Biographies

Biographies are books about the lives of historical figures. They are generally well researched, scholarly books told in an entertaining, readable way. They will cover figures from every walk of life, from politicians to entertainers to scientists to artists. Reading biographies can be inspiring for anybody, regardless of his or her field; often, reading a book about someone who succeeded against the odds is all it takes to inspire your own feats of greatness.

Biographies are published every year, on a variety of people both living and deceased. The truly towering figures of history like Martin Luther King or George Washington will all have any number of biographies written about them. For living figures, publishers will distinguish between an "authorized" biography and an "unauthorized" biography. One is not necessarily better than the other. Whereas an authorized biography may whitewash some of the less savory aspects of a character, an unauthorized one may be unduly scandal-ridden.

Biographies are typically published in hardback, and make wonderful gifts. If a biography becomes extraordinarily popular, it may later receive a paperback printing, though it is less common. Therefore, biographies can be more expensive than a work of fiction, but not tremendously so. Publishers will try to keep prices low. They achieve this by vigorously promoting new biographies in an effort to sell many units.

Biographies may be about other people, but readers will learn a lot about themselves in the subject matter. Because the nature of a biography is to give a person's complete story, very few started at the top. Their stories of achievement will often mirror a reader's own journey to their station in life.