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Genre Guide

Great Biographies and Memoirs of Unknown People

By:

JCLStefanieE

Johnson County Library

Staff-created list

This is a list of critically-acclaimed biographies and memoirs of unsung people and obscure events.

By:

JCLStefanieE

Johnson County Library

1-25 of 45 items

1-25 of 45 items

Barbarian Days

Barbarian Days

A Surfing Life

by Finnegan, William

Book - 2015

Pulitzer Prize Winner 2016: "An old-school adventure story, an intellectual autobiography, a social history, a literary road movie, and an extraordinary exploration of the gradual mastering of an exacting, little understood art." Pulitzer Prize Winner 2016: "An old-school adventure story, an intellectual autobiography, a social history, a literary road movie, and an extraordinary exploration of the gradual mastering of an exacting, little understood art." Show less

Pulitzer Prize Winner 2016: "An old-school adventure story, an intellectual autobiography, a social history, a literary road movie, and an extraordinary exploration of the gradual mastering of an exacting, little understood art." Pulitzer Prize Winner 2016: "An old-school adventure story, an intellectual autobiography, a social history, a literary road movie, and an extraordinary exploration of the gradual mastering of an exacting, little understood art." Show less

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Educated

Educated

A Memoir

by Westover, Tara

Book - 2018

Astonishingly self-aware, truth stranger than fiction, and compulsively readable. Astonishingly self-aware, truth stranger than fiction, and compulsively readable. Show less

Astonishingly self-aware, truth stranger than fiction, and compulsively readable. Astonishingly self-aware, truth stranger than fiction, and compulsively readable. Show less

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Swimming in the Sink

Swimming in the Sink

by Cox, Lynne

Book - 2016

A memoir from the open-water swimmer in which "we see Cox finding her way, writing about her transformative journey back toward health, and slowly mo...Show more A memoir from the open-water swimmer in which "we see Cox finding her way, writing about her transformative journey back toward health, and slowly moving toward the one aspect of her life that meant everything to her--freedom, mastery, transcendence--back to open waters, and the surprise that she never saw coming: falling in love" Show less

A memoir from the open-water swimmer in which "we see Cox finding her way, writing about her transformative journey back toward health, and slowly mo...Show more A memoir from the open-water swimmer in which "we see Cox finding her way, writing about her transformative journey back toward health, and slowly moving toward the one aspect of her life that meant everything to her--freedom, mastery, transcendence--back to open waters, and the surprise that she never saw coming: falling in love" Show less

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Kabul Beauty School

Kabul Beauty School

An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil

by Rodriguez, Deborah

Book - 2007

In the tradition of Reading Lolita in Tehran, Rodriguez tells the story of the beauty school she founds in the middle of the Afghan city of Kabul, and lifts the veil of secrecy about the vibrant women who were her students there. In the tradition of Reading Lolita in Tehran, Rodriguez tells the story of the beauty school she founds in the middle of the Afghan city of Kabul, and lifts the veil of secrecy about the vibrant women who were her students there. Show less

In the tradition of Reading Lolita in Tehran, Rodriguez tells the story of the beauty school she founds in the middle of the Afghan city of Kabul, and lifts the veil of secrecy about the vibrant women who were her students there. In the tradition of Reading Lolita in Tehran, Rodriguez tells the story of the beauty school she founds in the middle of the Afghan city of Kabul, and lifts the veil of secrecy about the vibrant women who were her students there. Show less

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Secret Service Dogs

Secret Service Dogs

The Heroes Who Protect the President of the United States

by Goodavage, Maria

Book - 2016

In an age fraught with terrorism, United States Secret Service canine teams risk their lives to safeguard the president, vice president, their families, v...Show more In an age fraught with terrorism, United States Secret Service canine teams risk their lives to safeguard the president, vice president, their families, visiting heads of state, and a host of others. Unprecedented access to these heroic dog teams has allowed a fascinating first-time-ever look at a very special breed of heroes. Show less

In an age fraught with terrorism, United States Secret Service canine teams risk their lives to safeguard the president, vice president, their families, v...Show more In an age fraught with terrorism, United States Secret Service canine teams risk their lives to safeguard the president, vice president, their families, visiting heads of state, and a host of others. Unprecedented access to these heroic dog teams has allowed a fascinating first-time-ever look at a very special breed of heroes. Show less

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The Return

The Return

Fathers, Sons, and the Land in Between

by Matar, Hisham

Book - 2016

Pulitzer Prize Winner 2017 Pulitzer Prize Winner 2017 Show less

Pulitzer Prize Winner 2017 Pulitzer Prize Winner 2017 Show less

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Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Celebrating the Joys of Letter Writing

by Sankovitch, Nina

Book - 2014

"In a beautifully written book, itself a perfect gift, Nina Sankovitch reminds us that the letters we write are as important as the ones we wait for." "In a beautifully written book, itself a perfect gift, Nina Sankovitch reminds us that the letters we write are as important as the ones we wait for." Show less

"In a beautifully written book, itself a perfect gift, Nina Sankovitch reminds us that the letters we write are as important as the ones we wait for." "In a beautifully written book, itself a perfect gift, Nina Sankovitch reminds us that the letters we write are as important as the ones we wait for." Show less

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In A Rocket Made of Ice

In A Rocket Made of Ice

Among the Children of Wat Opot

by Gutradt, Gail

Book - 2014

"The story of a woman who volunteers at an orphanage in Cambodia, set up by a Vietnam War vet for children with and/or orphaned by HIV/AIDS" "The story of a woman who volunteers at an orphanage in Cambodia, set up by a Vietnam War vet for children with and/or orphaned by HIV/AIDS" Show less

"The story of a woman who volunteers at an orphanage in Cambodia, set up by a Vietnam War vet for children with and/or orphaned by HIV/AIDS" "The story of a woman who volunteers at an orphanage in Cambodia, set up by a Vietnam War vet for children with and/or orphaned by HIV/AIDS" Show less

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Trying to Float

Trying to Float

Coming of Age in the Chelsea Hotel

by Rips, Nicolaia

Book - 2016

"Not since Holden Caulfield has there been such a fabulously compelling teen guide to New York City: Nicolaia Rips's debut is a disarming, humble, he...Show more "Not since Holden Caulfield has there been such a fabulously compelling teen guide to New York City: Nicolaia Rips's debut is a disarming, humble, heartfelt, and wise tale of coming-of-age amid the contradictions, complexities, and shifting identities of life in New York City." Show less

"Not since Holden Caulfield has there been such a fabulously compelling teen guide to New York City: Nicolaia Rips's debut is a disarming, humble, he...Show more "Not since Holden Caulfield has there been such a fabulously compelling teen guide to New York City: Nicolaia Rips's debut is a disarming, humble, heartfelt, and wise tale of coming-of-age amid the contradictions, complexities, and shifting identities of life in New York City." Show less

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My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me

My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me

A Black Woman Discovers Her Family's Nazi Past

by Teege, Jennifer

Book - 2015

"The memoir of a German-Nigerian woman who learns that her grandfather was the brutal Nazi commandant depicted [by Ralph Fiennes] in Schindler's List, Amon Goeth" "The memoir of a German-Nigerian woman who learns that her grandfather was the brutal Nazi commandant depicted [by Ralph Fiennes] in Schindler's List, Amon Goeth" Show less

"The memoir of a German-Nigerian woman who learns that her grandfather was the brutal Nazi commandant depicted [by Ralph Fiennes] in Schindler's List, Amon Goeth" "The memoir of a German-Nigerian woman who learns that her grandfather was the brutal Nazi commandant depicted [by Ralph Fiennes] in Schindler's List, Amon Goeth" Show less

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The Speechwriter

The Speechwriter

A Brief Education in Politics

by Swaim, Barton

Book - 2015

"An intimate and hilarious look inside the spin room of the modern politician: a place where ideals are crushed, English is mangled, people are humiliated, and the opportunity for humor is everywhere" "An intimate and hilarious look inside the spin room of the modern politician: a place where ideals are crushed, English is mangled, people are humiliated, and the opportunity for humor is everywhere" Show less

"An intimate and hilarious look inside the spin room of the modern politician: a place where ideals are crushed, English is mangled, people are humiliated, and the opportunity for humor is everywhere" "An intimate and hilarious look inside the spin room of the modern politician: a place where ideals are crushed, English is mangled, people are humiliated, and the opportunity for humor is everywhere" Show less

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A Truck Full of Money

A Truck Full of Money

by Kidder, Tracy

Book - 2016

"Kidder casts a fresh, critical, and often humorous eye on the way new money and new ideas--often frivolous and yet vital to virtually every aspect o...Show more "Kidder casts a fresh, critical, and often humorous eye on the way new money and new ideas--often frivolous and yet vital to virtually every aspect of modern society--are reshaping our culture and the world, and takes us inside the mind of a mesmerizing figure who is unique and yet a representative creature of our entrepreneurial age--bold, big-hearted, and as unpredictable as America itself." Show less

"Kidder casts a fresh, critical, and often humorous eye on the way new money and new ideas--often frivolous and yet vital to virtually every aspect o...Show more "Kidder casts a fresh, critical, and often humorous eye on the way new money and new ideas--often frivolous and yet vital to virtually every aspect of modern society--are reshaping our culture and the world, and takes us inside the mind of a mesmerizing figure who is unique and yet a representative creature of our entrepreneurial age--bold, big-hearted, and as unpredictable as America itself." Show less

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A Different Kind of Daughter

A Different Kind of Daughter

The Girl Who Hid From the Taliban in Plain Sight

by Toorpakai, Maria

Book - 2016

"Maria Toorpakai hails from Pakistan's violently oppressive northwest tribal region, where the idea of women playing sports is considered haram--un-I...Show more "Maria Toorpakai hails from Pakistan's violently oppressive northwest tribal region, where the idea of women playing sports is considered haram--un-Islamic, forbidden--and girls rarely leave their homes. But she did, passing as a boy in order to play the sports she loved, thus becoming a lightning rod of freedom in her country's fierce battle over women's rights." Show less

"Maria Toorpakai hails from Pakistan's violently oppressive northwest tribal region, where the idea of women playing sports is considered haram--un-I...Show more "Maria Toorpakai hails from Pakistan's violently oppressive northwest tribal region, where the idea of women playing sports is considered haram--un-Islamic, forbidden--and girls rarely leave their homes. But she did, passing as a boy in order to play the sports she loved, thus becoming a lightning rod of freedom in her country's fierce battle over women's rights." Show less

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Philomena

Philomena

A Mother, Her Son, and A Fifty-year Search

by Sixsmith, Martin

Book - 2013

"When she became pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena Lee was sent to a convent to be looked after as a "fallen woman." The...Show more "When she became pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena Lee was sent to a convent to be looked after as a "fallen woman." Then the nuns took her baby from her and sold him, like thousands of others, to America for adoption. Fifty years later, Philomena decided to find him." Show less

"When she became pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena Lee was sent to a convent to be looked after as a "fallen woman." The...Show more "When she became pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena Lee was sent to a convent to be looked after as a "fallen woman." Then the nuns took her baby from her and sold him, like thousands of others, to America for adoption. Fifty years later, Philomena decided to find him." Show less

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Queen Bee of Tuscany

Queen Bee of Tuscany

The Redoubtable Janet Ross

by Downing, Ben

Book - 2013

"Spirited, erudite, and supremely well-connected, Ross was one of the most dynamic women of her day. Her life offers a fascinating window on fascinat...Show more "Spirited, erudite, and supremely well-connected, Ross was one of the most dynamic women of her day. Her life offers a fascinating window on fascinating times, from the Risorgimento to the rise of fascism. Encompassing all this rich history, Queen Bee of Tuscany is a panoramic portrait of an age, a family, and our evolving love affair with Tuscany." Show less

"Spirited, erudite, and supremely well-connected, Ross was one of the most dynamic women of her day. Her life offers a fascinating window on fascinat...Show more "Spirited, erudite, and supremely well-connected, Ross was one of the most dynamic women of her day. Her life offers a fascinating window on fascinating times, from the Risorgimento to the rise of fascism. Encompassing all this rich history, Queen Bee of Tuscany is a panoramic portrait of an age, a family, and our evolving love affair with Tuscany." Show less

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Threading My Prayer Rug

Threading My Prayer Rug

One Woman's Journey From Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim

by Rehman, Sabeeha

Book - 2016

"This enthralling story of the making of an American is also a timely meditation on religion and culture. Beginning with a sweetly funny, moving acco...Show more "This enthralling story of the making of an American is also a timely meditation on religion and culture. Beginning with a sweetly funny, moving account of an arranged marriage in Pakistan that would become a love match lasting forty years, Threading My Prayer Rug is the story of many journeys" Show less

"This enthralling story of the making of an American is also a timely meditation on religion and culture. Beginning with a sweetly funny, moving acco...Show more "This enthralling story of the making of an American is also a timely meditation on religion and culture. Beginning with a sweetly funny, moving account of an arranged marriage in Pakistan that would become a love match lasting forty years, Threading My Prayer Rug is the story of many journeys" Show less

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Harley and Me

Harley and Me

Embracing Risk on the Road to A More Authentic Life

by Murphy, Bernadette M.

Book - 2016

"What happens when women in midlife step out of what's predictable? For Bernadette Murphy, learning to ride a motorcycle at forty-eight becomes the c...Show more "What happens when women in midlife step out of what's predictable? For Bernadette Murphy, learning to ride a motorcycle at forty-eight becomes the catalyst that transforms her from a settled wife and professor with three teenage children into a woman on her own. The confidence she gained from mastering a new skill and conquering her fears gave her the courage to face deeper issues in her own life and start taking risks." Show less

"What happens when women in midlife step out of what's predictable? For Bernadette Murphy, learning to ride a motorcycle at forty-eight becomes the c...Show more "What happens when women in midlife step out of what's predictable? For Bernadette Murphy, learning to ride a motorcycle at forty-eight becomes the catalyst that transforms her from a settled wife and professor with three teenage children into a woman on her own. The confidence she gained from mastering a new skill and conquering her fears gave her the courage to face deeper issues in her own life and start taking risks." Show less

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Elephant Company

Elephant Company

The Inspiring Story of An Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II

by Croke, Vicki

Book - 2014

"Billy Williams came to Burma in 1920 fresh from service in World War I, as a "forest man" for a British teak company. Mesmerized by the in...Show more "Billy Williams came to Burma in 1920 fresh from service in World War I, as a "forest man" for a British teak company. Mesmerized by the intelligence, character, and even humor of the great animals who hauled logs through the jungles, he became a gifted elephant wallah." Show less

"Billy Williams came to Burma in 1920 fresh from service in World War I, as a "forest man" for a British teak company. Mesmerized by the in...Show more "Billy Williams came to Burma in 1920 fresh from service in World War I, as a "forest man" for a British teak company. Mesmerized by the intelligence, character, and even humor of the great animals who hauled logs through the jungles, he became a gifted elephant wallah." Show less

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Lunch in Paris

Lunch in Paris

A Love Story, With Recipes

by Bard, Elizabeth

Book - 2010

"Peppered with mouth-watering recipes for summer ratatouille, swordfish tartare and molten chocolate cakes, Lunch in Paris is a story of falling in love, redefining success and discovering what it truly means to be at home. " "Peppered with mouth-watering recipes for summer ratatouille, swordfish tartare and molten chocolate cakes, Lunch in Paris is a story of falling in love, redefining success and discovering what it truly means to be at home. " Show less

"Peppered with mouth-watering recipes for summer ratatouille, swordfish tartare and molten chocolate cakes, Lunch in Paris is a story of falling in love, redefining success and discovering what it truly means to be at home. " "Peppered with mouth-watering recipes for summer ratatouille, swordfish tartare and molten chocolate cakes, Lunch in Paris is a story of falling in love, redefining success and discovering what it truly means to be at home. " Show less

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When Breath Becomes Air

When Breath Becomes Air

by Kalanithi, Paul

Book - 2016

"At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade's worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer." "At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade's worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer." Show less

"At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade's worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer." "At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade's worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer." Show less

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Empty Mansions

Empty Mansions

The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of A Great American Fortune

by Dedman, Bill

Book - 2013

"Rich tale of wealth and loss, complete with copper barons, Gilded Age opulence, and backdoor politics." "Rich tale of wealth and loss, complete with copper barons, Gilded Age opulence, and backdoor politics." Show less

"Rich tale of wealth and loss, complete with copper barons, Gilded Age opulence, and backdoor politics." "Rich tale of wealth and loss, complete with copper barons, Gilded Age opulence, and backdoor politics." Show less

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Men of Salt

Men of Salt

Crossing the Sahara on the Caravan of White Gold

by Benanav, Michael

Book - 2006

"While nearly all of the great trans-Saharan trade routes have disappeared, the Caravan of White Gold--so called because the salt was once literally ...Show more "While nearly all of the great trans-Saharan trade routes have disappeared, the Caravan of White Gold--so called because the salt was once literally worth its weight in gold--marches on, spared by unmatched isolation. Hearing that the caravans were threatened by the introduction of trucks, author Benanav joined a caravan, becoming one of the few Westerners to do so." Show less

"While nearly all of the great trans-Saharan trade routes have disappeared, the Caravan of White Gold--so called because the salt was once literally ...Show more "While nearly all of the great trans-Saharan trade routes have disappeared, the Caravan of White Gold--so called because the salt was once literally worth its weight in gold--marches on, spared by unmatched isolation. Hearing that the caravans were threatened by the introduction of trucks, author Benanav joined a caravan, becoming one of the few Westerners to do so." Show less

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Dreaming of Lions

Dreaming of Lions

My Life in the Wild Places

by Thomas, Elizabeth Marshall

Book - 2016

"In Dreaming of lions, the author shares stories from her life, from South West Africa (now Namibia) in the 1950s to the Kalahari Desert, where she conducted fieldwork among the Ju/wa Bushmen." "In Dreaming of lions, the author shares stories from her life, from South West Africa (now Namibia) in the 1950s to the Kalahari Desert, where she conducted fieldwork among the Ju/wa Bushmen." Show less

"In Dreaming of lions, the author shares stories from her life, from South West Africa (now Namibia) in the 1950s to the Kalahari Desert, where she conducted fieldwork among the Ju/wa Bushmen." "In Dreaming of lions, the author shares stories from her life, from South West Africa (now Namibia) in the 1950s to the Kalahari Desert, where she conducted fieldwork among the Ju/wa Bushmen." Show less

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Bettyville

Bettyville

A Memoir

by Hodgman, George

Book - 2015

"When George Hodgman leaves Manhattan for his hometown of Paris, Missouri, he finds himself--an unlikely caretaker and near-lethal cook--in a head-on collision with his aging mother, Betty, a woman of wit and will." "When George Hodgman leaves Manhattan for his hometown of Paris, Missouri, he finds himself--an unlikely caretaker and near-lethal cook--in a head-on collision with his aging mother, Betty, a woman of wit and will." Show less

"When George Hodgman leaves Manhattan for his hometown of Paris, Missouri, he finds himself--an unlikely caretaker and near-lethal cook--in a head-on collision with his aging mother, Betty, a woman of wit and will." "When George Hodgman leaves Manhattan for his hometown of Paris, Missouri, he finds himself--an unlikely caretaker and near-lethal cook--in a head-on collision with his aging mother, Betty, a woman of wit and will." Show less

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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

by Skloot, Rebecca

Book - 2010

"The story of the Lacks family is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of." "The story of the Lacks family is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of." Show less

"The story of the Lacks family is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of." "The story of the Lacks family is inextricably connected to the dark history of experimentation on African Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of." Show less

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