Biography

Mike Nichols by Mark Harris

This is essential reading for any creative person. The ups the downs, the remarkable flops and successes. And I linked bookshop.org which supports local bookstores 🤍

Einstein (Walter Isaacson)

A long, clear, and gripping account of an extraordinary life. I love how Isaacson doesn’t shy away from the science parts.

Oral history interview with Lee Krasner (1964-1968)

The famous set of interviews on audio tape with brilliant, defiant, and sometimes combative Lee Krasner between 1964-1968. Her refusal to be labeled a feminist, her defense of husband’s Jackson Pollack’s genius a decade after he was killed in a car crash, her zeal for the process of painting— absolutely riveting stuff. Commenced by Dorothy Seckler for the Archives of American Art, in the collection of the Smithsonian.

Mariah Carey’s autobiography

At the end of the audiobook, I had strongly considered adding her as my emergency contact.

Alexander the Great - Philip Freeman

A ripping biography with expansive coverage of the ancient world. I think the contemporary world always underestimates the extent to which the ancient world was already rich with history, connected, civilized, and cultured - this book does much to illuminate those themes. Delightful, educational, provocative.

Dancing On My Grave by Gelsey Kirkland and Greg Lawrence, 1986

Repettos are a very nice shape. Fine, do you and wear a glove flat. But nothing beats the specificity of the French Sole, which are France by way of England by way of Gossip Girl by way of Nikki Hilton. The accompanying book: Dancing On My Grave by Gelsey Kirkland and Greg Lawrence, 1986

Eve's Hollywood

I grew up in Long Beach and would frequent Los Angeles on the weekends, and sometimes after school once I got my license. During Covid, I picked up Eve's Hollywood from the floor of my sister's room, and read through the first 75 pages then fell victim to distraction, probably by way of TikTok. When I turned 21, I moved to Los Feliz, stole my sister's book (to her dismay) and started reading again. Eve Babitz was my introduction to LA as an adult and the fact that I had moved into her old neighborhood made the whole experience even sweeter. When people who haven't read Eve Babitz ask where to start, the more common answer is Slow Days Fast Company, I always preferred this one, there are lots of repeat stories anyway.

Just Kids: An Autobiography

The best. Forever and ever and ever my favorite.

Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy

Edie: American Girl

Second time reading- a perfect book about an imperfect girl who burned perfectly bright and never faded away. Jean Stein should be studied (and often is!)

Anthony Blunt: His Lives. Miranda Carter.

He looked after the Queen’s pictures and was a reluctant (or not-so reluctant) spy. These things never end well.

I Am Not Ashamed

The only biography I’ve ever read thus the best I’ve ever read! You don’t know her (I didn’t know her) who knows how much is true but it’s bawdy and alcoholic so who cares! “I AM NOT ASHAMED, first published in 1963, is the absurdist tale of a forgotten movie star's unnerving decline. When sleazy journalist Leo Guild arrived at Barbara Payton's flophouse Hollywood apartment, he was surprised to find that the thirty-five-year-old former actress was working as a prostitute to support her alcohol addiction. He brought her cases of cheap wine, turned on the tape recorder, and she began to speak . . . Surreal and often depressing, I AM NOT ASHAMED is an anti-memoir: as Payton reveals intimate moments of her life, she slides down and down the wormhole of her memories and watches her life in numb horror. Unable to recover or make any changes, Payton remains locked in admiration of her brief Hollywood fame. A self-proclaimed "con girl in specialized areas of living," Payton is pathologically self-destructive. Her favorite topic is men―how she used men to get ahead, and how they used her.”

Bunny Bunny - Gilda Radner: A Sort of Love Story (Alan Zweibel)

love Gilda

Spy/counterspy;: The autobiography of Dusko Popov

I recommend reading this in conjunction with Into the Lion's Mouth: The True Story of Dusko Popov: World War II Spy, Patriot, and the Real-Life Inspiration for James Bond by Larry Loftis. A rare book but check your local library to place an interlibrary loan! It is quite a story and one written so well.

Biography of X

Make Something Wonderful (Steve Jobs)

It's free to read online and it makes you miss the man who started everything.

No More Champagne: Churchill and His Money. David Lough.

A remarkable, absorbing biography told through the lens of the great man’s finances—they occupied a major part of his thoughts throughout his life.

Marie Antoinette

Antonia Fraser is one of my favorite historians with writing so enthralling, she makes reading hefty books feel like a breeze. This particular biography of Marie Antoinette was used as source material for Sofia Coppola's film of the same name and rightfully so. Meticulous details, astute observations, and plenty of citations to support her work. Highly recommend for those wanting a non-dry read of this historical figure.

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating

Part short biography, part ecological study, Elizabeth Tova Bailey shares her story of chronic illness and how a snail became her confidant through it.

Leonardo da Vinci

The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates

I read this while in graduate school and that was prior to the author being elected the current governor of Maryland. A great biography for people who love memoirs and an interesting story of two boys with the same name in Baltimore taking different life paths. Now it’s the story of the first black governor of Maryland, so worth the read. The story changes between he and the other Wes Moore so it’s also technically a biography and an autobiography which is cool.

Courtney Love: The Real Story

W. E. B. Du Bois: The Rebel With a Cause

What an incredible life with immeasurable impact, not even in the style of his beautiful hand-drawn data visualization. Great use of 2 hours this long weekend.

jason Bateman

Dear gawd to read his recs would probably ruin me. But please ruin me.