A biography is a written account of a person's life, typically focusing on their achievements, experiences, and notable events. Biographies can be written by the subject themselves or by another author, and they often include information on the person's personal background, upbringing, education, career, relationships, and legacy. Biographies can be written in a variety of formats, including books, articles, and online profiles. They are an important way to document and preserve the stories of significant individuals throughout history.
🟩 There are several different types of biographies, including:
Autobiography: This is a type of biography where the subject writes their own life story.
Memoir: Similar to an autobiography, but focused on a particular aspect or period of the author's life, such as their career or a significant event.
Authorized biography: This is a biography that is written with the subject's permission and cooperation, often resulting in a more complete and accurate portrayal of their life.
Unofficial biography: This is a biography that is written without the subject's permission or cooperation, often relying on secondary sources and interviews with people who knew the subject.
Group biography: This is a biography that focuses on a group of people who share a common experience, such as soldiers in a war or members of a political movement.
Historical biography: This is a biography that focuses on a historical figure, often with the goal of providing insight into the era in which they lived.
Fictionalized biography: This is a type of biography that uses fictional elements, such as dialogue or imagined scenes, to tell the story of a real person.
Critical biography: This is a biography that includes analysis and evaluation of the subject's life and work.
Popular biography: This is a biography written for a general audience, often with the goal of entertaining as well as informing.
Children's biography: This is a biography written for young readers, often with simplified language and illustrations.
Celebrity biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life of a famous person, such as an actor or musician.
Sports biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life of an athlete or coach.
Literary biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life and work of a writer, often including analysis of their literary output.
Medical biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life and medical contributions of a physician or medical researcher.
Political biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life of a political figure, such as a president or prime minister.
Cultural biography: This is a biography that focuses on the cultural context of the subject's life, such as their social and cultural background.
Religious biography: This is a biography that focuses on the subject's religious beliefs and practices, and how they influenced their life and work.
Psychological biography: This is a biography that analyzes the subject's psychological development and personality, often using psychological theories to explain their behavior.
Environmental biography: This is a biography that focuses on the subject's relationship with the natural environment and how it influenced their life and work.
Business biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life and work of a successful entrepreneur or business leader.
Science biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life and scientific contributions of a scientist or researcher.
Visual biography: This is a biography that relies heavily on visual elements, such as photographs or illustrations, to tell the subject's story.
Travel biography: This is a biography that focuses on the subject's travels and adventures, often including descriptions of different cultures and landscapes.
Music biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life and career of a musician or composer, often including information about their musical style and influences.
Film biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life and work of a film director, actor, or other professional involved in the movie industry.
Art biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life and work of an artist, often including analysis of their artistic style and techniques.
Military biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life and military career of a soldier, general, or other military figure.
Legal biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life and legal career of a lawyer or judge.
Women's biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life and achievements of a woman, often highlighting the challenges and obstacles she faced due to gender inequality.
Social justice biography: This is a biography that focuses on the life and work of a person who fought for social justice and equality, such as a civil rights activist or feminist.
🟦 Here are some examples of the different types of biographies mentioned earlier:
Autobiography: "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Malcolm X and Alex Haley.
Memoir: "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Authorized biography: "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson.
Unofficial biography: "Unauthorized Biography of Oprah Winfrey" by Kitty Kelley.
Group biography: "Band of Brothers" by Stephen E. Ambrose.
Historical biography: "Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow.
Fictionalized biography: "The Paris Wife" by Paula McLain, a novel based on the life of Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley Richardson.
Critical biography: "James Joyce" by Richard Ellmann.
Popular biography: "Becoming" by Michelle Obama.
Children's biography: "Who Was Anne Frank?" by Ann Abramson.
Celebrity biography: "Becoming Beyonce" by J. Randy Taraborrelli.
Sports biography: "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand, the life story of Olympic runner and World War II hero Louis Zamperini.
Literary biography: "Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor" by Brad Gooch.
Medical biography: "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot.
Political biography: "A Promised Land" by Barack Obama.
Cultural biography: "Gandhi: The Man, His People, and the Empire" by Rajmohan Gandhi.
Religious biography: "Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light" edited by Brian Kolodiejchuk.
Psychological biography: "Sigmund Freud: An Analysis of His Personality" by William McGuire.
Environmental biography: "The Life and Adventures of John Muir" by Mary Taylor Young.
Business biography: "The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon" by Brad Stone.
Science biography: "The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA" by James D. Watson.
Visual biography: "Marilyn Monroe: The Biography" by Donald Spoto, featuring numerous photographs of the actress.
Travel biography: "The Motorcycle Diaries" by Ernesto "Che" Guevara.
Music biography: "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen.
Film biography: "Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination" by Neal Gabler.
Art biography: "Van Gogh: The Life" by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith.
Military biography: "Patton: A Genius for War" by Carlo D'Este.
Legal biography: "My Beloved World" by Sonia Sotomayor.
Women's biography: "The Second Sex" by Simone de Beauvoir.
Social justice biography: "My Life on the Road" by Gloria Steinem.
Biography is a genre of literature that focuses on the life story of a person, usually a notable figure in history or culture. A biography may cover the entire life of the subject, or focus on a specific period of time, such as their childhood, career, or later years. Biographies can be written in a variety of formats, including books, articles, and online profiles.
There are several types of biographies, as we have already discussed. Autobiography and memoir are two sub-genres of biography that differ in terms of the author's relationship to the subject matter. In an autobiography, the author is writing about their own life, while in a memoir, they are writing about a specific period or experience in their life.
Authorized biographies are written with the cooperation and permission of the subject or their estate, while unauthorized biographies are not. Group biographies focus on a group of people, such as a sports team or military unit, rather than an individual. Historical biographies focus on figures from the past, while contemporary biographies are about people who are currently active in their field.
Fictionalized biographies use real-life figures as characters in a fictional narrative, while critical biographies analyze and interpret the subject's life and work. Popular biographies are those that are widely read and recognized by the public, while literary biographies are more scholarly works that analyze the subject's literary output.
Biographies can cover a wide range of subjects, including politicians, writers, artists, scientists, and business leaders. Some biographies focus on specific aspects of the subject's life, such as their religious beliefs or their military career, while others offer a comprehensive overview of their entire life.
Overall, biographies offer a valuable glimpse into the lives of influential people, and can help readers gain a deeper understanding of history and culture.
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