The Lives They Lived

In this entire world, there is only one person like you.

Just one person with your distinct DNA, your thoughts and memories. Nobody else can claim to be exactly like you because you’re unique. Which is why you need to look for these great books about unique, wonderful, interesting Americans, now and in the past…

If you’ve listened to the radio any time in the last fifty years, you probably know all the words to “Oh, Pretty Woman” and “Crying.” So now read “Roy Orbison: King of Hearts” by Jeff Apter (Citadel Press), the story of the singer, his career, his songs, and the comeback he was experiencing not long before he died in 1988. This is a fan’s book, complete with details you might not know.

For the Hollywood watcher, the movie fanatic, or anyone who wants a biography about someone famous, “I Wanna Be Loved by You: Marilyn Monroe: A Life in 100 Takes” by Andrew Wilson (Grand Central) is one to start with. Had she lived, Monroe would have turned 100 years old recently, and this book takes a good, thorough look at her life, as seen through the eyes and documentation of people who knew her. For admirers, this book can’t be beat. Also try “Intimate Audrey: An Authorized Biography” by Sean Hepburn Ferrer and Wendy Holden (Grand Central), a wonderful, loving, and inspirational book penned, in part, by her beloved son. Also look for “Roddy McDowall: An Actor’s Life – From How Green Was My Valley to Lassie to Planet of the Apes” by Samuel Garza Bernstein (Citadel Press) and bring the popcorn.

Political watchers will absolutely want to read “A Voice Like Mine: A Memoir” by Deb Haaland (Henry Holt) by the Democratic candidate for Governor of New Mexico. It’s an inspiring book about her life, her childhood growing up in poverty, her family, her politics and activism, and why she wants to serve her constituents in the near future. It’s an astounding story, especially given Haaland’s latest primary win in her state.

And finally, if your taste runs backward a little bit, then you’ll want “Young King: The Making of Martin Luther King Jr.” by Lerone Martin (Amistad). Once upon a time, the man who changed American history was a little boy, a prankster, a scamp, beloved by his parents, and the victim of racism. He partied. He laughed. He played basketball, like many boys he knew. And he grew up to be a young husband and father. If you’ve ever been inspired by King’s life, you owe it to yourself to get this book and a bigger picture.

If these biographies aren’t enough to fill your summer, then head to your favorite bookstore or library and ask for more bios and memoirs. You can even find some for the kids in your life, if you want to introduce them to people around the world who are famous, history-making, who thrill you on-screen and on playlists, and who are wonderfully unique.