A lot of famous scientists have explained the importance of imagination over knowledge. And while it is true that imagining out of the box solutions is more important than memorizing facts, it is also impossible to imagine the correct solutions without prior knowledge. This knowledge can surely come from observation and experience, though those paths are often laid with pain and heartache.
A way to learn about life and be wiser is to read about the lives of others. By doing so, you can learn in hours what they had learnt in decades. And the best way to read about other people is to read their autobiographies. And the fact of the matter is that not all autobiographies are made the same. Some are of narcissistic people who thought themselves worthy of the fame.
The only autobiographies that can actually help you grow in life are those of great men and women who had laid their lives down for a cause. These autobiographies of great personalities will not only help you grow in life, but also in wisdom, patience and skill.
The fact that you can learn invaluable lessons from valuable lives of various people is invaluable in itself. These people made a name for themselves. They made choices – both right and wrong ones and we can benefit by knowing what they were.
Autobiographies are often the writing of the soul through the mind and heart. This makes other books seem deceitful by comparison. Fortunately, our planet has raised many great people who eventually wrote their autobiographies. So many in fact, that reading all the autobiographies of famous people out there would do more harm than good to you. Therefore, this list of some of the world’s best autobiographies is meant to make things easier for you. You can read the following autobiographies for a more positive outlook on life.
Table of Contents
1. My Experiments with Truth – MK Gandhi
This autobiography written by the “Father of India” is an eye opener to those looking for a more spiritual outlook in life. It reveals a lot about how the Mahatma practiced truth and learned to practice non-violence and peace. It helps in learning the way Gandhi Ji came to the point in his life when he couldn’t take the injustice anymore and wanted to do something about it.
His lessons and teachings are represented along with the hardships he faced in life. It tells how he went from a lawyer in South Africa to the man to free a nation from an unjust rule. In the end, the autobiography will move your heart with the innermost thoughts of the Mahatma.
The book was published in 1927, and hence does not include much about the freedom of the nation. It has sold more than 50,000 copies across the globe.
2. Mud, Sweat and Tears – Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls gained fame the world over for his crusades in the Discovery Channel Show – Man Vs. Wild. This book takes you inside his life story – how he went from a troublemaker to a Special Air Service Agent to a world-famous celebrity. Reading the autobiographies of famous personalities such as Bear will help you learn about the hardships of life and how to overcome them. It teaches lessons of never giving up in any circumstance.
Bear had a spinal injury and doctors said he will not be able to walk again without support. He didn’t give up and one year later, he had the achievement of climbing the highest peak in the world – Mt. Everest.
In this book, Bear dwells into a lot of personal accounts from his life and tells the honest truth about how he felt. He tells stories about loosing and gaining faith, and time and time again proves that anything can be achieved with true determination and hard work.
This book was a Number One Bestseller for a whole year in 2017
3. The Road Ahead – Bill Gates
Even though almost all of us use a Microsoft product in our daily lives, most of us don’t know much about Bill, except that he is the richest man in the world. In reality, Bill Gates is one of the few people in the world who have helped shape it as it is today. This life account of his was written along with Bill’s friend and colleague Nathan Meyerhold. In the book the co-authors talk about the computer revolution and how they came to starting Microsoft. Bill talks about his future goals with respect to technology and how it can make our lives better.
The book sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide.
4. Faster than Lightning – Usain Bolt
The fastest man alive – Usain Bolt has become famous worldwide with his two world records of both 100- and 200-meter sprints since the year 1977. This book, touches on Usain’s early life and achievements. He talks about what motivates him to get out of bed every single day. It tells of the steps he took to get where he is today and is an inspiration to athletes worldwide.
5. The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank
The personal life record of holocaust victim Anne Frank tells her side of the second world war and Nazi Germany. She was 16 when she lost her life due to being Jewish under Nazi rule. The book tells of how she hid at the secret annex at Amsterdam, and her ever-present beautiful perception of life. It also talks about how she maintained her faith in God despite the situation and kept the will to move forward.
The book has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and is considered a classic in literature.
6. A Brief History of Time – Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking revolutionized modern physics with his mathematical experiments and thoughts. Despite suffering from ALS, he has written multiple books and given theories about physics that are being proven true. His study on Black holes rewarded him with having the radiation a black hole gives off after absorbing virtual particles named after him – Hawking radiation. This book has represented Hawking’s life and also everything else from the Big Bang up till now. He also discussed the possibilities of time travel and wormholes in this book, making it a must read for anyone remotely intrigued by science.
The book has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and was published in 1988.
By reading the autobiographies of great personalities listed above, you can expand both your knowledge and wisdom.