41 Memoirs Everyone Should Read

In relation to World Book Day, Reader's Digest came up with a list of 41 memoirs they believe everyone should read at least once.

Some of these may not be everyone's cup of tea; it entirely depends on who people want to read about

1. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

-If you're a fan of the alternative pop group Japanese Breakfast, you'll love the memoir (released in 2021) about Michelle Zauner. She grew up American born, but of Korean ancestry in Oregon, where there were not many other children of Asian descent. She bonded with her family over the meals of her culture in her grandmother's apartment and battled with her mother's expectations to pursue music as a career. After hearing her mother was diagnosed with terminal-stage cancer, Michelle returned home to act as caregiver and come to terms with various things her mother has passed down

2. Spare by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex

-Released on Jan. 10, 2023, this memoir is about one of the Dukes of Sussex, Harry. He's also one of the sons of the late Princess Diana Spencer. This is an honest look at the ups, downs and everything in between that shaped him as a person. He talks about his childhood, his military service in Afghanistan, and more recent happenings such as becoming a husband and father. The title is inspired by the phrase "an heir and a spare", referencing his status as King Charles's second son and dealing with the grief of losing his mother at a young age

3. Solito by Javier Zamora

-This story is about a 9 year old named Javier. He grew up in El Salvador, raised by his loving aunt and grandparents. One day, he decides to set out on a journey, 3,000 miles away, to join his parents in America. He is alone, but he joins a group of other migrants who use a "coyote" (professional people smuggler), who promises the group it will only take two weeks. Javier makes the trip successfully, and considers the migrants in his group as extended family. His journey actually took two months, as he recalls thirst from the hot deserts, fear of being caught, love and kindness. He eventually grew up to be a poet

4. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

-Despite the suggestive title, it does contain a bit of dark humor. It seems the relationship between Jennette McCurdy and her mother wasn't as rosy as one would think. This memoir, which came out in 2022, details the life of the actress best known for teen-type shows like iCarly and Sam and Cat. She writes with striking honesty about her abusive mother, overbearing mother, whose only request was for her to become a movie star. Also add in eating disorders, addiction and her mother's premature death from cancer, which only added difficulty to the life of Jennette McCurdy. She quit acting to pursue therapy and released this hilarious memoir about trauma, healing and the need to discover your own independence

5. Departure Stories: Betty Crocker Made Matzoh Balls (And Other Lies) by Elisa Bernick

-Elisa Bernick mixes hilarious stories of growing up as a Jewish girl in a white Christian Minnesota suburb in the 1960s and 1970s, trauma from various generations, a family run by an unhappy wife along with recipes, jokes, scrapbook pieces, memories together to paint a picture of a dysfunctional family

6. The Yellow House by Sarah Broom

-In New Orleans, the home in which Sarah Broom was raised was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. She puts forth personal history and memories, such as being the youngest of 12 children, in her 2019 memoir

7. All the Way to the Tigers by Mary Morris

-Mary Morris took a trip to India and while there, got the chance to see Bengal tigers out in the wild, open and free. In her 2020 memoir, she calls them "the truly last wild things." This book mixes history, natural science, the significance of tigers and philosophy, personal dealings with Morris's past. She also notes how important tiger conservation is

8. Dimestore: A Writer's Life by Lee Smith

-Lee Smith is a Southern writer who took a vacation from writing novels and instead wrote a letter about her Appalachian upbringing. This is an honest, open eyed look into a way of life that no longer happens. This book, published in 2016, will give you a look into the life of the author and the world in which she grew up in

9. Threading My Prayer Rug by Sabeeha Rehman

-The author, Sabeeha Rehman, and her husband immigrated to New York 40+ years ago from Pakistan. They were both placed in an arranged marriage. When they set foot in New York, the culture shock was intense, to say the least. While remaining a devout Muslim, she was able to make friends with her neighbors while maintaining her faith. Not only did she raise a family, but she also advocates for interfaith understanding. This book debuted in 2017

10. Educated by Tara Westover

-Grit and resilience are two words to describe this 2018 book. Tara Westover was raised by survivalists in the mountains of Idaho and the only expectation of her by her parents to eventually become an obedient wife who doesn't question a thing. She fought to get an education. Despite the odds and various setbacks, she was able to make it to Harvard and earn a PhD from Cambridge University

11. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

-Paul Kalanithi is a neurosurgeon and a new father. He was only 36 when he got the bad news: he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He goes from saving lives one day to losing his own the next day. In this 2015 memoir, he asks the most important question: What makes life worth living? Where do we find meaning? What do you do when your life has no future and ordinary goals no longer make sense? There was no cure for his cancer and he died in 2015. Despite his death, this book remains alive for the world to read

12. Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong

-This 2020 memoir in essay form is an important lesson about race, in particular Asian Americans. Cathy Park Hong is the daughter of Korean citizens who immigrated to a new land, and Hong explores the topics of family and friendship, shame and self doubt

13. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest by Cheryl Strayed

-Published in 2013, Cheryl Strayed felt her life was slipping from her at only 26. Her mother died, her marriage dissolved and she was depending on drugs to get her from day to day. With the mindset that she had nothing to lose, she decided to embark on a hike on the perilous Pacific Crest Trail, which is 1,000 miles long. She was completely unprepared for the hike, but it changed her in so many ways

14. On the Move: A Life by Oliver Sacks

-Oliver Sacks was a neurologist who wrote dozens of books. Prior to his 2015 death, he released this book, which gives readers an insight into the years before his death

15. Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward

-Jesmyn ward explores institutional racism and poverty in this 2013 memoir. She recounts how five black men died within five years in and around the Mississippi community where they all were raised and living. One of the men was the brother of the author while the others were from the community. This book explores addiction and economic struggles

16. H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald

-After losing her father, naturalist Helen Macdonald processes her grief by adopting a hawk. Specifically, a goshawk she named Mabel. The wild tendencies of the bird mirror Macdonald's own feelings at the time. She details the goings on of her and her bird in this 2016 memoir

17. Just As I Am by Cicely Tyson

-Cicely Tyson, who passed away in January 2021, had released a memoir only days before. She was able to break racial barriers in a time when roles in acting were not plentiful for black actresses. She took roles that presented black women with realistic dignity. She won an Emmy, Oscar and Tony before her death at 96 and was able to inspire generations of people

18. Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

-If you've ever wondered what it would be like to be a scientist, read this 2016 memoir. Hope Jahren is a paleobiologist who specializes in plants and trees. She gives an insight into the work in the lab and field

19. Boy, Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith and Family by Garrard Conley

-The author was only 19 when his parents found out his secret: that he was gay. They pushed him to attend inpatient gay conversion therapy with the hope of making him heterosexual (straight). Released in 2016, this open, honest look shows the journey Garrard made as he came to terms with his sexuality and standing up for his own self. It sheds light on a dark practice that probably still goes on to this day

20. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

-Susannah Calahan was a newspaper journalist who, at age 24, thought she was going insane. She would have uncontrollable outbursts and delusions that could be terrifying at times. Initially, her doctors thought she was abusing alcohol while others believed she was suffering a severe mental breakdown. There was hope when a doctor who took the time to treat her discovered the reason behind her unusual behavior. She was diagnosed with a rare but treatable autoimmune disorder called anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. With her family by her side and her own perseverance, she was able to not only recover but also put together the pieces of a medical jigsaw puzzle that could have ended differently. This 2012 memoir went on to become a successful movie