Immerse Yourself in Extraordinary Lives with the World’s Best Biographies

The world is full of fascinating people, and biographies offer us an inside look at how some of history’s most important and influential individuals lived their lives. With so many tremendous titles to choose from, you don’t need to look far to find a brilliant biography. But there are only so many hours in a day. How can you make the most of the minutes you have available?

That’s why we created Blinkist. Our app transforms the best biographies and other nonfiction into quick reads that deliver powerful insights in short, memorable packages. So no matter if you want to learn about scientists, entrepreneurs, or Mongolian emperors, Blinkist has it all. Here’s a look at some of the top biographies in our library.

Popular Biographies on Blinkist

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Chronicling the spectacular life of the single-minded entrepreneur who co-founded Apple Inc., Isaacson crafted a biography that became a bestseller, recounting Jobs’ early experiences with meditation and hallucinogens. The book also details how his relentless perfectionism led him to become one of the most influential visionaries of the modern era.

Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune by Doing Business My Way by Richard Branson

Richard Branson’s bestselling autobiography reveals the fearless determination and adventurous mindset that helped him transform himself from a high-school dropout into one of the richest men on the planet while pioneering advancements in industries ranging from record stores to space travel.

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Author and psychologist Viktor Frankl describes the harrowing experiences he faced during his internment in Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II and explains how this horrific time helped him learn how to stay sane in the face of unfathomable atrocities by discovering meaning in his own life.

Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson

Spanning from Einstein’s early life as an outsider in Germany to his final days in the USA, this biography, another bestseller by the author of Steve Jobs, shows how Einstein’s tendency to go against the grain, his insatiable curiosity, and his championing of human freedom shaped one of the 20th century’s most prominent minds.

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

Discover the untold story of the black female mathematicians who left their teaching jobs in the segregated South and shaped NASA’s space program by sending the first American into orbit and landing the first humans on the moon.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Charting the tumultuous events that transpired during Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, this exceptional biography explains how the 16th President of the United States used his political savvy to inspire to change the world by keeping the North united while simultaneously abolishing slavery and ending the Civil War.

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

This inspiring autobiography tells the story of a boy who overcame a turbulent childhood and how his relentless pursuit of the American dream helped him further beat the odds and find success, first in the Marine Corps and later in Silicon Valley.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

After a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist was diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer in his mid-thirties, he embarked on an extraordinary search for the truth about our existence, while uncovering the hidden relationship between chance and mortality.

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford

Shining a light on how Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire helped shape the modern world, this book explains how the underappreciated Asian leader overcame hardships during childhood and ultimately formed civilization’s first commercial empire.

Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein

This look at the life of legendary investor Warren Buffett illuminates how a unique mix of consistency, frugality, and hard work catapulted a humble paperboy into one of the world’s wealthiest people and one of history’s most charitable philanthropists.

Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson

This enthralling look at the life and passions of one of America’s most influential diplomats covers the founding father’s illustrious career path from essay writer to scientist to quintessential statesmen.

Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake by Frank Abagnale and Stan Redding

Enter the exciting and dangerous life of a world-class con man who faked his way into Pan Am in order to travel the world for free, then scammed banks and swindled millions from unwitting victims by using his charisma to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes.

Gutenberg the Geek by Jeff Jarvis

A popular biography detailing a goldsmith’s 20-year journey to invent and perfect the printing press, this book explores the development of one of mankind’s most influential inventions and explains how Johannes Gutenberg encountered many of the same obstacles as modern-day entrepreneurs.

Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom by Catherine Clinton

Find out more about the fascinating life of the Underground Railroad’s most notable hero, who herself escaped the bonds of slavery before helping hundreds of others do the same during the American Civil War.

You never know what kind of inspiration you’ll draw from what you read. With this list of the best biographies in our current selection, you can discover more about various periods in history and about the kinds of people who have shaped our world. Dive into any of these titles now by launching the Blinkist app or explore the 2,200+ other books in our ever-expanding library. Happy reading!

Originally published at https://www.blinkist.com.