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Differences Between Biography and Autobiography

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Alcides Nunez
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53 views

Differences Between Biography and Autobiography

Uploaded by

Alcides Nunez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BIOGRAPHY AND AUTOBIOGRAPHY

EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW


While an autobiography and a
biography both tell the story of
someone’s life, they are not the
same thing. When a person writes
his or her own life story, the
finished work is an autobiography.
When an author writes a book
about another person’s life, the
result is a biography.
KEY BIOGRAPHY VS. AUTOBIOGRAPHY DIFFERENCES
While there are some similarities between biographies and autobiographies,
there are several notable differences between the two types of books.

Authorship: Who writes the


book is the primary difference
between an autobiography and a
biography. An autobiography is
always written by the person the
book is about. A biography is
always written by someone other
than the subject of the book.
Point of View: An autobiography is usually written in first person point of view
(I, me, my) since the book is about the author’s own experiences. A biography is
typically written in third person point of view (she, her, hers, he, him, his) since
the author is describing someone else’s experiences.
Authorized vs. Unauthorized:
Authorized means that the
book is written with the
permission and cooperation of
the person the book is about,
while unauthorized means
that it is not. While a
biography can be authorized
or unauthorized, an
autobiography is always
authorized.
Degree of objectivity: A
biography tends to be
more objective than an
autobiography. Biography
writers typically gather
information through a
journalistic research
project that includes
reviewing records of
events and interviews
with the subject of the book and other people. An autobiography author
typically bases the content on his or her recollections of events as they took
place rather than incorporating input from other sources.
SIMILAR ELEMENTS OF BIOGRAPHY AND AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Biographies and autobiographies do share some elements in common.
Primary purpose: The primary purpose of both types of books is to give an
account of a person’s life.
Non-fiction: Both biographies and autobiographies are works of nonfiction that
represent events that occur during a person’s life.
Notable Subjects: The people whose stories are told in biography or
autobiography form tend to be people who are widely known for their
accomplishments, such as celebrities, athletes, business leaders, political
leaders, and other high-profile individuals.
IS A MEMOIR THE SAME AS AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY?

While a memoir is
written by the
individual the
book is about, it is
not exactly the
same as an
autobiography.
An autobiography
typically tells the
overall story of the
author’s life, following
a timeline through the
person’s formative
years until the time
the book is published.
A formal, fact-based
writing style is used.
A memoir covers a
much shorter period than an autobiography, focusing on a specific event or
aspect of an individual’s life rather than telling the full story. A memoir tends to
have a more casual, emotive tone.
BIOGRAPHY AND AUTOBIOGRAPHY EXAMPLES
There are numerous examples of widely-read biographies, autobiographies,
and memoirs.

Biography Example: “Steve Jobs”


Journalist and author Walter Isaacson shares the life story
of one of the most influential figures in the technology
industry in his biography of Steve Jobs. To tell this story,
Isaacson spent more than two years researching Jobs’ life,
interviewing well over 100 people who knew him. By
piecing together accounts from those who lived, loved,
worked with, competed with, and were influenced by Jobs,
the author was able to tell the story of this unique
individual’s life in biography form.
Autobiography Example: “I Am Malala”
In “I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for
Education and Was Shot by the Taliban”, Malala
Yousafzai shares the story of her extraordinary life.
As a child in Pakistan, she became an outspoken
advocate for education at a very young age. As a
result, at the age of 15, she was shot in the head by
members of the Taliban. She recovered, returned to
school, and went on to speak about her experiences
at the United Nations. In addition to writing her
autobiography, she founded the Malala Fund, a
nonprofit committed to worldwide access to education for girls, and became
the youngest person honored with a Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17.
Memoir Example: “Born a Crime”
Trevor Noah, best known as a stand-up
comedian and host of The Daily Show, shares
insights into another aspect of his life in “Born
a Crime”. This memoir focuses on Noah’s early
days as the multiracial child of a black mother
and white father growing up in South Africa
during apartheid. During this time, interracial
relationships were against the law in his
country, so Noah’s very existence was
unlawful. Written in a light, storytelling style
that is both touching and funny, this memoir provides unique insights into the
author’s upbringing in difficult times under extraordinary circumstances.
UNIQUE INSIGHTS INTO LIFE STORIES
Reading works of nonfiction about the lives and experiences of interesting
people can be very educational. Sometimes these books are entertaining,
sometimes they are motivating, and sometimes they are heartbreaking.
Regardless, they are always informative. Expand your horizons by reading all
kinds of books, including biographies, inspiring autobiographies, and powerful
memoirs.

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