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- Jun 16, 2013
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A lot of biographies can be somewhat dry especially if you aren't completely into the person you're reading about.
I don't want to go through the process of reading the first chapter of 10 different biographies before finding one I resonate with.
So I'm asking you guys what your favorite biographies of famous people you've read about are to save some time/energy.
In case you are interested in this as well I'll go over a few I've read that were great reads.
1. Ernest Shackleton. There are many books written about his expedition I think "Endurance" by Alfred Lansing is probably one of the best written. It's about Shackleton's expedition to Antarctica that turned into a disaster and how his leadership skills managed to do the impossible (escape Antarctica on foot, with limited supplies, and then cross one of the most treacherous oceans in the world in an open 20 foot long boat). A must read if you like inspiring adventure stories or interested in the character of a great leader.
2. "Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin". Self explanatory. A bit difficult to read if you aren't used to the way people wrote 300 years ago. It's a great story about a man following his heart (rather than staying trapped in his comfort zone doing what everyone around them wants them to do), working hard to develop himself, and challenging the norm.
3. "Giants" by John Staffer (I think). About the parallel lives of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas (not to be confused with Stephan Douglas the man that ran against Lincoln in the elections). I enjoyed the Beginning of this book and reading about their childhood, adolescence, and their come up once they became young adults since I could relate to it. The latter part of the book talks about their political endeavors which I can't relate to and found difficult to read through.
So there are my top 3 biographies that I've read. They were all fascinating and interesting enough to capture my attention (instead of overly dry and factual like some biographies can be) especially my first recommendation which reads more like a fiction novel than a non-fiction reporting of the facts.
Tell me about some biographies you found interesting and impactful!
-Rob
I don't want to go through the process of reading the first chapter of 10 different biographies before finding one I resonate with.
So I'm asking you guys what your favorite biographies of famous people you've read about are to save some time/energy.
In case you are interested in this as well I'll go over a few I've read that were great reads.
1. Ernest Shackleton. There are many books written about his expedition I think "Endurance" by Alfred Lansing is probably one of the best written. It's about Shackleton's expedition to Antarctica that turned into a disaster and how his leadership skills managed to do the impossible (escape Antarctica on foot, with limited supplies, and then cross one of the most treacherous oceans in the world in an open 20 foot long boat). A must read if you like inspiring adventure stories or interested in the character of a great leader.
2. "Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin". Self explanatory. A bit difficult to read if you aren't used to the way people wrote 300 years ago. It's a great story about a man following his heart (rather than staying trapped in his comfort zone doing what everyone around them wants them to do), working hard to develop himself, and challenging the norm.
3. "Giants" by John Staffer (I think). About the parallel lives of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas (not to be confused with Stephan Douglas the man that ran against Lincoln in the elections). I enjoyed the Beginning of this book and reading about their childhood, adolescence, and their come up once they became young adults since I could relate to it. The latter part of the book talks about their political endeavors which I can't relate to and found difficult to read through.
So there are my top 3 biographies that I've read. They were all fascinating and interesting enough to capture my attention (instead of overly dry and factual like some biographies can be) especially my first recommendation which reads more like a fiction novel than a non-fiction reporting of the facts.
Tell me about some biographies you found interesting and impactful!
-Rob
