whos is the best autobiography you have read?

Question

i do not read many books but i enjoy autobiograhies, the best so far being the golfer John Daly

Answer 1

T E Lawrence - Seven Pillars of Wisdom

T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)
British Soldier and Author
1888 - 1935
All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the
dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity:
but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act
their dream with open eyes, to make it possible.
—T. E. Lawrence from "Seven Pillars of Wisdom"



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Thomas Edward (T.E.) Lawrence was born on August 16, 1888 at Tremadoc in North Wales. He was the second of five sons of Sir Thomas Chapman and Sarah Junner. Popularly known as Lawrence of Arabia, Lawrence became famous for his exploits as British Military liaison to the Arab Revolt during the First World War.

Lawrence had been fascinated by archaeology since childhood. After graduating with honors from Oxford in 1910, he served as an assistant at a British Museum excavation in Iraq (then known as Mesopotamia). When war broke out with Germany in 1914, Lawrence spent a brief period in the Geographical Section of the General Staff in London, and was then posted to the Military Intelligence Department in Cairo. In 1916 the Arabs rebelled against the Turkish empire. Lawrence was sent to Mecca on a fact-finding mission, ultimately becoming the British liaison officer to the Arabs. His account of the revolt is chronicled in his classic books, "Seven Pillars of Wisdom, A Triumph" and "Revolt in the Desert."

After the war Lawrence served in the British Delegation at the Paris Peace Conference, where he promoted the cause of Arab independence. Despite his efforts Syria, Palestine and Iraq were mandated to France and Britain. Lawrence returned to England exhausted and disappointed. By the end of 1920, British attempts to impose a colonial rule in Iraq had provoked an open rebellion. Winston Churchill was appointed by the British Colonial Office to find a solution, and persuaded Lawrence to join him as adviser. By the summer of 1922 Churchill, with considerable aid from Lawrence, had achieved a settlement of the situation.

In 1922 Lawrence resigned his position with the Colonial Office and enlisted in the RAF under an assumed name. After four months he was discovered by the press and discharged. With the help of a highly-placed friends he re-enlisted in the Tank Corps as 'Thomas Edward Shaw'. Between 1922 and early 1927 Lawrence revised "Seven Pillars" for publication, and edited an abridgement of the book called "Revolt in the Desert." Half way through this work he succeeded in transferring back to the RAF.

In March 1935 his twelve-year enlistment came to an end and he retired to "Clouds Hill " (the name of his cottage) in Dorset, England. Two months later he was thrown from his motorcycle while on a local errand. He suffered severe head injuries and died some days later without regaining consciousness.

Answer 2

Not so much an autobiography as a look at Hollywood through the eyes of one of it's most famous actors. David Niven wrote 4 books, I think, maybe five about his times in Hollywood up until just before he died and they are some of the most interesting reading books I have ever come across, humor, sadness, sex these books have it all.

Answer 3

Not an autobiography as such, but the book written about Karen Keating by her mum after Karens death is so moving and a great insight into Karens life

Answer 4

Richard Branstons

Answer 5

Frank Skinner

Answer 6

Margrave of the Marshes by John Peel (who died a 1/4 of the way thru and finished by his Mrs.

Answer 7

"The Periodic Table" by Primo Levi, he named each chapter according to the names of elements from the Table since he studied at university to be a chemist. I thought it seemed impossible before I read it but I really enjoyed it, in short, it's hard to put it down once you start reading.
Find one and enjoy.

Answer 8

Sting-- "Broken Music"...Great insight into his early career...some interesting and riveting life turns...Interesting characters, his family and friends, wonderful imagery, very eloquent at some stages, but does tend to ramble on at times, but all in all, a great book and a very enjoyable and intriguing read...You should really check it out.

Answer 9

Peter Ustinov's

Answer 10

Michael J Fox's Lucky Man. It made me cry.

And I wonder which book Madmary was reading since she seems oblivious to the fact that it's actually spelt "Caron" Keating...