For our latest poll we asked you for your favourite memoirs, but unlike our previous memoir poll (dominated by female authors), this time we split the polls into memoirs written by men, and memoirs written by women. Today we have the results of the male perspective poll and from the books selected we have a top 15 based on your votes.
What counting up this poll taught me is that I have read many more memoirs written by women than men, I guess it’s time to rectify this as some of these memoirs written by men look like fantastic reads!
Bring on the Empty Horses – David Niven
Bring on the Empty Horses is the second part of the autobiography of actor, David Niven. Both The Moon’s a Balloon, and Bring on the Empty Horses are critically acclaimed, and it seems acclaimed by you the reader, too taking top spot in this poll.
Angela’s Ashes – Frank McCourt
Angela’s Ashes is a heartbreaking tale about growing up in Ireland, faced with poverty, alcoholism and the grittiness of 1940s life. It’s mentioned often in our lists and polls and takes second spot here.
Night – Elie Wiesel
In Night, Weisel talks about his experience alongside his father in the Nazi German concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald at the height of the Holocaust. Over a sparse and fragmented 100 or so pages, Wiesel captures the horrors he faced before his liberation.
Not My Father’s Son – Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming is a beloved star of both stage and screen, but this family memoir looks at his early life, and the family’s dark and complex past.
Cider with Rosie – Laurie Lee
Cider with Rosie is considered a classic and there’s a good reason for that. A magical, descriptive tale of a time forgotten, growing up in a remote corner of Gloucestershire.
Tuesdays with Morrie – Mitch Albom
Tuesdays with Morrie covers a time when Albom was visiting an old college professor who is dying of ALS. The critically acclaimed memoir is about life advice, love and the lessons of life.
Diary of Samuel Pepys – Samuel Pepys
The detailed private diary of Samuel Pepys, kept between 1660 and 1669 was first published in the 19th century and is considered to be one of the most important primary documents for the English Restoration period.
A Child Called It – Dave Pelzer
This harrowing memoir of a neglected boy sparked a voracious appetite for what would be labelled ‘Grief Memoirs’, difficult to read, yet difficult to put down.
Down and Out in Paris and London – George Orwell
Another classic for the list, Down and Out in Paris and London is Orwell’s autobiographical account of his time in both Paris and London. An essential read for those interested in social justice and poverty.
Down and Out in Paris and London US
Down and Out in Paris and London UK
My Family and Other Animals – Gerald Durrell
My Family and Other Animals is an autobiographical work by naturalist Gerald Durrell, telling of the part of his childhood he spent on the Greek Island of Corfu. It’s recommended as insightful and laugh out loud funny.
My Family and Other Animals US
My Family and Other Animals UK
Me Talk Pretty One Day – David Sedaris
Me Talk Pretty One Day was born out of Sedaris’ move to Paris and his hilarious attempts to learn a new language with a sadist as a teacher.
Running With Scissors – Augusten Burroughs
Running With Scissors is a described as the memoir of a boy who wanted to grow up with the Brady Bunch but ended up with the Addams Family. Acutely sardonic, very funny and genuinely memorable.
Is That It? – Bob Geldof
There’s no denying that Geldof has lived a fascinating life and in Is That It he looks at his childhood in Dublin, New Wave music, Paula Yates and the trial and tribulations in between.
One Step Beyond – Chris Moon
While supervising land mine clearing in 1995, Chris Moon was blown up losing his lower right leg and right arm. Since then he has completed marathons, including the 137 mile Marathon Des Sables, the Winter Olympics and more. This is the story of his extraordinary life.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Franklin was a statesman, author, inventor, printer, and scientist. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and later was involved in negotiating the peace treaty with Britain that ended the Revolutionary War. He also invented bifocals, a stove that is still manufactured, a water-harmonica, and the lightning rod. Why wouldn’t you want to read his autobiography.
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin US
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin UK
So that completes our list, the top 15 memoirs written by men and recommended by you. Female authors to follow, look out for that appearing soon.
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