American Sniper
by Chris Kyle

This autobiography of the U.S. Navy SEAL’s deadliest sniper provides insight into the operations of modern warfare, recounts some of his most dramatic moments in combat in Iraq, and reveals the stress and strain of his job on both himself and his family, including his wife’s observations on the same. Most compelling is the glimpse into the psyche of Kyle himself, and the difficulty of returning to a normal life... more

Wild
by Cheryl Strayed

At the age of 26, after the death of her mother, divorce, and with her life and sanity headed in the wrong direction, Strayed headed off on a long-distance trek, physically and mentally unprepared and with a backpack filled with the wrong stuff. Magnificently written, delving honestly into her strengths and weaknesses, this is an uplifting journey of a woman hiking out of despair... more

Bossypants
by Tina Fey

Just like the woman herself, Tina Fey’s autobiography is smart, sassy, self-deprecating, and really, really funny. Do not expect major revelations about her personal life, instead it’s more like a comedic memoir, about the making of a comedian, with great advice for would-be comedians, and filled with the kick-ass attitude and wit that has seen her rise to success in a male-dominated industry... more

Monash
by Roland Perry

Although many Australians today don’t know much about General Sir John Monash, his death in 1931 was greeted with more occasion from the public than any other in Australian history. In this biography, Roland Perry shines a light on why post WW1 Australia had so much love for Monash, generally acknowledged as the greatest Australian commander in our military history... more

Life
by Keith Richards

One of the greatest rock memoirs of all time, on reading it amazes how Richards is still alive, let alone remembers anything. Not only a detailed account of Richards’ life dispelling many legends about himself by giving the even better true story, it also gives a front seat view into the rise of rock’n’roll, the inside story of The Rolling Stones, and is simply a rollicking good read... more

Scar Tissue
by Anthony Kiedis

The candid autobiography of The Red Hot Chili Peppers vocalist whose nihilistic life as a drug addicted rock star living in the fast lane nearly tipped him over the edge. Truly it’s a sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll memoir, albeit one in which the star is trying to escape at least the drugs, chronicling two decades of addiction starting at age eleven and concluding with four years of sobriety... more

Open
by Andre Agassi

A sporting legend, tennis champion, and admired athlete by many, get to know the man behind the tennis racquet in Andre Agassi’s biography, Open. A must-read for sport lovers and fans of the game... more

A Fortunate Life
by A.B Facey

An adored Australian autobiographical favourite, A Fortunate Life captures the extraordinary life and times of on ordinary man, Mr. Albert Facey. While most would have called it an unfortunate life, Mr. Facey only saw the good... more

Unbroken
by Laura Hillenbrand

After surviving a plane crash into the Pacific Ocean in the midst of WW2, former Olympic champion US Lieutenant Louis Zamperini faces a journey of epic proportions aboard a failing life raft that will test his true endurance. Unbroken is now a major film directed by Angelina Jolie... more

Steve Jobs
by Walter Isaacson

Based on more than forty interviews with Steve Jobs conducted over two years - as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues - this is the acclaimed, internationally bestselling biography of the ultimate icon of inventiveness. A must read bio for the Apple fanatic!... more

Wild Swans
by Juang Chang

Wild Swans is the incredible story of three generations of Chinese women; Jung's grandmother who was the concubine of a warlord, her mother who worked in the Red Army, and Jung herself, growing up through the Cultural Revolution and her daughter Jung Chang. It is not only an account of these women, but of the country and its turbulent history and cultural traditions... more

Marching Powder
by Rusty Young

So unbelievable you have to read it. Marching Power is the true story of one young journalist and his (voluntary!) time in a Bolivian prison documenting a convicted English drug trafficker’s time behind bars and the bizarre, shocking and sometimes humorous life in South America’s most notorious prison... more

Dreams From My Father
by Barack Obama

This lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir begins in New York, where Barack Obama learns that his father - a figure he knows more as a myth than as a man - has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey - first to a small town in Kansas, from where he retraces the migration of his mother's family to Hawaii, and then to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his family, confronts the bitter truth of his father's life, and at last reconciles his divided inheritance... more

I Am Malala
by Malala Yousafzai

She was the courageous young girl who refused to let the Taliban win and went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. As a prolific advocate for female education and rights in Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012, but miraculously survived to fight another day. Malala has become the face of freedom, education and female rights... more

A Long Walk to Freedom
by Nelson Mandela

The autobiographical work of the late Nelson Mandela and his journey to apartheid is a must for any biography fan. Most are aware of his life story but not the extent of the sacrifices he made along the way and the incredible strength he had to survive... more

The Hare With Amber Eyes
by Edmund De Waal

When Edmund de Waal inherited 264 Japanese netsuke he wanted to discover their history. Over two years of travel and research he does this, but also uncovers the story of his family over four generations, the once incredibly wealthy and influential Ephrussis dynasty, and their fall. Not only is de Waal one of the world’s finest ceramic artists, he’s also a fine writer - this is a remarkable and beautiful biography... more

Recollections of a Bleeding Heart
by Don Watson

Primarily this is a portrait of Paul Keating, as painted by his speechwriter and key adviser. It is also a wonderful insider account of the machinations, politics and life inside Parliament. Surprisingly honest, with all Keating’s eccentricity and arrogance on display, this is arguably one of the best political biographies ever, regardless of which way you vote, written by a master wordsmith... more

Mortality
by Christopher Hitchens

Arguably one of the fiercest and best critics of modern society, Hitchens was not one to shy away from anything, and so when he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer while touring for his (also brilliant) memoir Hitch-22, he greeted illness and death head-on in typical Hitch style. Honest, intelligent, curious and funny, this posthumously published end-of-life entry is without sentimentality, yet still moving... more

H is for Hawk
by Helen Macdonald

Winner of both Costa Book of the Year and the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction, Macdonald skilfully weaves together a memoir of grief, her training a goshawk named Mabel, and a biography of author T.H. White, best known for his The Once and Future King. Vivid description coupled with thriller-like and lyrical writing delight and engross at each turn of page. Truly fascinating... more

The Diary of a Young Girl
by Anne Frank

This moving diary of 13 year-old Anne’s life hiding from the Nazis shows her inner concerns as a teenager are pretty much same as any teen today. What differs is the fear of discovery by the Gestapo, and the tedium, hunger and strain of being trapped in a contained space with eight other people for two years. Best first read when a teen, it is impossible to read this without being aware of Anne’s later fate.... more