Karma Group Literary Luminary Philip Blackwell from Ultimate Library has curated a hotlist of must-read autobiographies for the year. From the story of legendary recording artist Billie Eilish to the memoir by NASA’s Katherine Johnson (who was at the heart of the Oscar-winning film Hidden Figures), these are five remarkable memoirs that will shock, sadden, uplift and inspire.
1. Beautiful Things by Hunter Biden
In Beautiful Things, Hunter recounts his descent into substance abuse and his tortuous path to sobriety. The story ends with where Hunter is today—a sober married man with a new baby, finally able to appreciate the beautiful things in life. (Available April 6, 2021)
2. Billie Eilish by Billie
Legendary recording artist Billie Eilish shares an intimate inside look at her life—both on and off the stage—in this stunning, photo-filled book. This gorgeous book will capture the essence of Billie, a once in a generation superstar, offering readers personal glimpses into her childhood, her life on tour, and more
3. My Remarkable Journey : A Memoir by Katherine Johnson and Joylette Hylick
In this memoir, Katherine shares her personal journey from child prodigy in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia to NASA human-computer. In her life after retirement, she served as a beacon of light for her family and community alike. Her story is centred around the basic tenets of her life—no one is better than you, education is paramount, and asking questions can break barriers.
4. Living and Loving in the Age of AIDS : A Memoir by Derek Frost
The tale of a devastating pandemic, of lives cut short, and importantly a love story. Derek, a distinguished designer, and J, a pioneering entrepreneur and creator of Heaven, the iconic gay dance club, met and fell in love more than 40 years ago. Derek speaks for a generation who lived through a global health crisis that many at the time refused even to acknowledge. His is a powerful story chronicling this extraordinary era. (Available April 13, 2021)
5. The Babysitter : My Summers with a Serial Killer by Liza Rodman and Jennifer Jordan
Growing up on Cape Cod in the 1960’s, Liza Rodman was a lonely little girl. As her mother worked, Liza and her sister would go on adventures with their babysitter – the kind, handsome handyman at the motel where her mother worked. There was one thing Liza didn’t know, their babysitter was a serial killer. Haunted by nightmares and horrified by what she learned, Liza became obsessed with the case.
