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).

Paris: The Memoir

by Paris Hilton

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On Animals

by Susan Orlean


NATIONAL BESTSELLER


“Magnificent.” —The New York Times * “Beguiling, observant, and howlingly funny.” —San Francisco Chronicle * “Spectacular.” —Star Tribune (Minneapolis)* “Full of astonishments.” —The Boston Globe

Susan Orlean—the beloved New Yorker staff writer hailed as “a national treasure” by The Washington Post and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Library Book—gathers a lifetime of musings, meditations, and in-depth profiles about animals.

“How we interact with animals has preoccupied philosophers, poets, and naturalists for ages,” writes Susan Orlean. Since the age of six, when Orlean wrote and illustrated a book called 
Herbert the Near-Sighted Pigeon, she’s been drawn to stories about how we live with animals, and how they abide by us. Now, in On Animals, she examines animal-human relationships through the compelling tales she has written over the course of her celebrated career.

These stories consider a range of creatures—the household pets we dote on, the animals we raise to end up as meat on our plates, the creatures who could eat us for dinner, the various tamed and untamed animals we share our planet with who are central to human life. In her own backyard, Orlean discovers the delights of keeping chickens. In a different backyard, in New Jersey, she meets a woman who has twenty-three pet tigers—something none of her neighbors knew about until one of the tigers escapes. In Iceland, the world’s most famous whale resists the efforts to set him free; in Morocco, the world’s hardest-working donkeys find respite at a special clinic. We meet a show dog and a lost dog and a pigeon who knows exactly how to get home.

Equal parts delightful and profound, enriched by Orlean’s stylish prose and precise research, these stories celebrate the meaningful cross-species connections that grace our collective existence.

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Do You Believe in Me: A Memoir of Addiction, Hope, and Family Bonds

by Colleen Schaeffel


In Do You Believe in Me witness a family torn apart by addiction through the eyes of a determined daughter. As her parents' lives shatter she becomes the pillar of strength, rallying her siblings to stand together in the face of adversity.

This poignant tale portrays the unbreakable bonds of family, forged through love and shared hardship. With a mix of heartrending honesty and moments of levity, the author paints a vivid picture of their journey. Can their collective love and resilience lead to redemption, or will they be forever defined by their fractured past?

Join this family on a transformative path from loss to healing in a narrative that explores the power of human connection, making Do You Believe in Me a compelling and inspiring read.

 

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My American Dream: A Journey from Fascism to Freedom

by Barbara Sommer Feigin

On August 4, 1940, the Seattle Times featured a photo of a toddler sitting on a dock, surrounded by suitcases and looking dazed. After a harrowing journey with her parents, she’d just stepped off a boat and into her new life in America. Barbara Sommer Feigin was that little girl.
Over seventy years later, Feigin made a stunning discovery: her Jewish father had kept a detailed journal that chronicled their family’s escape from Nazi Germany. Her parents had never spoken of it, and she remembered nothing of their terrifying, death-defying passage three-quarters of the way around the world—from Berlin to Seattle by way of Lithuania, Russia, China, Korea, and Japan before crossing the Pacific.

Featuring three intertwining narratives, 
My American Dream is a memoir of resilience, grit, and grace. Feigin tells of her life as a young German-speaking refugee living in a small Washington town and yearning to become an “authentic” American. She details how she became a trailblazing executive in the advertising business in New York City—a completely male-dominated business in the 1960s—rising from the ranks and ultimately securing a seat in the executive boardroom. A devoted wife and mom of three sons (including one set of twins), she spent twenty-five years as a caregiver for her husband, who suffered two serious strokes, and remained fiercely committed to building strong family bonds during turbulent times.

Despite overwhelming odds, her parents’ grueling journey to America has fueled Feigin’s lifelong resolve to dream big, work hard, and never quit. 
My American Dream is an inspiring tale of love, dedication, and how uncovering the past and preserving history can inform your identity.

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Against All Odds: A True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II

by Alex Kershaw


*The instant 
New York Times bestseller*

The untold story of four of the most decorated soldiers of World War II—all Medal of Honor recipients—from the beaches of French Morocco to Hitler’s own mountaintop fortress, by the national bestselling author of 
The First Wave

“Pitch-perfect.”—The Wall Street Journal • “Riveting.”—World War II magazine • “Alex Kershaw is the master of putting the reader in the heat of the action.”—Martin Dugard

As the Allies raced to defeat Hitler, four men, all in the same unit, earned medal after medal for battlefield heroism. Maurice “Footsie” Britt, a former professional football player, became the very first American to receive every award for valor in a single war. Michael Daly was a West Point dropout who risked his neck over and over to keep his men alive. Keith Ware would one day become the first and only draftee in history to attain the rank of general before serving in Vietnam. In WWII, Ware owed his life to the finest soldier he ever commanded, a baby-faced Texan named Audie Murphy. In the campaign to liberate Europe, each would gain the ultimate accolade, the Congressional Medal of Honor.
 
Tapping into personal interviews and a wealth of primary source material, Alex Kershaw has delivered his most gripping account yet of American courage, spanning more than six hundred days of increasingly merciless combat, from the deserts of North Africa to the dark heart of Nazi Germany. Once the guns fell silent, these four exceptional warriors would discover just how heavy the Medal of Honor could be—and how great the expectations associated with it. Having survived against all odds, who among them would finally find peace?

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Managing for Meteors: Preparing Local Government Leaders Before the Impact

by Shane Silsby


Managing for Meteors
 provides a conduit for passing on direct experiences, raising questions, and providing tools for new leaders to consider for enhancing the functions of local governments and getting prepared in advance of major disruptors.

The American workplace, and especially local governments, faces increasingly numerous metaphoric meteors in these ever-changing times. These meteors can appear in the form of cyber-attacks, international military conflicts, continental supply chain disruption, a global pandemic, or things we have yet to imagine...

Under these scenarios, inevitably the attention of leaders will be diverted from daily operational activities on which community constituents rely. 
Managing for Meteors is aimed at priming organizations to be as efficient and effective as possible, so when that major disruption hits - the agency will be more likely to pass the preparedness test.

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Foot Soldier in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Memoir

by Jeffrey Cooper


An intricate, heartfelt memoir … a brilliant read. 
Readers Favorite
The author reveals the human side of the latest industrial revolution. 
IndieReader
Four 
Readers’ Favorite 5 Stars Awards
RECOMMENDED by the 
US Review of Books

This is the inspiring story of Jeffrey Cooper's lifelong journey through the fast-paced and ever-changing world of technology, from computer operator to chip developer, and his search for meaning.

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Camp Fire Girl: My Story of Survival and Recovery from the Deadly 2018 Wildfire Called the Camp Fire

by Erin Rhatigan


This book tells the heroic true story of one nurse’s survival and recovery from the deadliest wildfire disaster in California history.

Camp Fire Girl is a gripping and poignant account of one woman's harrowing journey through the deadliest wildfire in California's history. Written by a courageous nurse who faced the inferno head-on, this book offers a personal perspective on the heart-wrenching experience of surviving a wildfire disaster.

As the flames raged around her, the author takes you on a breathtaking and emotional rollercoaster, describing the chaos, fear, and determination that fueled her fight for survival. Her story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the unwavering resilience in the face of nature's fury.

But Camp Fire Girl is more than just a tale of survival; it's a valuable guide for anyone living in wildfire-prone areas. Through the author's first-hand experiences, the book imparts essential knowledge and practical advice on how to prepare for, endure, and recover from the devastating aftermath of a wildfire.

In an era marked by the growing threat of climate change, this book is an indispensable resource for those who could face the ravages of wildfires. "Camp Fire Girl" offers hope, inspiration, and the vital information needed to ensure a quicker recovery, making it a must-read for all who understand the urgency of adapting to our changing world. Grab your copy today!

 

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The Pilgrimage: A Contemporary Quest for Ancient Wisdom (Plus)

by Paulo Coelho


A Journey for the Ages

The Pilgrimage paved the way to Paulo Coelho’s international bestselling novel The Alchemist. In many ways, these two volumes are companions—to truly comprehend one, you must read the other.

Step inside this captivating account of Coelho’s pilgrimage along the road to Santiago. This fascinating parable explores the need to find one’s own path. In the end, we discover that the extraordinary is always found in the ordinary and simple ways of everyday people. Part adventure story, part guide to self-discovery, this compelling tale delivers the perfect combination of enchantment and insight.

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Choosing My Tomorrow: Surviving Murder, Navigating Mental Health, and Harnessing the Power of Choice

by Jodie Baulkham


What do you do when all your plans for tomorrow come crumbling down?

When Jodie Baulkham's world shatters at 29 with the loss of her husband in the line of duty, she finds herself the sole parent of their 8-month-old daughter. In the aftermath of this tragedy, she undergoes a crash course in grief and despair.

Yet, as she picks up the broken pieces of her life, she uncovers something unexpected. While she grapples with profound sorrow, she also discovers the seeds of hope and joy. This memoir traces Jodie’s progression from anguish to coping, to managing, and to ultimately thriving. Through her experience, Jodie extends a roadmap for those navigating grief and demonstrating how to carve out a resilient and joyful future.

The same principles that guided her through grief become her compass in addressing challenges later in life. Her new marriage confronts the hurdles of her husband’s battle with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder, while her daughter contends with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Navigating adversity isn't about dismissing pain or difficulty. It's about harnessing the power of choice. Applicable to every facet of our lives, it enables us to unveil joy in unexpected places.

Jodie’s story illustrates how we can all cultivate and nurture resilience. We each possess the strength to engage with adversity and emerge stronger with the right approach.

Choosing a better tomorrow is possible for each of us. Grab your copy today!

 

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Damaged Goods: A Devotional for the Slightly Imperfect

by Stacy Kaye


Does God really care about you?

This is a question we all have to ask ourselves. This book isn’t for the girls who’ve always done everything right. It’s for the oops–I–did–it–againers, the live–my–life–on–my–own–termers, the sometimes–learn–from–my–mistakers, the ones who’ve fallen down hard and lived to tell the tale, who’ve never quite fit the good-girl mold—the perfectly imperfect. It’s an open and raw look at what happens when a Christian damages her testimony and the restorative power of God’s love. Through personal stories, Stacy invites you into some of her darkest days and candidly shares hard-won wisdom around questions like . . .

  • Why do Christians run screaming in the opposite direction when someone’s life gets messy?
  • What should your role be when another Christian makes a mistake or struggles with something with which you don’t agree?
  • How can you overcome crippling fear, anxiety, and worry?
  • Why do you wander away from God over and over again?
  • Does it really matter if you forgive someone who wronged you?

This is not your mom’s devotional. It’s not filled with flowery descriptions or complex theology. It’s for women who are ready to get real and have an honest conversation about what it means to make a royal mess of your life and the painful paths your choices sometimes lead you down.

Inside you’ll find extraordinary truths and practical tips sprinkled with loads of encouragement meant just for you slightly imperfect daughters of the king! Grab your copy today!

 

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Bryce Canyon National Park Photo Hiking

by Anthony Wessel


Join Debbie & Anthony on their Photo Hiking trek through Bryce Canyon National Park.
 This chronological photographic recap of their trek across this beautiful National Park.

Debbie is the photographer. Anthony is the outdoors lover. He also enjoys his responsibility as an aspiring Photo Assistant. They compromised on a mixture of hiking and Debbie’s passion for photography. In essence, Photo Hiking tours of the U.S. National Parks.

Follow Debbie & Anthony on their Photo Hiking trek

This Photo Hiking book is a visual tour and recap listed in chronological order of their visit to Bryce Canyon National Park in March of 2021 as a mid-50’s couple. Debbie and Anthony, beginning in their early 50’s, started in earnest to visiting many of the 63 National Parks. They provide tips, tricks, and lessons learned from their 40+ National Parks visited during their middle-aged years with the hope it will make your National Park experience more enjoyable.

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Call Me Nikki: One Woman’s Battle to Find Freedom and Break the Cycle of Abuse

by Nikki Navarro


“An engrossing, often gut-wrenching portrayal of abuse that offers a path to healing.”—
Kirkus Reviews

“Navarro has written a memoir loaded with suspense that readers won't want to put down.”—Readers' Favorite

“When you rise above the pain, you can transform it into power.” —Nikki Navarro
In this gripping, honest memoir, Nikki Navarro shares her true story of abuse, kidnapping, and multigenerational trauma—and how she ultimately broke the cycle to find happiness and success.


Call Me Nikki begins as a story of an unloved little girl, born the product of a nonconsensual encounter to a young mother and absent father. Nikki’s parents, who were themselves victims of abuse, were unable to offer her the love and stability every child deserves. The neglectful and harmful experiences Nikki faced as a child follows her into adulthood, where she continues to fall into toxic situations and relationships, easily manipulated and overpowered by others. But when Nikki uncovers long-concealed secrets that have haunted generations of women in her family, she becomes determined to end the generational cycle of abuse.

With candor and grace, Nikki reveals how she managed to journey through unthinkable suffering and find the strength to reject the narrative of her past and build a life filled with love and faith. 
Call Me Nikki brings to light a heartbreaking reality that many women face—but is ultimately a story of resilience, triumph, and hope.

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Hold Back the Rain

by Michelle Vignault


A gripping true story about a family unraveling—and how one woman regains her mental health and finds solace after becoming a widow.


The recounting of an emotional and personal experience, 
Hold Back the Rain shares the true story of one woman’s journey through a challenging adulthood. What happens when a stable, happy life begins to slowly drift away, further and further out of reach? What happens when life continuously goes wrong at every turn—from career changes to marriage strife to illness to death? And who will be there to help pick up the pieces?

With honesty and confidence (and a touch of Duran Duran), Michelle Vignault shares her journey of ups and downs through a complicated life, and how a special friendship helped her through the darkness to find a second chance at happiness. With the support of a best friend, Vignault discovers the tools she needs to overcome one obstacle after another until she eventually regains control of her family. 
Hold Back the Rain brings to light the difficult realities of life but ultimately is the story of how inner strength and perseverance are the keys to making it through.

Life is full of heartbreaking moments—but it is in these darkest hours that true bonds are formed.

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TWO FEET IN: LESSONS FROM AN ALL-IN LIFE

by JEANNE COLLINS


What do you do when you feel like the ground you are standing on is crumbling?

Jeanne Collins wasn’t always living with two feet in—but now she wants to share how she harnessed an abundance mindset to build the life she always wanted.

In this memoir, Jeanne proves her mission statement: success requires perseverance and vulnerability. From the trials of childhood to the rush of romance; from the crush of heartbreak to the nervous excitement of two major pivots in her career—readers will relate to Jeanne’s honest and heartfelt insights on growing up, motherhood, love, and, yes, interior design.

While she’s now found the balance and energy she long sought, it hasn’t always been easy. This is a story about overcoming an internal dialogue clouded by doubt and laying the foundation for a better future. A good life isn’t so different from a good home, after all—with skillful framing and mindful finishes, a holistic environment can be fostered inside and out.

In this book, you will learn:

  • How to be the designer of your own life.
  • How to live an all-in life and trust your decisions.
  • How to put life/work balance into your life.
  • How to make yourself a priority.
  • How to incorporate mindset into your life to have greater inner peace and happiness.


With heartfelt insights and hard-won lessons, Jeanne’s story is infused with a sense of love, abundance and hope. Jeanne’s philosophy strives to be one with the universe while staying grounded in what we can all control: trusting ourselves and committing to our personal blueprints. Hence feet, two of them in particular, planted firmly as the inspired designers of our own lives. To find out more about her journey, grab this book today!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeanne Collins lives in New Canaan, CT with her teenage daughter and two dogs. She is the founder and principal designer of the award-winning interior design firm, JerMar Designs. Two Feet In is Collins’ first book and was written with the goal of inspiring more people to live life to the fullest. This mission to encourage people to live their best lives is integral to everything Collins does, from her work creating sanctuaries for her interior design clients, to mentoring women in business, she encourages us all to go for what we want with “two feet in.”

 

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Daughter of Song: A Cambodian Refugee Family, Their Daughter, Crime and Injustice

by Doug Hood


A true crime tale told with earnest compassion and cultural sensitivity…with a great deal of empathy, as well as an ample amount of detail…offering an intimacy that many true-crime stories lack." – Kirkus Reviews

While volunteering at a women's prison, Doug stumbles upon Panna Krom's story. A gut-wrenching tragedy that would send him on a meandering near-impossible mission to try to correct an appalling injustice.

Panna, the 17-year-old daughter of a Cambodian refugee family, went from hiding an unwanted pregnancy to being charged in a highly-publicized murder case. That ultimately earned her an 18-year sentence.

With no legal credentials, Doug exposes a broken criminal justice system which had ignored crucial facts and discovered other surprising prison sentences for crimes identical to Panna’s.


Daughter of Song is a gripping account of a bold attempt to right an irreparable wrong while spanning dangerous treks through the Khmer Rouge-controlled jungles of Cambodia and the suffering of wasted years behind bars.


Compelling…gripping…incredible reporting…very fine writing.” – Amy Nutt, Washington Post Columnist, Author and Pulitzer Prize Winner

“I just had the pleasure of reading your manuscript. It's incredible; the story itself is powerful and moving. Congratulations on completing such a wonderful book; I'm inspired by your example.” – Rachel E. Barkow, Vice Dean and Charles Seligson Professor of Law, NYU School of Law

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Prove Them Wrong: Defying All Odds

by Dre Evans


★★★#1 WALL STREET JOURNAL & INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER ★★★


YOU NEED TO STOP.

This is a book for people who want to take action.

At twelve years old, Dre Evans felt proud to participate in his first drive-by shooting.

Everyone craves belonging and purpose in life. How far would you go to satisfy that need? Dre started by joining a Chicago street gang. But one terrifying day, as bullets flew past his head, he wondered if that desire was worth dying for.

What happened next shocked the entire city.

Dre and his brothers made history by becoming the first set of African-American triplets accepted into the U.S Naval Academy.

In this unfiltered, addictive, 
page-turning memoir, Dre shares his gripping story, challenges the stigma surrounding the word “gang,” and offers a fresh perspective on how to take your potential to the next level. If you feel drained or desire to increase your income and impact in life, Prove Them Wrong shows you how to make any situation work--for you.

What if you had the power to:

  • Fight through lack of motivation and fear
  • Rewire your mind and gain self-discipline
  • Understand your traumas and heal from them
  • Get clarity on who you are as a person and your purpose
  • Reprogram how you respond to adversity
  • Run through life on your own terms
  • Rise above the odds placed on you by society, work, family, and friends
  • Use pain as fuel to accomplish your dreams

This book punches you in the face with that power.

Prove yourself wrong. Prove your circumstances wrong. Prove your limitations wrong. Prove everyone wrong.

DO IT NOW.

 

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The Summer I Died Twenty Times: Because Lightning Does Strike the Same Spot Twice

by Fred Rutman


"Hello. My name is Fred. And I've been dead. Numerous times."

This is the true account of the medical traumas of Fred Rutman. From 2009 through 2018, Fred faced continuous life and death situations that rocked every aspect of his life. Further, the unique aspects of his rarely-seen conditions forced medical teams to level up like never before.

Fred Rutman was certainly up against it. It being the Grim Reaper. The Reaper unleashed its full arsenal, pitting Fred against much of the medical system he trusted with his life. Even if Fred won the initial battles, could he win the war?

The Summer I Died Twenty Times is a medical trauma memoir unlike any other. In one package, Fred Rutman provides all the overcoming adversity, resilience and beating the odds a reader expects. With a side of sarcasm and humour. He may not be the hero you expected. He just might be the hero you need.

This may be the most important book you never knew you had to read. These experiences changed the lives of almost everyone who knows Fred. It will likely change your life, too. Perhaps even save your life or the life of someone you know. Pick up a copy. Now. You'll be glad you did.

 

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