Biographies and Memoirs

Biographies and Memoirs

Do the accounts of extraordinary peoples' lives inspire your own life?  Can the fortitude of individuals drive how you live your own life?  Our authors in the Biographies and Memoirs genre bring you the stories of people who have survived and grown through the most difficult of situations.  Their stories will move you to tears, to action, and to new levels in your own life. They will always do this for you on eBookHounds for free or for a discount.

 

Definition of the "Biographies and Memoirs Genre": Ebooks in both the Biographies and Memoirs genres focus on the life experiences of a single person.  Biographies are generally broader in the subject matters of a person's life experiences, while memoirs are more honed into the memories of that person.  However, there is very little difference between the two categories, which is why they are combined in a single genre. Ebooks in the Biographies and Memoirs genre also typically have a significant element of inspiration, as the stories which drove the writing of these ebooks are tremendously moving.

 

Examples of bestselling ebooks in the Biographies and Memoirs genre are Cheryl Strayed (Wild), Chris Kyle (American Sniper), Laura Hillenbrand (Unbroken), and Donna Mabry (Maude).

Elk Love: A Montana Memoir

by Lynne Spriggs O'Connor


Having spent ten summers on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation near Glacier National Park, part of her doctoral fieldwork for a PhD in Native American Art History, forty-two-year-old Lynne Spriggs thinks of Montana as her healing place. When she moves to “Big Sky Country” from the East Coast in a quest to reset her life, she has high hopes for what awaits her.

Great Falls, a farming and military town in central Montana, is 
not what Lynne imagined when she decided to leave city life behind. But her dream of being more connected to nature in the American West comes alive when she meets Harrison, a handsome rancher thirteen years her senior. Wary but curious, with her dog Willow by her side, she leans into the seasonal rhythms of Harrison’s hidden valley and opens her heart to a wild language that moves beyond words. In a modern world where listening is rare, Elk Love explores an intimate place where loneliness gives way to wonder, where the natural world speaks of what matters most.

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The Order of Things: A Memoir About Chasing Joy

by Sarah Gormley


Sometimes nothing is more unexpected than joy.

What happens when a marketing executive leaves San Francisco to care for her dying mother on their family farm in Ohio? A Hallmark heroine would fall in love with her high school sweetheart during a snowstorm—but this is no Hallmark movie. Sarah Gormley spent most of her life trying to outrun the persistent self-loathing that plagued her from childhood, convinced that self-worth was something she had to earn by doing rather than being.

When she returned to Salt Creek Farm at age forty-five, Gormley had no idea that detaching from the success she believed defined her, untangling the complicated relationship with her mother, and continuing the hard work of therapy would lead to a wildly transformed life. Told with exceptional candor and humor, 
The Order of Things is a story about how one woman learned to let go of the patterns of her past to create a future she never imagined.

Ultimately, Gormley’s book is about hope, with a powerful message that will inspire you to think about the possibility of change in your own life.

“A beautifully written testament to doing the hard work of changing your circumstances and opening your heart to a more meaningful life filled with hope and love. . . . Gormley’s a towering talent and a writer to watch!” —Christie Tate, 
New York Times bestselling author of Group and B.F.F.

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Blackbird: A Mother’s Reflections on Grief, Loss, and Life After Suicide

by Betsy Thibaut Stephenson


Is grief on a dial or a switch? Both.


Over six short weeks in 2022, Betsy Thibaut Stephenson lost her son to suicide, mother-in-law to dementia, and family dog to cancer. Rather than succumb to grief’s darkness, Betsy chose to face her losses head-on, accepting grief as an uninvited yet permanent companion in her revised life.


Blackbird is a memoir composed in real time, a concise and brutally honest look at the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact of deep despair. By unflinchingly pulling back the curtain on fear and shame, Betsy’s story inspires important conversations about mental health, grief resilience, and creating a path toward healing.

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True Hospitality: Lessons Learned from Behind the Concierge Desk

by Jamie Cooperstein


"Everything points back to the uniformed girl at the podium in the lobby of the Rittenhouse."

 

At twenty-two Jamie Cooperstein dreamed of becoming a successful sports journalist. She never expected that putting on a concierge uniform and stepping into the lobby of the Five Diamond-rated Rittenhouse Hotel would lead to anything more than a paycheck.

 

Written with wit and humor, True Hospitality is a story of finding an unexpected calling behind the concierge desk. Through personal anecdotes of outlandish guest requests, lavish weddings and parties, celebrity stays, and smoke-filled lobbies, Cooperstein takes an honest look at the true meaning of hospitality and how it came to define her.

 

True Hospitality is a fascinating memoir of one woman's journey to find her way in the world of luxury hospitality.

 

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Women's Crusader: Catharine Beecher's Untold Story

by R. Lee Wilson


A true story of love, loss, and the pioneering fight for women’s education in America.

Catharine (Kate) Beecher was a crusader for women’s education, bestselling author, and unique feminist thinker in the nineteenth century. Yet many today have never even heard of her. Kate’s fame was eclipsed by that of her younger sister, abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Women’s Crusader reveals the untold tale of romance and grief that launched Kate on a new path as an advocate for American women. Biographer R. Lee Wilson combed through unpublished letters, manuscripts, and diary entries to discover the secrets of Kate and Alexander Fisher, an unlikely couple. Kate was a fun-loving extrovert, while Alexander was an introverted math prodigy and brilliant Yale professor. But they were brought together by a piece of her published poetry and their joint love for music. After a tragic shipwreck tore them apart, Kate’s life dramatically shifted focus. She waged a battle against misogyny to help provide women with the education they deserved. Compelling and meticulously researched, Women’s Crusader is the inspiring turning-point story of an important yet little-known woman in US history.
 
 
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Hero Redefined: Profiles of Olympic Athletes Under the Radar

by Doug Levy


What does it mean to be a hero—in sports and in life?


Heroes aren’t just the ones who bring home medals. 
Hero Redefined delves into the lesser-known stories of Olympic athletes—and a couple of special Olympic venues—that challenge the conventional narrative of glory and gold. In riveting personal profiles exploring herculean feats of strength, perseverance, and sportsmanship, award-winning sports journalist Doug Levy offers a new vision of heroism. There is more than one path to greatness, and the extraordinary acts of resilience and personal sacrifice by these athletes have left an indelible mark on the spirit of the Olympic games in quiet but fundamental ways through the ages.

Each chapter reveals a different face of heroism—immense resilience, strength of character, unparalleled sportsmanship, an incredible zeal to compete, and a seemingly superhuman will to 
finish. Throughout, Levy celebrates the heroic human spirit and its relentless drive to carry the torch forward—both inside and outside of the Olympic Games.

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The Stowaway in First Class: A True Story of an Unforgettable Quest to Come to America

by Anthony DeSantis


A family’s legacy is forever changed in this true story of ransom notes, stowaways, and mobsters.

Paris, 1929. Gaetano “Guy” DeSantis is an Italian emigrant with a good life: a stable construction job, a comfortable place to live, and a blossoming relationship with a young waitress, Marie. But Guy dreams of making a future in America, alongside his cousin Frank who immigrated a few years earlier.

So when a mysterious stranger shows up at Guy’s door saying that Frank has paid for a boat ride across the Atlantic, how could Guy refuse? But there’s a catch—he must leave immediately, with no bags and no goodbyes.

With a heart of gold—and the suspense of a classic crime novel—this true story memorializes one man’s split-second decision to chart a new course for generations to come, proving that courage and honor do have the power to make a better life.
 
 
 
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Sim One: A Love and Then-What-Happens Story

by Tom Ahern


Simone sent me an email. The subject line: “Just read.”


Most of us spend our whole lives searching for the 
one. Some of us are lucky enough to find them, even for a moment. And some—like Simone and Tom—were lucky enough to find love, purchase a second home abroad, create a successful business, and build a life together for nearly four decades. But what happens after the love story?

Told through a series of notes and emails, Tom shares his raw, humorous, and heartfelt declarations on what it’s like living, loving, and losing the
one, Sim One, to a disease that no one talks about: cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Sim One is a love letter meets memoir that asks what does it mean to love—and keep loving—when faced with the possibility of losing it all?

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OPAL: Spirit of a Woman

by Kevin Heaton


ON THE DAY SHE WAS BORN, FATE HAD ALREADY DETERMINED HER DESTINY. 
A DESTINY FRAUGHT WITH ABANDONMENTWANT, SERVITUDE, AND REWARD.

SOLD INTO CHILDHOOD SLAVERY BY HER OWN FATHER - SHE REACHED DEEP INSIDE HER HEART AND FOUND A WELL OF STRENGTH, GRIT, FAITH, AND RAW PERSEVERANCE.

OPAL was a proud woman. Not in a haughty way - more like the way someone sets their jaw to stare down a vicious pack of "
Pit Bulls." She'd graduated from the "School of Hard Knocks," and acting self-assured was simply her way of forcing life's challenges to give up some of their ground.

Her eyes were set deeply into the granite-like constitution of her gaze. Not a cold-hearted stare, but translucent; like the serene look of a farm pond at dusk. And, although her shoulders were slightly bent from plain old fashioned hard work, it wasn't an arthritic stoop - more like the resolute position she'd assumed throughout her lifetime to guarantee her own survival.

But you see, this was still "The Great Depression," and the screen door her family was shivering and sweltering behind was that same old door attached to the same old "Sharecropper Shanty" they'd started out in. But for Opal, the decision to head to California during those difficult days or stay and 'tough things out' was what we call nowadays: ‘a no-brainer.’ Some refer to it as ‘frontier spirit,’ or ‘the will to go on.’ Whatever you choose to label it; in her case - those principles were simply the foundation on which she chose to live out her life. Then, after having whisked away all those "Dust Bowl" gales - 
She began to pay all that survivor's grit forward. Time after time through the years; into decades - she answered the call to serve others. Never mind their beliefs or their station in life, so long as the end result was to benefit those who were suffering the most.


“OPAL” is the story of Mary Opal Fetters/George; a courageous woman who lost her mother to childbirth at the tender age of seven, was sold into servitude by a father who no longer wanted her, and forced into child labor in another state for many years. In spite of all the odds stacked against her - she championed a legacy of grace.

 

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Her Deadly End: A gripping crime thriller with a twist (Tanya Stone FBI K9 Mystery Thrillers Book 1)

by Tikiri Herath


A serial killer is hiding in plain sight. No one is safe in this seaside town. Not even FBI Special Agent Tanya Stone and her K9, Max.

Paradise Cove is the perfect vacation getaway. So, FBI Agent Tanya Stone thinks...

Until a Porsche slams into the café where she and her detective friends are enjoying a morning coffee. To their horror, the driver shoots a man dead.

Then, she turns the gun on herself next.

The sheriff is quick to call it a case of extreme road rage, but Tanya realizes not all is well in this idyllic community.

The sinister secret behind this brutal crime lies buried deep in the nearby woods. But no one wants to see the truth.

With the help of her friends and her K9 partner, Max, Tanya becomes obsessed with unraveling the deadly mystery. But the more lies she exposes, the more dangerous it is to stay in town.

A killer is hiding in plain sight, watching her....

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Tales of Tara: Awakening to the Truth

by Tara Shen


A Riveting Memoir That Reads Like A Psychological Thriller

Tara’s life is unraveling. Divorcing her violent husband while caring for her dying mother, she’s forced to confront the horrors of her past—horrors her therapist suggests go far beyond what she remembers.

As Tara delves into repressed memories, she discovers that abuse by her grandfather was only the beginning. With the support of a caring therapist and survivor community, Tara unearths a long history of dark secrets, hidden family truths, and unimaginable betrayals.

While cleaning out her mother’s home, Tara finds disturbing clues—letters, photos, and other hidden evidence—that reveal the depths of her family’s secrets. Meanwhile, unsettling patterns emerge around the deaths of her childhood caregivers, leading her to suspect the influence of powerful people.

Through therapy, art, and spiritual retreats, Tara embarks on a transformative journey, connecting with the power within herself. She faces relentless harassment from her ex and the haunting mysteries of her past, but she’s determined to reclaim her life.

Tales of Tara is a spiritual self-help memoir of survival, courage, and the fierce will to uncover truth. In this gripping account, Tara shows us that healing is possible—even in the face of unimaginable darkness.

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Any Body Can Heal: A Memoir About Facing Down Trauma

by Sara Davidson

 

From survivor to psychotherapist—one woman’s path to triumphing over trauma by understanding how the brain’s brilliant protective mechanisms helped keep her alive. 

 

In this powerful and deeply personal work of nonfiction, survivor and psychotherapist Sara Davidson explores one of life’s devastating but all too pervasive realities—trauma, and its rippling aftereffects.

 

By her mid-thirties, Sara Davidson had fled a tsunami, fought off a knife-wielding thief and survived a horrific sexual assault by two masked gunmen who burst through her bedroom door in the middle of the night. As she was struggling to confront her own trauma, she was also helping her clients navigate theirs. At one point, she thought she had recovered. However, it was only after delving into the neuroscientific literature on trauma and discovering how her brain had protected her in her darkest hour that she found her way to true healing.

 

Thoughtful and brutally honest, Davidson’s memoir draws on her personal experience, professional training and the insights she gained through her investigations to paint a moving portrait of one woman’s winding path to self-acceptance, healing and reclaiming a joyful life.

 

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Honor, Courage, Commitment, And NavAdmin 190/21

by Billy Young-Wolf Blair


Author: Billy Osceola Young-Wolf Blair

Title: Honor, Courage, Commitment, and NavAdmin 190/21

 

What do honor, courage, and commitment mean to you and how do you think they shaped the person you are today?

Honor, Courage, and Commitment is a gripping memoir that tells the story of one man's journey of personal courage and conviction. As the only active duty member at his military station to refuse the mandatory vaccine mandate, he faced intense pressure from his superiors and peers. But he stood firm in his beliefs, even when it meant risking his career and reputation.

Through vivid and honest storytelling, the author takes us on a journey of self-discovery and self-realization. He describes the internal struggle he faced as he weighed his own beliefs against the expectations of his colleagues and the military hierarchy. He also shares the emotional toll that the experience took on his personal life, as he faced criticism and ostracism from those around him.

But “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” is more than just a personal story. It's also a powerful and timely exploration of the complex issues surrounding vaccine mandates and individual rights. The author delves into the scientific, ethical, and legal arguments for and against vaccine mandates, and offers a nuanced perspective on this contentious issue.

Ultimately, “Honor, Courage, and Commitment” is a call to action for anyone who cares about individual liberty and public health. It's a reminder that we all have a responsibility to stand up for our beliefs, even in the face of opposition. And it's a testament to the power of personal conviction and the human spirit.

Get a copy now!

 

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Wild (Oprah's Book Club 2.0 Digital Edition): From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

by Cheryl Strayed


#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State—and she would do it alone. Told with suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

Oprah's Book Club 2.0 selection: This special eBook edition of Cheryl Strayed’s national best seller, Wild, features exclusive content, including Oprah’s personal notes highlighted within the text, and a reading group guide. 

One of the Best Books of the Year: NPR, The Boston GlobeEntertainment Weekly, Vogue, St. Louis Dispatch 

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Killing the Alien: Finding the Light on a Cancer Journey

by Stephanie Lopuszynski


YOU HAVE CANCER

These three words could be the most terrifying you'll ever hear. The thought of having to confront cancer may take you to a very dark place in your mind. Dealing with doctor's appointments, testing, expenses, differing opinions, and unknown outcomes can be overwhelming.

If this seems familiar to you, then Killing the Alien: Finding the Light on a Cancer Journey is the book you've been searching for. More than just a personal account, the book offers valuable rest stops along the way. "Think This, Not That" sections explore negative thoughts about cancer, offering a fresh perspective. For those grappling with supporting a loved one, the "Say This, Not That" segments provide alternative approaches and empathetic support.

The journey is further punctuated with practical suggestions, addressing the tangible aspects of the cancer road. From hospital essentials to maintaining a sense of control in the midst of chaos, the author imparts wisdom on asking questions, preparing for the future, and approaching the next steps.

Wrapped in a narrative that is both realistic and at times humorous, "Killing the Alien" aims to guide readers from dark thoughts to light and from fear to hope. If you've ever faced the distressing reality of a cancer diagnosis, this book is your essential companion on the road to understanding, coping, and ultimately, healing. Grab your copy today!

 
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Influencing Death: Reframing Dying for Better Living

by Penny Hawkins Smith


A hospice nurse's unflinching look at life, death, and redemption.

Death is undeniable and unavoidable. We must accept it; there is no other choice. But coming to terms with our mortality can profoundly influence how we live-and how we die. Having been a hospice nurse for decades, Penny Hawkins Smith is an expert on death and dying. As a recovering alcoholic and former drug addict, she knows what it means to change course and become a meaningful contributor to society. Through her work with death, Penny found her purpose in life.

In Influencing Death, Penny brings transparency and levity to the grim topic of death while revealing truths about the reckless past that influenced her decision to become a hospice nurse. Using down-to-earth, compassionate storytelling, she transports readers into the room with dying people and their families, laying bare the raw and real human emotions and behaviors people have when life and death are hanging in the balance.

Weaving together dual narratives of death and life, Penny challenges us to see how embracing our own mortality-and the mortality of the people we love-can help us live more fully and approach the end of life with greater acceptance, grace, and peace.

 

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The Adopted Nurse: A Memoir Of Courage, Compassion, And Hope

by Lisa Astalos Chism DNP RN


A Journey of Healing, Courage, and Compassion Through the Eyes of an Adoptee

What happens when your search for belonging leads to both love and heartbreak?

In The Adopted Nurse: A Memoir of Courage, Compassion, and Hope, Dr. Lisa Astalos Chism, a devoted nurse and adoptee, weaves together her personal story of love, loss, and self-discovery. From growing up with loving adoptive parents to reuniting with her birth father through DNA technology, Dr. Chism shares the emotional highs and devastating lows of her search for identity.

In this book, you will:

  • Explore the complex emotions of gratitude and grief as an adoptee.
  • Understand healing through self-love, acceptance, and resilience in the face of trauma.
  • Discover the power of compassion—for yourself and others—as a tool for healing.
  • Learn about practical techniques for processing trauma and rejection.
  • Be inspired to find courage and confidence despite facing abandonment and loss.


The Adopted Nurse reveals the profound impact of adoption, trauma, and healing on both personal and professional levels.

 

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Anecdotes & Ambition: Fueling my Journey from El Salvador to the American Dream

by Jose Luis Gomez


Embark on a transformative journey from El Salvador to the American Dream with Jose Luis Mejia in "Anecdotes and Ambition." Discover the untold story of resilience and ambition that defies borders and inspires hearts.

In this gripping narrative, Jose shares the hard-won wisdom from a life of entrepreneurial grit and corporate leadership, spanning continents and cultures.He brings decades of experience, offering invaluable insights into navigating challenges and seizing opportunities in business and life.

In this book, you will:

  • Discover the Power of Adaptability: Turn life's challenges into opportunities for growth.
  • Learn Resilience: Navigate personal and professional setbacks with grace.
  • Embrace the Entrepreneurial Spirit: Recognize opportunities, take risks, and persevere through failure.
  • Cultivate Leadership: Learn what it takes to lead teams to success.
  • Balance Vision and Pragmatism: Master the art of pursuing dreams while staying grounded in reality.

This book illuminates the path from humble beginnings to achieving the American Dream through resilience, ambition, and practical wisdom. Discover how one man's determination can inspire you to overcome any obstacle and achieve your own dreams. Grab a copy now!

 

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The Prophets

by Robert Jr. Jones


Best Book of the Year

NPR • The Washington Post • Boston Globe• TIME • USA Today • Entertainment Weekly • Real Simple • Parade • Buzzfeed • Electric Literature • LitHub • BookRiot • PopSugar • Goop • Library Journal • BookBub • KCRW

• Finalist for the National Book Award
• One of the New York Times Notable Books of the Year
• One of the New York Times Best Historical Fiction of the Year
• Instant New York Times Bestseller 

A singular and stunning debut novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence.

Isaiah was Samuel's and Samuel was Isaiah's. That was the way it was since the beginning, and the way it was to be until the end. In the barn they tended to the animals, but also to each other, transforming the hollowed-out shed into a place of human refuge, a source of intimacy and hope in a world ruled by vicious masters. But when an older man—a fellow slave—seeks to gain favor by preaching the master's gospel on the plantation, the enslaved begin to turn on their own. Isaiah and Samuel's love, which was once so simple, is seen as sinful and a clear danger to the plantation's harmony.

With a lyricism reminiscent of Toni Morrison, Robert Jones, Jr., fiercely summons the voices of slaver and enslaved alike, from Isaiah and Samuel to the calculating slave master to the long line of women that surround them, women who have carried the soul of the plantation on their shoulders. As tensions build and the weight of centuries—of ancestors and future generations to come—culminates in a climactic reckoning, 
The Prophets fearlessly reveals the pain and suffering of inheritance, but is also shot through with hope, beauty, and truth, portraying the enormous, heroic power of love.

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My Little Brother: a childhood memoir

by Maiko Serizawa


Have you ever lost someone so dear that their memory still shapes your life?

In My Little Brother, Maiko shares a poignant yet heartwarming journey through her early years with her beloved younger brother who passed away far too soon.

Through vivid recollections of their time together in a small community of a rural Japanese town, Maiko brings to life the joy and warmth of their shared childhood adventures. Her brother, despite his short life due to heart disease, left an indelible mark on everyone around him, especially his big sister.

My Little Brother is a touching memoir that celebrates the beauty of a brief but significant life and the enduring love that keeps memories alive. Join Maiko on a journey with her little brother, and rediscover the magic of childhood and the power of memory.

Get your copy of My Little Brother today!

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