What better way to learn more about the world around us than to step into the shoes of another person? By reading memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies, we can see through the lenses of others, enabling us to experience a life that may be different or similar to your own. It’s an effective way to re/cognize the world in a new light, to soak in lessons, aphorisms, or information that can grow our understandings and develop empathy.
In this post, let’s explore a list of books to read that’ll let you see the world through another person’s perspective!
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of indie pop/alternative band Japanese Breakfast, writes about her upbringing, life, and Korean culture in this raw and engrossing memoir. It intertwines Korean cuisine with Zauner’s American Korean identity and connection to her mother, the overarching figure throughout the book who sadly passed away when Zauner was 25.
It’s the little anecdotes, both the good memories and more rebellious ones, that grip readers with emotion. Knowing this makes Zauner’s music, specifically Japanese Breakfast’s debut full-length album Psychopomp (2016), hit harder; this indie- and dream-pop album also fuses elements of shoegaze and alt-rock, featuring an album cover that shows Zauner’s mother with her friend. Both the album and book are deeply personal; for instance, the latter is an emotional read that excels at captivating audiences with Zauner’s exploration of her daughter-mother relationship and how she navigates culture and grief, which may especially be relatable to those who grew up with similarly diverse cultures and upbringings.
A History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray Belcourt — a memoir that amalgamates the very best of creative writing, poetry, essays, and other genres in an eloquent fashion — delves into topics that range from identity and sexuality to colonialism. While this smaller book is less than 200 pages, don’t write it off as a quick and light read, because just like with any expressive and impactful work of writing, it’s beneficial to read, slowly, and re-read his writing to appreciate the words and to soak in the knowledge. Between and/or within the anecdotes of sex, queerness, indigeneity, and more, there are academic ideas, intersectionalities, and poetry that’s conveyed in a way that’s vulnerably elegant, as if to invite us to contemplate and think deeply.
When you think about trivia, what’s the first gameshow that comes to mind? Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? and The Chase are all shows that may have sparked a love of quizzing for many people, although perhaps the most recognizable of them all is Jeopardy! This iconic game show featured the late great Alex Trebek, who was the host of the show for nearly 37 seasons. Trebek’s The Answer Is… dives into his philosophies and thoughts on a myriad of topics; it also includes insight into Jeopardy! lore and Trebek’s own life. The layout of the chapters is stylistically akin to the Jeopardy! question format: “The Answer Is… Riding a Stationary Pony” (p. 26–28; Trebek discusses his time living in Toronto and how he got a picture with a pony) and “Who Is… James Holzhauer?” (p. 201–204). This is a must-read if you grew up with Jeopardy!
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, a classic that’s part of the 2011 TIME magazine’s All-TIME 100 Nonfiction Books list, expertly merges autobiographical and poetic writing. Its subject matters include racism and rape, issues that Angelou had been a victim of during her younger years as a child. It’s a difficult read at times, but one that’s necessary to get a glimpse into the experiences of among the most transformative and impactful writers/poets and activists ever, but also to get some insight into how the U.S. in the ‘30s and ‘40s looked in terms of segregation and racism. While this book carries lots of tragedy and heavy themes, Angelou’s story and life is also one of resilience.
From the outside, Alison Bechdel’s father, Bruce, might seem like the model dad and husband, as she notes on page 17 of her illustrated memoir Fun Home. But when Bechdel peels away the layers and unravels the story, there’s something he may be hiding.
Bechdel recounts her father’s passion for restoration, showing his meticulous sense of design that seems to overshadow his parental duties. He was also a funeral director and English teacher. After Bechdel comes out as lesbian, she learns about her father’s sexuality and past secret affairs, just months before his death. This book explores gender, queerness, death, and family dynamics through Bechdel’s engaging writing and detailed illustrations.
Some might not think of Lionel Richie as a shy person, but as it turns out, he writes in Truly that he was an extremely shy boy growing up; a life of stardom might not have been top-of-mind for the folks who personally knew him back in the day. But of course, Richie is an established and profound musician who’ll make many listeners nostalgic. His memoir truly (pun intended) does a detailed job at going through Richie’s life from his time in the Commodores to later events in his career. His humble attitude and insightful experiences are a thrill to read for those who are fans of Richie’s music!
Like many of you, I grew up with Robin Williams. Many of his movies, including Good Will Hunting (1997) and Dead Poets Society (1989), remain among my favourite films of all time. His masterful improv skills and top-tier comedic abilities are unparallelled, and there’s no doubt that he’s a one-of-a-kind comedian and actor who will forever remain beloved by many. With over 500 pages, Robin by Dave Itzkoff is an extremely well-researched book that gives us a closer glimpse into Williams’ life, consisting of parts about his personal struggles and interviews with those who knew him. The melancholy kicks in when we read about what Williams had to deal with behind the scenes, yet being reminded of what Williams gave to the world is both nostalgic and emotional.
If you’re unfamiliar with the history and politics of Poland like I am, Breadcrumbs by Kasia Babis can give you some insight into the post-Soviet Poland. This graphic memoir will give readers into the glimpse of Babis’ upbringing, weaving in the political and religious climate of Poland. Using simple illustrations and text that’s easy to comprehend, Babis chronicles her life from her years as a teen with a rebellious side to life as an activist. It’s a nice blend between learning history and getting a peek into the author’s life amid the zeitgeist and changes during the ‘90s and beyond.
Did you gain any new perspectives? Or unearth any new ideas? If you want more, click here to dig through our collection of biographies and memoirs to see if there are other eye-opening, insightful, and intriguing books to check out.