When you want to learn about someone’s life, you might pick up a biography or an autobiography. These books tell true stories about real people. Even though they are written in different ways, they often include the same kinds of information. In this post, you’ll learn what makes these books alike and how they help us understand the lives of others.
What Is a Biography
A biography is a book about someone’s life, but it’s written by someone else. The author usually does research to write the story. They might read letters, watch interviews, or talk to people who knew the person. Biographies are written in the third person (using “he,” “she,” or “they”). The goal is to tell the story clearly and fairly, without too much opinion.
For example, the biography Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson tells the life story of Apple’s founder. Isaacson didn’t know everything about Jobs from personal experience—he had to do interviews and study Jobs’s life to write the book.
What Is an Autobiography?
An autobiography is a book someone writes about their own life. It’s told in first person (using “I” or “me”). Autobiographies are often more personal because the author shares their thoughts, feelings, and memories.
A good example is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. In it, Angelou tells the story of her childhood, including hard times and how she found her voice as a writer.
What Do They Have in Common?
Even though biographies and autobiographies are written from different points of view, they include many of the same topics. Here’s a list of the most common information found in both types of books:
1. Basic Personal Information
Both books usually start with the same basic facts:
- When and where the person was born
- Their family background
- What their childhood was like
This helps readers understand where the person came from and what kind of life they had early on.
2. Education and Early Life
Readers often want to know:
- What schools did the person went to
- What subjects did they like
- Who were their role models
These details show how the person started learning and growing. It also gives clues about what they might do later in life.
3. Important Life Events
Both biographies and autobiographies tell the story of big moments:
- Jobs the person had
- Important relationships
- Times they failed or succeeded
These events shape the story and help readers learn what mattered most in the person’s life.
4. Accomplishments and Awards
Whether it’s winning a prize, starting a business, or helping others, these books show:
- Big goals the person reached
- Honors they received
- What made them stand out
This tells us why the person is remembered or respected.
5. Challenges and Hardships
Everyone has tough times, even famous people. These books often include:
- Family struggles
- Money problems
- Discrimination or health issues
Reading about someone’s hard times helps us connect with them. It also shows how they stayed strong or changed because of their challenges.
6. Important Relationships
Nobody lives life alone. People are shaped by:
- Parents and siblings
- Friends, teachers, and mentors
- Co-workers or even rivals
These relationships can help explain big choices in a person’s life or the way they see the world.
7. What Was Happening in the World
To understand someone fully, we also need to know about:
- Wars or political changes
- Social movements
- New inventions or changes in culture
These events often affect how a person lives, what they believe, and what they choose to do.
8. Beliefs and Values
Lastly, both types of books tell us what the person cared about. This includes:
- Religion or spiritual beliefs
- Personal rules they followed
- Dreams and goals they had
These parts help readers understand the heart of the person’s story.
How Are They Written Differently?
While the topics are mostly the same, the way they are told is different.
- Biographies are more like reports. They are based on facts, research, and other people’s opinions. The writer tries to stay neutral and not show personal feelings.
- Autobiographies are more like personal stories. The person tells the story their way and often shares deep thoughts and emotions.
This means the same event can be told in two different ways. A biography might say what happened, while an autobiography might say how the person felt about it.
What’s the Same in Structure?
Most biographies and autobiographies are told in order, from birth to later life or death. This is called chronological order. This helps readers follow the person’s journey step by step and see how one event led to another.
Real-Life Examples
Let’s look at two books again:
- In Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, we learn about Jobs’s childhood, how he started Apple, and his struggles with health.
- In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, we learn about her early life, the racism she faced, and how she became a writer.
Even though one is written by another person and one is written by the subject herself, both books include:
- Family and childhood memories
- School and early work experiences
- Big wins and big losses
- Important people in their lives
These shared details help readers learn about the full person.
Why Do These Similarities Matter?
There are good reasons why biographies and autobiographies share so much information:
- Trust: Readers want to know the facts. If the story is missing basic details, it might not feel true.
- Balance: Including the good and the bad gives a complete picture of the person’s life.
- Perspective: Seeing the same story from different angles helps us think more deeply. One writer may focus on facts, while the other talks about feelings.
Both kinds of books help us learn from others’ lives—and maybe even help us understand our own lives better.
Biographies and autobiographies are powerful tools for learning about real people. They tell us where someone came from, what they faced, and how they made their mark on the world. Even though they’re written in different voices, they often tell the same story in their own way.
When you read one of these books, you’re not just learning about the person—you’re also learning about history, courage, choices, and what it means to live a meaningful life.
So next time you want to read about someone inspiring, pick up a biography or an autobiography. You’ll get a true story filled with lessons that stick with you.