You mentioned Anne Lamott – she’s a favorite of mine. Her nonfiction works make me feel glad to be human, while asking me to assess my own messy journey.

One of my favorites is Bob Newhart’s ‘I Shouldn’t Be Doing This.’ Simply funny and a wonderful look at Hollywood by someone who has been there awhile.

Yes, Anne Lamott. Also Donald Miller. Sarah Vowell is brilliant and funny. David Sedaris.

I agree with Donald Miller as being a great memoir, especially “Searching For God Knows What”
Also a book written by musician Steven Curtis Chapman “Speechless”. Yes, he wrote a book by the same name as his album.

LaMott and Miller for sure, Kathleen Norris, Sara Miles, Lauren Winner, Nora Gallagher, Barbara Brown Taylor… Scot, when are you writing yours?

I think Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Memoirs, albeit very short, are the best.

Gerald Mays, “The Wisdom of Wilderness.” A memoir of sorts. A slice of time when iced trees and a cruel bird, crackling fire and silent hikes breathed life.

Stephen King’s “On Writing” is an excellent book. Don’t let the title deceive you–while it is a book on writing, it is also largely a memoir/autobiography. (Also, don’t let King’s typical writing genre prejudice your opinion of the book.)

“I Had a Hammer” by Hank Aaron. Worth the read just to see some of the mail he received the year he broke the record. (He received more mail that year than anyone other than the POTUS.)

Frank McCourt, Anne Lamott, Donald Miller, Jim Palmer, some David Sedaris, A.J. Jacobs (who I suppose isn’t exactly a memoir writer). Also enjoyed Sara Miles’ “Take This Bread” and Lauren Winner’s “Girl Meets God.”
I’ve never read “Running With Scissors” by Augusten Burroughs, which I’ve heard is great. Anyone have an opinion on that one?
I’ll be sure to send you a copy of mine in June, Scot…or I’m sure that Zondervan will hook you up.

I really appreciated Stuart Briscoe’s Flowing Streams: Journeys of a Life Well Lived.

This doesn’t quite fit, but sorta kinda maybe does, so my apologies for forcing a square peg on a round blog post.
Robert Heinlein’s Time Enough for Love is a science fiction who’s protagonist is a fiction (romance) writer and who’s story contains autobiographical elements of the author Robert Heinlein. The plot ultimately reflects on the nature of creation through writing.

I think Sara Miles’ book Take This Bread is one of the best in the genre of memoir. She tells her story AND the story of why the Eucharist matters in the world today

Anything by Anne Lamott, Donald Miller, and David Sedaris.

“An American Childhood” by Annie Dillard is good, about her growing up in Pittsburgh.
I’m currently reading “American Requiem” by James Carroll, and his recent book on being a Catholic is quite good too.

“Leaving Church” Barbara Brown Taylor – great book about finding your pastoral call and recognizing when you are being released from your call.
“Spaghetti From the Chandelier” Ruth Truman – funny stories about life as a pastor’s family.
“Fantasyland” Sam Walker – a season playing fantasy baseball.

I love the Frederick Buechner books but another really good one is Earthly Fathers by Scott Sawyer. You owe it to yourself to read this one.

Jeannette Walls wrote one of the best memoirs of all time — The Glass Castle. A stunning work of grace.

1. “I Never Had It Made: An Autobiography of Jackie Robinson” by Jackie Robinson and Alfred Duckett
2. “Ordeal” by Linda Lovelace

Justice Clarence Thomas – My Grandfather’s Son
William F Buckley – Miles Gone By

Well, I have to echo the recommendation for “The Glass Castle.” Great stuff.
Try “Replacement Child,” by death of a child. She was born of fire, she says in the opening, the child created to “replace” the sister killed when a plane crashes into their home. Riveting, emotional, uplifting, hopeful, even funny. Good stuff.

Oops — made a mistake on my linking. The memoir is ABOUT the death of a child and is by Judy Mandel.