The Best-Selling Autobiographies of All Time

Stories that share true personal experiences, allowing us to feed our curiosity about the inner workings of others’ lives, captivate us in indescribable ways. Like fiction, autobiographies help us transcend barriers and gain new perspectives. They evoke awe, sadness, anger, dismay, and hope about the human experience, which can vastly differ across time and space.

These powerful qualities make autobiographies a genre that brings us insights into our world today, even if they were written well before the internet and social media. Of the many autobiographies that have captured hearts and attention over time, these eight bestsellers continue to draw us to their pages.

Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

It’s rare to encounter someone who hasn’t heard of Anne Frank. Her story was made famous by the publishing of Diary of a Young Girl, comprising entries from the diary Frank kept as a young teen while hiding with her family during the Holocaust. The writings offer insights into her daily life, in which everything from her crushes to the devastating impacts of the war are shared.

It was published in 1947 but remains an influential book about this dark chapter of history. The diary has been published in over 67 languages and has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

In 2018, Michelle Obama’s Becoming became a massive bestseller. The book has sold over 17 million copies and was followed by another book in 2022, The Light We Carry. While technically a memoir, Becoming spans the life of the former First Lady and appeals to many. She boasts many accomplishments as a highly educated lawyer, mother, and political figure. Her book offers perspective and context on how she navigates the world and high-pressure situations.

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela is often considered one of the most remarkable leaders of the modern world, and his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, depicts the journey that earned him this reputation. It takes readers from the early days of his childhood to his imprisonment for anti-apartheid activism and eventual rise to the presidency in South Africa. It is considered an essential read for understanding and fighting racism.

Published in 1994, Mandela’s remarkable story and many accomplishments continue to draw readers. To date, the book has sold 15 million copies.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

The Autobiography of Malcolm X takes you into the life of the influential Malcolm X. The autobiography was co-written with Alex Haley, who transcribed discussions with Malcolm to craft the book. Through this method, Malcolm shared his childhood, time in prison, and transition to a Muslim minister. Malcolm was assassinated before the publishing of his autobiography.

The autobiography is considered an essential read for understanding racism and is still in print more than fifty years after its publication. 

Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda

Part autobiography, part self-help, Paramhansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi has inspired people since its publication in 1946. Yogananda spent his life exploring spirituality, making it a predominant topic in his book. He is credited with popularizing yoga in the United States and Western countries. More than 4 million copies of Yogananda’s autobiography have been printed to date.

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah delivers his story in a way that’s true to his comedic style while sharing what it was like to grow up in apartheid South Africa—a time and place where his existence, as a child of a white man and Black woman, was illegal. Noah could have approached his story with a heavy and serious tone but instead taps into a humorous narrative style that delivers his life’s struggles, obstacles, and triumphs with candor and wit.

Released in 2016, the book has sold over 3 million copies, prompting Trevor to write a follow-up scheduled to debut in 2024.

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai’s story spread throughout the globe in 2012 when she was shot in the left side of her face by the Taliban on her way home from school. At just fifteen, she was considered a threat by this oppressive force due to her activism and determination to get an education. 

Miraculously, she survived and shared her story. Her autobiography recounts these events and her life growing up in a place where women’s access to education is limited, all from her young yet perceptive perspective. In 2014, she became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. 

Her story has become a bestseller, with over 2 million copies sold, and supports her and the Malala Fund’s fight for women’s access to education worldwide.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou is renowned for her poetry, writing, and activism. Throughout her writing career, she published seven autobiographies, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The book shares Angelou’s childhood in Stamps, Arkansas, and her adolescent and teen years, including moves to St. Louis and later San Francisco. The book is a vivid account of traumatic events—including the racism and bigotry to which Angelou and her family were subjected.

The autobiography was first published in 1969. Since then, it has been translated into 17 languages and has sold millions of copies. It remains highly praised and recommended for the cultural significance of the book and the author.

Why These Books Are Worth Reading

These best-selling autobiographies take us into different people’s inner lives and provide new insights and perspectives on how we view the world. They’re well worth adding to your reading list, and just like Audible offers sign-up deals to new members and casinos.com offers exclusive bonus codes for casino sites, you can easily find deals for them online.