best political and historical autobiographies

The fall of boris johnson, by sebastian payne.

Sebastian Payne, Whitehall Editor for the Financial Times, tells the behind-the-scenes story of the fall of former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. After being touted saviour of the Conservative Party, it took Johnson just three years to resign after a series of scandals. From the blocked suspension of Owen Patterson to Partygate and the Chris Pincher allegations, Payne gives us unparalleled access to those who were in the room when key decisions were made, ultimately culminating in Boris's downfall. This is a gripping and timely look at how power is gained, wielded and lost in Britain today.

by Sung-Yoon Lee

The Sister , written by Sung-Yoon Lee, a scholar and specialist on North Korea, uncovers the truth about Kim Yo Jong and her close bond with Kim Jong Un. In 2022, Kim Yo Jong threatened to nuke South Korea, reminding the world of the dangers posed by her state. But how did the youngest daughter of Dear Leader Kim Jong Il, his ‘sweet princess’, become the ruthless chief propagandist, internal administrator and foreign policymaker for her brother’s totalitarian regime? Readable and insightful, this book is an invaluable portrait of a woman who might yet hold the survival of her despotic dynasty in her hands.

Long Walk To Freedom

By nelson mandela.

Deemed 'essential reading for anyone who wants to understand history' by former US President, Barack Obama, this is the autobiography of one of the world's greatest moral and political leaders, Nelson Mandela. Imprisoned for more than 25 years, president of the African National Congress and head of South Africa's anti-apartheid movement, the Nobel Peace Prize winner's life was nothing short of extraordinary. Long Walk to Freedom vividly tells this story; one of hardship, resilience and ultimate triumph, written with the clarity and eloquence of a born leader. 

The Diary of a Young Girl

By anne frank.

No list of inspiring autobiographies would be complete without Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl . Charting the thirteen-year-old's time hiding in a 'Secret Annex' with her family to escape Gestapo detection, this book (which was discovered after Anne Frank's death), is a must-read, and a testament to the courage shown by the millions persecuted during the Second World War. 

The best literary autobiographies

Winner of Pulitzer Prize in Memoir, Stay True  is a deeply moving and intimate memoir about growing up and moving through the world in search of meaning and belonging. When Hua Hsu first meets Ken in a Berkeley dorm room, he hates him. A frat boy with terrible taste in music, Ken seems exactly like everyone else. For Hua, Ken represents all that he defines himself in opposition to – the mainstream. The only thing Hua, the son of Taiwanese immigrants, and Ken, whose Japanese American family has been in the US for generations, have in common is that, however they engage with it, American culture doesn’t seem to have a place for either of them. 

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

By rebecca skloot.

Born to a poor black tobacco farmer in rural Virginia in 1920, Henrietta Lacks died of cancer when she was just 31. However, her story does not end there, as her cancer cells, taken without permission during her treatment continued to live on being used for research all over the world and becoming a multi-million dollar industry, with her family only learning of her impact more than two decades after her death. In The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Rebecca Skloot tells the story of a woman who never knew of her lifesaving impact and asks: do we ever really own our bodies? 

A Fortunate Woman

By polly morland.

Funny, emotional and imbued with great depth, A Fortunate Woman is an exploration of the life of a country doctor in a remote and wild wooded valley in the Forest of Dean. The story was sparked when writer and documentary maker Polly Morland found a photograph of the valley she lives in tucked inside a tattered copy of John Berger’s  A Fortunate Man . Itself an account of the life of a country doctor, the book inspired a woman doctor to follow her vocation in the same remote place. And it is the story of this woman that Polly Morland tells, in this compelling portrait of landscape and community.

Father and Son

By jonathan raban.

On 11 June 2011, three days short of his sixty-ninth birthday, Jonathan Raban suffered a stroke which left him unable to use the right side of his body. Learning to use a wheelchair in a rehab facility outside Seattle and resisting the ministrations of the nurses overseeing his recovery, Raban began to reflect upon the measure of his own life in the face of his own mortality. Together with the chronicle of his recovery is the extraordinary story of his parents’ marriage, the early years of which were conducted by letter while his father fought in the Second World War.

Crying in H Mart

By michelle zauner.

This radiant read by singer, songwriter and guitarist Michelle Zauner delves into the experience of being the only Asian-American child at her school in Eugene, Oregon, combined with family struggles and blissful escapes to her grandmother's tiny Seoul apartment. The family bond is the shared love of Korean food, which helped Michelle reclaim her Asian identity in her twenties. A lively, honest, riveting read.

The Reluctant Carer

By the reluctant carer.

The phone rings. Your elderly father has been taken to hospital, and your even older mother is home with nobody to look after her. What do you do? Drop everything and go and help of course. But it's not that straightforward, and your own life starts to fall apart as quickly as their health. Irresistibly funny, unflinching and deeply moving, this is a love letter to family and friends, to carers and to anyone who has ever packed a small bag intent on staying for just a few days. This is a true story of what it really means to be a carer, and of the ties that bind even tighter when you least expect it. 

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10 Best Biographies of Indian Personalities You Should Read

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Famous person biographies are always a source of inspiration. The biographies will inform you about the controversies and dark sides of a person you may not be familiar with. Some people write biographies to dispel myths about themselves, while others seek to provoke criticism. Here is a list of the best biographies of Indian personalities that you should definitely sit down and read.

Also read: 15 Best Biographies and Autobiography Books for your TBR List

1. The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of The Genius Ramanujan – Robert Kanigel

Source: Wikipedia

A Life of the Genius: The Man Who Knew Infinity –  Robert Kanigel wrote Ramanujan, a biography of Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, in 1991. The book details his upbringing in India, as well as his mathematical accomplishments and collaboration with mathematician G. H. Hardy.

2. Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India – Joseph Lelyveld

In this biography of the many biographies of Mahatma Gandhi, Lelyveld has attempted to present a very unbiased and rooted Gandhi in flesh and bones. Gandhi appears in this biography more as a human and less as a God. It was interpreted as a way of presenting Gandhi in a “ perverse ” manner which in fact was a misinterpretation of an honest writeup.

3. Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan – Shrabani Basu

“Spy Princess,” tells the story of Noor’s life from birth to death, using information from her family, friends, witnesses, and official documents, including recently released personal files of SOE operatives. It’s the story of a young woman who lived with grace, beauty, courage, and determination, and who bravely gave up her life in the service of her ideals. “Liberte” was her final word.

4. The Polyester Prince: The Rise of Dhirubhai Ambani – Hamish McDonald

The Australian author wrote this biography of Dhirubhai Ambani, his struggles, and his journey towards success. Apparently, this book hurt the sentiments of the Ambani family and could never be published in India. It is still considered one of the most interesting biographies written about an Indian personality.

5. Beyond the Last Blue Mountain – R. M. Lala

An in-depth and unforgettable portrait of India’s most illustrious and revered industrialist. This superb biography, written with J.R.D. Tata’s cooperation, tells J.R.D.’s story from birth to 1993, the year he died in Switzerland. This biography is a must-read thus making its way on to our list of best biographies of Indian personalities.

6. Vivekananda: A Biography – Swami Nikhilananda

Swami Vivekananda’s (1863 – 1902) vast knowledge of Eastern and Western culture, deep spiritual insight, brilliant conversation, broad human sympathy, and colourful personality are presented in this engrossing biography. Swami Vivekananda, India’s first spiritual and cultural ambassador to the West, preached Vedanta’s universal message: the Godhead’s non-duality, the soul’s divinity, the oneness of existence, and religious harmony. Swami Vivekananda’s life is chronicled in this 256-page book, which includes 28 photographs and an appendix with Swami’s most important teachings.

7. Nani A. Palkhivala: A life – M V Kamath

Nanabhoy Palkhivala’s life is chronicled in this biography. He was a staunch supporter of civil liberties, a foresighted economist, and a renowned lawyer. M.V. Kamath depicts all facets of this charismatic personality in this detailed book. Interviews, letters, and archival material from a variety of reliable sources are used to compile this comprehensive book. Before writing this book, Kamath conducted extensive research into Nani’s life, as evidenced by the large amount of information intertwined with the biography. While the book provides details about specific events in Nani’s life, it also highlights Indian history that was relevant to those events, providing context.

8.   Karmayogi: A Biography of E. Sreedharan – M.S. Ashokan

Source: Wikibio

Sreedharan’s years with the Railways, the construction of the Kolkata Metro and the Konkan Railway, followed by the Delhi Metro, and the many metro projects he is currently involved with are all chronicled in this fascinating book. This is the uplifting story of a very private person who has become an icon of modern India because of his uncompromising work ethic, adapted from a bestselling Malayalam biography.

9. Indra Nooyi – A Biography –  Annapoorna

The life of Indra Nooyi is chronicled in Indra Nooyi: A Biography. Her life is chronicled in the book, from her early years in Chennai to her struggles to make a name for herself in the corporate world. It chronicles her journey from the time she moved to the United States, married, and rose steadily to her current position as CEO of the world’s second-largest food and beverage company. Rajpal published Indra Nooyi: A Biography as a paperback in 2013.

10.  Kalpana Chawla: A Life –  Anil Padmanabhan

Kalpana Chawla, who was born into a conservative family in a Haryana provincial town, aspired to be a star. She became the first PBI – Indian woman to travel to space, and even more remarkably, to travel twice, through sheer hard work, indomitable intelligence, and immense faith in herself. Journalist Anil Padmanabhan interviews people who knew her family and friends at Karnal, as well as NASA colleagues, to create a moving portrait of a woman whose life was a shining affirmation that if you have a dream, you can achieve it no matter how difficult it is.

These were some of the best biographies of Indian personalities that one should read in order to gain a better understanding of famous people, history, and various unjust social practises.

I am a writer and an athlete. I spend my mornings drinking a hot cup of coffee and working out. Being a perfectionist, I also indulge in immense self-criticism.

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Best sports books: Read the amazing journey of India's top Olympians

From champion Abhinav Bindra's tale to Mary Kom's story, here are some of the best Indian sports books to read on Indian Olympians.

Nothing can match live sport and the drama that unfurls on the field. But the stories can be relived through movies or books. 

While sports movies are often limited by time and depend on artistic license to dramatise the story, books can provide the complete picture of the athlete or sporting events that are now stuff of legends.

Here’s a look at a few books on India’s Olympic triumphs that tell the best tales.

A Shot at History: My Obsessive Journey to Olympic Gold and Beyond

A Shot at History is a story that charts the journey of Abhinav Bindra , India’s first and only individual Olympic gold medallist till date. The book journals Abhinav Bindra’s history-making career that saw him become the first Indian to win a world championship gold besides his Olympic gold. A tale of triumph emerging from heartbreak, it offers insight into how he became a great shooter after a freak occurrence denied him gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Defeat at Athens transformed Abhinav Bindra as a shooter who was hell-bent on redemption following heartbreak in the 2004 Olympics. Authored by Rohit Brijnath and Abhinav Bindra himself, the book also details how he became a scientist who was ever ready for any experiments, including mapping his own brain.

Dipa Karmakar: The Small Wonder

A story of passion, toil and dedication, Dipa Karmakar: The Small Wonder , tells us the story of the first-ever Indian woman to participate in gymnastics at the Olympics. Winner of the Biography of the Year at the Ekamra Sports Literature Awards in 2019, the book authored by Bishweshwar Nandi, Digvijay Singh Deo and Vimal Mohan provides a vivid account of Dipa Karmakar ’s life.

The book documents her journey from lows as a child to competing at the Olympics in Rio 2016, where she landed the fearsome Produnova vault. It also shows how her fourth-place finish at the Rio Olympics became a defining moment for the sport in the country.

Dipa Karmakar’s journey from Tripura to the heart of a nation is one of inspiration and determination to battle against all odds. Her struggles saw her receive India’s highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.

My Olympic Journey: 50 of India's Leading Sportspersons on the Biggest Test of Their Career

Authored by Digvijay Singh Deo and Amit Bose, My Olympic Journey chronicles the stories of 50 leading Indian Olympians. It brings a first-person point of view through the lens of some of the best sportspersons that the country has produced. Some of the accounts in this book include that of Sushil Kumar , Leander Paes , Karnam Malleswari , Abhinav Bindra and Balbir Singh . This alone makes it one of the best Indian books on sports.

Pioneers of Indian sport like Milkha Singh , PT Usha and Anjali Bhagwat also reveal their hopes, superstitions and challenges in the pages. While some of these stories are certain to invoke a hearty laugh, others could see you shed a tear by opening your eyes to the struggles that a few of these athletes had to overcome.

Dreams of a Billion: India and the Olympic Games

Boria Majumdar and Nalin Mehta put together a collection of India’s finest moments at the Olympic Games over the years. Dreams of a Billion: India and the Olympic Games features the stories of legends like MC Mary Kom, PV Sindhu and Abhinav Bindra.

The book also asks pertinent questions like how does a country of a billion and more have so few achievements to show for itself at the Olympics.

Besides a quick recap of India’s past at the Games, it also offers a realistic insider’s view of what goes on behind the scenes in the Indian Olympics world and assesses India’s preparation for Tokyo 2020. It's one of the best Indian books centred around the Games.

Unbreakable

The story of the legendary MC Mary Kom , Unbreakable gives readers an idea about the journey that the six-time world champion has undertaken. Born to a family of limited means, this book tells us about the struggle and passion that Mary Kom possessed to make it to the pinnacle of the sport.

From her tough childhood and navigating through the politics that come with Indian boxing, this book has it all. Marriage, winning the world championship and, of course, what it takes to make it as a woman in what many – incorrectly – deem as a man’s sport, are just a few interesting topics in this first-hand account of her journey that’s authored by Mary Kom.

Whatever hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh reads

Known as the prankster in the Indian men’s hockey team, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh is more often than not the life of the dressing room. When away from the sport, though, the man from Kerala makes the most of his time. The keeper reckons that reading will help him in his career post retirement where he may have to hold an office job.

PR Sreejesh read over 50 books in 2020 finding comfort in them during a testing year

“All these books made me a calmer person,” PR Sreejesh told Firstpost . He found the book The 5 AM Club particularly impactful.

“I like to mix fiction and non-fiction books. I read motivational books in the morning, cause that’s the time you’re fresh,” PR Sreejesh said. “I read fiction at night because by then I am tired and need some sort of entertainment.”

PR Sreejesh also reads plenty of financial self-help books and even goes on to offer junior hockey players investment tips 

“I also read a lot of autobiographies to see how others dealt with their issues,” he added.

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10 Must-Read Inspiring Indian Biographies & Autobiographies

Needless to say, this carefully chosen list of Best biography & autobiography books of great personalities from India, will help seekers of all ages. Especially young generation students. Young students can learn a few things to lay the foundation for their future. Also, it is said that this kind of motivational and inspiring book also passes on a fraction of the positive energy of these great people to the readers.

How these biographies could help us?

Let’s have a look at the case of M.K. Gandhi.

We might know many things about Mahatma Gandhi, but do you know how this man became a noble soul, his journey in his own words seems to be the words of God himself. Once you read the book – ‘ My Experiment with Truth by M.K. Gandhi’, you will realize that this is altogether a new world, new learning, a new horizon, witnessing the unthinkable. He frankly admits and reveals that while his father was extremely ill and dying on the bed, he was so lustful that even then he was thinking about sexual intimacy. How this lustful MK Gandhi transformed into the person who retaliated against the British cruelty in South Africa for a cause and how he became a powerful source of energy for 32 crores Indian Population.

We only know his extraordinary ethics, values, and principles, we think of a man who must’ve been perfect, without any flaws!

You would see in this book that he had his own flaws and how his determination, discipline, routine, and improvement on small things overcame his flaws.

Similarly, most of the below-mentioned books show that “winners are not born, they are made!”

Why read Biographies and autobiographies?

Each and every biography book will help you become more flexible, determined, visionary, inspirational, and above all a great human being.

The beauty of reading is that you can imagine the story in your own way of fascination. Reading also helps us to become better human beings and smart people .

Best Biography & Autobiography books of Great Personalities of India

If you’re from India and an avid reader of autobiographies, you’ll probably recognize the best and most overwhelming Indian biographies & autobiographies books listed here.

The below mentioned list is the result of my reading habit and a little bit of research, so don’t waste your time verifying the details about these books:

# 1. My experiment with truth by M. K. Gandhi

Irrespective of many controversies we have heard about M. K. Gandhi, “My Experiment with Truth” by Mahatma Gandhi himself is a must-read. In his autobiography, at times, he is brutally honest in describing his experiments and incidents.

Without any doubt, I can say that this book is among the best biography and autobiography books in India.

Also, it provides an invaluable insight into one of the 20th century’s most iconic characters whom Albert Einstein once said “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a person as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth. (said for Mahatma Gandhi)”.

If such are the words of the greatest scientist in the world, then what more do you need to get excited to read this wonderful book?

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# 2.  Vivekananda: A Biography – by Swami Nikhilananda

I recommend this ultimate book to energize and rejuvenate yourself, as I think this book carries the part of himself – Swami’s power. Many have already been energized by just reading him. Remember his famous quote:” Arise, awake and stop not, till the goal is reached”.

Many publications have released the biographies & autobiographies of Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest modern-day yogi of India. Be careful in selecting the books on his life.

Since you have reached here, it means you have come here with a purpose. This one of the best biography books is worthy enough for your all due diligence in searching for such great books. Surely you will get inspired after reading this. This biography book from India is about a man with a clear vision and mind, a brilliant speaker, who has clearly inspired our lives for over a century. His superhuman accomplishments in the 1890’s America with unbelievable odds worked against him. Yet what he did in 1893 in Chicago will be heard for centuries.

Apart from your own read, this is one of the finest biographies to gift your near and dear ones of all age groups and this will surely help students .

Also, check this one:

We Indians have one of the greatest role models from modern Indian saints India has ever produced, Swami Vivekananda. Swami made Indians believe that “strength is life weakness is death” and one should be strong enough (from both perspectives – physically and mentally) to fight any battle. How can we forget his message to goal-seekers “Arise, awake and stop not, till the goal is reached”? But reading Vivekananda is not only any single topic but this is more related to enlightening ourselves, personality development, and knowing the spiritual aspect of life.

Parents or elders wish to make their children – strong and brave enough to fight against any odd situation in life, sensitive enough to feel the pain of deprived classes, intelligent enough to understand and respond brilliantly to any situation or talk, and knowledgeable enough to accept and learn from the world but at the same time never forget the greatness of our own great culture. In order to help your young kids get a part of the energy, Swami Vivekanand’s persona emits, do one thing. G ive them the option to read this set of complete works by Swami Vivekananda, which was written largely by himself.

Apart from Swami Vivekananda’s biography, one should read the complete works of Swami Vivekananda. This set of 9 books was largely written in his own words. This could also be gifted to children in your family, which could also change their lives in a positive manner.

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda (set of 9 volumes):

Also check this collection in Indian languages – Hindi , Kannada .

# 3. Wings of Fire: An Autobiography of Abdul Kalam

If you are expecting a story about his life, then this is not that. This is more than an autobiography. With very few resources and only dreams, hopes, and aspirations, the man of excellent character changed the defense scenario of India. He later achieved the highest honor in the country and reached the highest position in the country.

APJ Kalaam always wanted to fuel every Indian with the same pride, which he carries. ‘Wings of Fire’ is one of the best-selling biography books of India.

#4. The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan by Robert Kanigel

Born poor in India in 1887, this rigorously orthodox Hindu, exemplary mathematician rose to the heights before he died at the very young age of 32 years. This is a well-researched book and a fascinating account of the short but outstanding life of the enigmatic and extraordinary mathematician Ramanujan.

Ramanujan could be easily compared with the greatest of any subject or he could be described as the mathematical equivalent of a Mozart.

Everyone would surely find Ramanujan fascinating, even if you have no interest in mathematics.

#5. Nani A. Palkhiwala: A life M V Kamath

Mr. Nani Palkhiwala was one of the most admired lawyers in India. A must-read biography book for all young brains, who aspire to become legal professionals or lawyers in India. There are two books on the life of Nani Palkhiwala, truly a legal legend of India, and both books are among the best Indian biographies/autobiographies list. Believe me, you won’t resist reading both. I rate this book on top.

Mr. Nani A. Palkhivala is regarded as one of the best lawyers, India has ever produced. His life is a teacher in itself for all legal professionals. Mr. M. V. Kamath, through this book, made Nani alive by telling the story of his life in an impressive manner. His courage, intellect, brilliance, and knowledge were unmatchable.

Also, I would like to recommend the second book on his life – Nani Palkhivala: The Courtroom Genius   by Soli J. Sorabjee and Arvind P. Datar.

#6. The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time

This is for sure that you won’t regret spending every single penny. Entrepreneurs would love to read this.

An inspiring story of a 17-year-old boy who decided to turn around the family business, who defeated bankruptcy to become one of the richest people in the country with an estimated wealth of around USD 70 Billion. Entered into the media business at the best-ever favorable time to enter. The book shows the risk-taking, courageous character of Subhash Chandra.

You will surely learn a lot. With easy language, this is a must-read!

#7. I Too Had a Dream by Verghese Kurien (Author)

This is one of the best biography/autobiography books of India. While writing the autobiography, Verghese Kurien would have easily mentioned interesting stories about his sacrificed personal life and hobbies. Rather he was very much focused on showing us how he made Amul a brilliant success story.

This book shows us his legendary role in making the AMUL. It is more important to realize how he drove the success of the cooperative movement and the white revolution.

There are many similarities with another Gujarati Sardar Patel, he was really an Iron Man, whose strength was indispensable when the great work of nation-building was underway.

Indeed, this book deserves to be read by every Indian. One of the best Indian Memoirs!

#8. Karmayogi: A Biography of E. Sreedharan by M.S. Ashokan

India needs more such examples of bureaucrats & engineers who have spent their lives in the service of fellow human beings. This is truly remarkable that projects of E. Sreedharan have been carried out with the highest degree of efficiency.

The book may influence to Stay humble even though you are such a highly accomplished person like Sreedharan.

#9. Beyond the Last Blue Mountain by R. M. Lala

J R D Tata: “What is good for India is good for Tatas”

A book written with utmost detail and the personal side of JRD is explained well.

It’s a very inspiring read about JRD to understand the passion and desire that has gone behind setting up and establishing the airline industry and TATA empire in India.

#10. Not Just an Accountant by Vinod Rai (Author)

The book gives insights into the official communication between entities of the governments. How various warning bells have been neglected during the series of scams by UPA Govt. and Congress leadership. The way he addresses the criticism is impeccable.

The best part of the books is the clear and straightforward presentation of facts without any unnecessary storytelling.

He is surely just not an accountant, but more as a leader how he performed the duty with the power of audit is phenomenal.

#11. The Journey Home by Radhanath Swami

An outstanding story of a young American man, Radhanath Swami who travels to India seeking God and truth. Especially this book is an incredible adventure described in touching detail, which truly mesmerizes.

‘The Journey Home’ gives much deeper insights into the mysterious lives of true Sadhus. In particular, reading this book makes swami, Sadhu’s life quite understandable as well as the devotion path. His life takes him on a journey path from the United States to Europe, the Middle East, and finally to India.

I recommend this magnificent book to everyone.

This inspiring book spreads a positive attitude and shows a new way to look at life.

Some other notable & Best Indian Biographies and autobiographies from India

• Sachin Tendulkar – Playing It My Way
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel   and Patel a Life
• Indra Nooyi – A Biography
• Unbreakable  by  Mary Kom
• Born Again on the Mountain: A Story of Losing Everything and Finding It Back
• Kalpana Chawla: A Life
• Bhabha and His Magnificient Obsessions

As well said by Walt Disney “There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.”

If you want to read about the Best Indian Biography and autobiography books in Hindi language , click here .

So enjoy this great treasure!

Your opinion really matters, we want you to register your voice about your favorite Biography/ Autobiographies of India, and let others benefit from your opinion on these books : (Pls note, this poll is closed now)

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Poll Question: Do let us know which are your favorite Biographies.

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10 Must Read Books For Every Indian Entrepreneur

It is a truth universally acknowledged that an entrepreneur in possession of a startupmust be in want of a good book. Alright, so maybe those werent Jane Austens exact words. But the point still stands! Among all the various different ways in which you can keep yourself motivated , a reading habit has consistently been ranked as one of the top most productive habits. While there are heaps of curated list of inspiring books for Indian entrepreneurs, we have got you the ones penned down by and about Indian entrepreneurs.So without further ado, here are the best entrepreneur books for every Indian startup founder:

1. Dream With Your Eyes Open by Ronnie Screwvala

2. Bhaag by Ganesh V.

3. Connect The Dots by Rashmi Bansal

4. Dhirubhai Ambani: Against All Odds by A G Krishnamurthy

5. Steel King: Lakshmi Mittal by Prateeksha M Tiwary

• How to start a startup in India – idea to execution
• 9 part-time business ideas to feed your entrepreneurial soul in 2020

6. Take Me Home by Rashmi Bansal

7. Stay Hungry Stay Foolish by Rashmi Bansal

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8. Bhujia Barons: The Untold Story of How Haldiram Built a 5000 Crore Empire by Pavitra Kumar.

9. The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time by Subhash Chandra and Pranjal Sharma

10. You Can Win by Shiv Khera

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Pulitzer Prizes 2024: A Guide to the Winning Books and Finalists

Jayne Anne Phillips won the fiction award for “Night Watch,” while Jonathan Eig and Ilyon Woo shared the biography prize.

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By Elizabeth A. Harris and Joumana Khatib

Eighteen books were recognized as winners or finalists for the Pulitzer Prize on Monday, in the categories of history, memoir, poetry, general nonfiction, fiction and biography, which had two winners.

Night Watch , by Jayne Anne Phillips

A story about a mother and daughter set in the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, W.Va., after the Civil War. “Night Watch,” which was also longlisted for the National Book Award, is about surviving war and its aftermath. “I consider Phillips to be among the greatest and most intuitive of American writers,” wrote our critic Dwight Garner.

Fiction finalist: Wednesday’s Child: Stories , by Yiyun Li

A short story collection written over the course of a decade that examines aging and loss. The stories touch on a woman who makes a spreadsheet of every person she’s lost, a middle-aged practitioner of Eastern medicine and an 88-year-old biologist.

Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Fiction finalist: Same Bed Different Dreams , by Ed Park

An imagined alternate history of Korea that includes assassins, slasher films and the dangers of social media. In a review in The Times, the critic Hamilton Cain called the book “wonderfully suspenseful, like watching a circus performer juggle a dozen torches; will one slip his agile hands?”

Random House

No Right to an Honest Living , by Jacqueline Jones

Jones, a historian and a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, examines the hypocrisy of Boston before the Civil War. The city was known for its antislavery rhetoric and as the center of abolitionism, but Black residents endured “casual cruelty” in the work force and were condemned to lives of poverty without the chance for equal employment.

Basic Books

History finalist: Continental Reckoning: The American West in the Age of Expansion , by Elliott West

This is an examination of the American West and its physical and cultural transformation in the 19th century. The book covers the 1840s, when the West was home to various Native cultures, and moves through the next three decades, when the area was organized into states and territories and connected by railroads and telegraph wires.

University of Nebraska Press

History finalist: American Anarchy: The Epic Struggle Between Immigrant Radicals and the U.S. Government at the Dawn of the Twentieth Century, by Michael Willrich

This book is a history of the American anarchist movement in the early 20th century. While many working class immigrants saw it as heroic, others considered it a frightening foreign ideology.

King: A Life , by Jonathan Eig

This major study of the civil rights icon draws on a landslide of recently released White House telephone transcripts, F.B.I. documents, letters, oral histories and other material. Eig shows a masterly command of his research, showing King in intimate moments, and arguing that his nonviolence has been mistaken for passivity. Put simply, our critic Dwight Garner wrote, “Eig’s book is worthy of its subject.”

Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey From Slavery to Freedom , by Ilyon Woo

In 1848, William and Ellen Craft, an enslaved couple, disguised themselves as a sick, wealthy white man traveling with his male slave and headed north. Woo tells the story of their stunning, perilous journey in novelistic detail, tracing their path through the United States and eventual passage to England, where they wrote a popular book about their escape.

Simon & Schuster

Biography finalist: “ Larry McMurtry: A Life ,” by Tracy Daugherty

This is the first comprehensive biography of McMurtry, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Lonesome Dove” and “The Last Picture Show,” among other novels. Daugherty has also written biographies of Joseph Heller and Joan Didion, and his latest “reads a bit like one of McMurtry’s novels,” our critic Dwight Garner wrote in his review. “Elegy and humor bleed into each other.”

St. Martin’s Press

MEMOIR OR AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Liliana’s Invincible Summer: A Sister’s Search for Justice , by Cristina Rivera Garza

In 1990, Rivera Garza’s 20-year-old sister was killed, and the case is a jumping-off point for this searching, personal examination of femicide in Mexico. The book is “one of the most effective resurrections of a murder victim I have ever read,” our reviewer, Katherine Dykstra, wrote. “Rivera Garza draws her sister, then complicates that drawing and then complicates the complication, creating layer upon layer of nuance.”

Memoir finalist: The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight , by Andrew Leland

The author, a longtime editor and podcaster, details his life with retinitis pigmentosa, a disease that is gradually causing him to lose his vision. His writing is “jazzy and intelligent,” our critic Alexandra Jacobs said, “with licks of understated humor.” Yet Leland also “rigorously explores the disability’s most troubling corners,” resulting in an affecting study of vision and its limits.

Penguin Press

Memoir finalist: The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions , by Jonathan Rosen

In this account of his friendship with Michael Laudor, who came to prominence as a Yale student trying to publicly destigmatize mental illness and later was convicted of stabbing his pregnant girlfriend to death, Rosen offers a look at the boundaries between brilliance and insanity. Our critic Alexandra Jacobs called it “an act of tremendous compassion and a literary triumph.”

GENERAL NONFICTION

A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy , by Nathan Thrall

This book tells the story of a deadly bus crash outside Jerusalem through the eyes of a Palestinian father whose 5-year-old died in the accident. The father’s agony is compounded by the physical and legal restrictions that shape the lives of Palestinians in East Jerusalem. Thrall also examines the political, bureaucratic and personal decisions that contributed to the crash, and “vignettes of individual guilt come up against stark political realities,” our reviewer Rozina Ali wrote.

Metropolitan Books

General nonfiction finalist: Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World , by John Vaillant

In 2016, wildfires tore through Fort McMurray, in the Canadian province of Alberta. Vaillant details how the fire began, how it traveled and the wreckage it left behind, weaving a story of a warming climate, a massive oil reserve and the apocalyptic fallout. The heart of the story, of course, is the fire itself: “Vaillant anthropomorphizes fire,” our reviewer David Enrich wrote. “Not only does it grow and breathe and search for food; it strategizes. It hunts. It lays in wait for months, even years.”

General nonfiction finalist: Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives , by Siddharth Kara

Cobalt is an essential mineral used in the lithium-ion rechargeable batteries that power devices from smartphones to electric vehicle. This book, from an academic who has studied modern slavery, examines the horrors of cobalt mining, particularly the hazardous conditions and subsistence pay that workers face.

Tripas: Poems, by Brandon Som

In this collection, Som celebrates his multicultural heritage and family memories, writing about his grandmother, who was Chicana and worked nights on an assembly line at a Motorola factory, and his Chinese American father and grandparents, who ran a corner store.

Georgia Review Books

Poetry finalist: Information Desk: An Epic , by Robyn Schiff

Schiff chronicles her five years working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s information desk, where she answered mostly one question. As she writes in “Information Desk,” the “catechism/commences: Where’s the bathroom? / Where’s / the bathroom? Can you direct me to a / men’s room? ” Writing about the book for The Times, Maggie Lange called it “a searing yet reverent book-length poem, containing as many jokes as it does social critiques.”

Penguin Poets

Poetry finalist: To 2040, by Jorie Graham

Graham’s 15th poetry collection is narrated by a speaker looking toward the future while reflecting on her own mortality. The collection begins with questions stated as fact: “Are we / extinct yet. Who owns / the map.”

Copper Canyon Press

  More about Elizabeth A. Harris

Explore More in Books

Want to know about the best books to read and the latest news start here..

The complicated, generous life  of Paul Auster, who died on April 30 , yielded a body of work of staggering scope and variety .

“Real Americans,” a new novel by Rachel Khong , follows three generations of Chinese Americans as they all fight for self-determination in their own way .

“The Chocolate War,” published 50 years ago, became one of the most challenged books in the United States. Its author, Robert Cormier, spent years fighting attempts to ban it .

Joan Didion’s distinctive prose and sharp eye were tuned to an outsider’s frequency, telling us about ourselves in essays that are almost reflexively skeptical. Here are her essential works .

Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

Judy Oppenheimer, early biographer of Shirley Jackson, dies at 82

Her 1988 book, “Private Demons: The Life of Shirley Jackson,” explored the brief, tortured life of the author best known for her short story “The Lottery.”

Judy Oppenheimer, a writer and journalist best known for a biography exploring the brief, tortured life of author Shirley Jackson, whose short story “The Lottery” became one of the most widely read works in 20th-century American fiction, died May 1 in Baltimore. She was 82.

She had Parkinson’s disease and bone cancer, said her son Toby Oppenheimer. She died at an assisted-living community.

Ms. Oppenheimer began her career at The Washington Post, her hometown newspaper, where she was promoted from “copy girl” to reporter in the 1960s. She later worked for the Philadelphia Daily News before returning to the Washington area and freelancing while raising her two sons.

She attracted broad notice in 1988 with her debut book , “ Private Demons: The Life of Shirley Jackson .” It was the first biography of the author most famous for “The Lottery,” which sparked a furor when it appeared in the New Yorker magazine in 1948.

Set in an unnamed present-day New England town, the story depicts an annual ritual in which the townspeople gather to stone one of their members to death. Early readers reacted in horror and in anger — as though Jackson had accused them of conforming in some way to the banal evil on display.

Jackson generally answered queries about the story obliquely, though she once wrote that she had “hoped, by setting a particularly brutal rite in the present and in my own village, to shock the readers with a graphic dramatization of the pointless violence and general inhumanity of their own lives.”

In the decades that followed, “The Lottery” became a mainstay of literary anthologies and high school and college reading lists.

In its fame, the story came to overshadow the rest of Jackson’s literary output, which included, most notably, “The Haunting of Hill House” (1959), a Gothic thriller about a woman on the edge of madness that was adapted into a 1963 movie, “The Haunting,” starring Julie Harris and Claire Bloom. Jackson also wrote the novels “The Bird’s Nest” (1954) and “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” (1962).

She diverged from the darkness of her fiction to write “Life Among the Savages” (1953) and “Raising Demons” (1957), both witty portrayals of domestic life drawn from her experience as the mother of four children. After struggles with substance abuse, Jackson died in 1965, at age 48, of cardiac arrest.

In interviews with the author’s children, other relatives, friends and acquaintances, Ms. Oppenheimer explored Jackson’s life, starting with her rearing by an often critical mother who neither understood nor appreciated her daughter’s psychological depths.

“She was not the daughter her mother wanted; that much was clear from the start,” Ms. Oppenheimer wrote in the biography’s opening passage. “Shirley Jackson was born … into comfort, pleasant surroundings, and social position, but to parents who never truly knew what to make of her, not in childhood and not throughout her entire forty-eight years.”

Ms. Oppenheimer examined the possibility that Jackson had been sexually abused as a child and documented her strained marriage to the literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman. She delved into Jackson’s imaginative powers and what Ms. Oppenheimer characterized as her “clairvoyance,” into her fears and anxieties and her sensitivity to the condition of mental frailty.

The result, book critic Christopher Lehmann-Haupt wrote in the New York Times , was a “lively but harrowing biography.” In Ms. Oppenheimer’s telling, he wrote, “right to the end, the story of Shirley Jackson’s life retains its urgency, and we read even the happy passages with a sense of impending disaster.”

In 2016, another biographer, literary critic Ruth Franklin, expanded on existing scholarship with the book “Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life.”

Judith Altman, one of three daughters, was born in Washington on Jan. 20, 1942. Her mother was a math teacher, and her father worked for the Labor Department.

When Judy was 9, her family moved to Arlington, Va., where she graduated from what was then Washington-Lee High School in 1959 . She received a bachelor’s degree in American thought and civilization from George Washington University in 1963.

She and her husband, Jerry Oppenheimer, worked together at the Philadelphia Daily News — he as an investigative journalist, she as a movie critic — before their first son was born and they moved back to the Washington area. The marriage ended in divorce.

Ms. Oppenheimer freelanced for publications including The Post , Washingtonian magazine , the Village Voice, Ms. magazine, Salon , Slate and the Forward . She also worked on the staff of the Baltimore Jewish Times.

Survivors include her two sons, Jesse Oppenheimer of Los Angeles and Toby Oppenheimer of Brooklyn; a sister; and three grandchildren.

Toby Oppenheimer inspired his mother’s second book , “ Dreams of Glory: A Mother’s Season With Her Son’s High School Football Team ” (1991), chronicling a year of football at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Maryland.

Ms. Oppenheimer had harbored no interest whatsoever in a sport that she regarded — until her son began to play — as little more than an exercise in brutality. To her surprise, she discovered that she “purely adored the entire wild, maddened, electric, power-pumping totality of this game.”

“A coach would later tell me at length about the need to unearth the buried animal when training players, the animal that lies dormant in our soul,” Ms. Oppenheimer continued. “Well, football released my animal, too.”

In writing the book, Ms. Oppenheimer pursued her reporting with classic shoe-leather rigor, with one exception: In deference to her son’s wishes, she never entered the inner sanctum of the locker room.