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Compelling new memoirs and autobiographies to read this year

Compelling new memoirs and autobiographies to read this year

by Rachel Deeley

min read

From jaw-dropping revelations and stranger-than-fiction anecdotes, to quieter moments of reflection, pain, and joy that we can all relate to, there are few books more captivating or edifying than a good memoir.

In recent months, we've seen unmissable new releases from public figures, political agents for change, cultural icons and world-leading authors, ready to share their story in their own words. Whether you're interested in the inner reflections of sporting and film legends, the no-holds-barred confessions of a former City trader, or the inspirational messages of those who have shaped national and global politics, these are some of the best of our latest memoirs and autobiographies for every kind of reader.

HOPE by Pope Francis

The first autobiography by a Pope to ever be published, HOPE is at once a history-making book and a timely, powerful read in its own right. With passion, candour, reflection, and even humour, Pope Francis shares his story in full, from his ancestors' roots in Italy, to his upbringing in Latin America, adult life, and the formative, pivotal moments of his papacy. But more than just a memoir, this book confronts some of the most pressing and difficult questions of our time, from global conflict to the climate crisis, and ultimately galvanises readers around its universal message of hope.

PATRIOT by Alexei Navalny

In 2020, Russian political figure and anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny's name reverberated around the world when he was the target of a near-fatal poisoning. In 2024, he died whilst imprisoned in brutal conditions in Siberia. PATRIOT is part of the legacy he leaves behind: a memoir written and completed in extraordinary circumstances, featuring never-before-seen writing and reflections from his time in prison. Charting his Soviet childhood, political awakening, and life as a fierce opponent of Putin's regime, PATRIOT is above all a story of hope and a resilient spirit that lives on.

Question 7 by Richard Flanagan

Shortlisted for the 2024 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, Question 7 is a genre-bending exploration of identity, history, memory and more from Booker Prize-winning author Richard Flanagan. It begins with Flanagan visiting the site of a prisoner-of-war camp in Japan, where his father was interned as a labourer. From there he unravels the chain reactions, paradoxes and events – from the personal to the world-altering – that led to his own existence, and even a brush with death, in a captivating, dream-like blend of novel and memoir writing.

Knife by Salman Rushdie

In August 2022, as he was about to deliver a lecture on the importance of protecting authors and their freedom of expression, Salman Rushdie suffered an attempt on his life in a violent attack that left him blinded in one eye. Knife, which was longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction earlier this year, sees Rushdie break his silence on the horrific events of his attack and the long, difficult path to recovery that followed. Through his meditations on trauma, healing, mortality, and the enduring importance of art, Rushdie's bravery and writerly brilliance shines through with galvanising force.

I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You by Miranda Hart

From gracing our screens as the eponymous lead in her sitcom Miranda, Chummy in Call the Midwife, and Miss Bates in Emma, we've come to know and love Miranda Hart for being – to use her own catchphrase – such fun! But, over the last decade, the award-winning comedian and actor had been suffering incredibly difficult low points and challenges with her mental and physical health. With this book, Hart tells the touching, life-affirming story of how she found joy, recovery, answers, and love, with wisdom and practical advice she hopes others will cherish as much as she does.

What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci

Stanley Tucci, award-winning actor, filmmaker, and bestselling author of Taste, returns with another touchingly beautiful love letter to food. From singing at a feast prepared by French Carmelite nuns, to savouring the notes of a perfectly poured Guinness in Ireland, to revelling in the comforting richness of authentic Roman pasta, What I Ate in One Year is Tucci's culinary diary of 2023. Expect plenty of anecdotes, hidden-gem dining recommendations, home-cooking inspiration, and deliciously witty prose.

A Thousand Threads by Neneh Cherry

Swedish singer-songwriter Neneh Cherry burst onto the scene in 1988 with her hit song "Buffalo Stance", and has since made her indelible mark in the world of music and culture. A Thousand Threads, Cherry's hotly anticipated memoir, is packed with incredible stories of a childhood and early life of constant travel, a family of talented artists and musicians, and an illustrious career of iconic songs and collaborations – alongside the darker, traumatic events that she shares with unflinching, heartfelt candour.

MILF by Paloma Faith

In this raw, freeing, and often funny memoir, singer and songwriter Paloma Faith takes a sideways swipe at the expectations of perfection and identity placed upon women in today's patriarchal society. From body hair to post-partum sex, to the challenges of dating and working as a parent, each chapter is a captivating, poetically written account of the complicated experiences, milestones, anecdotes and more that many women will be able to deeply identify with.

The Trading Game by Gary Stevenson

Before he was decoding economic concepts and wealth inequality as @garyseconomics, Gary Stevenson was a highly profitable trader on Citibank's FX trading floor. This is the story of how he got there, the growing mental and physical toll of his relentless ambition, and what it took to finally get out. The Trading Game is a white-knuckle ride into the heart of the City, with jaw-dropping anecdotes and the remarkable story of someone who went from growing up in the shadows of the City's skyscrapers to scaling their dizzying heights. Read an extract here.

Sonny Boy by Al Pacino

From humble beginnings as the child of a single-parent household in the Bronx, to acting in blockbuster movies like The Godfather, Scarface, Scent of a Woman and more, Al Pacino's life story is as fascinating, enthralling and varied as the characters he has played on-screen. Sonny Boy is a thoughtful, heartfelt reflection on his early years, acting career, fame, and lifelong love for his craft as a born performer.

Obsessed: The Autobiography by Johnny Sexton

Rugby legend Johnny Sexton has a long list of accomplishments to his name, including four Six Nations championships and four European Cups. In fact, his incredible sporting career has made him the most decorated player in the history of Irish rugby. In Obsessed, the former fly-half and Ireland captain shares his story and opinions with trademark honesty, alongside deep personal reflections on the challenges he faced, and invaluable lessons he learned about teamwork and leadership on and off the field.

Unfiltered by Guenther Steiner

Guenther Steiner's latest book was an instant top 10 Sunday Times bestseller – and for good reason. The author of Surviving to Drive and former principal of the Haas Formula One Team opens up about what it was really like growing an F1 team from the ground up and leaving it behind in 2023. From the incredible highs and difficult lows, to the unglamorous reality of keeping the cogs turning in a world-class team, Unfiltered is as candid and enlightening as its title promises.

A Woman Like Me by Diane Abbott

The first Black woman to become an MP in 1987, and now Mother of the House as the House of Commons' current longest-serving female member, Diane Abbott's career and legacy is nothing short of trailblazing. A Woman Like Me recounts her story so far: that of an intelligent, ambitious girl born to working-class Jamaican parents, who defied expectations, made history, and remains undeterred by the harassment and abuse she has faced in her public life as a fierce advocate for social justice.

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

Whether you know her from her Tony Award-winning performance as Sheila in A Chorus Line, playing Baby's mother Marjorie Houseman in Dirty Dancing, or her iconic role as Emily Gilmore, the Chanel-suit-wearing matriarch in Gilmore Girls, Kelly Bishop has been a powerful presence on both stage and screen for decades. This heartfelt and thoroughly entertaining memoir, complete with a foreword by Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, is a candid reflection on the highs and lows of her remarkable career and personal life.

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