swap_horiz The Pianist Alternatives

1

Meditations

Meditations is a personal journal written by Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher. It offers insights in...

Philosophy Memoir Roman Stoicism

9.5 Brilliant

2

If This Is a Man

Primo Levi's 1947 memoir details his horrific experiences as an Italian Jewish chemist imprisoned in the Auschwitz conce...

Wwii Holocaust Memoir Jewish

9.4 Excellent

3

Night

Elie Wiesel's seminal 1960 memoir details his horrific experiences with his father in the Nazi German concentration camp...

Wwii Holocaust Memoir Jewish

9.2 Excellent

4

The Periodic Table

Primo Levi's 1975 memoir uses the chemical elements as a framework to reflect on his life as a chemist and his survival...

Chemistry Science Memoir Jewish

9.1 Excellent

5

When Breath Becomes Air

This 2016 memoir by Paul Kalanithi chronicles his life as a neurosurgeon and his battle with stage IV metastatic lung ca...

Terminal Medical Memoir Mortality

8.9 Great

6

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!

This 1985 biographical collection of anecdotes details the unconventional and humorous life of Nobel Prize-winning physi...

Physics Science Humor Memoir

8.9 Great

7

Walden

Henry David Thoreau's 1854 memoir details his experiences living alone in a cabin near Walden Pond, reflecting on simple...

Philosophy American Memoir Thoreau

8.8 Great

8

Shoe Dog

This 2016 memoir by Nike co-founder Phil Knight chronicles the early, risky years of building the iconic global sportswe...

Business American Nike Memoir

8.7 Great

9

West with the Night

This 1942 memoir by Beryl Markham chronicles her adventurous life growing up in Kenya and her career as a pioneering avi...

Adventure Africa Aviation Memoir

8.7 Great

10

An Unquiet Mind

In her 1995 memoir, psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison recounts her personal struggle with bipolar disorder, blending cli...

Mental Health Medical Memoir Jamison

8.7 Great

11

Between the World and Me

Ta-Nehisi Coates's 2015 memoir, written as a letter to his teenage son, explores the harsh realities of being Black in A...

African American Social Memoir Race

8.7 Great

12

Born Standing Up

Steve Martin's 2007 memoir chronicles his intense early comedy career and the development of his groundbreaking, absurdi...

Martin American Comedy Memoir

8.7 Great

13

Dreams from My Father

Published in 1995, this memoir by Barack Obama explores his early life, his multicultural upbringing, and his family roo...

African American Identity Political Memoir

8.6 Great

14

Just Kids

Patti Smith's 2010 memoir chronicles her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe and their experiences in the late 1960s N...

Music 1970S Memoir Art

8.5 Great

15

On the Move: A Life

Neurologist Oliver Sacks's 2015 autobiography details his early career in medicine, his weightlifting experiences, and h...

Science Medical Memoir Neurologist

8.5 Great

16

Liar's Poker

Michael Lewis's 1989 memoir details his brief career as a bond salesman at Salomon Brothers, offering a scathing look at...

Finance American Memoir Lewis

8.5 Great

17

The Hiding Place

Corrie ten Boom's 1971 autobiographical book about her experiences hiding Jews during the Holocaust and surviving a Nazi...

Wwii Holocaust Memoir Christian

8.5 Great

18

Number the Stars

Lois Lowry's 1989 historical fiction novel, categorized here as biography, details a young girl's experience rescuing Je...

Danish Fiction Wwii Holocaust

8.0 Great

19

M Train

Patti Smith's 2015 memoir reflects on her life, her travels, and her deep grief following the loss of her husband, music...

Music Memoir Art Patti Smith

7.3 Good

20

Clapton: The Autobiography

Eric Clapton's 2007 autobiography details his legendary career as a British rock guitarist, his time in Cream, and his p...

Music Rock Clapton Blues

6.8 Fair