Most Interesting Autobiographies/Biographies

[sherbertlemons]

Okay, I'm looking for summer reading. Since I'm a big fan of biographies, especially ones of old Hollyood stars, I was hoping someone here had some suggestions for me. (I'll read about anyone who catches my interest- doesn't have to be Hollywood!)

I personally love My Story by Ingrid Bergman, Child Star by Shirley Temple Black, and Gypsy by Gypsy Rose Lee. I also say anything about Leni Reifenstahl is darn interesting. Oh, and Get Happy (I think that's the title, anyways!) about Judy Garland is interesting and seems to be a fair look at her life without being overly sensational.

[tinydancer]

There's a fun book called "If The Other Guy Isn't Jack Nicholson, I've Got The Part." Don't remember the author - I have lent it out. It tells about movie stars and roles they didn't get or didn't want at the time. It's real interesting. The title is a quote from Burt Reynolds, when he auditioned for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."

[phisigduchesscv]

Bob Hopes autobiography was really good although I'm not sure if its still in print or not.

[33girl]

Ava Gardner's autobiography was really good and so was Katharine Hepburn's.

[greeklawgirl]

For a great "autobiography" on Hollywood personalities, read "The Kid Stays In the Picture" by Robert Evans. He was the head of Paramount in the 1970s and helped produced "The Godfather," "Love Story," and "Chinatown."

He also had a very interesting personal life--Evans is notorious. Its a juicy, fascinating read!

[LuaBlanca]

There are a bunch of great biographies on Mikhail Baryshnikov...Gennady Smakov's in particular is a good read. Baryshnikov was/is a russian ballet dancer with a very dramatic story surrounding his defection to the United States. Awesome!

[sairose]

Laugh if you want, but Richard Simmons biography, "Still Hungry After All These Years", is a very good book, very touching and funny.

[Moxie]

john gotti, rise and fall =) i'm a huge cosa nostra/mafia fan...just in the sense that it is SO interesting. plus, godfather part 2 is my all time favorite film.

[sherbertlemons]

Originally posted by LuaBlanca
There are a bunch of great biographies on Mikhail Baryshnikov...Gennady Smakov's in particular is a good read. Baryshnikov was/is a russian ballet dancer with a very dramatic story surrounding his defection to the United States. Awesome!

If you're interested in ballet, Margot Fonteyn's autobiography is fascinating, too. I had forgotten about it until I read your post. She was so funny, and had a fascinating ballet career!

[James]

The book: PAtton.

Honestly it was a great insight into the mind of an eccentric but highly effective general.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

The Double Helix is a great book about the discovery of DNA from James Watson's perspective. I strongly recommend it although it is not technically an autobiography.