best biography series

The 30+ Best Biography TV Shows

The world of television has seen numerous great biographies, with each show exploring the life of an extraordinary individual. The best biography shows not only focus on bringing to life the stories of prominent figures from history but also capture the essence of their personalities, beliefs, and ideologies. This genre offers a glimpse into real-life dramas that have shaped societies, inspired generations, and changed the course of history. 

These stellar biography TV shows immerse viewers in spellbinding tales by showcasing characters, themes, and powerful narratives. From historical icons to contemporary influencers, these shows provide an insightful look at the challenges faced by these individuals while highlighting their unprecedented achievements. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, they deliver an intimate understanding of the forces that molded some of the greatest biographies ever told. 

Among these outstanding biographical TV shows are critically acclaimed series such as John Adams, American Crime Story, and Anne Frank: The Whole Story. Each of these remarkable productions offer enrapturing portrayals that resonate deeply with audiences. For instance, John Adams is a gripping account of one of America's founding fathers that earned a record-breaking 13 Emmy Awards; meanwhile, American Crime Story presents hair-raising recreations of infamous criminal cases like O.J. Simpson's trial; lastly, Anne Frank: The Whole Story is a heartwarming adaptation based on Anne’s diary that illuminates her courageous spirit during World War II. 

Biography TV shows hold a special place in our hearts for their ability to transport us back in time through immersive storytelling and engaging portrayals. They describe human resilience and determination through transformative narratives that stand out among other genres. As viewers continue to explore this captivating realm of television programming, they will undoubtedly uncover more tales that offer insight into humanity's most fascinating stories.

American Masters

Watch This Show If You Love :  Behind the Music, Biography, In Their Own Words, Ken Burns: America's Storyteller, The Defiant Ones Why Should I Stream?  This award-winning documentary series examines the lives and works of influential artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers from various eras. It provides a comprehensive look into their creative processes, personal struggles, and achievements that shaped the cultural landscape.

Is American Masters Worth Your Time?

• # 19 of 53 on The 50+ Best PBS Documentaries, Ranked
• # 24 of 29 on The Best "American" TV Shows
• # 13 of 85 on The Best PBS Shows of 2023

American Crime Story

Watch This Show If You Love :  Law & Order True Crime, Mindhunter, The People vs O.J. Simpson, Fargo (TV series), Dirty John Why Should I Stream?  American Crime Story offers a fascinating exploration of high profile criminal cases in recent history. With exceptional acting performances and meticulous attention to detail, this anthology series delves deep into both the legal proceedings and sensational media coverage surrounding each case. Critics praise its ability to humanize key players while examining the societal issues that influence these crimes.

Is American Crime Story Worth Your Time?

• # 292 of 302 on The Best TV Shows Of The Past 20 Years
• # 128 of 208 on The 150+ Most Popular Shows Right Now
• # 13 of 15 on The Best Shows On Hulu

Watch This Show If You Love :  Band of Brothers , The Pacific, The Crown, Wolf Hall, Sons of Liberty Why Should I Stream?  The miniseries John Adams brings to life the story of one of America's founding fathers through an incredible adaptation of David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography. Its outstanding production values, including authentic costumes and sets, transport viewers back in time to witness pivotal moments in early American history. Paul Giamatti's performance as John Adams earned him accolades for his portrayal of a complex political figure determined to secure independence for his country.

Is John Adams Worth Your Time?

• # 28 of 144 on The Best Of Premium Cable TV Series
• # 97 of 644 on The 500+ Best Drama Shows
• # 23 of 71 on The Best HBO Dramas Of All Time

Anne Frank: The Whole Story

Watch This Show If You Love :  Schindler's List (movie), Life is Beautiful (movie), Holocaust (miniseries), World War 2 in Colour (documentary series), The Diary of Anne Frank (1959 film) Why Should I Stream?  Anne Frank: The Whole Story is a poignant retelling of the life of a young girl hiding from Nazi persecution during World War II. Based on her diary entries, this television film captures her daily fears and dreams with authenticity and sensitivity. With strong performances from its ensemble cast, this heartrending adaptation serves as a tribute to Anne Frank's resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Is Anne Frank: The Whole ... Worth Your Time?

Benjamin Franklin

Watch This Show If You Love :  Founding Fathers Documentary Series, Alexander Hamilton Documentary Series, Liberty! The American Revolution Documentary Series, Thomas Jefferson Documentary Series, America: The Story of Us Why Should I Stream?  This insightful documentary series delves into the life and legacy of one of America's most revered statesmen – Benjamin Franklin. Combining expert interviews with dramatic reenactments, it illuminates his multifaceted persona as an inventor, author, politician, scientist, and diplomat. By highlighting how Franklin's ideas continue to shape modern society today, this show underscores his lasting impact on the world.

Is Benjamin Franklin Worth Your Time?

Watch This Show If You Love :  Rome (TV series), Game of Thrones, Vikings, Black Sails, Gladiator (movie) Why Should I Stream?  For fans of epic historical dramas, Spartacus is a must-watch show filled with action, romance, and political intrigue. Set in ancient Rome during the height of gladiatorial combat, this series follows the uprising of slaves against their oppressive masters. With its stellar cast, elaborate costumes, and breathtaking set pieces, Spartacus offers a visceral experience that will leave viewers enthralled.

Is Spartacus Worth Your Time?

• Dig Deeper... Why Spartacus Is More Groundbreaking And Hardcore Than Game Of Thrones
• And Deeper... The Best 'Spartacus' Seasons, Ranked
• # 34 of 35 on TV Shows That Progressively Got Worse

Watch This Show If You Love :  Breaking Bad, El Chapo TV series), Queen of the South TV series), Ozark TV series), ZeroZeroZero Why Should I Stream?  Narcos dives into the complex world of drug trafficking and law enforcement in Colombia during the 1980s and 1990s. This gripping series humanizes both criminals and those pursuing them while examining the social conditions that gave rise to such figures as Pablo Escobar. Its mix of real-life events and fictionalized elements makes for an intense viewing experience that's both informative and entertaining.

Is Narcos Worth Your Time?

• Dig Deeper... The Best Episodes of 'Narcos: Mexico'
• # 144 of 302 on The Best TV Shows Of The Past 20 Years
• # 46 of 644 on The 500+ Best Drama Shows

American Playhouse

Watch This Show If You Love :  Masterpiece Theatre Classic Collection DVD set, PBS Great Performances, HBO Films, BBC Television Dramas, A&E Television Dramas Why Should I Stream?  American Playhouse has been showcasing cutting-edge theatrical productions for over three decades. Featuring work from renowned playwrights, emerging talents, and diverse voices, this anthology series pushes the boundaries of storytelling on stage while celebrating American theater's rich cultural heritage. It's essential viewing for anyone with a passion for thought-provoking drama.

Is American Playhouse Worth Your Time?

I Shouldn't Be Alive

Watch This Show If You Love :  Man Vs Wild with Bear Grylls, Survivorman, Dual Survival, Alone (TV show), Rescue 911 Why Should I Stream?  I Shouldn't Be Alive presents harrowing true stories of survival against all odds in life-threatening situations – from natural disasters to animal attacks. Each episode combines first-hand accounts with dramatic reenactments, giving an intimate glimpse into human endurance and resilience under extreme circumstances. The suspenseful storytelling keeps viewers hooked till the end as they witness these extraordinary tales unfold.

Is I Shouldn't Be Alive Worth Your Time?

Watch This Show If You Love :  Ken Burns' Civil War documentary, Gettysburg (TV Movie), North and South TV Miniseries, Lincoln TV Movie), The Conspirator (movie) Why Should I Stream?  The docudrama Grant transports viewers to key moments in Ulysses S. Grant’s military career and presidency during tumultuous times in American history – from his leadership during the Civil War to his efforts towards Reconstruction post-war years ago+. Through expert interviews combined with dramatic reenactments featuring acclaimed actor Justin Salinger, this show successfully navigates a complex narrative of ambition, perseverance, and redemption.

Is Grant Worth Your Time?

• # 41 of 445 on The 400+ Best Documentary Miniseries, Ranked
• # 275 of 586 on The Best New TV Shows Of 2020
• # 53 of 58 on The 55+ Best War Documentary Series, Ranked

Watch This Show If You Love :  The Crown, Downton Abbey, The Tudors, The White Queen, Poldark Why Should I Stream?  Queen Victoria's reign is vividly brought to life in the critically praised series Victoria . With impeccable historical accuracy, exquisite period costumes, and stunning set designs, viewers can enjoy an immersive glimpse into the personal life and political challenges faced by one of Britain's most iconic monarchs. Jenna Coleman's captivating performance as the young queen has garnered widespread acclaim from both audiences and critics alike.

Is Victoria Worth Your Time?

• # 15 of 29 on Current British TV Shows You've Been Missing This Whole Time
• # 6 of 78 on The Best New Period Piece TV Shows of the Last Few Years
• # 198 of 298 on 285+ Smart TV Shows That Only Intellectuals Appreciate

This Is Your Life

Watch This Show If You Love :  Biography, Unsung Hollywood, Inside the Actors Studio, Oprah's Master Class, A&E's Private Sessions Why Should I Stream?   This Is Your Life provides a nostalgic look back at the lives of some of the most beloved public figures through surprise reunions with friends, family members, and colleagues. Each episode celebrates their achievements while also showcasing the emotional bonds they've formed throughout their careers. It offers viewers a rare glimpse into the personal side of these extraordinary individuals.

Is This Is Your Life Worth Your Time?

Watch This Show If You Love :  The Borgias (TV series), Reign (TV series), Medici: Masters of Florence, Les Misérables (2018 miniseries), War & Peace (2016 miniseries) Why Should I Stream?  The opulent world of 17th-century France is gloriously recreated in Versailles – a lavish historical drama that follows the extravagant lifestyle and ambitious pursuits of King Louis XIV as he builds his legendary palace outside Paris. Filled with political intrigue, complex relationships, and sumptuous visuals, this compelling series transports viewers to an era where power plays were as intricate as the palace itself.

Is Versailles Worth Your Time?

• Dig Deeper... 11 Extreme Stories From The Court Of Versailles That Sound Made Up - But Aren’t
• # 15 of 30 on The Best Wardrobes in Television Show History
• # 13 of 182 on The 150+ Best Historical Drama TV Shows

Intimate Portrait

Watch This Show If You Love :  E! True Hollywood Story, Behind the Music, Autobiography, Celebrity Ghost Stories, Driven Why Should I Stream?   Intimate Portrait offers in-depth profiles on notable women who have made significant contributions in various fields such as entertainment, politics, sports and literature+. Candid interviews with friends, family members, colleagues along side archival footage provide viewers an unfiltered glimpse into what makes each subject exceptional – from their struggles triumphs unique perspectives life+ - making it essential viewing for those interested empowering stories female achievement+

Is Intimate Portrait Worth Your Time?

The Living Century

Watch This Show If You Love :  Ken Burns' documentaries, American Experience PBS documentary series , History Channel documentaries, Biography Channel documentaries, National Geographic Channel documentaries Why Should I Stream?  Showcasing inspiring stories centenarians around globe+, The Living Century aims portray resilience human spirit face tremendous adversity. Each episode delves deep into personal history featured individual+, revealing fascinating insights about historical events they've experienced first hand. This heartrending series ultimately serves testament endurance, wisdom, courage these remarkable people possess throughout their lifetimes.

Is The Living Century Worth Your Time?

Watch This Show If You Love :  The Borgias (TV series), Da Vinci's Demons (TV series), Knightfall (TV series), Borgia: Faith and Fear (TV series), I Medici: Lorenzo il Magnifico Why Should I Stream?  Set against the backdrop of Renaissance Italy, Medici is a captivating historical drama that tells the story of the powerful and influential Medici family, patrons of art and architecture who shaped Italian culture. The series features an ensemble cast, including Richard Madden and Dustin Hoffman, whose exceptional performances bring to life this fascinating period in history. With its rich visuals and intricate plotlines, Medici delivers an enthralling tale of ambition, betrayal, and corruption at the highest levels.

Is Medici Worth Your Time?

• # 14 of 14 on The Best TV Shows About Ancestry
• # 12 of 182 on The 150+ Best Historical Drama TV Shows
• # 18 of 91 on The 70+ Best Historical Fiction Shows

Watch This Show If You Love :  Blue Bloods TV show), NYPD Blue, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Hawaii Five-0, Law & Order Why Should I Stream?  Golden Boy chronicles the rise of a young police officer who becomes New York City's youngest police commissioner in history. The show's non-linear narrative structure keeps viewers intrigued as it reveals how personal relationships, moral dilemmas, and professional ambition intertwine throughout his meteoric ascent. Critics have praised the compelling character development and top-notch acting from its ensemble cast.

Is Golden Boy Worth Your Time?

The Gangster Chronicles

Watch This Show If You Love :  Boardwalk Empire, Peaky Blinders, Narcos, Casino (movie), Goodfellas (movie) Why Should I Stream?  The Gangster Chronicles is a riveting television series that traces the lives of notorious American gangsters during their heyday in 1920s and 1930s Chicago. Featuring superb acting performances, atmospheric settings, and sharp storytelling techniques, this crime saga offers a realistic portrayal of these larger-than-life figures who ruled over a criminal empire with ruthlessness and cunning. It is must-watch television for fans of true crime stories or those seeking a thrilling look into one of America's most infamous eras.

Is The Gangster Chronicle... Worth Your Time?

Cambodia Year Ten

Watch This Show If You Love :  Frontline, PBS Documentary Series, ABC News, Nightline, CBS Reports, Inside Edition, Investigative Reports Why Should I Stream?  Cambodia Year Ten delves into the aftermath of Pol Pot's brutal regime through eyewitness accounts from survivors who shed light on their harrowing experiences during this dark period in history. This powerful documentary also provides valuable context about Cambodian society's struggle to heal after years under tyrannical rule by capturing their tenacious spirit amidst unimaginable adversity+ - making it essential viewing for anyone interested human resilience triumph over evil+

Is Cambodia Year Ten Worth Your Time?

Finding Your Roots

Watch This Show If You Love :  Who Do You Think You Are?, Ancestors in the Attic, Faces of America with Henry Louis Gates Jr., Relative Race Why Should I Stream?  Finding Your Roots combines genealogy research with DNA analysis to help prominent figures uncover their family histories, revealing surprising connections and previously unknown ancestors. Hosted by renowned historian Henry Louis Gates Jr., this fascinating series offers viewers a unique window into the diverse backgrounds and personal stories that have shaped these individuals' lives. It's an enlightening exploration of the power of ancestry and its impact on our identities.

Is Finding Your Roots Worth Your Time?

• # 22 of 55 on The 50+ Best PBS Documentaries, Ranked
• # 15 of 24 on The Best Shows On The PBS Video App
• # 11 of 73 on The Best PBS Shows Of 2024, Ranked

Watch This Show If You Love :  The Wizard of Lies (Movie), Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, Money Heist (TV series), House of Cards (US tv series) Why Should I Stream?  Madoff is a riveting miniseries that delves into the mind of financial conman Bernie Madoff, responsible for one of the largest Ponzi schemes in history. With Richard Dreyfuss in the lead role, the show presents a mesmerizing portrayal of the man behind the scandal – from his rise to power as Wall Street's golden boy to his ultimate downfall as a convicted fraudster. Critics laud its engrossing storytelling approach and compelling character study.

Is Madoff Worth Your Time?

• # 128 of 644 on The 500+ Best Drama Shows
• # 88 of 95 on The Best ABC Shows of All Time
• # 152 of 208 on The 145+ Best Mini Series List

Watch This Show If You Love :  Juana Inés, El Cid, Carlos Rey Emperador, Isabel, Hernán Cortés Why Should I Stream?  This sweeping historical drama tells the tale of Simón Bolívar, who played a crucial role in Latin America's fight for independence from Spanish rule during the early 19th century. With its well-crafted storyline, stunning locations, and powerful acting performances, Bolívar brings to life an important era in history while showcasing one man's unwavering dedication toward freedom and equality+. The series has received high praise for its authentic portrayal of events that continue to resonate today+

Is Bolívar Worth Your Time?

• # 175 of 602 on The 500+ Best Current Shows On Netflix
• # 31 of 34 on The Best Spanish TV Shows Of 2020
• # 12 of 25 on The Best Spanish TV Shows of 2019

Watch This Show If You Love :  Succession, Billions, All The Money In The World (movie), Gomorrah (2014 TV series), Dirty Money Why Should I Stream?  Trust offers an inside look at one of America's wealthiest families – the Gettys – with particular focus on John Paul Getty III's infamous kidnapping in 1973+. This critically acclaimed anthology series expertly balances high-stakes drama+ with insightful social commentary about money’s corrosive effects on relationships dynamics within powerful dynasties - resulting gripping television experience won't soon be forgotten

Is Trust Worth Your Time?

Mussolini: The Untold Story

Watch This Show If You Love :  Adolf Hitler: Rise of Evil, Nuremberg (movie), Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial , Rommel (movie) Why Should I Stream?  Mussolini: The Untold Story provides an unflinching look at one of history's most ruthless dictators, Benito Mussolini, through a gripping miniseries that sheds light on his rise to power and eventual downfall during World War II. George C. Scott's captivating portrayal of Mussolini cements this series as an essential watch for those interested in understanding the complexities behind one of the most infamous figures in world history.

Is Mussolini: The Untold ... Worth Your Time?

• # 161 of 182 on The 150+ Best Historical Drama TV Shows
• # 130 of 138 on The 101 Best Period Piece TV Shows
• # 118 of 208 on The 145+ Best Mini Series List

I Survived...Beyond and Back

Watch This Show If You Love :  I Shouldn't Be Alive, Rescue 911, Locked Up Abroad, Survivor (tv series), Amazing Race Why Should I Stream?  I Survived...Beyond and Back explores the extraordinary phenomenon of near-death experiences through firsthand accounts from individuals who have faced death and returned with incredible stories to share. Each episode delves into the science behind these occurrences while examining their impact on belief systems+ - providing thought-provoking insights about life after death possibilities beyond our mortal existence+

Is I Survived...Beyond an... Worth Your Time?

Japanland: A Year in Search of Wa

Watch This Show If You Love :  Journeys in Japan, Begin Japanology, Tokyo Eye 2020, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (Japan episodes), NHK's Somewhere Street (Japan episodes) Why Should I Stream?   Japanland: A Year in Search of Wa is a fascinating documentary series that follows filmmaker Karin Muller as she spends a year immersing herself in Japanese culture, customs, and traditions. Throughout her journey, viewers are treated to stunning visuals of rural landscapes, bustling cityscapes, and ancient temples, all while gaining insight into a beautiful country steeped in history.

Is Japanland: A Year in S... Worth Your Time?

Watch This Show If You Love :  Behind the Candelabra (movie), My Week with Marilyn (movie), Florence Foster Jenkins (movie), Judy(movie), Stan & Ollie (movie) Why Should I Stream?  Oscar is an intriguing French television drama centered around the life of legendary fashion designer Oscar Chávez during his rise to fame within Paris's haute couture scene. The show offers a stylish glimpse into the glamorous world of 1950s fashion while exploring themes such as ambition, creativity, love+. Its lush visuals decadent atmosphere transport viewers back time make it must-watch for fans period piece dramas or those interested history fashion industry~

Is Oscar Worth Your Time?

The Romantics

Watch This Show If You Love :  Desperate Romantics (TV Series), To Walk Invisible (TV movie), Dickensian (TV Series), Jane Eyre (miniseries), Wuthering Heights (miniseries) Why Should I Stream?  The Romantics is an enlightening documentary series that delves deep into the lives and works of influential poets who played pivotal roles during England’s Romantic era - including William Wordsworth+, Lord Byron Samuel Taylor Coleridge+. It provides comprehensive analysis their poetry’s context historical significance while showcasing breathtaking visuals picturesque landscapes inspired their creative genius - offering viewers an immersive exploration this highly influential artistic movement

Is The Romantics Worth Your Time?

Churchill's Secret

Watch This Show If You Love :  The Crown, Darkest Hour (movie), The Gathering Storm (TV movie), Into the Storm (TV movie), World War II In HD Colour Why Should I Stream?  Churchill's Secret is a moving biographical drama about the life of Sir Winston Churchill, focusing on his recovery from a stroke in 1953 that left him fighting for his political career and personal health. With powerful performances by Michael Gambon and Romola Garai, this television film provides an intimate portrait of one of history's most brilliant leaders facing vulnerability and challenges. The poignant storytelling captures both the strength and fragility behind this iconic figure.

Is Churchill's Secret Worth Your Time?

• # 45 of 53 on The 45+ Best PBS Shows Of All Time, Ranked
• # 59 of 77 on The 70+ Best BBC Period Dramas, Ranked
• # 44 of 68 on The 65 Best TV Shows Set In The '50s, Ranked

Lord of the Skies

Watch This Show If You Love :  El Chapo (TV series), Queen of the South (TV series), Narcos: Mexico, Breaking Bad, Gomorrah (2014 TV series) Why Should I Stream?   Lord of the Skies is an exhilarating crime drama set in 1990s Mexico as it follows Aurelio Casillas' rise to power in the drug-trafficking underworld. The series masterfully blends real-life events with fictional elements to create a thrilling portrayal of ambition, betrayal, violence, and loyalty within a criminal empire. Critics praise its gripping narrative, high production values, and strong acting performances.

Is Lord of the Skies Worth Your Time?

• # 397 of 644 on The 500+ Best Drama Shows
• # 61 of 83 on The Best TV Shows with Non-White Stars
• # 53 of 54 on The Greatest Soap Operas of All Time
• Entertainment
• Watchworthy

Best on Netflix USA

Also check out best on netflix canada, check us out daily to find out what new movies and tv shows are available on netflix usa, highest rated new releases on netflix usa from the past month, best rated tv shows on netflix, best rated movies on netflix, best rated overall on netflix, biographical dramas on netflix.

Last updated April 20, 2024

Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. stars as pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who overcomes enormous obstacles to study medicine and save lives at Johns Hopkins Hospital in this made-for-cable drama based on Carson's memoirs. Details about Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

The Intouchables

Based on a true story, a quadriplegic aristocrat's world is turned upside down when he hires a young, good-humored ex-con as his caretaker. This unlikely duo overcomes adversity of every flavor as they shatter preconceptions of love, life and each other. Details about The Intouchables

The King's Speech

In this biographical drama that chalked up multiple Academy Awards including Best Picture, Britain's King George VI struggles with an embarrassing stutter until he seeks help from unorthodox Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue. Details about The King's Speech

Winnie Mandela

South Africa's Winnie Mandela, one of the most galvanizing public figures in modern history, comes to life in this absorbing biopic. Though it traces Winnie's whole story, the film hinges on the Apartheid-era imprisonment that would define her image. Details about Winnie Mandela

The Perfect Game

A seemingly impossible dream of playing baseball for the United States becomes a reality for a group of youngsters from an impoverished Mexican city in this poignant drama based on actual events. Details about The Perfect Game

Maria Di Nazaret

Mary, Mother of God. Mary is an ordinary young woman who works in the olive groves and spends time with her friends. If she only knew that these three little words -- Mother of God -- would one day be synonymous with her name. Humbled by the role she is asked to play as the mother of the Messiah, she unwaveringly fulfills the mission assigned to her. An ordinary girl chosen for an extraordinary role unlike any other. Details about Maria Di Nazaret

Based on a true story, this drama follows the career of wrestler Matt Hamill, a keen athlete and avid student who is deaf. Raised by his hearing grandparents, Matt feels like an outsider in the deaf community but perseveres with his dreams. Details about The Hammer

The First Grader

Based on a true story, this inspirational drama profiles the amazing determination of 84-year-old Kenyan Kimani N'gan'ga Maruge, a Mau Mau freedom fighter who wants to take advantage of a new universal education decree by learning how to read. Details about The First Grader

The Pianist

Famed Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman struggles to survive the onslaught of Nazi tyranny during World War II in this drama based on his memoirs. In spite of his well-known talent, Szpilman spends several years holed up in Warsaw, clinging to life. Details about The Pianist

In this biographical drama, the young Mary of Nazareth grows up as just another young Israelite working in the olive groves under Roman occupation. Following her life, the film captures the weight of Mary's fated role as the Mother of God. Details about Maria Di Nazaret

The Legend is Born: Ip Man

This martial arts biopic follows the early years of Ip Man -- the master who would one day become Bruce Lee's mentor -- as he perfects his Wing Chun style of combat against a small army of villainous foes. Details about The Legend is Born: Ip Man

Masterpiece Classic: The Diary of Anne Frank

In this production based on the classic book, teenager Anne Frank tells, in her own words, how she and her Jewish family hid from the Nazis during World War II. As time drags on, they must balance the fear of their situation and "normal" family life Details about Masterpiece Classic: The Diary of Anne Frank

The Ryan White Story

After contracting HIV from a tainted blood treatment, young hemophiliac Ryan White is ostracized by his Kokomo, Ind., community, forcing the ailing teen and his determined mother to hire a lawyer to fight for Ryan's right to attend public school. Details about The Ryan White Story

Haute Cuisine

Based on real characters and lives, this food-rich drama recounts Hortense Laborie's experiences as personal chef for the president of France. After reluctantly accepting the job, Hortense braves the intimidating atmosphere of the Elysee Palace. Details about Haute Cuisine

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

Ingrid Bergman stars as Gladys Aylward, a real-life missionary who goes to China during the Sino-Japanese War. As the hostile Chinese begin to trust her, she takes on an arduous task: guiding 100 children through enemy territory and into safety. Details about The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

American Violet

Inspired by true events, this penetrating drama centers on Dee Roberts (Nicole Beharie), a 24-year-old mother of four who's forced to take on a corrupt district attorney (Michael O'Keefe) when she's unjustly prosecuted in a large-scale drug case. Directed by Tim Disney, the inspiring tale also stars Alfre Woodard as Dee's mother, Alma, Tim Blake Nelson as ACLU attorney David Cohen and Will Patton as retired narcotics officer Sam Conroy. Details about American Violet

Both her father (Sam Neill) and mother (Alice Krige) are white, but Sandra Laing (Sophie Okonedo) is born with dark skin -- a complex problem in the era of South African apartheid that soon drives a wedge into the family in this poignant drama based on a true story. Though her parents fight to have the government classify her as white, Sandra grows up in a divided world, and experiences her parents can't understand make her question her identity. Details about Skin

Ike: Countdown to D-Day

Tom Selleck stars as Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in this action-packed dramatization that chronicles the 90 tense days leading up to his execution of one of history's most renowned military operations: World War II's Normandy invasion. Details about Ike: Countdown to D-Day

Florian Gallenberger directs this gripping drama about John Rabe (Ulrich Tukur), a German businessman living in Nanking, China, who in 1937 used his Nazi party affiliation to save some 200,000 Chinese civilians from slaughter at the hands of the Japanese army. As Rabe labors to establish an official safety zone to shelter the innocent, he forms an unlikely friendship with an American doctor (Steve Buscemi). Anne Consigny and Daniel Brühl co-star. Details about John Rabe

The World's Fastest Indian

This fact-based drama stars Anthony Hopkins as quirky New Zealander Burt Munro, a 67-year-old grandfather who flies across Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats and attempts to break into the record books on his customized Indian Scout motorcycle. Details about The World's Fastest Indian

Brian's Song

In this remake of the Emmy-winning 1971 tearjerker, the friendship of Chicago Bears running backs Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers gets them through difficult times -- especially when Piccolo is stricken with terminal cancer. Details about Brian's Song

My Left Foot

Daniel Day-Lewis won an Oscar for his emotionally and physically complex portrayal of Irish writer Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral palsy and eventually learned to write using the only body part he could control: his left foot. Details about My Left Foot

Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen

This biopic chronicles how the shrewd Virgin Queen assumed the throne of a nation in turmoil, stabilized the economy, earned her subjects' devotion and manipulated a succession of suitors to political advantage. Details about Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen

When King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) names his former drinking partner Thomas à Becket (Richard Burton) the new Archbishop of Canterbury, he counts on his friend's unbending loyalty when it comes to religious matters. But he doesn't expect Becket to take his job so seriously. O'Toole, Burton and co-star John Gielgud turn in a trio of Oscar-nominated performances in this critically acclaimed drama rooted deep in English history. Details about Becket

October Sky

As the Soviet satellite Sputnik streaks across the heavens in October 1957, it's a source of inspiration for 17-year-old Homer Hickam. Drafting a few friends to help, Homer crafts a rocket to compete for a science fair scholarship. Details about October Sky

About Best on Netflix USA

Best on Netflix is the place to discover the best TV shows and movies available on Netflix. Find the newest releases of your favorite movies and TV shows available for streaming on Netflix today. This site lists all the amazing content available to Netflix members. If you want to watch a movie or TV shows, you must go to the official Netflix website. Best on Netflix is not related to Netflix and its purpose is to highlight the great content already available on Netflix since we're such huge fans of their service. We love Netflix just as much as you do! We hope you enjoy this movie and tv show discovery tool.

We have a lot of great features coming up in the next few weeks to help highlight the best movies and TV shows on Netflix, so stay tuned!

10 Best Biographical TV Shows, Ranked

The majority of TV shows focus on original, fictional tales, but a few have also told true stories quite convincingly.

The TV industry is just as obsessed with true stories as much as the movie industry is, hence numerous biographical TV shows have been made. Such shows either shed more light on the lives of world-famous figures or educate viewers about the adventures of people only known in niche circles.

RELATED: 10 Best Movie Spin-Offs Based On Popular TV Shows

Among the numerous biographical projects that have been made for TV, a few are likely to be enjoyed by all because they are more historically accurate. On the other hand, there are also those that are entertaining because they are a perfect blend of dramatized and factual content.

10 Genius (2017 – Present)

Stream on disney+.

Genius is a smorgasbord of a TV show as it covers the lives of several influential historical figures instead of one. Viewers can follow Albert Einstein as he develops the Theory of Relativity, watch Pablo Picasso paint the Guernica, or dance as Aretha Franklin records "Natural Woman."

All these individuals are accorded their own complete season, hence qualifying Genius as one of the best anthology TV series . The format allows any potential viewer to pick only the seasons featuring the legends that they care about. Even so, fans would be advised to watch everything since the show has outstanding performances from the likes of Antonio Banderas and Geoffrey Rush, who all received Emmy nominations.

9 Welcome To Chippendales (2022)

Stream on hulu.

The Chippendales dance troupe achieved global recognition in the '80s by offering wild striptease performances that shocked society. Interestingly, the man who founded the group never got the same recognition because his business partner took all the glory. How such a toxic business atmosphere permeated behind the scenes is explained in Welcome To Chippendales.

RELATED: 10 Best TV Villains Ruined By One Scene

Still, the show isn't all about money. A couple of dance routines are shown, and they are as well choreographed as what people watched in the '80s. Even so, the source of entertainment remains Steve Bernajee: the real brains of the operation, and overall first founder of America's first male strip club. He is as vindictive as he is ambitious hence it doesn't take long for events to descend into murder and mayhem.

8 The Crown (2016 – Present)

Stream on netflix.

The Crown is advertised as a show about Elizabeth II, but the queen's story only serves as the skeleton, with most of the flesh coming from the scandalous personal lives of other royal family members. Additionally, the professional careers of Harold Wilson and Margaret Thatcher make for some entertaining political plots too.

The Crown has established itself as one of the most adored political dramas because it often picks tabloid tales over what is considered actual fact — but fans don't mind the dramatization. The lack of accuracy in the story has been made up for in the costume design, with the show constantly featuring the exact same stunning attire the characters were photographed with in real-life.

7 Narcos (2015 – 2017)

A show about the most infamous drug kingpin of all time is unlikely to fail, especially if the world's biggest streaming service is behind it. That's the case with Narcos , which wowed global audiences instantly because of its captivating chronicles and high production values that had initially only been reserved for American projects.

Extreme violence and a fast-paced plot make Narcos a perfect binge, and so does the narration, which provides context to every single subplot. The show also expands beyond the Medellín Cartel, going on to cover the more reserved Cali Cartel before branching off into Mexico for a spinoff of the Guadalajara Cartel.

6 Wu Tang: An American Saga (2019 – Present)

In Wu Tang: An American Saga , a couple of young Black men are forced to make the tough choice between dealing drugs and getting into music. After all, it's the early '90s when the crack epidemic is still wide and those trading in drugs are living large. Hip Hop, on the other hand, is becoming a global phenomenon.

RELATED: 10 Most Meta TV Shows

Well, the talented youngsters choose right, leading to the formation of one of the greatest rap groups of all time: The Wu-Tang Clan. Fans thus get to see what made them connect and how they were able to make such classic songs. With fame also comes plenty of drama and the show explores that too through personal relationships.

5 Spartacus (2010 – 2013)

Stream on starz.

A decade after Spartacus ended, few shows have managed to match the flowery dialogue fans got to hear in the Starz series. The real Batiatus might have never asked a question such as "Do you sh** gold coins?" but the show runs away with such outrageous remarks to good effect.

Overall, Spartacus thrills through its fight sequences, where the emphasis is placed on blood splatter and the cries of victory. There are hardly any boring characters either and even though the mannerisms of most are exaggerated, the course of their lives mirrors that of those that existed at the height of the Third Seville War, hence qualifying the show as one of the greatest historical dramas .

4 The Offer (2022)

Stream on paramount+.

There have always been rumors about the behind-the-scenes tussles that occurred during the making of one of the best crime epics so Paramount decided to tell the story through The Offer . The miniseries covers the development of The Godfather and how the process impacted the lives of several others by default.

Watching The Offer feels like watching a spinoff of the movie itself since real-life Cosa Nostra members are included as supporting characters. Overall, it sheds a light on the office politics that happen in major film studios as well as the outside forces that inspire the tone of Hollywood projects.

3 American Crime Story (2016 – Present)

American Crime Story is yet another neatly done anthology series that only picks the sappiest of tales. From the O.J. Simpson murder case to President Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky, viewers are given plenty to feed on.

RELATED: 10 Best TV Crossover Romances

The show doesn't just recount what happened but also uses supporting characters to condemn the injustices. Moreover, by focusing only on specific moments in the lives of the characters rather than the whole journey, American Crime Story comes off as positively precise and more educative.

2 Mike (2022)

The development of Mike drew plenty of criticism after Mike Tyson clarified that he never authorized it, but it could be argued that this was a good thing. Without the boxer's green light, the miniseries unapologetically explores his controversial moments and avoids painting him as an angel.

The format used is laudable since it involves an older Tyson telling his story to an audience and then cutting to the actual events using flashbacks. Additionally, there are plenty of fourth-wall-breaking moments which help sprinkle humor and make the boxer appear funnier than he probably is in real life.

1 Band Of Brothers (2001)

Stream on hbo max.

There are plenty of Hollywood biopics about members of the military but TV shows often opt to go the fictional route when exploring the armed forces. Thankfully, Band Of Brothers discards the trend by delving into the adventures of the famed 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

The HBO series perfectly balances the horrors of the battlefield with the heroic acts of the soldiers, hence the mood alternates between joy and heartbreak. Generally, everything from the production to the acting is handled with meticulous perfectionism and that's no shocker because the series is created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.

NEXT: 10 Best TV Shows That Are Surprisingly Short

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Abigail Link to Abigail
• Civil War Link to Civil War
• Arcadian Link to Arcadian

New TV Tonight

• The Jinx: Season 2
• Knuckles: Season 1
• THEM: The Scare: Season 2
• Velma: Season 2
• The Big Door Prize: Season 2
• Secrets of the Octopus: Season 1
• Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
• Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story: Season 1
• We're Here: Season 4

Most Popular TV on RT

• Fallout: Season 1
• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• The Sympathizer: Season 1
• Ripley: Season 1
• Under the Bridge: Season 1
• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• We Were the Lucky Ones: Season 1
• Sugar: Season 1
• Parasyte: The Grey: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Under the Bridge Link to Under the Bridge
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

All Guy Ritchie Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

All A24 Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Renewed and Cancelled TV Shows 2024

Best Moments From The Migration Movie

• Trending on RT
• Migration Best Moments
• TV Premiere Dates
• Play Movie Trivia
• Renewed & Cancelled TV

Best Biography TV Shows on Prime Video (April 2024)

Join Discovery, the new community for book lovers

Trust book recommendations from real people, not robots 🤓

Blog – Posted on Monday, Jan 21

The 30 best biographies of all time.

Biographer Richard Holmes once wrote that his work was “a kind of pursuit… writing about the pursuit of that fleeting figure, in such a way as to bring them alive in the present.”

At the risk of sounding cliché, the best biographies do exactly this: bring their subjects to life. A great biography isn’t just a laundry list of events that happened to someone. Rather, it should weave a narrative and tell a story in almost the same way a novel does. In this way, biography differs from the rest of nonfiction .

All the biographies on this list are just as captivating as excellent novels , if not more so. With that, please enjoy the 30 best biographies of all time — some historical, some recent, but all remarkable, life-giving tributes to their subjects.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of great biographies out there, you can also take our 30-second quiz below to narrow it down quickly and get a personalized biography recommendation  😉

Which biography should you read next?

Discover the perfect biography for you. Takes 30 seconds!

1. A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar

This biography of esteemed mathematician John Nash was both a finalist for the 1998 Pulitzer Prize and the basis for the award-winning film of the same name. Nasar thoroughly explores Nash’s prestigious career, from his beginnings at MIT to his work at the RAND Corporation — as well the internal battle he waged against schizophrenia, a disorder that nearly derailed his life.

2. Alan Turing: The Enigma: The Book That Inspired the Film The Imitation Game - Updated Edition by Andrew Hodges

Hodges’ 1983 biography of Alan Turing sheds light on the inner workings of this brilliant mathematician, cryptologist, and computer pioneer. Indeed, despite the title ( a nod to his work during WWII ), a great deal of the “enigmatic” Turing is laid out in this book. It covers his heroic code-breaking efforts during the war, his computer designs and contributions to mathematical biology in the years following, and of course, the vicious persecution that befell him in the 1950s — when homosexual acts were still a crime punishable by English law.

3. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton is not only the inspiration for a hit Broadway musical, but also a work of creative genius itself. This massive undertaking of over 800 pages details every knowable moment of the youngest Founding Father’s life: from his role in the Revolutionary War and early American government to his sordid (and ultimately career-destroying) affair with Maria Reynolds. He may never have been president, but he was a fascinating and unique figure in American history — plus it’s fun to get the truth behind the songs.

Prefer to read about fascinating First Ladies rather than almost-presidents? Check out this awesome list of books about First Ladies over on The Archive.

4. Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston

A prolific essayist, short story writer, and novelist, Hurston turned her hand to biographical writing in 1927 with this incredible work, kept under lock and key until it was published 2018. It’s based on Hurston’s interviews with the last remaining survivor of the Middle Passage slave trade, a man named Cudjo Lewis. Rendered in searing detail and Lewis’ highly affecting African-American vernacular, this biography of the “last black cargo” will transport you back in time to an era that, chillingly, is not nearly as far away from us as it feels.

5. Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert

Though many a biography of him has been attempted, Gilbert’s is the final authority on Winston Churchill — considered by many to be Britain’s greatest prime minister ever. A dexterous balance of in-depth research and intimately drawn details makes this biography a perfect tribute to the mercurial man who led Britain through World War II.

Just what those circumstances are occupies much of Bodanis's book, which pays homage to Einstein and, just as important, to predecessors such as Maxwell, Faraday, and Lavoisier, who are not as well known as Einstein today. Balancing writerly energy and scholarly weight, Bodanis offers a primer in modern physics and cosmology, explaining that the universe today is an expression of mass that will, in some vastly distant future, one day slide back to the energy side of the equation, replacing the \'dominion of matter\' with \'a great stillness\'--a vision that is at once lovely and profoundly frightening.

Without sliding into easy psychobiography, Bodanis explores other circumstances as well; namely, Einstein's background and character, which combined with a sterling intelligence to afford him an idiosyncratic view of the way things work--a view that would change the world. --Gregory McNamee

6. E=mc²: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation by David Bodanis

This “biography of the world’s most famous equation” is a one-of-a-kind take on the genre: rather than being the story of Einstein, it really does follow the history of the equation itself. From the origins and development of its individual elements (energy, mass, and light) to their ramifications in the twentieth century, Bodanis turns what could be an extremely dry subject into engaging fare for readers of all stripes.

7. Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario

When Enrique was only five years old, his mother left Honduras for the United States, promising a quick return. Eleven years later, Enrique finally decided to take matters into his own hands in order to see her again: he would traverse Central and South America via railway, risking his life atop the “train of death” and at the hands of the immigration authorities, to reunite with his mother. This tale of Enrique’s perilous journey is not for the faint of heart, but it is an account of incredible devotion and sharp commentary on the pain of separation among immigrant families.

8. Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera

Herrera’s 1983 biography of renowned painter Frida Kahlo, one of the most recognizable names in modern art, has since become the definitive account on her life. And while Kahlo no doubt endured a great deal of suffering (a horrific accident when she was eighteen, a husband who had constant affairs), the focal point of the book is not her pain. Instead, it’s her artistic brilliance and immense resolve to leave her mark on the world — a mark that will not soon be forgotten, in part thanks to Herrera’s dedicated work.

9. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Perhaps the most impressive biographical feat of the twenty-first century, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is about a woman whose cells completely changed the trajectory of modern medicine. Rebecca Skloot skillfully commemorates the previously unknown life of a poor black woman whose cancer cells were taken, without her knowledge, for medical testing — and without whom we wouldn’t have many of the critical cures we depend upon today.

10. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Christopher McCandless, aka Alexander Supertramp, hitchhiked to Alaska and disappeared into the Denali wilderness in April 1992. Five months later, McCandless was found emaciated and deceased in his shelter — but of what cause? Krakauer’s biography of McCandless retraces his steps back to the beginning of the trek, attempting to suss out what the young man was looking for on his journey, and whether he fully understood what dangers lay before him.

11. Let Us Now Praise Famous Men: Three Tenant Families by James Agee

"Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.” From this line derives the central issue of Agee and Evans’ work: who truly deserves our praise and recognition? According to this 1941 biography, it’s the barely-surviving sharecropper families who were severely impacted by the American “Dust Bowl” — hundreds of people entrenched in poverty, whose humanity Evans and Agee desperately implore their audience to see in their book.

12. The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann

Another mysterious explorer takes center stage in this gripping 2009 biography. Grann tells the story of Percy Fawcett, the archaeologist who vanished in the Amazon along with his son in 1925, supposedly in search of an ancient lost city. Parallel to this narrative, Grann describes his own travels in the Amazon 80 years later: discovering firsthand what threats Fawcett may have encountered, and coming to realize what the “Lost City of Z” really was.

13. Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang

Though many of us will be familiar with the name Mao Zedong, this prodigious biography sheds unprecedented light upon the power-hungry “Red Emperor.” Chang and Halliday begin with the shocking statistic that Mao was responsible for 70 million deaths during peacetime — more than any other twentieth-century world leader. From there, they unravel Mao’s complex ideologies, motivations, and missions, breaking down his long-propagated “hero” persona and thrusting forth a new, grislier image of one of China’s biggest revolutionaries.

14. Mad Girl's Love Song: Sylvia Plath and Life Before Ted by Andrew Wilson by Andrew Wilson

Titled after one of her most evocative poems, this shimmering bio of Sylvia Plath takes an unusual approach. Instead of focusing on her years of depression and tempestuous marriage to poet Ted Hughes, it chronicles her life before she ever came to Cambridge. Wilson closely examines her early family and relationships, feelings and experiences, with information taken from her meticulous diaries — setting a strong precedent for other Plath biographers to follow.

15. The Minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes

What if you had twenty-four different people living inside you, and you never knew which one was going to come out? Such was the life of Billy Milligan, the subject of this haunting biography by the author of Flowers for Algernon . Keyes recounts, in a refreshingly straightforward style, the events of Billy’s life and how his psyche came to be “split”... as well as how, with Keyes’ help, he attempted to put the fragments of himself back together.

16. Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder

This gorgeously constructed biography follows Paul Farmer, a doctor who’s worked for decades to eradicate infectious diseases around the globe, particularly in underprivileged areas. Though Farmer’s humanitarian accomplishments are extraordinary in and of themselves, the true charm of this book comes from Kidder’s personal relationship with him — and the sense of fulfillment the reader sustains from reading about someone genuinely heroic, written by someone else who truly understands and admires what they do.

17. Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts

Here’s another bio that will reshape your views of a famed historical tyrant, though this time in a surprisingly favorable light. Decorated scholar Andrew Roberts delves into the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, from his near-flawless military instincts to his complex and confusing relationship with his wife. But Roberts’ attitude toward his subject is what really makes this work shine: rather than ridiculing him ( as it would undoubtedly be easy to do ), he approaches the “petty tyrant” with a healthy amount of deference.

18. The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson IV by Robert A. Caro

Lyndon Johnson might not seem as intriguing or scandalous as figures like Kennedy, Nixon, or W. Bush. But in this expertly woven biography, Robert Caro lays out the long, winding road of his political career, and it’s full of twists you wouldn’t expect. Johnson himself was a surprisingly cunning figure, gradually maneuvering his way closer and closer to power. Finally, in 1963, he got his greatest wish — but at what cost? Fans of Adam McKay’s Vice , this is the book for you.

19. Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser

Anyone who grew up reading Little House on the Prairie will surely be fascinated by this tell-all biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Caroline Fraser draws upon never-before-published historical resources to create a lush study of the author’s life — not in the gently narrated manner of the Little House series, but in raw and startling truths about her upbringing, marriage, and volatile relationship with her daughter (and alleged ghostwriter) Rose Wilder Lane.

20. Prince: A Private View by Afshin Shahidi

Compiled just after the superstar’s untimely death in 2016, this intimate snapshot of Prince’s life is actually a largely visual work — Shahidi served as his private photographer from the early 2000s until his passing. And whatever they say about pictures being worth a thousand words, Shahidi’s are worth more still: Prince’s incredible vibrance, contagious excitement, and altogether singular personality come through in every shot.

21. Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss

Could there be a more fitting title for a book about the husband-wife team who discovered radioactivity? What you may not know is that these nuclear pioneers also had a fascinating personal history. Marie Sklodowska met Pierre Curie when she came to work in his lab in 1891, and just a few years later they were married. Their passion for each other bled into their passion for their work, and vice-versa — and in almost no time at all, they were on their way to their first of their Nobel Prizes.

22. Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson

She may not have been assassinated or killed in a mysterious plane crash, but Rosemary Kennedy’s fate is in many ways the worst of “the Kennedy Curse.” As if a botched lobotomy that left her almost completely incapacitated weren’t enough, her parents then hid her away from society, almost never to be seen again. Yet in this new biography, penned by devoted Kennedy scholar Kate Larson, the full truth of Rosemary’s post-lobotomy life is at last revealed.

23. Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford

This appropriately lyrical biography of brilliant Jazz Age poet and renowned feminist, Edna St. Vincent Millay, is indeed a perfect balance of savage and beautiful. While Millay’s poetic work was delicate and subtle, the woman herself was feisty and unpredictable, harboring unusual and occasionally destructive habits that Milford fervently explores.

24. Shelley: The Pursuit by Richard Holmes

Holmes’ famous philosophy of “biography as pursuit” is thoroughly proven here in his first full-length biographical work. Shelley: The Pursuit details an almost feverish tracking of Percy Shelley as a dark and cutting figure in the Romantic period — reforming many previous historical conceptions about him through Holmes’ compelling and resolute writing.

25. Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin

Another Gothic figure has been made newly known through this work, detailing the life of prolific horror and mystery writer Shirley Jackson. Author Ruth Franklin digs deep into the existence of the reclusive and mysterious Jackson, drawing penetrating comparisons between the true events of her life and the dark nature of her fiction.

26. The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel

Fans of Into the Wild and The Lost City of Z will find their next adventure fix in this 2017 book about Christopher Knight, a man who lived by himself in the Maine woods for almost thirty years. The tale of this so-called “last true hermit” will captivate readers who have always fantasized about escaping society, with vivid descriptions of Knight’s rural setup, his carefully calculated moves and how he managed to survive the deadly cold of the Maine winters.

27. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

The man, the myth, the legend: Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple, is properly immortalized in Isaacson’s masterful biography. It divulges the details of Jobs’ little-known childhood and tracks his fateful path from garage engineer to leader of one of the largest tech companies in the world — not to mention his formative role in other legendary companies like Pixar, and indeed within the Silicon Valley ecosystem as a whole.

28. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Olympic runner Louis Zamperini was just twenty-six when his US Army bomber crashed and burned in the Pacific, leaving him and two other men afloat on a raft for forty-seven days — only to be captured by the Japanese Navy and tortured as a POW for the next two and a half years. In this gripping biography, Laura Hillenbrand tracks Zamperini’s story from beginning to end… including how he embraced Christian evangelism as a means of recovery, and even came to forgive his tormentors in his later years.

29. Vera (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov) by Stacy Schiff

Everyone knows of Vladimir Nabokov — but what about his wife, Vera, whom he called “the best-humored woman I have ever known”? According to Schiff, she was a genius in her own right, supporting Vladimir not only as his partner, but also as his all-around editor and translator. And she kept up that trademark humor throughout it all, inspiring her husband’s work and injecting some of her own creative flair into it along the way.

30. Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt

William Shakespeare is a notoriously slippery historical figure — no one really knows when he was born, what he looked like, or how many plays he wrote. But that didn’t stop Stephen Greenblatt, who in 2004 turned out this magnificently detailed biography of the Bard: a series of imaginative reenactments of his writing process, and insights on how the social and political ideals of the time would have influenced him. Indeed, no one exists in a vacuum, not even Shakespeare — hence the conscious depiction of him in this book as a “will in the world,” rather than an isolated writer shut up in his own musty study.

If you're looking for more inspiring nonfiction, check out this list of 30 engaging self-help books , or this list of the last century's best memoirs !

Continue reading

More posts from across the blog.

Zlibrary: 20 Alternatives to Borrow Ebooks in 2024

Wondering where to find the best digital libraries? Look no further. We’ve compiled a list of 20 legitimate alternatives to Zlibrary, where you can borrow and find ebooks for free.

The Best Books of 2019: 50 Reads That Stole Our Hearts

Here at Reedsy Discovery, one of our favorite year-end activities is making Best of lists. So that’s exactly what we did! We’ve compiled 50 of the best books of 2019, from fantasy to suspense to biographies and memoirs, and everything in between.

All the Harry Potter Books in Order: Your J.K. Rowling Reading List

Of all the zeitgeist-defining fiction to come out of the past twenty years, perhaps none has been more universally beloved than the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. An incredibly imag...

Heard about Reedsy Discovery?

Trust real people, not robots, to give you book recommendations.

Or sign up with an

Or sign up with your social account

• Submit your book
• Reviewer directory

We made a writing app for you

Yes, you! Write. Format. Export for ebook and print. 100% free, always.

Town and Country

The 50 Best Biographies of All Time

Posted: April 20, 2024 | Last updated: April 20, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

45) Ralph Ellison: A Biography, by Arnold Rampersad

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

44) Oscar Wilde: A Life, by Matthew Sturgis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

40) Penelope Fitzgerald: A Life, by Hermione Lee

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

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

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

38) Pontius Pilate, by Ann Wroe

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

37) Bolívar: American Liberator, by Marie Arana

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

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

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

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

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

34) Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

29) The Brontë Myth, by Lucasta Miller

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

22) Ali: A Life, by Jonathan Eig

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

17) The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, by Edmund Morris

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11) Washington: A Life, by Ron Chernow

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

10) The Twelve Caesars, by Suetonius

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

9) A Beautiful Mind, by Sylvia Nasar

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

8) Alan Turing: The Enigma, by Andrew Hodges

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More for You

Republican Reveals Possible GOP Plan to Allow Democratic House Speaker

Former Red Sox player Dave McCarty tragically dies at the age of 54

Dr Pepper Is Releasing a New Summer Flavor and It's Good

How To Remove Weeds From The Cracks In Your Driveway To Prevent Their Return

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates reportedly sells home in Washington in fast deal

35 Best Lemon Desserts of All Time

5 in-demand freelance jobs you can do from home—some pay over $200 an hour

N.Y. AG asks judge to void Trump's $175M bond in civil fraud case

Coca-Cola and Pepsi add new soda flavors, cancel another

Taylor Swift draws backlash for 'all the racists' lyrics on new 'Tortured Poets' album

How To Safely Remove A Tree Stump Without Calling In The Professionals

McDonald’s adds a pair of new sandwiches — and a brand-new spicy sauce

Certain snacks, drinks could be banned in some states due to cancer-causing ingredients

I Grew Up In The '80s — Here Are 9 Memories That Are Just So, So, So '80s

American sniper in Ukraine says his unit prefers Soviet-era rifles because bullets are easier to find and they can take them from the Russians

The perils of protesting at work: Google fires 28 employees after protests

Unplug These 29 Items That Hike Up Your Electricity Bill

Dubai airport chaos: Emirates boss writes open letter after hundreds of thousands passengers stranded

Best Movies Now on Netflix

Our Gardening Expert Warns To Avoid This Major Mistake When Growing Hostas

• Tickets & Showtimes
• Trending on RT

• TV & Streaming Shows
• Godzilla & Kong
• 100 Years, 100 Movies
• Best & Popular

TAGGED AS: Netflix , streaming , television , TV

(Photo by Netflix)

100 Best Netflix Series to Watch Right Now (April 2024)

Looking for the best shows on Netflix? Look no further, because Rotten Tomatoes has put together a list of the 100 best original Netflix series available to watch right now, ranked according to the Tomatometer. To keep the list fresh with the best Netflix series to watch, the series featured here are currently in production, have been renewed for further seasons, or aired their final episode recently (within the last year or two, so people can still discover them after they’ve ended).

The most popular shows ranking on our guide to the best-reviewed on Netflix include  Stranger Things (which aired its fourth season in 2022), phenom Squid Game (which will air its second season in 2023 or 2024), video game curse-breaking adaptations ( Arcane: League of Legends ,  The Witcher ,  Cyberpunk: Edgerunners ), crime dramas ( Ozark  and  Peaky Blinders , which both concluded in April 2022), royal stories ( Bridgerton , The Crown ), and diverse genre works like Black Mirror , The Sandman , Cobra Kai , and Love, Death + Robots . We’re including only series with at least 10 critics reviews, and for series with the same Tomatometer scores, we list the ones with the most critics reviews first.

Most recently we’ve updated with Warrior , American Nightmare , Griselda , The Brothers Sun , and One Day .

The Dragon Prince (2018) 100%

Mo (2022) 100%

Arcane: League of Legends (2021) 100%

Blue Eye Samurai (2023) 100%

Blood of Zeus (2020) 100%

Red Rose (2022) 100%

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022) 100%

Katla (2021) 100%

Derry Girls (2018) 99%

Better Call Saul (2015) 98%

Beef (2023) 98%

Heartstopper (2022) 98%

Lupin (2021) 98%

Kingdom (2019) 98%

Insecure (2016) 97%

Russian Doll (2019) 97%

I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson (2019) 97%

Top Boy (2011) 97%

Hellbound (2021) 97%

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015) 96%

The Queen's Gambit (2020) 96%

Unorthodox (2020) 96%

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023) 96%

Aggretsuko (2018) 96%

Our Planet (2019) 96%

Gentefied (2020) 96%

American Nightmare (2024) 96%

Dark (2017) 95%

Documentary Now! (2015) 95%

Squid Game (2021) 95%

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023) 95%

Vikings: Valhalla (2022) 95%

Transatlantic (2023) 95%

Sex Education (2019) 94%

Cobra Kai (2018) 94%

Big Mouth (2017) 94%

Maid (2021) 94%

Teenage Bounty Hunters (2020) 94%

Lost Ollie (2022) 94%

Never Have I Ever (2020) 93%

Peaky Blinders (2013) 93%

Cabinet of Curiosities (2022) 93%

One Day (2024) 91%

Elite (2018) 93%

Warrior (2019) 93%

Stranger Things (2016) 92%

Criminal: UK (2019) 92%

Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020) 92%

Stay Close (2021) 92%

Tribes of Europa (2021) 92%

Dragon Age: Absolution (2022) 92%

You (2018) 92%

Sweet Tooth (2021) 91%

The Last Kingdom (2015) 91%

Monk (2002) 89%

Raising Dion (2019) 91%

The Midnight Gospel (2020) 91%

The Fall of the House of Usher (2023) 90%

Grace and Frankie (2016) 90%

House (2004) 90%

The Flash (2014) 89%

All of Us Are Dead (2022) 89%

The Sandman (2022) 88%

Dear White People (2017) 88%

Dead to Me (2019) 88%

The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) 87%

Delhi Crime (2019) 88%

Midnight Mass (2021) 87%

Griselda (2024) 87%

Archive 81 (2022) 87%

The Umbrella Academy (2019) 86%

The Midnight Club (2022) 86%

From Scratch (2022) 86%

Love, Death + Robots (2019) 86%

One Piece (2023) 85%

The Lincoln Lawyer (2022) 85%

Grey's Anatomy (2005) 84%

Shadow and Bone (2021) 84%

Warrior Nun (2020) 84%

The Brothers Sun (2024) 84%

Waco: American Apocalypse (2023) 84%

Black Mirror (2011) 83%

The Diplomat (2023) 83%

School Spirits (2023) 83%

Hit & Run (2021) 83%

Ozark (2017) 82%

Bridgerton (2020) 82%

Virgin River (2019) 82%

Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal (2023) 82%

The Crown (2016) 81%

Bodies (2023) 81%

XO, Kitty (2023) 81%

The Witcher (2019) 80%

The Silent Sea (2021) 80%

Freeridge (2023) 80%

The Walking Dead (2010) 79%

Colin in Black and White (2021) 79%

Inside Job (2021) 79%

1899 (2022) 77%

Wednesday (2022) 73%

Related news.

Renewed and Cancelled TV Shows 2024

TV Premiere Dates 2024

Hulu’s Under the Bridge : Riley Keough, Lily Gladstone on Respecting Reena Virk’s Memory

More Binge Guide

5 TV and Streaming Shows You Should Binge-Watch In April

All 5 Purge Movies In Order: How to Watch the Movies Chronologically

Netflix’s 100 Best Movies Right Now (April 2024)

Movie & TV News

Featured on rt.

April 19, 2024

All Guy Ritchie Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

All A24 Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

April 18, 2024

Top Headlines

• All Guy Ritchie Movies Ranked by Tomatometer –
• All A24 Movies Ranked by Tomatometer –
• Video Game TV Shows Ranked by Tomatometer –
• MGM: 100 Years, 100 Essential Movies –
• 25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming –
• 30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming –

The 50 Best Biographies of All Time

Think you know the full and complete story about George Washington, Steve Jobs, or Joan of Arc? Think again.

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links.

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

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

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

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

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

Farrar, Straus and Giroux Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret, by Craig Brown

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

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

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

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

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

University of Chicago Press Frank Lloyd Wright: A Biography, by Meryle Secrest

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

Ralph Ellison: A Biography, by Arnold Rampersad

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

Oscar Wilde: A Life, by Matthew Sturgis

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vintage Penelope Fitzgerald: A Life, by Hermione Lee

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

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

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

Pontius Pilate, by Ann Wroe

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

Brand: History Book Club Bolívar: American Liberator, by Marie Arana

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

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

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

Random House Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay, by Nancy Milford

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

Simon & Schuster Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson

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

Brand: Random House Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov), by Stacy Schiff

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

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

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

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

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

@media(max-width: 73.75rem){.css-1ktbcds:before{margin-right:0.4375rem;color:#FF3A30;content:'_';display:inline-block;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1ktbcds:before{margin-right:0.5625rem;color:#FF3A30;content:'_';display:inline-block;}} Books

Why ‘Carrie’ Is Still Scary as Shit

Holly Gramazio Can Solve Your Dating Burnout

Hanif Abdurraqib Knows What Makes Basketball Great

Percival Everett's New Novel Is a Modern Classic

The Best Books of 2024 (So Far)

The Best Memoirs of 2024 (So Far)

Is It A Betrayal To Publish Dead Writers' Books?

The Best Sci-Fi Books of 2024 (So Far)

A Crime Fiction Master Flips the Script

How to Read the 'Dune' Book Series in Order

Tommy Orange Is Not Your Tour Guide

• Copy from this list
• Report this list

The 50 Best Biography Movies of All Time

My 50 personal favorite biography movies of all time. Honourable Mentions: Elvis (2022) Mank (2020) Dolemite Is My Name (2019) First Man (2018) The Disaster Artist (2017) The Danish Girl (2015) Trumbo (2015) 127 Hours (2010) Hachi (2009) Hunger (2008) The Diving Bell & The Butterfly (2007) The Basketball Diaries (1995) Quiz Show (1994) Glory (1989) My Left Foot (1989) Escape From Alcatraz (1979) Midnight Express (1978) Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (1973) Funny Girl (1968) in Cold Blood (1967) Related: The 25 Best Biography Movies of the 21st Century - https://www.imdb.com/list/ls097509937/ The 25 Best Historical Movies of All Time - https://www.imdb.com/list/ls069565244/ The 25 Best Period Piece Movies of All Time - https://www.imdb.com/list/ls046806935/

• Movies or TV
• IMDb Rating
• In Theaters
• Release Year

1. Goodfellas (1990)

R | 145 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

The story of Henry Hill and his life in the mafia, covering his relationship with his wife Karen and his mob partners Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito.

Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Robert De Niro , Ray Liotta , Joe Pesci , Lorraine Bracco

Votes: 1,256,022 | Gross: $46.84M

2. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Approved | 218 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

The story of T.E. Lawrence , the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks.

Director: David Lean | Stars: Peter O'Toole , Alec Guinness , Anthony Quinn , Jack Hawkins

Votes: 314,047 | Gross: $44.82M

3. Schindler's List (1993)

R | 195 min | Biography, Drama, History

In German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.

Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Liam Neeson , Ralph Fiennes , Ben Kingsley , Caroline Goodall

Votes: 1,449,179 | Gross: $96.90M

4. Raging Bull (1980)

R | 129 min | Biography, Drama, Sport

The life of boxer Jake LaMotta , whose violence and temper that led him to the top in the ring destroyed his life outside of it.

Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Robert De Niro , Cathy Moriarty , Joe Pesci , Frank Vincent

Votes: 379,854 | Gross: $23.38M

5. Amadeus (1984)

R | 160 min | Biography, Drama, Music

The life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , as told by Antonio Salieri , the contemporaneous composer who was deeply jealous of Mozart's talent and claimed to have murdered him.

Director: Milos Forman | Stars: F. Murray Abraham , Tom Hulce , Elizabeth Berridge , Roy Dotrice

Votes: 427,588 | Gross: $51.97M

6. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

R | 180 min | Biography, Comedy, Crime

Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort , from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.

Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio , Jonah Hill , Margot Robbie , Matthew McConaughey

Votes: 1,580,960 | Gross: $116.90M

7. The Pianist (2002)

R | 150 min | Biography, Drama, Music

During WWII, acclaimed Polish musician Wladyslaw faces various struggles as he loses contact with his family. As the situation worsens, he hides in the ruins of Warsaw in order to survive.

Director: Roman Polanski | Stars: Adrien Brody , Thomas Kretschmann , Frank Finlay , Emilia Fox

Votes: 911,127 | Gross: $32.57M

8. A Beautiful Mind (2001)

PG-13 | 135 min | Biography, Drama, Mystery

A mathematical genius, John Nash made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a harrowing journey of self-discovery.

Director: Ron Howard | Stars: Russell Crowe , Ed Harris , Jennifer Connelly , Christopher Plummer

Votes: 986,086 | Gross: $170.74M

9. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

R | 160 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

Robert Ford, who has idolized Jesse James since childhood, tries hard to join the resurgent gang of the Missouri outlaw, but gradually becomes resentful of the bandit leader.

Director: Andrew Dominik | Stars: Brad Pitt , Casey Affleck , Sam Shepard , Mary-Louise Parker

Votes: 192,697 | Gross: $3.90M

10. Lion (2016)

PG-13 | 118 min | Biography, Drama

A five-year-old Indian boy is adopted by an Australian couple after getting lost hundreds of kilometers from home. 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.

Director: Garth Davis | Stars: Dev Patel , Nicole Kidman , Rooney Mara , Sunny Pawar

Votes: 250,872 | Gross: $51.74M

11. Patton (1970)

GP | 172 min | Biography, Drama, War

The World War II phase of the career of controversial American general George S. Patton .

Director: Franklin J. Schaffner | Stars: George C. Scott , Karl Malden , Stephen Young , Michael Strong

Votes: 107,888 | Gross: $61.70M

12. The Aviator (2004)

PG-13 | 170 min | Biography, Drama

A biopic depicting the early years of legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes ' career from the late 1920s to the mid 1940s.

Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio , Cate Blanchett , Kate Beckinsale , John C. Reilly

Votes: 383,861 | Gross: $102.61M

13. Ed Wood (1994)

R | 127 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama

Ambitious but troubled movie director Edward D. Wood Jr. tries his best to fulfill his dreams despite his lack of talent.

Director: Tim Burton | Stars: Johnny Depp , Martin Landau , Sarah Jessica Parker , Patricia Arquette

Votes: 183,887 | Gross: $5.89M

14. BlacKkKlansman (2018)

R | 135 min | Biography, Comedy, Crime

Ron Stallworth , an African American police officer from Colorado Springs, Colorado, successfully infiltrates the local Ku Klux Klan branch aided by a Jewish surrogate who eventually becomes its leader. Based on actual events.

Director: Spike Lee | Stars: John David Washington , Adam Driver , Laura Harrier , Topher Grace

Votes: 290,860 | Gross: $49.28M

15. The Elephant Man (1980)

PG | 124 min | Biography, Drama

A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of kindness, intelligence and sophistication.

Director: David Lynch | Stars: Anthony Hopkins , John Hurt , Anne Bancroft , John Gielgud

Votes: 258,251

16. A Hidden Life (2019)

PG-13 | 174 min | Biography, Drama, Romance

The Austrian Franz Jägerstätter, a conscientious objector, refuses to fight for the Nazis in World War II.

Director: Terrence Malick | Stars: August Diehl , Valerie Pachner , Maria Simon , Karin Neuhäuser

Votes: 28,112

17. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

R | 125 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

Three amateur bank robbers plan to hold up a bank. A nice simple robbery: Walk in, take the money, and run. Unfortunately, the supposedly uncomplicated heist suddenly becomes a bizarre nightmare as everything that could go wrong does.

Director: Sidney Lumet | Stars: Al Pacino , John Cazale , Penelope Allen , Sully Boyar

Votes: 272,887 | Gross: $50.00M

18. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

R | 111 min | Action, Biography, Crime

Bored waitress Bonnie Parker falls in love with an ex-con named Clyde Barrow and together they start a violent crime spree through the country, stealing cars and robbing banks.

Director: Arthur Penn | Stars: Warren Beatty , Faye Dunaway , Michael J. Pollard , Gene Hackman

Votes: 120,543

19. Downfall (2004)

R | 156 min | Biography, Drama, History

Traudl Junge , the final secretary for Adolf Hitler , tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.

Director: Oliver Hirschbiegel | Stars: Bruno Ganz , Alexandra Maria Lara , Ulrich Matthes , Juliane Köhler

Votes: 374,951 | Gross: $5.51M

20. Memories of Murder (2003)

Not Rated | 132 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

In a small Korean province in 1986, two detectives struggle with the case of multiple young women being found raped and murdered by an unknown culprit.

Director: Bong Joon Ho | Stars: Song Kang-ho , Kim Sang-kyung , Kim Roe-ha , Song Jae-ho

Votes: 215,965 | Gross: $0.01M

21. Fruitvale Station (2013)

R | 85 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

The story of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008.

Director: Ryan Coogler | Stars: Michael B. Jordan , Melonie Diaz , Octavia Spencer , Kevin Durand

Votes: 85,839 | Gross: $16.10M

22. Into the Wild (2007)

R | 148 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.

Director: Sean Penn | Stars: Emile Hirsch , Vince Vaughn , Catherine Keener , Marcia Gay Harden

Votes: 657,637 | Gross: $18.35M

23. The King's Speech (2010)

R | 118 min | Biography, Drama, History

The story of King George VI , his unexpected ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.

Director: Tom Hooper | Stars: Colin Firth , Geoffrey Rush , Helena Bonham Carter , Derek Jacobi

Votes: 707,589 | Gross: $138.80M

24. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

PG | 110 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

In 1890s Wyoming, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid lead a band of outlaws. When a train robbery goes wrong, they find themselves on the run with a posse hard on their heels. After considering their options, they escape to South America.

Director: George Roy Hill | Stars: Paul Newman , Robert Redford , Katharine Ross , Strother Martin

Votes: 226,596 | Gross: $102.31M

25. The Intouchables (2011)

R | 112 min | Comedy, Drama

After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caregiver.

Directors: Olivier Nakache , Éric Toledano | Stars: François Cluzet , Omar Sy , Anne Le Ny , Audrey Fleurot

Votes: 928,236 | Gross: $13.18M

26. Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)

Not Rated | 95 min | Action, Adventure, Biography

In the 16th century, the ruthless and insane Don Lope de Aguirre leads a Spanish expedition in search of El Dorado.

Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Klaus Kinski , Ruy Guerra , Helena Rojo , Del Negro

Votes: 62,216

27. The Irishman (2019)

R | 209 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

An illustration of Frank Sheeran's life, from W.W.II veteran to hit-man for the Bufalino crime family and his alleged assassination of his close friend Jimmy Hoffa.

Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Robert De Niro , Al Pacino , Joe Pesci , Harvey Keitel

Votes: 430,647 | Gross: $7.00M

28. Man on the Moon (1999)

R | 118 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama

The life and career of legendary comedian Andy Kaufman .

Director: Milos Forman | Stars: Jim Carrey , Danny DeVito , Gerry Becker , Greyson Erik Pendry

Votes: 137,408 | Gross: $34.58M

29. Persepolis (2007)

PG-13 | 96 min | Animation, Biography, Drama

A precocious and outspoken Iranian girl grows up during the Islamic Revolution.

Directors: Vincent Paronnaud , Marjane Satrapi | Stars: Chiara Mastroianni , Catherine Deneuve , Gena Rowlands , Danielle Darrieux

Votes: 100,109 | Gross: $4.45M

30. Green Book (2018)

PG-13 | 130 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama

A working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver for an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.

Director: Peter Farrelly | Stars: Viggo Mortensen , Mahershala Ali , Linda Cardellini , Sebastian Maniscalco

Votes: 570,125 | Gross: $85.08M

31. Mirror (1975)

Not Rated | 107 min | Biography, Drama

A dying man in his forties remembers his past. His childhood, his mother, the war, personal moments and things that tell of the recent history of all the Russian nation.

Director: Andrei Tarkovsky | Stars: Margarita Terekhova , Filipp Yankovskiy , Ignat Daniltsev , Oleg Yankovskiy

Votes: 52,167 | Gross: $0.18M

32. Finding Neverland (2004)

PG | 106 min | Biography, Drama, Family

The story of Sir J.M. Barrie 's friendship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan.

Director: Marc Forster | Stars: Johnny Depp , Kate Winslet , Julie Christie , Radha Mitchell

Votes: 211,982 | Gross: $51.68M

33. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

PG-13 | 117 min | Biography, Drama

A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career

Director: Gabriele Muccino | Stars: Will Smith , Thandiwe Newton , Jaden Smith , Brian Howe

Votes: 560,196 | Gross: $163.57M

34. Heavenly Creatures (1994)

R | 99 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

Two teenage girls share a unique bond; their parents, concerned that the friendship is too intense, separate them, and the girls take revenge.

Director: Peter Jackson | Stars: Melanie Lynskey , Kate Winslet , Sarah Peirse , Diana Kent

Votes: 67,374 | Gross: $3.05M

35. Gandhi (1982)

PG | 191 min | Biography, Drama, History

The life of the lawyer who became the famed leader of the Indian revolts against the British rule through his philosophy of nonviolent protest.

Director: Richard Attenborough | Stars: Ben Kingsley , John Gielgud , Rohini Hattangadi , Roshan Seth

Votes: 240,122 | Gross: $52.77M

36. American Gangster (2007)

R | 157 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

An outcast New York City cop is charged with bringing down Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas, whose real life inspired this partly biographical film.

Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Denzel Washington , Russell Crowe , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Josh Brolin

Votes: 452,207 | Gross: $130.16M

37. The Social Network (2010)

PG-13 | 120 min | Biography, Drama

As Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, he is sued by the twins who claimed he stole their idea and by the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business.

Director: David Fincher | Stars: Jesse Eisenberg , Andrew Garfield , Justin Timberlake , Rooney Mara

Votes: 757,917 | Gross: $96.96M

38. Spotlight (I) (2015)

R | 129 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.

Director: Tom McCarthy | Stars: Mark Ruffalo , Michael Keaton , Rachel McAdams , Liev Schreiber

Votes: 501,800 | Gross: $45.06M

39. Hotel Rwanda (2004)

PG-13 | 121 min | Biography, Drama, History

Paul Rusesabagina , a hotel manager, houses over a thousand Tutsi refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda, Africa.

Director: Terry George | Stars: Don Cheadle , Sophie Okonedo , Joaquin Phoenix , Xolani Mali

Votes: 371,851 | Gross: $23.53M

40. 12 Years a Slave (2013)

R | 134 min | Biography, Drama, History

In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup , a free Black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.

Director: Steve McQueen | Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor , Michael Kenneth Williams , Michael Fassbender , Brad Pitt

Votes: 740,802 | Gross: $56.67M

41. Malcolm X (1992)

PG-13 | 202 min | Biography, Drama, History

Biographical epic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader, from his early life and career as a small-time gangster, to his ministry as a member of the Nation of Islam and his eventual assassination.

Director: Spike Lee | Stars: Denzel Washington , Angela Bassett , Delroy Lindo , Spike Lee

Votes: 101,966 | Gross: $48.17M

42. The Imitation Game (2014)

PG-13 | 114 min | Biography, Drama, Thriller

During World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians while attempting to come to terms with his troubled private life.

Director: Morten Tyldum | Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch , Keira Knightley , Matthew Goode , Allen Leech

Votes: 824,337 | Gross: $91.13M

43. American Sniper (2014)

R | 133 min | Action, Biography, Drama

Navy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle's pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home with his family after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind.

Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Bradley Cooper , Sienna Miller , Kyle Gallner , Cole Konis

Votes: 528,806 | Gross: $350.13M

44. Serpico (1973)

R | 130 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

An honest New York cop named Frank Serpico blows the whistle on rampant corruption in the force only to have his comrades turn against him.

Director: Sidney Lumet | Stars: Al Pacino , John Randolph , Jack Kehoe , Biff McGuire

Votes: 134,624 | Gross: $29.80M

45. Awakenings (1990)

PG-13 | 121 min | Biography, Drama

The victims of an encephalitis epidemic many years ago have been catatonic ever since, but now a new drug offers the prospect of reviving them.

Director: Penny Marshall | Stars: Robert De Niro , Robin Williams , Julie Kavner , Ruth Nelson

Votes: 158,563 | Gross: $52.10M

46. The Big Short (2015)

R | 130 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama

In 2006-2007 a group of investors bet against the United States mortgage market. In their research, they discover how flawed and corrupt the market is.

Director: Adam McKay | Stars: Christian Bale , Steve Carell , Ryan Gosling , Brad Pitt

Votes: 483,864 | Gross: $70.26M

47. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

R | 139 min | Biography, Drama, History

World War II American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss , serving during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a shot.

Director: Mel Gibson | Stars: Andrew Garfield , Sam Worthington , Luke Bracey , Teresa Palmer

Votes: 593,238 | Gross: $67.21M

48. Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

R | 117 min | Biography, Drama

In 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is diagnosed with the disease.

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée | Stars: Matthew McConaughey , Jennifer Garner , Jared Leto , Steve Zahn

Votes: 518,912 | Gross: $27.30M

49. In the Name of the Father (1993)

R | 133 min | Biography, Crime, Drama

An Irish man's coerced confession to an I.R.A. bombing he did not commit results in the imprisonment of his father as well. Meanwhile, a British lawyer fights to clear their names and free them.

Director: Jim Sheridan | Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis , Pete Postlethwaite , Alison Crosbie , Philip King

Votes: 186,978 | Gross: $25.01M

50. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

Passed | 114 min | Biography, Drama, History

In 1431, Jeanne d'Arc is placed on trial on charges of heresy. The ecclesiastical jurists attempt to force Jeanne to recant her claims of holy visions.

Director: Carl Theodor Dreyer | Stars: Maria Falconetti , Eugene Silvain , André Berley , Maurice Schutz

Votes: 60,604 | Gross: $0.02M

List Activity

Tell your friends, other lists by malthe-tuxen.

Recently Viewed

The 21 most captivating biographies of all time

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

• Biographies illuminate pivotal times and people in history. 
• The biography books on this list are heavily researched and fascinating stories.
• Want more books? Check out the best classics , historical fiction books , and new releases.

For centuries, books have allowed readers to be whisked away to magical lands, romantic beaches, and historical events. Biographies take readers through time to a single, remarkable life memorialized in gripping, dramatic, or emotional stories. They give us the rare opportunity to understand our heroes — or even just someone we would never otherwise know. 

To create this list, I chose biographies that were highly researched, entertainingly written, and offer a fully encompassing lens of a person whose story is important to know in 2021. 

The 21 best biographies of all time:

The biography of a beloved supreme court justice.

"Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $16.25

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a Supreme Court Justice and feminist icon who spent her life fighting for gender equality and civil rights in the legal system. This is an inspirational biography that follows her triumphs and struggles, dissents, and quotes, packaged with chapters titled after Notorious B.I.G. tracks — a nod to the many memes memorializing Ginsburg as an iconic dissident. 

The startlingly true biography of a previously unknown woman

"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $8.06

Henrietta was a poor tobacco farmer, whose "immortal" cells have been used to develop the polio vaccine, study cancer, and even test the effects of an atomic bomb — despite being taken from her without her knowledge or consent. This biography traverses the unethical experiments on African Americans, the devastation of Henrietta Lacks' family, and the multimillion-dollar industry launched by the cells of a woman who lies somewhere in an unmarked grave.

The poignant biography of an atomic bomb survivor

"A Song for Nagasaki: The Story of Takashi Nagai: Scientist, Convert, and Survivor of the Atomic Bomb" by Paul Glynn, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $16.51

Takashi Nagai was a survivor of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945. A renowned scientist and spiritual man, Nagai continued to live in his ruined city after the attack, suffering from leukemia while physically and spiritually helping his community heal. Takashi Nagai's life was dedicated to selfless service and his story is a deeply moving one of suffering, forgiveness, and survival.

The highly researched biography of Malcolm X

"The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X" by Les Payne and Tamara Payne, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $18.99

Written by the investigative journalist Les Payne and finished by his daughter after his passing, Malcolm X's biography "The Dead are Arising" was written and researched over 30 years. This National Book Award and Pulitzer-winning biography uses vignettes to create an accurate, detailed, and gripping portrayal of the revolutionary minister and famous human rights activist. 

The remarkable biography of an Indigenous war leader

"The Journey of Crazy Horse: A Lakota History" by Joseph M. Marshall III, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $14.99 

Crazy Horse was a legendary Lakota war leader, most famous for his role in the Battle of the Little Bighorn where Indigenous people defeated Custer's cavalry. A descendant of Crazy Horse's community, Joseph M. Marshall III drew from research and oral traditions that have rarely been shared but offer a powerful and culturally rich story of this acclaimed Lakota hero.

The captivating biography about the cofounder of Apple

"Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $16.75

Steve Jobs is a cofounder of Apple whose inventiveness reimagined technology and creativity in the 21st century. Water Issacson draws from 40 interviews with Steve Jobs, as well as interviews with over 100 of his family members and friends to create an encompassing and fascinating portrait of such an influential man.

The shocking biography of a woman committed to an insane asylum

"The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear" by Kate Moore, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $22.49

This biography is about Elizabeth Packard, a woman who was committed to an asylum in 1860 by her husband for being an outspoken woman and wife. Her story illuminates the conditions inside the hospital and the sinister ways of caretakers, an unfortunately true history that reflects the abuses suffered by many women of the time.

The defining biography of a formerly enslaved man

"Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $12.79

50 years after the Atlantic slave trade was outlawed in the United States, Cudjo Lewis was captured, enslaved, and transported to the US. In 1931, the author spent three months with Cudjo learning the details of his life beginning in Africa, crossing the Middle Passage, and his years enslaved before the Civil War. This biography offers a first-hand account of this unspoken piece of painful history.

The biography of a famous Mexican painter

"Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo" by Hayden Herrera, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $24.89

Filled with a wealth of her life experiences, this biography of Frida Kahlo conveys her intelligence, strength, and artistry in a cohesive timeline. The book spans her childhood during the Mexican Revolution, the terrible accident that changed her life, and her passionate relationships, all while intertwining her paintings and their histories through her story.

The exciting biography of Susan Sontag

"Sontag: Her Life and Work" by Benjamin Moser, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $20.24

Susan Sontag was a 20th-century writer, essayist, and cultural icon with a dark reputation. Drawing on hundreds of interviews, archived works, and photographs, this biography extends across Sontag's entire life while reading like an emotional and exciting literary drama.

The biography that inspired a hit musical

"Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $11.04

The inspiration for the similarly titled Broadway musical, this comprehensive biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton aims to tell the story of his decisions, sacrifice, and patriotism that led to many political and economic effects we still see today. In this history, readers encounter Hamilton's childhood friends, his highly public affair, and his dreams of American prosperity. 

The award-winning biography of an artistically influential man

"The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke" by Jeffrey C Stewart, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $25.71

Alain Locke was a writer, artist, and theorist who is known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. Outlining his personal and private life, Alain Locke's biography is a blooming image of his art, his influences, and the far-reaching ways he promoted African American artistic and literary creations.

The remarkable biography of Ida B. Wells

"Ida: A Sword Among Lions" by Paula J. Giddings, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $15.99

This award-winning biography of Ida B. Wells is adored for its ability to celebrate Ida's crusade of activism and simultaneously highlight the racially driven abuses legally suffered by Black women in America during her lifetime. Ida traveled the country, exposing and opposing lynchings by reporting on the horrific acts and telling the stories of victims' communities and families. 

The tumultuous biography that radiates queer hope

"The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk" by Randy Shilts, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $11.80

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay elected official in California who was assassinated after 11 months in office. Harvey's inspirational biography is set against the rise of LGBTQIA+ activism in the 1970s, telling not only Harvey Milk's story but that of hope and perseverance in the queer community. 

The biography of a determined young woman

"Obachan: A Young Girl's Struggle for Freedom in Twentieth-Century Japan" by Tani Hanes, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $9.99

Written by her granddaughter, this biography of Mitsuko Hanamura is an amazing journey of an extraordinary and strong young woman. In 1929, Mitsuko was sent away to live with relatives at 13 and, at 15, forced into labor to help her family pay their debts. Determined to gain an education as well as her independence, Mitsuko's story is inspirational and emotional as she perseveres against abuse. 

The biography of an undocumented mother

"The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez: A Border Story" by Aaron Bobrow-Strain, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $18.40

Born in Mexico and growing up undocumented in Arizona, Aida Hernandez was a teen mother who dreamed of moving to New York. After being deported and separated from her child, Aida found herself back in Mexico, fighting to return to the United States and reunite with her son. This suspenseful biography follows Aida through immigration courts and detention centers on her determined journey that illuminates the flaws of the United States' immigration and justice systems.

The astounding biography of an inspiring woman

"The Black Rose: The Dramatic Story of Madam C.J. Walker, America's First Black Female Millionaire" by Tananarive Due, available on Amazon for $19

Madam C.J. Walker is most well-known as the first Black female millionaire, though she was also a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and born to former slaves in Louisiana. Researched and outlined by famous writer Alex Haley before his death, the book was written by author Tananarive Due, who brings Haley's work to life in this fascinating biography of an outstanding American pioneer.

A biography of the long-buried memories of a Hiroshima survivor

"Surviving Hiroshima: A Young Woman's Story" by Anthony Drago and Douglas Wellman, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $15.59

When Kaleria Palichikoff was a child, her family fled Russia for the safety of Japan until the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima when she was 22 years old. Struggling to survive in the wake of unimaginable devastation, Kaleria set out to help victims and treat the effects of radiation. As one of the few English-speaking survivors, Kaleria was interviewed extensively by the US Army and was finally able to make a new life for herself in America after the war.

A shocking biography of survival during World War II

"Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival" by Laura Hillenbrand, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $8.69

During World War II, Louis Zamperini was a lieutenant bombardier who crashed into the Pacific Ocean in 1943. Struggling to stay alive, Zamperini pulled himself to a life raft where he would face great trials of starvation, sharks, and enemy aircraft. This biography creates an image of Louis from boyhood to his military service and depicts a historical account of atrocities during World War II.  

The comprehensive biography of an infamous leader

"Mao: The Unknown Story" by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $15.39

Mao was a Chinese leader, a founder of the People's Republic of China, and a nearly 30-year chairman of the Chinese Communist Party until his death in 1976. Known as a highly controversial figure who would stop at very little in his plight to rule the world, the author spent nearly 10 years painstakingly researching and uncovering the painful truths surrounding his political rule.

The emotional biography of a Syrian refugee

"A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugee's Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival" by Melissa Fleming, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $15.33

When Syrian refugee Doaa met Bassem, they decided to flee Egypt for Europe, becoming two of thousands seeking refuge and making the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean. After four days at sea, their ship was attacked and sank, leaving Doaa struggling to survive with two small children clinging to her and only a small inflation device around her wrist. This is an emotional biography about Doaa's strength and her dangerous and deadly journey towards freedom.

• Main content

Looking for the 2024 Reading Log?

Looking for the FREE 2024 Reading Log? Click Here !

Everyday Reading

The Best Biography Series for Kids

All of my children lean heavily toward fiction in their personal reading, but in the last year or so, my two older girls have developed an interest in biographies and our dinner conversations often sounds like a game show as they quiz us about famous people.

Whether you’re looking for biographies for a school project or because your child loves learning more about famous individuals, these biography books for kids are a perfect place to start.

Any favorite biography series for kids I missed? Please let me know in the comments!

If you liked this list of biography books for kids, you might like these posts too:

• 20 favorite picture book biographies 
• The Best Picture Books to Read Aloud in a Classroom
• 13 Fantastic Easy Reader Chapter Books

Reader Interactions

February 15, 2024 at 12:27 am

Great list! I’m always looking for new and interesting biographies to share with my kids, and this list has some fantastic suggestions. I particularly liked the recommendation for “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” – I had no idea it was a children’s book! Can’t wait to check it out. Thanks for sharing!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.