Celebrity memoirs offer a rare look beyond the headlines, giving readers the chance to hear remarkable stories in the stars' own words. Whether they're funny, deeply personal, or surprisingly candid, these books reveal the experiences that shaped some of the world's most famous people. Here are 27 celebrity memoirs you need to read right now.
The Storyteller by Dave Grohl (2021)
Instead of using a ghostwriter, Dave Grohl wrote the memoir himself after posting personal stories online during the pandemic. He covers everything from sleeping in vans with Nirvana to leading Foo Fighters, mixing emotional moments with the same humor fans know from his interviews.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2016)
Trevor Noah explains what it was like growing up in apartheid-era South Africa as the son of a Black Xhosa mother and a white Swiss father, a relationship that was illegal when he was born. His stories balance sharp comedy with firsthand accounts of racism, poverty, and his mother's remarkable resilience.
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey (2020)
Built from more than 30 years of personal journals, the book includes stories from McConaughey's childhood in Texas, his Hollywood career, and his travels around the world. It quickly became one of the bestselling memoirs of the decade.
Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018)
Michelle Obama traces her life from Chicago's South Side to the White House, discussing family, career, motherhood, and eight years as First Lady. It sold more than 10 million copies within a few years of publication.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (2022)
McCurdy writes candidly about child stardom, eating disorders, emotional mistreatment, and the controlling relationship she had with her mother. The memoir became an instant bestseller and was widely praised for its honesty despite its deliberately shocking title.
Open by Andre Agassi (2009)
Andre Agassi reveals that he often hated professional tennis despite becoming one of the sport's biggest stars. He also admits to secretly failing a drug test in 1997, making the memoir unusually revealing for an elite athlete.
Bossypants by Tina Fey (2011)
Filled with stories from Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, the book mixes behind-the-scenes comedy with Fey's experiences navigating television as a female writer and performer.
Just as I Am by Cicely Tyson (2021)
Published just days before her death at age 96, Tyson's memoir reflects on more than 70 years in entertainment while discussing the barriers she faced as a Black actress determined to avoid stereotypical roles.
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (2000)
Originally written as an insider's look at restaurant kitchens, the book transformed Anthony Bourdain from an unknown chef into an international television personality almost overnight.
Finding Me by Viola Davis (2022)
Davis describes growing up in extreme poverty before becoming one of the few performers to achieve EGOT status. The memoir later won the Grammy Award for Best Audio Book.
Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (2023)
Prince Harry recounts growing up inside the British royal family, serving two tours in Afghanistan, and the events that led him and Meghan to step back from royal duties. It sold more than 1.4 million copies in its first day across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Me by Elton John (2019)
Elton John writes openly about his addictions, his decades-long partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin, and his comeback after entering rehab in 1990. The memoir is filled with stories about music legends ranging from John Lennon to Freddie Mercury.
Life by Keith Richards (2010)
The Rolling Stones guitarist covers his turbulent childhood, the band's rise, decades of drug addiction, and his famously complicated friendship with Mick Jagger. Critics praised it for being unexpectedly thoughtful as well as brutally honest.
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry (2022)
Matthew Perry details his decades-long struggle with addiction, revealing that he spent millions of dollars on treatment and underwent numerous surgeries related to substance misuse. The book became even more widely read after his death the following year.
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears (2023)
Spears discusses her conservatorship, childhood fame, and relationship with Justin Timberlake, including previously undisclosed details about their time together. The memoir sold more than a million copies in the U.S. during its first week.
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher (2008)
Adapted from her one-woman stage show, Fisher writes with sharp humor about bipolar disorder, addiction, family life, and becoming Princess Leia at just 19 years old after Star Wars changed her life.
My Life So Far by Jane Fonda (2005)
Jane Fonda reflects on her Oscar-winning acting career, anti-war activism, marriages, and complicated relationship with her father, Henry Fonda. The memoir marked a turning point in how openly she discussed her personal life.
My Love Story by Tina Turner (2018)
Turner revisits her tubulent marriage to Ike Turner, her financial struggles after leaving him, and her remarkable comeback in the 1980s with albums that made her one of the world's biggest solo stars.
The Long Hard Road Out of H*ll by Marilyn Manson (1998)
Written before many later controversies, the memoir focuses on Manson's childhood, the formation of his band, and the public outrage surrounding its provocative image during the 1990s.
A Promised Land by Barack Obama (2020)
Covering his political rise through the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, Obama's first presidential memoir became one of the fastest-selling presidential books ever published.
Yes Please by Amy Poehler (2014)
Poehler mixes career stories from Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation with practical advice on comedy, creativity, and balancing work with family life.
The Answer Is… by Alex Trebek (2020)
Written while undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer, Trebek reflects on hosting Jeopardy! for 37 seasons, his broadcasting career, and the unexpected fame he found as America's favorite quizmaster.
Just Kids by Patti Smith (2010)
Smith chronicles her close friendship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe as the two struggled to build artistic careers in New York during the late 1960s and 1970s. The memoir won the National Book Award for Nonfiction.
Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story by Arnold Schwarzenegger (2012)
Schwarzenegger covers his journey from rural Austria to bodybuilding champion, Hollywood superstar, and Governor of California. He also addresses the personal scandal that ended his marriage to Maria Shriver.
Educated by Tara Westover (2018)
Raised in a survivalist family that kept her out of school, Tara Westover taught herself enough to attend university before eventually earning a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. The memoir became an international bestseller.
Face It by Debbie Harry (2019)
Debbie Harry recounts the rise of Blondie, New York City's punk scene, and surviving a terrifying attempted abduction during the band's early years.
Acid for the Children by Flea (2019)
Rather than focusing on fame, Flea spends most of the memoir exploring his chaotic childhood in Australia and Los Angeles, his early love of jazz, and the experiences that shaped him before Red Hot Chili Peppers became one of the biggest bands in the world.
