Book Reviews - Autobiography / MemoirThe Prince of Darkness: 50 Years Reporting in WashingtonReviewed by Alec Mouhibian Journalist Robert Novak’s memoir looks back with refreshing candor and self-examination. more . . . And His Lovely Wife: A Memoir From the Woman Beside the ManReviewed by Ruth Samuelson A funny, sincere, and unapologetic account of a Senate race told by the candidate’s wife, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist. more Men May Come and Go but I’ve Still Got My Little Pink Raincoat: Life and Love In and Out of My WardrobeReviewed by Leslie Milk A former Washington writer dishes about bad men, good clothes, and the healing power of the right red lipstick. more What the Dog Did: Tales From a Formerly Reluctant Dog OwnerReviewed by William O'Sullivan “Wonderfully written, laugh-out-loud funny, and touching without being sappy—no matter what species may share your living quarters.” more One Soldier's Story: A MemoirReviewed by Jason M. Breslow “Just what the title suggests—the account of an ordinary young man who was forever changed by war.” more Will's Choice: A Suicidal Teen, a Desperate Mother, and a Chronicle of RecoveryReviewed by William O'Sullivan “A strong call for vigilance among parents as well as a comfort and resource for people of any age struggling out of that pitch-dark place of the soul.” more On Hitler's Mountain: Overcoming the Legacy of a Nazi ChildhoodReviewed by William O'Sullivan
“A gripping and beautifully written memoir . . . clear-eyed and honestly self-critical.”
Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling ClassReviewed by William O'Sullivan “A portrait of ingrained laziness, snobbery, coattail-riding, misbehavior, and other byproducts of meritocracy” at the country's most famous university. more Telling Others What to Think: Recollections of a PunditReviewed by William O'Sullivan An “elegant memoir” of the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist's childhood, Rhodes Scholar days, and distinguished journalism career. more The Weight-Loss Diaries: A Tale of Binges, Guilt, Fat Days, New-Me Shopping Sprees, Exercise, More Binges, and How I Learned to Deal With My Lifelong Weight-Loss StruggleReviewed by Ann Limpert A memoir about “the long, relentless learning process” of dieting, recounted “in a voice that’s often sarcastic and self-deprecating but always sincere.” more Virgin Territory: Stories From the Road to WomanhoodReviewed by Julia Feldmeier
“Candid, funny, and real” memories of firsts in women’s lives.
Cork BoatReviewed by Julia Feldmeier A former White House speechwriter’s story of building a boat from wine corks is filled with “breezy writing and witty asides.” more Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African VillageReviewed by William O'Sullivan
A memoir of Peace Corps work written with a “poetic ear and clear eye.”
Ever Is a Long Time: A Journey Into Mississippi's Dark PastReviewed by Rob Blair This civil-rights memoir, “with its acknowledgment of humanity in even the most misguided characters, is well worth reading.” more Swim Lessons: Ten Secrets for Making Any Dream Come TrueReviewed by Jessica Flint “Don’t expect eloquent writing to be your motivation for reading; it’s Irons’s passion that’s irresistible.” more Anyone Can Grow Up: How George Bush and I Made It to the White HouseReviewed by Nandita Khanna Life stories and columns by political commentator: “witty, intelligent, and a pleasure to read.” more Dispatches From the Muckdog Gazette: A Mostly Affectionate Account of a Small Town's Fight to SurviveReviewed by Molly Browne
“Intelligent but meandering memoir of small-town life” by a former Senate staffer.
Rescuing Patty Hearst: Memories From a Decade Gone MadReviewed by Laura Thomas
“Honest and accessible portrait” of schizophrenia.
A Certain Somewhere: Writers on the Places They RememberReviewed by Aili Petersen
“Tender and honest” essays about personally meaningful locales.
The Ride Together: A Brother and Sister’s Memoir of Autism in the FamilyReviewed by William O'Sullivan
“Unusual, modest” book combining narrative and comics.
Christmas in Plains: MemoriesReviewed by William O'Sullivan
“Resolutely straightforward and kindhearted reminiscence” by former president.
Along the Inca Road: A Woman’s Journey Into an Ancient EmpireReviewed by Laura Freschi
Narrative well paced, but author “misses the chance to soak up the culture.”
JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone and Me: An Idealist’s Journey From Capitol Hill to Hollywood HellReviewed by Jeff Deck “Book’s value is its anthropology: Hollywood machinations from a nice guy’s perspective.” more Ciao, America! An Italian Discovers the U.S.Reviewed by Katharine Burgess
Outsider’s “often laughably true observations” about Washington.
Breaking Apart: A Memoir of DivorceReviewed by William O'Sullivan
“Gripping and unpredictable.”
Conversations With Papa Charlie: A Memory of Charles E. SmithReviewed by William O'Sullivan
“Quiet glimpses into generosity, family ties, and aging with a sense of adventure.”
Home and Away: Memoir of a FanReviewed by David Yalowitz
NPR host’s baseball story “will add to his fan club.”
Life So Far: A MemoirReviewed by Ellen Ryan
“Lively, down to earth, and passionate” book by feminist foremother.
Pearl’s Secret: A Black Man’s Search for His White FamilyReviewed by William O'Sullivan
“Unflashy but deeply compelling narrative.”
The Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi GermanyReviewed by William O'Sullivan
“Moving, informative, well written.”
The Games We Played: A Celebration of Childhood and ImaginationReviewed by William O'Sullivan
“Collection of vignettes and often rambling . . . memories of childhood pastimes.”
ShutterbabeReviewed by Laura Freschi
“Self-involved” author made sympathetic by “blunt, witty style.”
No Such Thing as a Bad DayReviewed by William O'Sullivan
“Cancer memoir in which the cancer sections are the least compelling.”
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