Autobiography Examples

Life isn't just measured in the years a person lives for; life is looked upon as to what an individual commits to in his/her time. Whether there are ups and downs, good and bad times, or success stories or failures to bear, a person's life says it all. Oftentimes, we have come across such amazing stories, as in life tales, of people whom we consider as role models or people that have had a huge impact on our society. The world as we view it has changed, for better or worse is a different concept, due to such people's lives and works. And when these individuals include the common people into their lives, we take it as a challenge to be something of our own.

With the help of autobiography, we have understood and learned a great deal about such individuals. Theirs and our lives have never been the same after it. These biographies aren't just a portal to get a glimpse of what other people have gone through in their lives. These autobiographies have shaped the way we exist in this world. Autobiographies have been in any reader's reading list. It could be one autobiography or many, that is not of consequence. Everyone, who aims to be someone big someday, would dream of seeing their autobiography in the best seller list. But why do you have to be famous to write an autobiography? Anyone can write an autobiography. In this article, I have discussed a few autobiography examples of those famous individuals from whom you can take inspiration.

Examples of Autobiographies

Many influential people of modern times have brought about a difference in the mindset of the people, all thanks to their much-publicized and thought-provoking autobiographies. They have used it, as a way to put forth their experiences and inferences in such a way that people (the curious and serious-minded readers) can relate to it better. Here are a few examples of autobiographies you can read and get inspired from. Perhaps you too wish to write one of your own.

Autobiography of Adolf Hitler Through his book "Mein Kamph", which literally means "My Struggle", Adolf Hitler put forth his life story and political views. This dictator's writing was so brilliant that even today, a reader, at level, can be compelled to concur to his beliefs. The dictation of "Mein Kamph" begun in 1923 while Hitler was in imprisonment for committing political crimes. This book has been a universal bestseller and is still available freely at major bookstore chairs.

Autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi "My experiments with Truth", the book written by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, is one of the world's most influential books ever written. Just like Hitler, Mahatma Gandhi has tried to propound his beliefs, through his book. He has tried to show the difference between right and wrong. It covers his life up to the year 1920. Unlike many autobiographies, Gandhi has shown a very truthful and humble side to himself in his autobiography.

Autobiography of Barack Obama U.S. President Barack Obama is practically a modern-day hero. In a way he has brought about a sense of sanity back to the world. His book "Dreams from My Father", has shown a very human and 'down to earth' side of this brilliant man. Barack Obama has spoken about his race, education, culture and life in this book. His realistic writing style can make any reader relate to it, at the most primal level. This book is not just about his life's journey but is also about his inferences, out of the experiences that he has had in this journey, so far.

Other Examples on an Autobiography

Apart from the ones we discussed earlier, there are other autobiography examples of influential, brilliant, and charismatic individuals. Whether you wish to write an autobiography or just want to increase your knowledge, these autobiographies are worth reading. The following list is definitely diverse; a small compilation of what readers of all types would like to know about.

• Daughter of Destiny: An Autobiography ~ Benazir Bhutto
• Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook ~ Anthony Bourdain
• Mémoires de la vie privée de Benjamin Franklin ~ Benjamin Franklin
• Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity ~ Drew Brees
• Make Gentle the Life of This World: The Vision of Robert F. Kennedy ~ Robert F Kennedy
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley ~ Alex Haley
• The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
• In the Frame: My Life in Words and Pictures ~ Helen Mirren

Tips to Write an Autobiography

Now that you have an understanding as to what an autobiography should be like (assuming you've read at least one of these famous autobiographies), you can start one of your own. Like the examples of autobiographies discussed above, any autobiography needs to deal with a few aspects. And here they are...

• Introduction ~ One needs to give on introduction about themselves in the autobiography. This introduction needs to contain basic aspects like name, where you live, when and where were you born, what conditions were you born in, etc.
• You in totality ~ This part of the autobiography deals with a general point of view, that you hold about yourself. It also needs to let the reader be able to visualize you in the current day. You need to include your current situations, habits, lifestyle etc.
• Life, in general ~ This part of the autobiography deals with your view about life, on a general note. You need to include your understanding of life and its implications. This part is your route to propound your belief. So, make it descriptive.
• View and aims ~ Here, you talk about where do you see yourself in the future or what you expect to happen in the future. This part, mostly, should be in compatibility with the previous aspect, else your reader could get confused and lose interest in the book.
• Conclusion ~ Like all stories, an autobiography also needs to have an apt conclusion. You can leave a lasting impression on the reader with the help of your conclusion. Remember, you do not need to have a "moral of the story". You can simply end it with hope, if you like.

Always remember, it is your autobiography, not an example of an autobiography, you can write it the way you like. So, experiment and enjoy. As they say, "if you find it interesting while writing it, the reader will find it interesting while reading it". This is where I sign off. Hope to find your autobiography on the stands soon!!