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Biography and Memoir July 2026 |
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| Monster of a Land: On the Road in Search of Modern America by Lauren HoughMemoirist Lauren Hough hits the road with her dog, Woody, in an American travelogue inspired by John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley. As she traverses the states, Hough alternates road anecdotes with scenes from her life -- pondering friendship cut short by death and taking stock of modern life’s compromises and indignities; yet she somehow mines hopeful conclusions in a book that’s “as much of a journey inward as it is outward” (Library Journal). For fans of: The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road by E. A. Hanks. |
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Killin' Time: My Life and Music by Clint BlackWhen it comes to modern music, few artists have had a bigger or more lasting impact than Clint Black. Since bursting onto the country music scene in 1989 with Killin' Time--the triple-platinum debut that delivered five consecutive number one singles--Black has built a genre-defining career spanning nearly four decades. Having written the soundtrack of a generation, Clint now puts pen to paper to write, for the first time, the story of the man behind the music. A fan of country music stars' biographies? Try these next: Life's Too Short by Darius Rucker and Energy Follows Thought by Willie Nelson.
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| Malcolm in the Desert: Wisdom from the Spiritual Transformation of Malcolm X by Ilyasah ShabazzActivist Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of civil rights leader Malcolm X, reflects on the significance of her father’s 1964 spiritual pilgrimage to Mecca, when he was still finding his theological footing after his ouster from the Nation of Islam. Interestingly, she frames the biography as a step-by-step guide which mirrors the stages of X’s transition from a separatist ideology to an embracing of connection with Muslims of every color. Shabazz's unconventional take on her father’s journey will inspire readers seeking enlightenment and liberation. |
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| The Sane One: A Memoir by the Co-Creator of Pen15 by Anna KonkleActor and television writer Anna Konkle’s debut memoir explores her adolescent years with the same awkward, cringey humor that characterizes Pen15, the Hulu series that she co-created with Maya Erskine. But Konkle also shows her somber side by candidly addressing her extremely strained relationship with her divorced father (thankfully mended by the time the latter passed away from cancer). For another funny yet moving life story, try Joyful Recollections of Trauma by Paul Scheer. |
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Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner by Marc ShaimanFrom the award-winning composer/co-lyricist behind such iconic projects as Hairspray, Sister Act, Mary Poppins Returns, and Smash comes a wickedly funny, no-holds-barred memoir. Candid, hilarious, and deeply human, Shaiman's story is a tribute to the power of music, the pull of the spotlight, and the beat that never stops. Part showbiz tell-all, part love letter to the melancholy that fuels creativity, told with perfect comic timing--along with a few wrong notes, and plenty of standing ovations. Read this next: Theater Kid by Jeffrey Seller.
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| Conversion Therapy Dropout: A Queer Story of Faith & Belonging by Timothy Schraeder RodriguezAfter an awkward, teenaged Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez experienced rejection from members of his Evangelical youth group who discovered he was gay, he willingly enrolled in a church-organized therapy program meant to “cure” his queerness with repression exercises. The author, now out, is still healing from the psychic harm this therapy caused, and has co-founded Church Clarity, an organization that helps queer Christians connect with accepting congregations. For readers who were inspired by Devout by David Archuleta. |
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Fully Baked: A Messy Memoir by Rosebud BakerFully Baked is Rosebud's riotously funny and emotionally resonant memoir. Inspired by her pregnancy and early motherhood, it's also her quest to discover who she really is and how she wants to raise her daughter. Every chapter is smart, self-deprecating, and laugh-out-loud funny, and no subject is off limits, from her famous yet unknowable grandfather, White House Chief of Staff James A. Baker III, to her youngest sister's sudden death. You'll speed through the pages to discover what happens next. Then, you'll look back on a remarkable book that felt like an intimate conversation with a friend who made you feel better by confessing all the ways they screwed up. Check these out next: Foolish by Sarah Cooper and Lifeform by Jenny Slate.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Forsyth County Public Library
660 W. Fifth St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-703-2665forsythlibrary.org |
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