Biography and Memoir
Enjoy this list of recently published biographies and memoirs highlighting a range of lived experiences, selected by librarians at The Seattle Public Library. (May 2023)
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The White Mosque
Poet, educator, and novelist Samatar explores her complex upbringing as the daughter of a Swiss Mennonite and a Somali-Muslim through the lens of religion, travel, and the legacy of cultural exchange in late 19th and early 20th century Uzbekistan.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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His Name Is George Floyd
This Pulitzer Prize-winning exploration of Floyd’s life and legacy dives deep into the systemic racism and barriers Floyd faced throughout his life, leading up to his murder at the hands of police in May of 2020.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Crying in the Bathroom
A collection of hilarious and heart-wrenching autobiographical essays from the author of "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter."
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Who Does That Bitch Think She Is?
This timely and dazzling history of 1970s queer liberation centers on the life of Australian performer and drag pioneer Doris Fish.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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A Tale of Two Omars
The grandson of Egyptian actor Omar Sharif on one side and Holocaust survivors on the other, Sharif, Jr - actor, model, and gay rights advocate - struggles to find his place across borders and cultures.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Orwell's Roses
While George Orwell is best known for his dystopian fiction, Solnit’s well-researched account employs Orwell’s love for gardening as a lens into his life and his deep engagement with political philosophy.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama
This biography in photos, illustrations, and interviews is a rich, passionate exploration of a spiritual leader who has advocated for peace and freedom, presented in context with 400 years of Tibet’s culture and tumultuous history.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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From the Ashes
Professor and award-winning author Thistle (Métis-Cree) writes about a traumatic childhood disconnected from his Indigenous culture—and the healing power of finding the way back to family.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Trejo
With self-reflection, humor, and humility, affable actor Trejo shares his story of addiction, incarceration, and recovery, as well as his tireless work helping others along the recovery path.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Year of the Tiger
Through a series of essays and mixed media, Wong tells her story as an activist against systemic ableism and racism, and as founder of the Disability Visibility Project.
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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