There’s something special about a good biography. It can give us insight into the life of someone we admire, entertain and inspire us, and help us learn from other people’s trials.
Thankfully, there’s no shortage of books out there documenting people’s life stories, be it in the form of autobiography or biography.
If you’re looking for a new one to pick up, which offers a captivating third-person account of another person’s life, here’s a list of the 55 best biographies to read (in our humble opinion)!
TL;DR: The best biographies of all time combine rigorous research with novelistic storytelling. Books like Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs, Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton, David McCullough’s The Wright Brothers, and Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. This guide ranks 55 of the best biographies across history, science, business, politics, and the arts, organized so you can find the right one for your reading interests in under a minute.
What makes a biography one of the best?
A biography earns “best of all time” status when it pairs deep primary research with narrative craft, making a real person’s life feel as compelling as fiction without sacrificing accuracy.
The best biographies share five traits:
- Rigorous primary research — interviews, archives, letters, contemporary accounts
- A clear narrative arc — not a chronological data dump
- Honest portrayal — flaws and contradictions kept in
- Voice and authority — the biographer disappears into the subject without disappearing entirely
- Cultural context — the subject’s life illuminates the era around them
Want to understand how this genre differs from memoir or autobiography? See our breakdowns of biography vs. autobiography and memoir vs. biography.
55 best biographies of all time
Below are 55 of the best biographies, organized into seven categories so you can jump to the subject area you care about most. Each entry includes the author, the original publication year, and a one-line reason it belongs on the list.
Best biographies of business and tech leaders
1. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (2011)
Based on more than 40 interviews with Jobs and 100+ with family, friends, rivals, and adversaries, Isaacson’s biography became the definitive portrait of the Apple co-founder. Read this for one of the best biographies on entrepreneurial obsession and what it costs.
2. Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance (2015)
Vance had unprecedented access to Musk during the years he was scaling Tesla and SpaceX. The result is one of the best biographies of contemporary innovation, and a useful counterweight to Musk’s later public image.
3. The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by T.J. Stiles (2009)
Interested in entrepreneurship? There’s no better read for you than Stiles’ biography of Cornelius Vanderbilt, a ruthless businessman who dramatically influenced America’s economic landscape.
4. Andrew Carnegie by David Nasaw (2006)
Want to know more about one of America’s most famous industrialists? Track down a copy of Nasaw’s biography. It covers not only Carnegie’s business empire but his philanthropic legacy too. Carnegie made many enduring contributions to libraries, education, and more.
5. Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler (2006)
If you’ve ever loved a Disney movie, you’ll want to read Gabler’s biography. He takes readers on a journey through the magical world Disney created and gives us insight into one of the most imaginative brains of the 20th century.
Best biographies of presidents and political leaders
6. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (2004)
The book that inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical. Chernow rebuilds Hamilton from primary sources and turns a Founding Father into a fully human protagonist. Among the best biographies ever written about American politics.
7. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin (2005)
Learn how Lincoln won over his opposition and steered the country through civil war in this fascinating biography. It’s a great read if you want to learn more about the early leaders who shaped the United States, or if you’re looking for inspiration on how to write a book about war.
8. Grant by Ron Chernow (2017)
Another presidential biography by Chernow, this one profiles Ulysses S. Grant’s journey as the Union general and president of the United States. Read this biography if you’re intrigued by the tumultuous time in American history over which Grant presided.
9. The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris (1979)
The first volume of Morris’s Pulitzer-winning trilogy. It traces TR from a sickly New York child to the youngest president in U.S. history.
10. The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill by William Manchester and Paul Reid (1983-2002)
Three volumes covering Churchill from boyhood through World War II and his final years. Among the best biographies of any 20th-century leader.
11. Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith (2012)
A balanced portrait of America’s 34th president drawing on previously untapped archival sources to reframe his military and political legacy.
12. The Power Broker: Robert Moses and The Fall of New York by Robert A. Caro (1974)
A Pulitzer-winning, 1,200-page study of the unelected city planner who rebuilt New York and crushed neighborhoods in the process. Often called the single best biography ever written about American power.
13. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas (2010)
If the title of this biography alone doesn’t make you want to read it, we don’t know what to tell you! Bonhoeffer, a German pastor who resisted the Nazis, is an excellent inspiration for any reader looking to summon more courage in their life.
14. The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks by Jeanne Theoharis (2013)
Did you know Parks did a lot of activism work outside of her famous bus encounter? Get a more comprehensive look into the life of this civil rights icon in Theoharis’ biography.
15. Ruth Bader Ginsberg: A Life by Jane Sherron De Hart (2018)
RBG continues to inspire women everywhere, even after her passing. If you’re one of her admirers, you’ll like De Hart’s biography. It details Ginsberg’s journey to the Supreme Court, following her legal career, gender advocacy work, and more.
16. Indira: The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi by Katherine Frank (2001)
Gandhi was India’s first female prime minister. In her fascinating biography, Frank explores the personal and political challenges Gandhi faced during her tenure. Read this one to be reminded you can overcome any challenge.
Best biographies of monarchs and historical rulers
17. Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff (2010)
If you’re under the impression that Cleopatra was Egyptian, exceptionally beautiful, or died from a snake bite, read this biography. Because none of those things are true! Schiff offers a fresh perspective on the famed leader. It’s a great read for any ancient history buff.
18. Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie (2011)
Experience the life of Russian empress, Catherine the Great in vivid detail, courtesy of this biography by Massie. As one of the most remarkable female rulers, Catherine has an interesting story, and a tumultuous personal life, to share.
19. Queen Victoria by Lytton Strachey (1921)
Did you know that Queen Victoria was the second longest-reigning monarch? Learn about her life in this biography by Strachey. It’s a great read for anyone intrigued by the Victorian era (which, yes, was named after the queen).
20. Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith (2012)
Explore the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II in this well-researched biography. Anyone into the monarchy should pick this book up–Elizabeth II is one of the most enduring (and iconic) queens.
21. Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser (2001)
Did you know Antoinette didn’t actually say “Let them eat cake”? She also wasn’t as frivolous, dim-witted, or out-of-touch as she is often portrayed. To get the real picture of what Antoinette was like, read Fraser’s biography. We promise you’ll learn something new about this infamous queen.
22. Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen of France by Leonie Frieda (2003)
Learn about the life of this powerful queen in Frieda’s biography. It’s a great read for anyone interested in the Renaissance, the French court, and the monarchy.
23. Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery and Murder in Medieval England by Alison Weir (2005)
Intrigued by the bold queen who helped to overthrow her husband? Pick up Weir’s biography. You’ll get to know the life and politics of one of the most infamous members of the monarchy.
24. Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday (2005)
Learn the sordid history of the scheming Chairman Mao Zedong. The authors of this biography spent a decade researching and interviewing to put together a book that will upend everything you know about this infamous leader.
25. Hannibal: The Enemy of Rome by Leonard Cottrell (1961)
Love learning about epic battles and warfare? Learn about the Carthaginian general and his legendary campaigns against Rome in Cottrell’s biography.
26. Joan of Arc: A Life Transfigured by Kathryn Harrison (2014)
Want to be inspired by some serious girl power? Read this biography about the French Heroine who helped alter the course of the Hundred Years’ War. You’ll learn about her faith, her mission, and her incredible leadership prowess.
Best biographies of scientists, inventors, and thinkers
27. Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson (2007)
Isaacson uses newly released Einstein papers to humanize the physicist – his marriages, his politics, his stubbornness about quantum mechanics. One of the best biographies for translating scientific achievement into general-reader prose.
28. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (2010)
An intriguing title for an equally captivating biography! Lacks’ cells were, unbeknownst to her, used for medical research. Skloot wrote this biography to explore the ethics behind that decision. Read if you’re interested in the intersection between privacy and making medical advances.
29. The Wright Brothers by David McCullough (2015)
We all know these two dynamic brothers changed aviation history, but do you know how they got there? McCullough set out to find out. Read this biography if you want to be inspired by two men who followed their dreams all the way up into the sky.
30. Madame Curie: A Biography by Eve Curie (1937)
This very special biography of Madam Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel prize, was written by her own daughter. Get Eve’s personal perspective on her mother’s life, her groundbreaking work in the field of radioactivity, and more. This one is a can’t-miss.
31. Charles Darwin: A Biography, Vol. 1 and 2 by Janet Browne (1995, 2002)
Interested in science and biology? Don’t miss this two volume biography about Charles Darwin, who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection. You’ll learn that he was not only a scientist but deeply interested in literature and the arts.
32. Nikola Tesla: Imagination and the Man Who Invented the 20th Century by Sean Patrick (2013)
Interested in inventor and engineer Nikola Tesla? Here’s the biography for you. Get insights into the brilliant mind behind major innovations in electricity and technology.
33. Galileo: A Life by James Reston Jr. (1994)
Want to learn more about the famed Italian scientist and astronomer? This biography delves deep into not only Galilieo’s contributions to the scientific revolution but also his turbulent relationship with the Catholic church.
34. The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan by Robert Kanigel (1991)
Torn between your love of math and reading? You don’t have to choose with this biography by Kanigel. It details the life of Srinivasa Ramanujan, a genius Indian mathematician who changed the game with his contributions to number theory.
35. The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee (2010)
A Pulitzer Prize winner, and one of the best biographies in which the subject is a disease rather than a person. Mukherjee makes oncology readable without dumbing it down.
36. The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone (2017)
We can all agree there aren’t enough biographies written about badass women. (Maybe you’ll be the next to write one?) But we’re thankful for this epic profile by Fagone. It profiles Elizabeth Smith Friedman, a World War II codebreaker who contributed heavily to the field of cryptography. Read for a serious dose of girl power.
37. The Man Who Loved China: The Fantastic Story of the Eccentric Scientist Who Unlocked the Mysteries of the Middle Kingdom by Simon Winchester (2008)
Are you a Sinophile? You’ll love this biography by Winchester. It details the life of Joseph Needham, a British biochemist who did extensive work on the history of science in China. Read to learn about his contributions to cross-cultural understanding.
Best biographies of artists, writers, and creatives
38. Pablo Picasso: A Biography by Patrick O’Brian (1976)
Did you know Picasso wrote poems and plays and created ceramics? There’s more to this famous artist than his abstract portraits. O’Brian gives us an inside look at this creative genius. Don’t miss this one if you’re in the visual arts.
39. Charles Dickens: A Life by Claire Tomalin (2011)
Tomalin handles both Dickens the literary genius and Dickens the social activist, including the way he treated his wife, which complicates the saintly Victorian image.
40. Shakespeare: The Biography by Peter Ackroyd (2005)
Here’s one for the classic literature students. Learn all about the poet and playwright’s life and literary achievements. This biography would make a great gift for the Romeo and Juliet fan in your life.
41. Kafka: The Early Years by Reiner Stach (2002)
Calling all existentialists. You’ll want to get your hands on Stach’s biography of Kafka. Learn about this enigmatic writer’s relationships, struggles, and unique creative process. (P.S. Be sure to read the other books in this three-volume series on Kafka.)
42. Mozart: A Life by Maynard Solomon (1995)
Can’t get enough of Symphony No. 40 in G Minor? This is the biography for you. Solomon takes a deep dive into Mozart’s creative talent and the world of classical music.
43. Mary Shelley by Miranda Seymour (2000)
Shelley was just 18 years old when she wrote Frankenstein, an achievement all the more remarkable when you consider the decade in which she wrote it. If you’d like to learn more about this genius author, Seymour’s book is for you.
44. CoCo Chanel: The Legend and the Life by Justine Picardie (2010)
Got a bottle of Chanel No. 5 sitting on your shelf? You should pick up this biography by Picardie. In it, we get a glimpse of the iconic fashion designer’s career journey, and also her personal life.
45. The Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell (1791)
Often called the best biography in the English language, and the book that created the modern biography form. Boswell’s intimate access to Johnson set the template for everything that followed.
46. The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits by Les Standiford (2008)
Ready to get in the holiday spirit? Read Standiford’s biography to learn about Dickens’s life and how his classic literary masterpiece changed the holidays forever.
47. Casanova: The World of a Seductive Genius by Laurence Bergreen (2016)
In the mood for something sensual and informative? Look no further than Bergreen’s biography of Casanova. The Italian libertine made a lasting impact on European culture and now you can follow along with his escapades.
48. The Lives of the Muses: Nine Women and the Artists They Inspired by Francine Prose (2002)
How about a biography of nine people instead of one? In this unique book, Prose shares a glimpse into the lives of the women behind some of our most famous artists’ influential works.
Best biographies of cultural and entertainment figures
49. Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones (2013)
Learn about the bearded dreamer behind the creation of the beloved Muppets. This is a great biography to pick up when you need an infusion of joy and inspiration.
50. The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero by William Kalush and Larry Sloman (2006)
Want to learn some of the secrets of the world’s most famous escape artist and magician? This is the biography for you. Get a glimpse into his world of illusion and escape reality for a little while.
51. Appetite for Life: The Biography of Julia Child by Noël Riley Fitch (1997)
We all know and love the ebullient Julia Child. Now you can learn about how she rose to culinary stardom in this biography by Fitch. Read this when you want to feel inspired to get back into the kitchen.
Best contemporary and unconventional biographies
52. The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers (2018)
Did you know Yemen has a rich coffee heritage? Eggers profiles Mokhtar Alkhanshali, a Yemen-American who revitalizes Yemen’s coffee industry amidst the country’s turmoil.
53. Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life by Jon Lee Anderson (1997)
Learn about the Argentine Revolutionary in this biography by Anderson. You’ll gain new insights about his ideology and the massive impact he had on Latin American politics.
54. The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss (2012)
Curious about the man who inspired the character in The Count of Monte Cristo? Read this biography about Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, a mixed-race soldier who had a notable influence on literature and history.
55. The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero by Timothy Egan (2016)
Interested in the intersection of Irish and American history? Read Egan’s biography to learn about Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish revolutionary who played a key role in both the Irish Rebellion and the American Civil War.
What you can learn from reading the best biographies
The best biographies do more than entertain. They teach narrative craft on every page, and they’re some of the most useful books an aspiring author can study.
Reading great biographies sharpens four skills:
- Structuring a long arc. A 70-year life compressed into 600 pages is a structural problem most fiction writers never have to solve. Watching biographers do it teaches narrative selection.
- Handling primary sources. Letters, interviews, archives… biographers turn raw research into scenes. This is the same skill any nonfiction author needs.
- Voice without intrusion. A great biographer is present without being self-centered. That balance is harder than it looks.
- Honest portrayal. The best biographies keep the contradictions intact. That’s also what separates a good autobiography from a sanitized one.
If you’re considering writing a biography about a family member, a mentor, a historical figure, or a public personality, start with our complete guide on how to write a biography in 11 steps.
How to choose which biography to read first
Pick a biography by aligning three filters: subject, era, and biographer.
- Subject — start with someone whose work you already admire. Engagement compounds when you already care about the person.
- Era — biographies are also history books. If 18th-century America fascinates you, Alexander Hamilton is also a Revolutionary War primer.
- Biographer — Walter Isaacson, Ron Chernow, Robert Caro, David McCullough, and Doris Kearns Goodwin are reliable signals of quality. If a name appears more than once on this list, that’s earned authority.
A useful starting move: pick one biography of someone whose work you love, and one biography of someone whose era you want to understand. The contrast will teach you faster than reading two of either.
Frequently asked questions about the best biographies
What is considered the best biography ever written?
Robert Caro’s The Power Broker (1974) and James Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791) are routinely named the best biographies in the English language. The Power Broker won a Pulitzer Prize and reshaped how American power is studied; Boswell’s Johnson essentially invented the modern biographical form.
What’s the difference between a biography and an autobiography?
A biography is written by a third party about someone else’s life, usually in the third person. An autobiography is written by the subject themselves about their own life, in the first person. For a fuller breakdown, see our autobiography vs. biography guide.
Are biographies considered primary or secondary sources?
Biographies are secondary sources. They synthesize primary materials (interviews, letters, archives, contemporary news coverage) into a narrative. Autobiographies, by contrast, are primary sources because they’re first-hand accounts. Our guide on whether a biography is a primary source goes deeper.
Which authors write the best biographies?
The most-recommended living biographers include Walter Isaacson (Steve Jobs, Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci), Ron Chernow (Hamilton, Grant, Washington), Robert Caro (The Power Broker, the LBJ series), David McCullough (The Wright Brothers, John Adams), and Doris Kearns Goodwin (Team of Rivals).
How long is a typical biography?
Most published biographies run 350–600 pages. Major political and cultural biographies routinely exceed 800 pages. Caro’s The Power Broker is over 1,200, and Chernow’s Grant is 1,074. If you’re writing a biography yourself, aim for 70,000–100,000 words for a first effort.
What makes a biography “authorized” vs. “unauthorized”?
An authorized biography is approved (and often actively assisted) by the subject or their estate. Unauthorized biographies are written without that consent. Both can be excellent. Chernow’s Hamilton is unauthorized in the strict sense (Hamilton has been dead 200+ years), while Isaacson’s Steve Jobs was deeply authorized, with Jobs participating in 40+ interviews.
Can someone who isn’t famous have a biography written about them?
Yes. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and The Monk of Mokha are both biographies of people who weren’t public figures before the books made them famous. The bar isn’t fame, it’s whether the life illuminates something larger.
Ready to write your own biography?
Reading the best biographies of all time is one of the fastest ways to learn how this genre actually works. But there’s a difference between admiring craft and producing it.
Most people who set out to write a biography stall around the research phase. They have boxes of interviews and archive material and no idea how to turn it into a 300-page narrative. The skill isn’t gathering material. It’s selection, structure, and voice.
If you’re working on a biography (or a memoir, or an autobiography) and want help finishing it and getting it published, our coaches have walked over 7,000 authors through that exact process. Book a free strategy call to see if we’re a fit.
And whether you take the call or not, keep reading. The next best biography on your shelf is also the next book teaching you how to write yours.
