Favorite Biographies/Autobiographies - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Nighthawk76 · 05-11-2009, 12:59 AM

I love both biographies and autobiographies. Especially when they are about people in film, music and history. Listed below are some of my favorites. What are some of yours?

Film
The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock by Donald Spoto
Alfred Hitchcock: A Life In Darkness and Light by Patrick
McGilligan
Kubrick: Inside the Film Artisits Gaze by Thomas Allen Nelson
Warped Factors: A Neurotic's Guide to the Universe by Walter Koenig

Music
Shout: The Beatles In Their Generation by Phillip Norman
Lennon by Ray Coleman
Bruce Springsteen in the 1980's by Dave Marsh
No One Here Gets Out Alive: The Biography of Jim Morrison by Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman
Light My Fire: My Life With the Doors by Ray Manzarek
Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga by Stephen Davis

History
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Schindler's List by Thomas Kennealy
A Rumor of War by Phillip Caputo
American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J. Ellis
Andrew Jackson by Robert V. Remini
Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant

LuLu Rogers · 05-11-2009, 01:46 AM

bmasters9 · 05-11-2009, 05:09 AM

Schmoopie · 05-11-2009, 05:29 AM

These are all wonderful books. My most favorite is Audrey Hepburn An Elegant Spirit, which was written by her son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer. Very emotional and touching book.

The Tom Landry book is great. I haven't read it in years, but it's really good. Very interesting and even funny in a few sections.

The Lauren Bacall book is good as well, but the "And then some" section is one that was added later. She talks about working with Barbara Streisand and Jeff Bridges on "Mirror Has Two Faces" but the part where she talks about where she was on 9/11/01 is kind of boring. I don't mean that to be rude but the book would have been okay had that part been left out.

The really sad thing about the Gilda Radner book is that she didn't get to finish it.

MickeyMac · 05-11-2009, 01:25 PM

Lets see

I like Steve Ambrose's bio on Eisenhower

Robert Dallak's bios on John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson were really good

What else:

No Ordinary Timeby Doris Kearns Goodwin is a great book about Franklin and Elenour Roosevelt during the second world war.

Dream Boogie by Peter Guralnick is the best book about Sam Cooke and is a must read. Gurlanick's two volume bios on Elvis Presley are the best books I have read about the king.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley is another great book and a must read.

I'll think of some more later

Nighthawk76 · 05-11-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Robert Dallak's bios on John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson were really good

I should have included Dallak's bio on Kennedy. I really enjoyed that book.

PunkyP0WER · 05-11-2009, 01:34 PM

this one on vivien leigh is good. there are several bios available on her, but i find this one to be the definitive. she was a very beautiful, strong, yet complex and tragic woman.

i also have read bios on Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Princess Diana, Carroll O'Connor and Gilda Radner.

Nighthawk76 · 05-11-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkyP0WER

this one on vivien leigh is good. there are several bios available on her, but i find this one to be the definitive. she was a very beautiful, strong, yet complex and tragic woman.

i also have read bios on Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Princess Diana, Carroll O'Connor and Gilda Radner.

As a big All in the Family fan, I've been wanting to read Carroll O' Connor's autobiography. In my opinion, he was the funniest man in the history of television.

browneyes106 · 05-11-2009, 01:47 PM

Michael J. Fox's book

browneyes106 · 05-11-2009, 01:48 PM

Tony Dungy's book with friend Nathan Whitaker

sunshinefizzy · 05-11-2009, 03:08 PM

As Schmoopie said, Lauren's book is very good. Jane Fonda's My Life So Far is a great read, say what you will but I think she is an inspiring woman. A Class Apart is a great one for Cary Grant. Pieces of Time is a great one for Jimmy Stewart; Gary Fishgall wrote it. Also A Lotus Grows in the Mud by Goldie Hawn is fantastic, I love that woman.

bad_boy · 05-11-2009, 05:38 PM

Marvo301 · 05-11-2009, 06:05 PM

No Easy Game - Terry Bradshaw

All Things Possible - Kurt Warner

Comeback - Dave Dravecky

When You Can't Come Back - Dave Dravecky

Sharop · 05-11-2009, 06:20 PM

Nighthawk76 · 05-11-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharop

I had a feeling you were going to put that book as one of your favorites.

I read it last year myself and enjoyed it very much. I think it could have used a few more photos from the late 70's though.

05-11-2009, 12:59 AM	#1
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	Favorite Biographies/Autobiographies I love both biographies and autobiographies. Especially when they are about people in film, music and history. Listed below are some of my favorites. What are some of yours? Film The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock by Donald Spoto Alfred Hitchcock: A Life In Darkness and Light by Patrick McGilligan Kubrick: Inside the Film Artisits Gaze by Thomas Allen Nelson Warped Factors: A Neurotic's Guide to the Universe by Walter Koenig Music Shout: The Beatles In Their Generation by Phillip Norman Lennon by Ray Coleman Bruce Springsteen in the 1980's by Dave Marsh No One Here Gets Out Alive: The Biography of Jim Morrison by Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman Light My Fire: My Life With the Doors by Ray Manzarek Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga by Stephen Davis History Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt Schindler's List by Thomas Kennealy A Rumor of War by Phillip Caputo American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J. Ellis Andrew Jackson by Robert V. Remini Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant

05-11-2009, 01:46 AM	#2
LuLu Rogers Colonel Brandon Forum Star Join Date: Mar 23, 2004 Location: The Hogwarts Dungeons Posts: 11,013
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05-11-2009, 05:29 AM	#4
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	These are all wonderful books. My most favorite is Audrey Hepburn An Elegant Spirit, which was written by her son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer. Very emotional and touching book. The Tom Landry book is great. I haven't read it in years, but it's really good. Very interesting and even funny in a few sections. The Lauren Bacall book is good as well, but the "And then some" section is one that was added later. She talks about working with Barbara Streisand and Jeff Bridges on "Mirror Has Two Faces" but the part where she talks about where she was on 9/11/01 is kind of boring. I don't mean that to be rude but the book would have been okay had that part been left out. The really sad thing about the Gilda Radner book is that she didn't get to finish it. Attached Images
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05-11-2009, 01:34 PM	#7
PunkyP0WER Member Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2008 Location: MACY*S on 34th St. Posts: 1,908	this one on vivien leigh is good. there are several bios available on her, but i find this one to be the definitive. she was a very beautiful, strong, yet complex and tragic woman. i also have read bios on Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Princess Diana, Carroll O'Connor and Gilda Radner. Attached Images
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05-11-2009, 06:05 PM	#13
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,465	No Easy Game - Terry Bradshaw All Things Possible - Kurt Warner Comeback - Dave Dravecky When You Can't Come Back - Dave Dravecky
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05-11-2009, 05:09 AM	#3
bmasters9 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 2,550

05-11-2009, 01:25 PM	#5
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	Lets see I like Steve Ambrose's bio on Eisenhower Robert Dallak's bios on John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson were really good What else: No Ordinary Timeby Doris Kearns Goodwin is a great book about Franklin and Elenour Roosevelt during the second world war. Dream Boogie by Peter Guralnick is the best book about Sam Cooke and is a must read. Gurlanick's two volume bios on Elvis Presley are the best books I have read about the king. The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley is another great book and a must read. I'll think of some more later

05-11-2009, 01:47 PM	#9
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	Michael J. Fox's book

05-11-2009, 01:48 PM	#10
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	Tony Dungy's book with friend Nathan Whitaker

05-11-2009, 03:08 PM	#11
sunshinefizzy Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 27, 2006 Location: Craptown Posts: 2,054	As Schmoopie said, Lauren's book is very good. Jane Fonda's My Life So Far is a great read, say what you will but I think she is an inspiring woman. A Class Apart is a great one for Cary Grant. Pieces of Time is a great one for Jimmy Stewart; Gary Fishgall wrote it. Also A Lotus Grows in the Mud by Goldie Hawn is fantastic, I love that woman.

05-11-2009, 05:38 PM	#12
bad_boy Member Forum Star Join Date: Sep 18, 2003 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 19,576

05-11-2009, 06:20 PM	#14
Sharop Andy Gibb aged 12 Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 03, 2004 Location: Courthouse Square, Hill Valley, beside the clocktower, 10:04 p.m., November 12th 1955 Posts: 3,912
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