Best biographies and memoirs of January 2024, as chosen by the Amazon Editors
The best biographies and memoirs of January offer something for everyone. If you’re looking for a mash-up of celebrity and well-being, Common waxes poetic in his actionable memoir. If you’re looking to spice up your notion of monogamy, Molly Roden Winter’s brave and juicy memoir spills all. Or maybe you’re wondering about California wild fires or the legacy of a civil rights icon? We’ve got the books for you. Here are some of our favorites, but be sure to check out the full list of our best biographies and memoirs of January and our overall top 10 picks for the best books of the month.
Billed by the publisher as a mix between H Is for Hawk and Joan Didion, I had high expectations for Manjula Martin’s debut memoir. And it hits the mark: The Last Fire Season is meditative and expansive, fiercely observant and elegantly articulated. Recounting the worst fire season on record, Martin reflects on the fragility of her home and landscape, explaining that thanks to climate change the notion of a fire season is over—it’s now a constant threat. With passages that will stop you in your tracks—“sepia toned and slightly out of focus: weeks of heat and smoke had turned the flowers and trees into memories”—The Last Fire Season is a vital read and takes its place among great environmental narratives like Fire Weather, Isaac’s Storm, Wave, and This Is Chance!. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
You might have strong opinions about monogamy—and that’s exactly why you should read Molly Roden Winter’s memoir. That’s not to say it will change your mind, but it does offer a juicy and honest glimpse into what it means to have a romantic relationship with another person while married. It’s not always pretty, but there is a certain thrill to Winter’s desire, curiosity, and ultimately (and importantly) self-confidence that emerges while navigating a new world of connection and happiness. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
While there have been excellent books that chronicle the enormous impact the civil rights leader John Lewis had on America (Jon Meacham’s His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope and John Lewis’ own graphic novels March and Run), Raymond Arsenault’s John Lewis is the first full-length biography of this seminal figure. From his childhood spent in Alabama to the formation of Lewis’ belief in nonviolence, to the marches that changed history, Arsenault recounts Lewis’ life within his overarching goal of realizing “the beloved community,” a society based in equity and inclusion. The result is an important and vital look at a man who held tight to his beliefs and in so doing, made a better world. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
Kate Kennedy transports you to cruising Limited Too at the mall, agonizing over who to rank in your top 8 on MySpace, and dancing to Britney and *NSYNC in her hilariously relatable—and subversively smart—book that’s hard to put down, especially if you count yourself as a millennial. Laugh-out-loud essays will have you shaking your head in agreement, before Kennedy circles around to sobering insights: girls were sold Teen Talk Barbie (“math is hard”) and board games where the whole point was to shop or flirt—and then shamed for caring about fashion or being too “boy crazy.” With silly stories that turn into omg insights, this is a nostalgia-filled romp—about American Girl dolls, the Spice Girls, and finding your place in a culture that has turned those born in the ‘80s and ‘90s into scapegoats. Finally, millennials get our due. —Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor
Not all celebrities have great advice, but Common does. “Inspired by the tough times we all experienced together a few years ago when everyone was thinking about staying healthy,” And Then We Rise is the multi-award-winning performer, author, and activist’s journey to getting healthier—physically, emotionally, mentally—joyfully. As he says, “Small changes can make a big difference,” so this New Year, pick up Common’s memoir—you’ll be rewarded in more ways than one. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor
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