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19 Must-Read Celebrity Memoirs That You Won't Be Able To Put Down

by Meg Kehoe

Do you ever wonder what it's really like to be a celebrity? Sure, you get an inside glimpse at their lives every so often — from paparazzi photos proving that they're "just like you" or candid moments in interviews here and there — but the only way to really know what a celebrity's life is like, is to hear it in their own words. Diving into must-read celebrity memoirs is the best way to get up close and personal with your favorite celebrities, and go behind the scenes with them in their own lives.

From the raucous humor of women in comedy, to the shocking upbringings of some of your favorite stars, it's incredible to read about the lives of the people you think you know from their stage personas. Because as it turns out, you don't really know them at all. There's nothing to make you think twice about the world of celebrity like reading a first-hand account of what it takes to get there. Overcoming adversity, proving yourself in a wild world, and often times leaving behind a less than picaresque family life, the following must-read celebrity memoirs will have you turning pages all night long, wishing the memoirs would never end.

1

'A Story Lately Told: Coming Of Age In Ireland, London, And New York' by Anjelica Huston

Born to a father whose work was already legendary by the time she came into his life, Anjelica Huston's memoir A Story Lately Told: Coming of Age In Ireland, London, and New York is a poignant tale of what it's like to grow up between movie sets, continents, and photo shoots with the likes of her father's casts and crew. Glamorous and tumultuous, Huston's story is one you won't be able to put down.

2

'Audition: A Memoir' by Barbara Walters

Did you know Barbara Walters used to live with a homosexual mobster and his boyfriend? That's just the tip of the iceberg in Audition: A Memoir. From her father winning and losing the family fortune, to her relationship with her sister, and all of those candid interviews in between, Walters leaves no stone unturned in her memoir.

3

'No Lifeguard On Duty: The Accidental Life Of the World's First Supermodel' by Janice Dickinson

If ever there was a memoir that was full of TMI, it would be this one. No Lifeguard On Duty: The Accidental Life Of the World's First Supermodel is Janice Dickinson's candid and outrageous tale of how she survived an abusive home, became a supermodel, dabbled in the world of drugs, and lived to tell the tale. Borderline insane at some points, this is a book you simply won't believe until you read it for yourself.

4

'I, Tina' by Tina Turner & Kurt Loder

If you don't know Tina Turner's story, now's the time to familiarize yourself. I, Tina tells Turner's story of pursuing her dreams with an abusive husband and going against all odds to make it. A truly death defying tale, Turner's memoirs will leave you breathless and rooting for her all the while.

5

'What Falls Away' by Mia Farrow

Raised by famous parents, becoming a child actor, hanging out with the Beatles, marrying Frank Sinatra, adopting children — it's easy to forget that Mia Farrow had an incredible life before she met Woody Allen. In What Falls Away, Farrow tells her story without abandon, including details about her relationship and demise with Woody Allen. But it's more than just a story about Allen, it's Farrow's heart, and her incredible upbringing that led her to where she is now.

6

'Not My Father's Son' by Alan Cumming

Tackling some of his early memories of growing up with an abusive father in Scotland, Alan Cumming's Not My Father's Son is a story of triumph, heartache, loathing, loving, and yes, even humor. This memoir is one you won't soon forget.

7

'Dolly: My Life And Other Unfinished Business' by Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is an empire. And if you ever wondered how she got there, Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business is where you're going to find it. From tales of her childhood to hillbilly makeup tips and her open marriage with her husband — this memoir never lacks for entertainment.

8

'My Life So Far' by Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda's memoir, My Life So Far, is the feminist book you never knew you needed. Telling the tale of how Fonda navigated her way through her early adulthood, discovering and owning her sexuality, becoming an activist, and much more. Fonda's life so far has been an exciting one that you can definitely learn something from.

9

'My Story' by Marilyn Monroe & Ben Hecht

Marilyn Monroe is a legend that lives on, even decades after her untimely death. From her humble beginnings to her glamorous persona and how she reconciled with who she really was underneath the facade, read in Monroe's own words exactly how she felt about her life in My Story.

10

'Elvis & Me' by Priscilla Presley & Sandra Harmon

There's no denying the power of the King. In Elvis & Me, Priscilla Presley dives into everything you wanted to know about what the legend of rock and roll was like behind closed doors.

11

'My Booky Wook' by Russell Brand

Comedian and resident bad boy Russell Brand is known for his outlandish and outrageous humor, and the first installment of his memoirs, My Booky Wook, live up to those expectations. With raucous tales and a voice that'll keep you laughing in wonder, this book is one that will keep you coming back, time and again.

12

'I Said Yes To Everything' by Lee Grant

Lee Grant was a woman who said yes to everything. As one of Vogue's original it-girls and a well respected actress, Grant's life took an unexpected turn when she said yes to too much, altering the course of her life forever. Hollywood-blacklisted for almost 12 years, Grant takes a look in retrospect of her missteps, her wins, and the wild ride of her career in I Said Yes To Everything.

13

'What I Know For Sure' by Oprah Winfrey

Truth be told: I will read anything Oprah gives approval of. So it's a no brainer that her memoir would be a shoo-in to my ever-growing pile of Oprah-approved books to read. She's a mogul, she's a legend, and in What I Know For Sure, she shared her fundamental truths and personal values with readers through a collection of columns that she wrote over the years for her magazine.

14

'Bossypants' by Tina Fey

With sharp wit and pee-your-pants humor, Tina Fey takes comedy memoirs to a brand new level in Bossypants. Whether you read it, or listen to the audiobook (which Fey narrates herself), you'll laugh so hard you cry at some points in this book, and you'll be rooting Fey on as she faces the sexism found in Hollywood, and particularly in the world of comedy.

15

'Choose Your Own Autobiography' by Neil Patrick Harris

Not your average memoir, Choose Your Own Autobiography is exactly what it sounds like. You get to choose your own adventure, while really following along with Neil Patrick Harris' life. From his big break at summer camp to becoming a child star and all of the wrong turns he took along the way, Harris' life is in your hands as you turn the pages of this book.

16

'Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)' by Mindy Kaling

Hilarious, relatable, and at times too real, Mindy Kaling's first memoir is the perfect book to take with you, well, anywhere. Touching on important issues such as: how to pass time on the treadmill, her relationship with soup-snake B.J. Novak, and how she came to find the entitlement of a young white male, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) will leave you dying to be Kaling's best friend.

17

'The Bedwetter: Stories Of Courage, Redemption, And Pee' by Sarah Silverman

From the hilarious mind of Sarah Silverman comes a memoir full of hilarity, and shocking personal tales. In The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee, Silverman is surprisingly poignant as she takes you through her life, giving you a whole new perspective on the outrageous comedian you know and love.

18

'Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea' by Chelsea Handler

Oh, Chelsea Handler. From one outrageous memoir to the next, Handler has certainly made a name for herself as a no-holds-barred sharer of stories you're not sure you really needed to hear. For anyone who's ever made a few questionable (and comical) decisions in their life, Are You There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea, is a memoir to reassure you that you're not alone.

19

'Kitchen Confidential' by Anthony Bourdain

Hot-tempered and no-nonsense Anthony Bourdain gets up close and personal with the world of dining, and what really happens behind the scenes. From his days of hard partying to his epic success, Bourdain doesn't hold back in his memoir Kitchen Confidential, leaving you amazed, shocked, and wanting to know more.