Biography & Autobiography

"I don't think anyone should write their autobiography until after they're dead." — Samuel Goldwyn

A Giant Peak Called “The Doors”: A Conversation with John Densmore
James Penner interviews John Densmore, drummer for the Doors.
James PennerJan 7, 2023
The Afterlife of Slavery: On Carole Emberton’s “To Walk About in Freedom”
Jim Downs reviews Carole Emberton’s “To Walk About in Freedom: The Long Emancipation of Priscilla Joyner.”
Jim DownsJan 2, 2023
Transpacific Connections and Competitions: On Ying Zhu’s “Hollywood in China” and Daryl Joji Maeda’s “Like Water”
Aynne Kokas reviews two recent books about the intersection of China and Hollywood: Ying Zhu’s “Hollywood in China: Behind the Scenes of the World’s Largest Movie Market” and Daryl Joji Maeda’s “Like Water: A Cultural History of Bruce Lee.”
Aynne KokasDec 27, 2022
Hurray for Inventing New Genres or Whatever: On Dr. Moiya McTier’s “The Milky Way”
Joani Etskovitz explores the genres at play — from astronomy and mythology to self-help and romance — in Dr. Moiya McTier’s “The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy.”
Joani EtskovitzDec 24, 2022
Mankind Is a Piece of Shit: On Keiron Pim’s “Endless Flight”
Luke Warde reviews Keiron Pim’s new biography “Endless Flight: The Life of Joseph Roth.”
Luke WardeDec 24, 2022
- Biography & Autobiography
- Fiction
Examining Phillis Wheatley
Hollis Robbins examines the legend of Phillis Wheatley, the first African American published poet.
Hollis RobbinsDec 19, 2022
- Biography & Autobiography
- Poetry
The Many Faces of Felix Frankfurter: On Brad Snyder’s “Democratic Justice”
Paul Finkelman reviews Brad Snyder's "Democratic Justice: Felix Frankfurter, the Supreme Court, and the Making of the Liberal Establishment."
Paul FinkelmanDec 13, 2022
Hurt Just the Right Way: A Conversation with Emi Nietfeld
Natasia Pelowski speaks with Emi Nietfeld about her new memoir, “Acceptance.”
Natasia PelowskiDec 13, 2022
- Biography & Autobiography
- Memoir & Essay
Beyond Liberalism?: On Raymond Geuss’s “Not Thinking Like a Liberal”
Richard Eldridge reviews Raymond Geuss’s “Not Thinking Like a Liberal.”
Richard EldridgeDec 11, 2022
A Communion of Pathless Solitudes: On Adam Nicolson’s “The Making of Poetry”
Joshua Hren reviews Adam Nicolson’s “The Making of Poetry: Coleridge, the Wordsworths, and Their Year of Marvels.”
Joshua HrenDec 11, 2022
A Down-and-Out but Amusing Character: On Alex Harvey’s “Song Noir”
Dec Ryan reviews Alex Harvey’s “Song Noir: Tom Waits and the Spirit of Los Angeles.”
Declan RyanDec 9, 2022
All of the Monsters (In Which I Accuse James Purdy of Throwing My Four-Year-Old Child Down Two Flights of Stairs Using His Powers of Telekinesis): On Michael Snyder’s “James Purdy”
Matthew Stadler recalls his friend James Purdy via Michael Snyder’s new biography of the novelist, playwright, and poet, “James Purdy: Life of a Contrarian Writer.”
Matthew StadlerDec 3, 2022