what is the difference between an autobiography and biography

Biography vs Autobiography: Similarities and Differences

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A biography is an account of someone’s life story that is written by an author who is not the subject of the nook. An autobiography, on the other hand, involves an individual narrating their own life experiences.

The differences between biographies and autobiographies relate most prominently to the authorhship:

• Autobiography: When you read an autobiography, you’re getting the author’s own interpretation of their life.
• Biography: When you read a biography, you experience the subject’s life through someone else’s lens (Schiffrin & Brockmeier, 2012).

Biography vs Autobiography

1. biography.

A biography is a detailed account of a person’s life, scripted by an author who is not the person who is featured in the text itself.

This type of life story focuses both on factual events in the person’s life, such as birth, education, work, and death, but often also delves into personal aspects like experiences, relationships, and significant achievements.

It may also weave-in cultural and contextual factors that help illuminate the person’s motivations and core values .

Origins of Biographies

The concept of biography as a literary genre dates back to antiquity. Such works were primarily used to capture the lives of dignified individuals, mainly rulers and war heroes.

Suetonius’s Lives of the Caesars and Plutarch’s Parallel Lives are landmark examples from this ancient period (Sweet, 2010).

The popularity of biographical works only grew in the ensuing centuries, and they became a prominent part of many cultures’ literary traditions. 

Into the 18th century and during the Enlightenment, biographies began to present a more balanced portrayal of the subject. They would present both their strengths and flaws, providing a holistic perspective on the subject.

Dr. Samuel Johnson’s compilation of English poets biographies, Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets (1779-1781) ushered in a new era of biography writing by focusing on examining human nature (Ditchfield, 2018).

In the modern era, the genre has evolved and broadened, encompassing a diverse range of figures from all walks of life – there’s a biography in every niche imaginable, with each offering readers an in-depth exploration of their lives, their struggles, and their triumphs.

This demonstrates the enduring appeal of biographies and their value in providing snapshots of history through individual lenses.

Key Characteristics of Biographies

Examples of Biographies

Title: The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets Author: Dr. Samuel Johnson   Description: Dr. Johnson’s work profiles the lives of 52 poets from the 17th and 18th centuries, including John Milton and Alexander Pope. He critiques not just the works, but also explores their personal lives and the sociopolitical contexts of their times (Johnson, 1781). Johnson’s study is invaluable for its integrated historic and biographic approach.

Title: The Life of Samuel Johnson Author: James Boswell   Description: This work by Boswell explores, in great depth, the life of his friend and mentor, Dr. Samuel Johnson. The biography offers a compelling portrayal of Dr. Johnson’s life, character, eccentricities, and intellectual prowess (Boswell, 1791). Boswell’s vivid account creates a near-physical presence of Johnson to the readers, making it one of the greatest biographies in English literature.

Title: The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt Author: Edmund Morris   Description: In this Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, Morris chronicles the early life of Theodore Roosevelt until his ascension to the U.S presidency. The work brilliantly captures Roosevelt’s extraordinary career and his transformation from a frail asthmatic boy into a robust and vigorous leader (Morris, 1979). Morris accurately represents Roosevelt’s indomitable spirit, making it an engaging and educational read.

Title: Steve Jobs Author: Walter Isaacson Description: This comprehensive biography provides a deep-dive into the life and career of Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple. Isaacson had unparalleled access to Jobs and those closest to him, thus presenting an intimate and detailed account. He explores Jobs’ professional endeavors as well as his personal life, revealing his ambition, intensity, and visionary mind that revolutionized several high-tech industries (Isaacson, 2011).

Title: Alexander Hamilton Author: Ron Chernow Description: Ron Chernow provides a sweeping narrative of one of America’s most compelling founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton. Chernow combines extensive research with a flair for storytelling, charting Hamilton’s evolution from an orphan into a political genius. The book sheds light on Hamilton’s crucial role in the formation of the United States’ financial system and his political ideologies (Chernow, 2004).

2. Autobiography

An autobiography is a self-written record of someone’s own life. It is a personal narrative in which the author writes about their life from their own perspective.

Autobiographies are usually centered around the author’s personal experiences, including key milestones, challenges, and achievements (Eakin, 2015).

They’re also often a defense of the person’s perspective (especially in political autobiographies) or insight into their thought processes, which can make them very intimate.

Origins of Autobiographies

The term ‘autobiography’ was first used deprecatingly by William Taylor in 1797 in the English periodical The Monthly Review, when he suggested the word as a hybrid but condemned it as ‘pedantic’.

Pioneering examples of the genre form include Thomas De Quincey’s Confessions of an English Opium-Eater (1821) and the memoirs by veterans of the Napoleonic Wars (Lejeune, 2016).

However, apart from these early instances, autobiographies have been composed by a wide array of individuals from history. 

In the early 20th century, the genre witnessed major transformations, and autobiographies started to cover a broader spectrum of experiences, including trauma, struggles, and successes.

‘Black Boy’ by Richard Wright, for instance, shares the author’s experiences with racism and his journey towards developing a literary career (Wright, 1945).

This was followed by a host of autobiographies by public figures sharing their diverse stories, such as Ernest Hemingway’s ‘A Moveable Feast’, depicting his days as a struggling young writer in Paris (Hemingway, 1964). 

Autobiography as a genre has continued to evolve over the years, and a variety of forms have emerged to communicate individual experiences globally.

As history has progressed, we see more and more people with diverse perspectives sharing their stories, broadening our understanding of the human experience (Smith & Watson, 2010).

Key Characteristics of Autobiographies 

Examples of Autobiographies

Title: Long Walk to Freedom Author: Nelson Mandela   Description: “Long Walk to Freedom” provides an in-depth exploration of ex-President Nelson Mandela, his political journey, and his stand against apartheid in South Africa. The biography offers a unique perspective into Mandela’s noble character, his indomitable spirit, and his commitment to justice when faced with grave adversities (Mandela, 1995). Mandela serves as one of our times’ great moral and political leaders through this biography.

Title: The Diary of a Young Girl Author: Anne Frank  Description: This biography provides a startling firsthand account of a young Jewish girl named Anne Frank, who with her family, hid from the Nazis in Amsterdam during World War II. Her diary entries offer profound insights into the fear, hope, and resilience she demonstrated during her two years in hiding (Frank, 1947). Frank’s posthumous biographical record serves as a reminder of the injustices of the past and as a symbol of endurance in the face of oppression.

Title: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Author: Maya Angelou  Description: This moving autobiography charts Maya Angelou’s early life, from experiencing racial discrimination in the South to becoming the first black streetcar conductor in San Francisco. Angelou portrays her journey of self-discovery and overcoming traumatic experiences, including racial prejudice and personal trauma, with remarkable strength and grace. Her story is one of resilience, and it speaks powerfully about finding one’s voice (Angelou, 1969). 

Title: Night Author: Elie Wiesel  Description: “Night” is Wiesel’s personal account of his experiences in Nazi concentration camps during World War II with his father. This heartbreaking narrative describes not only physical hardship and cruel atrocities but also examines the loss of innocence and the struggle to maintain faith in humanity. It stands as a testament to human resilience in the face of unimaginable horror (Wiesel, 1960).

Title: Dreams from My Father Author: Barack Obama Description: In this engaging memoir, the 44th President of the United States narrates the story of his diverse background and early life. The narrative extends from his birth in Hawaii to his first visit to Kenya, from dealing with racial identity to self-discovery. “Dreams from My Father” not only provides personal insights about Obama’s life and values but also discusses issues of race, identity, and purpose (Obama, 1995).

Similarities and Differences Between Biographies and Autobiographies

While both biographies and autobiographies are excellent sources of information and entertainment about significant figures in history (or the present!), they serve different purposes. By knowing the different purposes of each, we can develop stronger media literacy , understanding what the intention of the author is, and how we should approach the text.

Angelou, M. (1969). I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings . Random House.

Baker, J., Davis, E., & Thompson, K. (2013). Reflection and Emotions in Autobiography . Chicago University Press.

Boswell, J. (1791). The Life of Samuel Johnson . J.R. Taylor.

Brown, J., & Brown, S. (2018). Thematic Focus in Autobiography Writing . Princeton University Press.

Chernow, R. (2004). Alexander Hamilton . Penguin Books.

Ditchfield, S. (2018). Extracting the Domestic from the Didactic: Transmission and Translation of the Sacred in The Lives of the Ancient Fathers (1672–1675). Church History and Religious Culture, 98 (1), 28-50.

Eakin, P. J. (2015). How Our Lives Become Stories: Making Selves . Cornell University Press.

Frank, A. (1947). The Diary of a Young Girl . Contact Publishing.

Hemingway, E. (1964). A Moveable Feast . Charles Scribner’s Sons.

Isaacson, W. (2011). Steve Jobs . Simon & Schuster.

Johnson, M., & Johnson, S. (2017). A Comprehensive Guide to Biography Writing . New York: Penguin.

Johnson, S. (1781). The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets . Printed by C. Bathurst, J. Buckland [and 28 others in London].

Jones, B. (2015). The Art of Writing Biographies: An Objective Approach . Oxford University Press.

Lejeune, P. (2016). On Autobiography . University of Minnesota Press.

Mandela, N. (1995). Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela . Macdonald Purnell.

Miller, R. (2014). The Self as the Subject: Autobiography Writing . Stanford University Press.

Morris, E. (1979). The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt . Coward, McCann & Geoghegan.

Obama, B. (1995). Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance . Crown Publishing Group.

Schiffrin D., & Brockmeier J. (2012). Narrative Identity and Autobiographical Recall. Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplements, 70 , 113-144.

Smith, J., Davis, M., & Thompson, S. (2012). Third Party Narratives: An Exploration of Biography Writing . Cambridge University Press.

Smith, S., & Watson, J. (2010). Reading Autobiography: A Guide for Interpreting Life Narratives . University of Minnesota Press.

Sweet, R. (2010). Biographical Dictionaries and Historiography. Bibliothèque d’Humanisme et Renaissance, 72 (2), 355–368.

Wiesel, E. (1960). Night . Hill & Wang.

Williams, T. (2019). The Importance of Facts in Biographies . HarperCollins.

Wright, R. (1945). Black Boy: A Record of Childhood and Youth . Harper & Brothers.

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• Key Differences

Know the Differences & Comparisons

Difference between Biography and Autobiography

Both of these two presents the view of, what happened in the past where the author lived. These are non-fiction books, written in chronological order, tells a story about the person who made a significant contribution in a specific field. Many think that the two writing forms are one and the same thing, but there are noticeable difference between the two, that are presented in the given article.

Content: Biography Vs Autobiography

Comparison chart.

Definition of Biography

A biography also referred as ‘bio’ is a detailed account of a person’s life written or produced by another person. It gives an elaborate information regarding the birthplace, educational background, work, relationships and demise of the person concerned. It presents the subject’s intimate details about life, focusing on the highs and lows and analysing their whole personality.

A biography is usually in the written form but can also be made in other forms of a music composition or literature to film interpretation.

It is the recreation of the life of an individual composed of words by another person. The author collects every single detail about the subject and presents those facts in the biography, which are relevant and interesting, to engross the readers in the story.

Definition of Autobiography

An autobiography is the life sketch of a person written by that person himself or herself. The word auto means ‘self.’ Therefore, autobiography contains all the elements of a biography but composed or narrated by the author himself. He/She may write on their own or may hire ghostwriters to write for them.

An autobiography presents the narrator’s character sketch, the place where he is born and brought up, his education, work, life experiences, challenges, and achievements. This may include events and stories of his childhood, teenage, and adulthood.

Key Differences Between Biography and Autobiography

The difference between biography and autobiography are discussed in detail in the following points:

• Biography is a detailed account of a person’s life written by someone else, while an autobiography is written by the subject themselves.
• Biography can be written with (authorised) or without permission (unauthorised) from the person/heir’s concerned. Therefore, there are chances of factual mistakes in the information. On the other hand, autobiographies are self-written and therefore doesn’t require any authorization.
• Biographies contain information that is collected over a period of time from different sources and thus, it projects a different outlook to the readers. On the other hand, autobiographies are written by the subject themselves, therefore, the writer presents the facts and his thinking in his own way, thus providing an overall narrow and biased perspective to the readers.
• In an Autobiography, the author uses the first narrative like I, me, we, he, she, etc. This, in turn, makes an intimate connection between the author and the reader since the reader experience various aspects as if he/she is in that time period. As opposed a biography is from a third person’s view and is much less intimate.
• The purpose of writing a biography is to introduce and inform the readers about the person and his life whereas an autobiography is written in order to express, the life experiences and achievements of the narrator.

Video: Biography Vs Autobiography

There are several autobiographies which are worth mentioning like ‘The Story of My Life’ by Helen Keller, ‘An Autobiography’ by Jawaharlal Nehru, ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ by Anne Frank, ‘Memoirs of the Second World War’ by Winston Churchill, ‘Wings of Fire’ by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and much more.

Examples of some famous biographies are- Tolstoy: A Russian Life by Rosamund Bartlett, His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis, Einstein: The Life and Times by Ronald William Clark, Biography of Walt Disney: The Inspirational Life Story of Walt Disney – The Man Behind “Disneyland” by Steve Walters, Princess Diana- A Biography Of The Princess Of Wales by Drew L. Crichton.

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Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > What’s the difference between a biography and an autobiography?

What’s the difference between a biography and an autobiography?

If you’ve ever set foot in a bookstore, you’ve likely come across both autobiographies and biographies that tell about the lives of notable individuals. Let’s take a look at the most important differences between these non-fiction books.

What is a biography?

Typically written in the third person, a biography is a detailed story about a living or deceased person’s life. A third party writes this non-fiction account of someone’s life. Let’s say Person A is a famous singer who recently passed away. Person B researches and writes a fact-based story on the famous singer’s life from start to finish. Person B’s factual story of Person A’s life is a biography.

Types of biographies

Biographies don’t always take the same approach or follow the same structure. Some are more official, while others get more creative. Writers can choose from a few common biography types, including:

• Authorized biographies, which received the subject’s input and/or permission.
• Unauthorized biographies, which were written without the subject’s approval or input.
• Biographical novels, which were inspired by a real person’s life, but feature embellishments that may make the story more interesting.
• Group biographies, which focus on groups of people rather than a single person.

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Examples of biographies

Each biography is a window into someone’s life, offering unique insights and perspectives. From the struggles of historical figures to the triumphs of artistic icons, biographies are not just informative but can also be deeply inspiring. Here are a few examples:

• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is a biography that describes the life of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cells were extremely important for medical research.
• Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie is a biography that describes Catherine the Great’s origins and rise to power as a Russian empress.
• Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera details the painter’s life and famous works.

What is an autobiography?

Usually written in the first person, an autobiography is when the author writes about their own life. This subjective account is unique because it allows the author to share details of their life that another writer might not have been able to uncover.

Types of autobiographies

There are two main types of autobiographies: complete autobiographies and memoirs. In a complete autobiography, the author begins their story with their roots or birth and ends the autobiography at their current age. In a memoir, the author writes about a specific period of their life. For example, a famous actor may begin a memoir by sharing their first role in a movie, rather than sharing details about the beginning of their life or their childhood.

Examples of autobiographies

Autobiographies offer a unique lens into the lives of their authors, providing firsthand accounts of their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Here are a few examples of notable autobiographies:

• In Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, Yogananda provides a first-hand account of his life and spiritual growth.
• In The Story of My Life by Helen Keller, Keller shares her life from birth until she was 22. She shares how she learned to communicate despite being blind and deaf.
• In The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X, he shares his life from childhood through adulthood and how he impacted the civil rights movement.

In summary, a biography is a story of someone’s life, written by a different person, versus an autobiography where an author writes about their own life.

Why should you read biographies (or autobiographies)?

Biographies and autobiographies are a great way to get an in-depth look at the lives of politicians, musicians, historical figures, innovators, and more. If there’s a famous person that you admire, there’s likely a biography written about them or an autobiography that they wrote themselves that can teach you more about their accomplishments.

If you’re interested in writing a biography or autobiography, see how you can write, research, and organize a book using OneNote . Whether you’re just putting together your first draft or you’re still outlining your story , you can elevate your writing in real time with Microsoft Editor .

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Autobiography vs Biography: Differences and Similarities

So you want to learn more about your favorite influential figure. Should you read an autobiography or a biography about them? 

It depends on what you’re looking for! 

Need A Nonfiction Book Outline?

In this guide, we’ll explain autobiography vs biography and help you choose which one you want to read. We’ll also touch on where memoirs fit in with these genres. Let’s dive in! 

This autobiography vs biography comparison includes:

The similarities between biographies and autobiographies.

Both biographies and autobiographies are written accounts of a person’s life. They typically recount the person’s life experiences, challenges, and accomplishments. 

Usually, each of these genres is written in a narrative style. In other words, it uses storytelling techniques to convey information about its subject. 

Autobiographies and biographies both feature context about the subject’s life by discussing the time in which the subject lived (or is living), the culture and location in which they live(d), and more. 

Like any good story, the best biographies and autobiographies often feature narratives about trials that are overcome and lessons that are learned. They may also focus on the influence and impact of the book’s subject. 

Difference between biography and autobiography

The biggest difference between an autobiography and a biography is that an autobiography is written by the subject of the book about their own life, while a biography is written by another person. 

For example, actress Lucille Ball wrote an autobiography about her life called Love, Lucy . Meanwhile, an author named Kathleen Brady wrote a biography about Lucille Ball called Lucy: The Life of Lucille Ball .

Here are a few other key differences between the two genres: 

1. Different perspectives

Naturally, an autobiography is written from the first-person perspective, which means the author is providing a personalized point of view on their own life. 

Meanwhile, a biography is written from a third-person perspective, meaning the author is writing from an external point of view, with limited insight into the subject’s personal thoughts or feelings. 

2. Control of the narrative

When someone writes their autobiography , they control which parts of their life story they include and which they omit. They can choose which perspective they share and which parts of themselves they want to spotlight. 

Meanwhile, a biography relies on research, interviews and sources to construct a complete picture of a subject’s life. A biographer is likely to be more objective in their presentation of a person—perhaps even including unsavory details about their subject that the subject themselves wouldn’t include. 

3. Levels of objectivity

Even the best autobiography will be subjective because it’s based on the author’s personal memories and feelings. 

On the other hand, many biographers strive to be more objective in their writing. They tend to consult multiple sources, conduct a variety of interviews, and more to make sure they’re writing an accurate portrayal of their subject. 

4. Sources used

Because an autobiographer is writing a story about their own life, their sources will primarily be self-generated. Though they may rely on those close to them, like family members, to verify or recount certain memories they hold. 

That said, many autobiographers still need to do research to add context and depth to their life stories, whether that’s learning about the town they grew up in, their family history, or something else. 

Meanwhile, biographers rely on archival materials, research, interviews, historical documents, and more to help them write the story about their subject. 

5. Writing style

Because autobiographies are more personal, they often reflect the author’s unique writing style and personality. 

On the other hand, biographies generally strive to be more objective, with a focus on a cohesive, well-researched narrative. (But to be clear: they can still be very engaging!)

Where do memoirs fit in? 

We’ve learned about the differences and similarities between autobiographies and biographies, so where do memoirs fit into the puzzle? 

Like an autobiography, a memoir is written by the subject of the book. Both genres tend to focus on the author’s personal life, are written in the first person, and can be highly subjective. 

However, where autobiography vs memoir differs is partially in the scope of the book. An autobiography often encompasses most of the author’s life, while a memoir is likely to focus on one specific event, theme, or period in the author’s life. 

Memoirs also adhere less to chronological storytelling than autobiographies do. They can jump around in time and tend to be centered more on themes, reflection, or specific, impactful moments in the author’s life. 

In summary, you can think of memoirs as even more personal than autobiographies, focusing on a selected part of the writer’s life. They’re also more likely than autobiographies to be written by folks who aren’t famous. 

Final thoughts

While biographies, autobiographies and memoirs all tell a subject’s life story, they do it in different ways. The type of genre you’d like to read (or write) will be contingent on what you’d like to learn about your chosen subject. 

If you’re interested in writing your own memoir, autobiography or memoir, we can help you do it. Simply schedule a book consultation to get started. 

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Home » Writing » Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoir

What is a Biography?

A biography, also called a bio, is a non-fiction piece of work giving an objective account of a person’s life. The main difference between a biography vs. an autobiography is that the author of a biography is not the subject. A biography could be someone still living today, or it could be the subject of a person who lived years ago.

Biographies include details of key events that shaped the subject’s life, and information about their birthplace, education, work, and relationships. Biographers use a number of research sources, including interviews, letters, diaries, photographs, essays, reference books, and newspapers. While a biography is usually in the written form, it can be produced in other formats such as music composition or film.

If the target person of the biography is not alive, then the storytelling requires an immense amount of research. Interviews might be required to collect information from historical experts, people who knew the person (e.g., friends and family), or reading other older accounts from other people who wrote about the person in previous years. In biographies where the person is still alive, the writer can conduct several interviews with the target person to gain insight on their life.

The goal of a biography is to take the reader through the life story of the person, including their childhood into adolescence and teenage years, and then their early adult life into the rest of their years. The biography tells a story of how the person learned life’s lessons and the ways the person navigated the world. It should give the reader a clear picture of the person’s personality, traits, and their interaction in the world.

Biographies can also be focused on groups of people and not just one person. For example, a biography can be a historical account of a group of people from hundreds of years ago. This group could have the main person who was a part of the group, and the author writes about the group to tell a story of how they shaped the world.

Fictional biographies mix some true historical accounts with events to help improve the story. Think of fictional biographies as movies that display a warning that the story is made of real characters, but some events are fictional to add to the storyline and entertainment value. A lot of research still goes into a fictional biography, but the author has more room to create a storyline instead of sticking to factual events.

Examples of famous biographies include:

• His Excellency: George Washington  by Joseph J. Ellis
• Einstein: The Life and Times  by Ronald William Clark
• Princess Diana – A Biography of The Princess of Wales  by Drew L. Crichton

What is an Autobiography?

An autobiography is the story of a person’s life written by that person. Because the author is also the main character of the story, autobiographies are written in the first person. Usually, an autobiography is written by the person who is the subject of the book, but sometimes the autobiography is written by another person. Because an autobiography is usually a life story for the author, the theme can be anything from religious to a personal account to pass on to children.

The purpose of an autobiography is to portray the life experiences and achievements of the author. Therefore, most autobiographies are typically written later in the subject’s life. It’s written from the point of view of the author, so it typically uses first person accounts to describe the story.

An autobiography often begins during early childhood and chronologically details key events throughout the author’s life. Autobiographies usually include information about where a person was born and brought up, their education, career, life experiences, the challenges they faced, and their key achievements.

On rare occasions, an autobiography is created from a person’s diary or memoirs. When diaries are used, the author must organize them to create a chronological and cohesive story. The story might have flashbacks or flashforwards to describe a specific event, but the main storyline should follow chronological order from the author’s early life to their current events.

One of the main differences between an autobiography vs. a biography is that autobiographies tend to be more subjective. That’s because they are written by the subject, and present the facts based on their own memories of a specific situation, which can be biased. The story covers the author’s opinions on specific subjects and provides an account of their feelings as they navigate certain situations. These stories are also very personal because it’s a personal account of the author’s life rather than a biography where a third party writes about a specific person.

Examples of famous autobiographies include:

• The Story of My Life  by Helen Keller
• The Diary of a Young Girl  by Anne Frank
• Losing My Virginity  by Richard Branson

What is a Memoir?

Memoir comes from the French word  mémoire , meaning memory or reminiscence. Similar to an autobiography, a memoir is the story of a person’s life written by that person. These life stories are often from diary entries either from a first-person account or from a close family member or friend with access to personal diaries.

The difference between a memoir vs. an autobiography is that a memoir focuses on reflection and establishing an emotional connection, rather than simply presenting the facts about their life. The author uses their personal knowledge to tell an intimate and emotional story about the private or public happenings in their life. The author could be the person in the story, or it can be written by a close family member or friend who knew the subject person intimately. The topic is intentionally focused and does not include biographical or chronological aspects of the author’s life unless they are meaningful and relevant to the story.

Memoirs come in several types, all of which are written as an emotional account of the target person. They usually tell a story of a person who went through great struggles or faced challenges in a unique way. They can also cover confessionals where the memoir tells the story of the author’s account that contradicts another’s account.

This genre of writing is often stories covering famous people’s lives, such as celebrities. In many memoir projects, the celebrity or person of interest needs help with organization, writing the story, and fleshing out ideas from the person’s diaries. It might take several interviews before the story can be fully outlined and written, so it’s not uncommon for a memoir project to last several months.

Memoirs do not usually require as much research as biographies and autobiographies, because you have the personal accounts in diary entries and documents with the person’s thoughts. It might require several interviews, however, before the diary entries can be organized to give an accurate account on the person’s thoughts and emotions. The story does not necessarily need to be in chronological order compared to an autobiography, but it might be to tell a better story.

Examples of famous memoirs include:

• Angela’s Ashes  by Frank McCourt
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings  by Maya Angelou
• Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S.  Grant by Ulysses S. Grant

Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoir Comparison Chart

Check out some of our blogs to learn more about memoirs:

• What is a memoir?
• 5 tips for writing a memoir
• Your memoir is your legacy

Ready to get started on your own memoir, autobiography, or biography? Download our free desktop book-making software, BookWright .

Autobiographies , Biographies , memoirs

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Difference Between Biography and Autobiography (With Table)

Biography and autobiography are two literary genres that revolve around the life stories of individuals. Despite sharing a common subject matter, there are distinct differences between these two forms of literature. While both biography and autobiography aim to tell the life story of an individual, they differ in terms of authorship and perspective. In this article, we will discuss the similarities and differences between biography and autobiography with the help of a table and other key differences.

Table of Contents

Biography Vs Autobiography (Chart)

• Difference Between Fiction and Nonfiction
• Difference Between Race and Ethnicity
• Difference Between Technical and Creative Writing

What is Biography?

A biography is a written account of a person’s life story, written by another person. It is an objective account of the life of an individual, including significant events, accomplishments, and notable contributions. A biographer conducts extensive research to gather information about the individual, including interviews with family members, friends, and colleagues. Biographers often use primary sources such as diaries, letters, and other personal documents to gain a deeper understanding of the subject’s life.

A biography can be written in various formats, including a chronological account of the subject’s life, a thematic approach that focuses on specific aspects of the individual’s life, or a combination of both. Biographies can be written for a wide audience or targeted to a specific demographic. Biographies can also be written in different styles, such as academic or popular, depending on the intended readership.

What is Autobiography?

An autobiography is a written account of a person’s life story, written by the individual themselves. It is a first-person account of one’s life experiences, providing insights into the author’s thoughts, feelings, and personal perspectives. Autobiographies often provide a deeper understanding of the subject’s life, as they offer unique insights into the individual’s thought processes and motivations.

Autobiographies can also be written in various formats, including a chronological account of the author’s life, a thematic approach that focuses on specific events or experiences, or a combination of both. Like biographies, autobiographies can be written for a wide audience or targeted to a specific demographic.

Key Differences Between Biography and Autobiography

While comparing biography and autobiography, here we have included some of the key differences between them. They are as follows.

• Authorship: The most significant difference between biography and autobiography is authorship. A biography is written by another person, while an autobiography is written by the individual themselves. Biographies are therefore objective accounts of the subject’s life, while autobiographies are subjective accounts of the author’s experiences.
• Perspective: Biographies offer an outsider’s perspective on the subject’s life, while autobiographies offer a first-person perspective. Autobiographies provide unique insights into the author’s thoughts, feelings, and personal experiences. On the other hand, biographies rely on interviews and primary sources to gain a deeper understanding of the subject’s life.
• Purpose: Biographies are often written to provide an objective account of an individual’s life. On the other hand, autobiographies are often written to offer a personal perspective on the author’s life experiences. Biographies can also be written to provide insights into historical events or cultural movements. In contrast, autobiographies are often written for therapeutic or personal reasons.

The following comparison table also shows the difference between biography and autobiography in a brief manner.

3 Similarities between Biography and Autobiography

• Both genres aim to tell the life story of an individual. Whether written by an author or the individual themselves, both biographies and autobiographies aim to provide a comprehensive account of the subject’s life experiences.
• Both genres rely on extensive research to gather information about the subject’s life. Biographers conduct interviews and use primary sources to gain a deeper understanding of the individual’s life, while autobiographers draw on their personal experiences and memories to create a first-person account.
• And finally, both genres can be written in various formats, including a chronological account of the subject’s life or a thematic approach that focuses on specific events or experiences.

In conclusion, biography and autobiography are two distinct genres that share a common subject matter. whether you prefer reading about the lives of others or writing about your own experiences, both biography, and autobiography offer rich and engaging narratives that can inspire, educate, and entertain readers for generations to come.

Basir Saboor

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What Is The Difference Between An Autobiography And A Biography?

What are the differences between autobiographies and biographies? 

The two words are not interchangeable .

And neither is a subset of the other.

Once you get a handle on what sets them apart, you’ll never get them confused again. 

You’ll be able to explain the difference between autobiography and biography as proficiently as any publisher or semantics expert .

And you’ll know just how to market your book to get your ideal reader’s attention . 

Let’s get started. 

1. Autobiographies are written by (or with) the subject. 

2. autobiographies are in the first person; biographies are (typically) in the third person. , 3. biographies don’t require the permission of the subject. , 4. autobiographies can include the subject’s thoughts and feelings. , 5. autobiographies are more subjective; biographies are meant to be more objective. , 6. autobiographies generally cover the entire life from childhood to the present. , 7. autobiographies inform the reader about the subject’s motives. , the difference between autobiography and biography: 7 distinctions you should know .

You’re here for one reason: to finally settle the autobiography vs. biography question. Maybe someone asked you, and you weren’t sure of your answer. Or perhaps you’ve confused autobiography and biography one too many times. 

You’re not alone. And you’re about to learn the critical differences and what these two have in common. 

If you’re writing a book about your own life, you’re writing either an autobiography or a memoir . 

Even if you’re paying a ghostwriter to write most or all of it for you, based on conversations with them, you’re still considered the author, and it’s still an autobiography (or memoir ). 

Every autobiography results from the subject’s own writing or a collaboration between the subject and their ghostwriter. 

With an autobiography, you address the reader using the first-person point of view . You’re telling them a story about your life. 

Since someone other than the subject (or their ghostwriter) writes the biography, it’s written about the subject — not from their point of view. The author of a biography typically refers to the subject using the third person. 

Using the third person creates distance between the narrator and the subject. 

Before writing the book, the author of a biography may or may not reach out to the (living) subject. They may want the subject’s permission and input. 

On the other hand, they may choose to write an “unauthorized biography” with shock value, in which case permission from the subject is more an obstacle than an advantage.

Much depends on whether the biographer has any real interest in understanding the subject and their motives. 

Unlike biographies, where the author typically doesn’t have access to the subject’s thoughts and feelings, the author of an autobiography does. 

Because the author is the subject, they know and can share their deepest motives behind the actions they’ve taken. They remember thoughts that came right before they did something they regret (or not). 

They remember how they felt during the most significant moments of their lives. 

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Biographies are supposed to be objective retellings of the subject’s life or the most noteworthy parts of it. 

Autobiographies, by contrast, are more subjective since the one writing them is the subject . 

When you write your autobiography, you give the world your unique take on your life, what happened to you, and what you did with it.

Your autobiography is not meant to be objective; it’s meant to be personal. 

Autobiographies generally cover the entirety of the subject’s (i.e., author’s) life up to that point. Memoirs typically focus on a particular part of the subject’s life. 

Biographies, too, focus on certain parts or aspects of the subject’s life, whether it’s a scandal, a collection of little-known fact-based anecdotes, or the secret to the subject’s success (or downfall). 

The point of a biography is to satisfy the ideal reader’s curiosity about the subject. 

Autobiographies focus less on facts than on the motives behind them — specifically the subject’s motives since those are the only ones the author knows. 

The author-subject writing their autobiography is in a unique position to understand the true motives of their book’s main character. 

And readers who genuinely care about that are more likely to take the subject-author’s word than that of an unauthorized biographer speculating as to the subject’s motives.. 

Now that you know the facts behind the biography vs. autobiography question, we hope you find it easier to explain the differences to anyone who asks. 

Whatever type of life story you’re writing, may you have all the information, insight, and resources you need to make it unputdownable — and a credit to your name. 

Happy writing! 

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• Introduction

The emergence of autobiography

Types of autobiography.

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• Table Of Contents

autobiography , the biography of oneself narrated by oneself. Autobiographical works can take many forms, from the intimate writings made during life that were not necessarily intended for publication (including letters, diaries , journals , memoirs , and reminiscences) to a formal book-length autobiography.

Formal autobiographies offer a special kind of biographical truth: a life, reshaped by recollection, with all of recollection’s conscious and unconscious omissions and distortions. The novelist Graham Greene said that, for this reason, an autobiography is only “a sort of life” and used the phrase as the title for his own autobiography (1971).

There are but few and scattered examples of autobiographical literature in antiquity and the Middle Ages. In the 2nd century bce the Chinese classical historian Sima Qian included a brief account of himself in the Shiji (“Historical Records”). It may be stretching a point to include, from the 1st century bce , the letters of Cicero (or, in the early Christian era, the letters of Saint Paul ), and Julius Caesar ’s Commentaries tell little about Caesar, though they present a masterly picture of the conquest of Gaul and the operations of the Roman military machine at its most efficient. But Saint Augustine ’s Confessions , written about 400 ce , stands out as unique: though Augustine put Christianity at the centre of his narrative and considered his description of his own life to be merely incidental, he produced a powerful personal account, stretching from youth to adulthood, of his religious conversion.

Confessions has much in common with what came to be known as autobiography in its modern, Western sense, which can be considered to have emerged in Europe during the Renaissance , in the 15th century. One of the first examples was produced in England by Margery Kempe , a religious mystic of Norfolk. In her old age Kempe dictated an account of her bustling, far-faring life, which, however concerned with religious experience, reveals her personality. One of the first full-scale formal autobiographies was written a generation later by a celebrated humanist publicist of the age, Enea Silvio Piccolomini, after he was elevated to the papacy, in 1458, as Pius II . In the first book of his autobiography—misleadingly named Commentarii , in evident imitation of Caesar—Pius II traces his career up to becoming pope; the succeeding 11 books (and a fragment of a 12th, which breaks off a few months before his death in 1464) present a panorama of the age.

The autobiography of the Italian physician and astrologer Gironimo Cardano and the adventures of the goldsmith and sculptor Benvenuto Cellini in Italy of the 16th century; the uninhibited autobiography of the English historian and diplomat Lord Herbert of Cherbury, in the early 17th; and Colley Cibber ’s Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber, Comedian in the early 18th—these are representative examples of biographical literature from the Renaissance to the Age of Enlightenment. The latter period itself produced three works that are especially notable for their very different reflections of the spirit of the times as well as of the personalities of their authors: the urbane autobiography of Edward Gibbon , the great historian; the plainspoken, vigorous success story of an American who possessed all talents, Benjamin Franklin ; and the introspection of a revolutionary Swiss-born political and social theorist, the Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau —the latter leading to two autobiographical explorations in poetry during the Romantic period in England, William Wordsworth ’s Prelude and Lord Byron ’s Childe Harold , cantos III and IV.

An autobiography may be placed into one of four very broad types: thematic, religious, intellectual , and fictionalized. The first grouping includes books with such diverse purposes as The Americanization of Edward Bok (1920) and Adolf Hitler ’s Mein Kampf (1925, 1927). Religious autobiography claims a number of great works, ranging from Augustine and Kempe to the autobiographical chapters of Thomas Carlyle ’s Sartor Resartus and John Henry Cardinal Newman ’s Apologia in the 19th century. That century and the early 20th saw the creation of several intellectual autobiographies, including the severely analytical Autobiography of the philosopher John Stuart Mill and The Education of Henry Adams . Finally, somewhat analogous to the novel as biography is the autobiography thinly disguised as, or transformed into, the novel. This group includes such works as Samuel Butler ’s The Way of All Flesh (1903), James Joyce ’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916), George Santayana ’s The Last Puritan (1935), and the novels of Thomas Wolfe . Yet in all of these works can be detected elements of all four types; the most outstanding autobiographies often ride roughshod over these distinctions.

Literary English

Difference between Biography and Autobiography

Biography and autobiography and are two ways to explain a person’s life story. These two have some key differences and similarities. This article will discuss biography and autobiography in detail. Moreover, we will find some best autobiographies and biographies as well.

What exactly is a biography?

A biography, often known as a bio, is a detailed description of a person’s life. It shows a person’s experience of life events such as school, jobs, relationships, and death, rather than merely the basic facts. A biography book can represent the whole life events of an individual.

Unlike a resume or profile best biography explains the events in a person’s life in detail. We can write about essential aspects of their life and do a personality analysis in a biography book.

What exactly is an autobiography? 

The author writes an autobiography to represent their life experiences and success. That is why writers mostly write autobiographies at the end of their lives. It uses a first-person point of view because the main character writes it.

It is usually written by any famous personality who people want to know more about. It is not a rule that only well-known people can write their autobiographies. Anyone can write the story of their life.

Differences between biography and autobiography

Main differences between biography and autobiography are:

Anyone can write a biography of someone.

A biography book is often considered less accurate because someone else writes about another person.

Permissions are necessary to write a biography about someone. It can cause issues if the person is not comfortable to be written about.

A person who writes a biography book usually collects data through newspapers or journals. They can also interview the main character.

Some biography examples: are Steve Jobs, Leonardo the Vinci, Alexander Hamilton

Autobiography :

Any person can write an autobiography about themselves based on their perspectives.

An autobiography book is more accurate because the narrator has faced the events themselves.

There is no need of taking anyone’s permission to write an autobiography

Some autobiography examples are: The Diary of a Young Girl, Dreams from My Father, and Born a Crime. 

Memories and occasions of one’s life are the basis of an autobiography book.

Similarities between biography and autobiography

There are differences as well as some similar things between these two writing styles. These are:

Biographies and autobiographies are both nonfiction texts. They are based on reality.

Both types of writing are typically written in sequence. This indicates that they write events from birth to death, or from the present to the future.

We write biographies and autobiographies for the same objective. These narratives are intended to educate the reader about facts, events, and experiences from someone’s life.

Focus/subject: The subject of both are famous personalities. Many celebrities, scientists, politicians, and historical personalities have biographies and autobiographies.

Types of biographies

Biographies have four categories: historical fiction, academic, fictional academic, and prophetic biography.

Historical Fiction Biography

In this type, the author writes about the persons who are still alive. They can be celebrities, politicians, or any other famous personality. Their true stories inspire people and motivate them. Historical fiction biography book often becomes a movie with additional fiction added. It provides both entertainment and information. Facts related to the person are sometimes not accurate in this kind. Historical fiction does not need to be perfectly precise in information.

Academic Biography

An academic biography is based on documented facts and figures. This type requires accuracy and no fiction at all. A person’s life events and success are described with fact-checked data.  Academic biographies are not so simple to read. They provide many references related to the work. It is all history so people do not prefer to read something so dry. These biographies have a small readership and are rarely used outside of the classroom.

“John Wyclif: Myth and reality” is one of the academic biography examples.

Academic Fictional Biography

This type combines history and fiction. The combination is great because people get information in a fun way. The outcome is a balanced portrayal of how someone may have lived. It is done by mixing the author’s unique insights into life with the facts and teachings of the personality.

East to the Dawn: The Life of Amelia Earhart is one of the academic fictional biography examples.

Prophetic Biography

A prophetic biography varies from fictional biography. It tries to inspire the reader through the written personality. This type of biography creates a purpose along with entertainment. The goal is to give life lessons for the betterment of the readers. A fan of a prophetic biography will return to it again and again throughout their life for comfort, meaning, and guidance. “Free Eric. Bonhoeffer” and “Muhammad (PBUH) Islam and The First Arab Empire” are prophetic biography examples.

Types of Autobiography

An autobiography can be classified into four basic categories: thematic, religious, philosophical, and fictionalized.

Thematic Autobiography

Thematic autobiographies are typically more than just life stories. They express an underlying purpose within the narration. In this type, the author write autobiography to convey specific thoughts or ideals. The ideals can be any message that the author believes should be conveyed to the audience through this story.

Religious Autobiography In this type, author write autobiography that covers the journey towards religious enlightenment. People can take guidance from these autobiographies to follow the religious path. Thomas Merton’s “The Seven Storey Mountain” and “My Spiritual Journey” by the Dalai Lama are religious autobiography examples.

Scientific Autobiography

Scientific autobiography is about telling people about your journey. It tells important events that brought you to where you are now. You consider what has shaped your ideas and share it with the reader. Someone who reads this is curious about what has shaped you into who you are.

Fictional autobiography reflects the true experiences of the author. Some parts are dramatized to hide the identity of many people. Fiction is added to increase the artistic quantity of autobiography.

After reading all these types, you must be curious about how to write a biography or an autobiography. In this part we will teach you main points to write them.

How to Write a Biography

Following are the main points to write a Biography

Choose a subject

Take permissions

Research the subject

Form thesis

Outline the story

Include your thoughts

Choose a subject : The first step to write a biography is deciding on a subject. The method will be largely the same either way. You should look at important life events, relationships, and the person’s impact on society. Read more biography examples to get a better idea of writing it.

Take permissions: Once you’ve decided on a biography subject, get permission to write about their lives. If the person accepts, they will be able to provide accurate facts about their life.

Research the subject: To get the facts correct, research is essential. There are two types of research: primary and secondary. Primary sources are initial information about your subject’s life and are generally the most trustworthy sources. You can also use secondary information from magazines or documentaries if they are from valid sources.

Form Thesis : The first paragraph of your biography should tell the reader what they will learn about this individual from it.  It should be interesting to grab the reader’s attention.

Outline the Story: Determine the major argument, or thesis, and then outline how each section will tell a different element to support that thesis. Determine whether you want to write about the subject’s entire life or simply a portion of it.

Include your thoughts: The author might add their ideas in the biography. This will assist you in explaining to the audience why a particular personality influences you. will show the purpose of why you wrote about this person. It will keep the audience reading from the first to the last sentence.

How to Write an Autobiography

Writing about your life can be intimidating but it can become easy by following some rules.  Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to write an autobiography book:

Generate ideas

Create outline

Do research

Begin writing

Generate ideas: Make sure to cover all events of your life as you go through your memories. Begin with your youth, then move on to high school. Make sure to write about the event that made you famous.

Create Outline: Begin organizing a story based on the most interesting moments from your imagination. Then write every point that you will include in your autobiography book.

Research: You can interview your family and friends to remind you of details about different events.  Examine your journals or old diaries, if you have any.

Begin writing: For the first time, you will be unable to write well. Write down all of the information you remember. Then, sort them out and write again.

Proofread: You should identify weak points in the story and make positive changes. Consider what you’d seek in a biography of another individual and apply it to your autobiography.

List of some most famous biographies and autobiographies are given below:

Examples of Biography

Churchill: A life by martin gilbert

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

A beautiful mind by Sylvia Nasar

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson

Shelley: The Pursuit by Richard Holmes

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Examples of Autobiography

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Open by Andre Agassi

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

Autobiography of Mark Twain

Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama

Conclusion :

There are many differences as well as similarities between biography and autobiography. You can write a biography of any famous personality by following the tips given above. The main tip to write a biography or autobiography is to read most of them first. Reading these is best for people who are interested in exploring non-fiction materials and history.

Biography Vs Autobiography: Similarities and Differences with Examples

Rebekah Marshall

June 5, 2024

Read Time: 5 min

Do you ever get confused between biography and autobiography? If so, you’re not alone. These terms are used interchangeably, but each has its own unique approach. In this blog, we’ll discuss biography vs autobiography. After reading this guide, you’ll be able to make the difference between an autobiography and a biography. 

What is biography?

Here is a simple definition of biography: ‘A biography is a detailed account of an individual’s life written by someone else. The author is not the subject of the story. It is also referred to as a bio.’ A biography can be about someone who is alive or deceased. It highlights essential moments and happenings in the life of the person in question. This genre essentially incorporates a person’s extensive data, including given name, origin, birth date,occupation, and connections. Creating an exceptional piece requires perusing diverse materials such as records, manuals, memoirs, pictures, and interviews. Effective biographies come in writing; however, they can also take other forms such as music, movies. If the targeted subject is dead, then the writer has to do an immense amount of research. You may need to interview the people who knew that person or read already written biographies about that person. But if the person is alive, the writer can interview the target person several times to know about their life experiences.  Biography writing seems like a tiresome job. But you can ease this task by reading our latest guide on  professional biography writing . 

Purpose of Biography

The primary goal of biography writing is to tell the readers about the subject’s life from childhood to adult life and the rest of the years. Additionally, the biography tells a story of how the person learned life lessons and navigated through the challenges. The person’s biography should give a clear picture to the reader about the subject’s personality, traits, and how they interact with the world. You must cover all the essential features of biography.

Definition of Autobiography

The story about a person’s life written by that person himself or herself is called an autobiography. The literal meaning of the word auto is ‘self.’ It covers all the elements of the biography but is narrated by the writer himself. Anyone can write their life story as an autobiography. Moreover, the author is himself the subject of the biography.

Purpose of Autobiography

The basic purpose of an autobiography is to portray the author’s accomplishments and experiences of life. The majority of autobiographies are written from the author’s perspective later in the person’s life. So, the first person account is used to tell the author’s story.  An autobiography usually starts with the early childhood years. Then, covers information about the person’s brought up place, their education years, career, challenges they faced and how they tackled them. These are the key features of autobiography. It is created from the person’s diaries. Moreover, the story may have flashbacks and flash forwards, but it must follow the chronological order. Describe the person’s life occasions in a sequential manner from early life to their current years. 

Important Aspects of a Strong Autobiography

The primary features of autobiography are as follows:

• The facts are always told in the first person.
• More in-depth and personal than a biography.
• Goes into great depth about the character’s life.
• It also explains the motivation behind the main character’s behavior.

Common Elements of Biography and Autobiography

Here are a few elements that are common in both types of written formats:

• The purpose of both is to portray a person’s life.
• Both are nonfiction because they deal with real-life events that occur during the subject’s life.
• Both follow the same chronological order, starting from their early life to the various life stages.
• They include personal insights about the subject’s life.
• Both genres may use multiple sources like newspapers, interviews, diaries, photographs and other documents to provide context and in depth narrative.
• The key elements, such as growth, character development, and transformation, are discussed in both. 

Recommended Reading :  How to write a biography essay  with tips, sample & outline

What is the difference between biography and autobiography?

Along with the similarities, there are also some notable differences between them. The basic difference between autobiography and biography is that autobiography tends to be more subjective in nature. That’s why they are written by the subject themselves. Let’s explain the difference between autobiography and biography in detail.

Autobiography Vs Biography Examples

Biography example.

• Name:  Alexander Hamilton Author name:  Ron Chernow Alexander Hamilton is one of the most fascinating founding fathers of America, and Ron Chernow tells his story in great detail. Chernow traces Hamilton’s transformation from an orphan into a political genius by fusing in-depth research with a narrative style. The book clarifies Hamilton’s political beliefs and his pivotal role in the development of the US financial system (Chernow, 2004).
• Name:  The Life of Samuel Jhonson Author name:  Boswell Boswell delves deeply into the life of Dr. Samuel Johnson, his mentor and friend. The biography portrays Dr. Johnson’s life, character, unique traits, and intellectual prowess in a fascinating way (Boswell, 1791). Boswell’s vivid portrayal brings Johnson to life for the readers, making this one of the best biographies in English literature.
• Name:  The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets Author name:  Dr. Samuel Jhonson Some of the 17th and 18th century’s greatest poets, such as Alexander Pope and John Milton, are discussed in Dr. Johnson’s work. In addition to critiquing the works, he delves into the authors’ private lives and the geopolitical context of their eras (Johnson, 1781). Johnson’s research is very significant because it takes a combined historical and biographical approach.

Autobiography Examples

• Name:  The Diary of a Young Girl Author:  Anne Frank It is a unique story of a little Jewish girl. Her name is Anne Frank. This book told the story of her and her family’s escape from Nazis in Amsterdam during World War II. She spent two years in hiding, and her diary writings provide important insights into the dread, hope, and resiliency she faced (Frank, 1947). Frank’s autobiography posthumously acts as both a symbol of perseverance in the face of adversity and a reminder of the injustices of the past.
• Name:   I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Author:  Maya Angelou This moving autobiography traces the early years of Maya Angelou, from being the first black streetcar operator in San Francisco to facing racial discrimination in the South. With incredible grace and courage, Angelou depicts her path of self-discovery and overcoming catastrophic events, including personal pain and racial prejudice. Her narrative of tenacity conveys a powerful message about discovering one’s voice (Angelou, 1969).
• Name:  Night Author:  Elie Wiesel The autobiographical story “ Night ” by Elie Wiesel describes his and his father’s experiences in Nazi concentration camps during WWII. This devastating story explores the loss of innocence and the fight to hold onto faith in humanity in addition to detailing physical suffering and cruel acts. It is proof of the human spirit’s ability to persevere in the face of unimaginable evil (Wiesel, 1960).

Bottom Line

It’s often challenging to distinguish between an autobiography and a biography. Although there are some significant distinctions between the two genres, you should be aware of them if your aim is to write in any of them. While both biographies and autobiographies are valuable sources of information and amusement about historical personalities (or current figures! ), they serve different purposes. We can enhance our media knowledge and gain a better understanding of the author’s aim and appropriate approach to the material by being aware of the distinct objectives of each.  We really hope you find this information useful. You can get in touch with experienced writers who are highly qualified and have years of experience in providing  biography writing services .  Take your time and make sure you are creating an engaging narrative that makes the reader feel as though they are right there with you when writing your own life story.

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Autobiography vs. Biography

What's the difference.

Autobiography and biography are both forms of non-fiction writing that focus on the life of an individual. However, there is a key distinction between the two. Autobiography is a self-written account of one's own life, where the author narrates their personal experiences, thoughts, and emotions. It provides an intimate and subjective perspective, allowing readers to gain insight into the author's unique journey. On the other hand, biography is a written account of someone's life, written by another person. It involves extensive research and interviews to gather information about the subject's life, achievements, and impact on society. Biography offers a more objective and comprehensive view of the individual, often including historical context and analysis. Both genres serve as valuable sources of inspiration, knowledge, and understanding of the human experience.

Further Detail

Introduction.

Autobiography and biography are two distinct genres of literature that provide insights into the lives of individuals. While both share the common goal of documenting someone's life, they differ in terms of perspective, authorship, and narrative style. In this article, we will explore the attributes of autobiography and biography, highlighting their unique characteristics and discussing their significance in understanding the lives of notable individuals.

Autobiography

An autobiography is a literary work in which the author writes about their own life experiences, providing a first-person account of events, emotions, and reflections. As the author and subject are the same person, autobiographies offer a direct and intimate perspective on the individual's life. The author has the freedom to express their thoughts, feelings, and personal interpretations of events, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of their motivations and experiences.

Autobiographies often cover a wide range of topics, including childhood, education, career, relationships, and personal growth. They can be highly subjective, as the author's memories and perceptions shape the narrative. Autobiographies also provide an opportunity for self-reflection and self-analysis, allowing the author to explore their own identity and share their life lessons with readers.

One of the key advantages of autobiographies is the authenticity they offer. Since the author is the primary source of information, readers can trust that the events and emotions described are based on the author's personal experiences. Autobiographies can be incredibly powerful, as they allow readers to connect with the author on a personal level and gain insights into their unique journey.

However, it is important to note that autobiographies may also be influenced by the author's biases, selective memory, or desire to present themselves in a certain light. While they provide a personal perspective, they may not always provide a completely objective account of events. Readers should approach autobiographies with a critical mindset, considering the author's motivations and potential biases.

Unlike autobiographies, biographies are written by someone other than the subject of the book. Biographers extensively research the life of the individual they are writing about, gathering information from various sources such as interviews, letters, diaries, and historical records. Biographies aim to present an objective and comprehensive account of the subject's life, providing a broader perspective that goes beyond the author's personal experiences.

Biographies often delve into the historical and cultural context in which the subject lived, offering insights into the societal influences and events that shaped their life. They provide a detailed examination of the subject's achievements, struggles, relationships, and impact on the world. Biographers strive to present a balanced portrayal of the individual, considering multiple perspectives and analyzing the significance of their actions.

One of the key advantages of biographies is their ability to provide a more objective and well-rounded view of the subject's life. By drawing on a wide range of sources, biographers can present a comprehensive narrative that takes into account different viewpoints and historical context. Biographies also allow readers to explore the lives of individuals they may not be familiar with, expanding their knowledge and understanding of different eras and cultures.

However, it is important to acknowledge that biographies may also be influenced by the biographer's own interpretations and biases. Despite their efforts to present an objective account, biographers may still make subjective judgments or interpretations based on the available information. Readers should approach biographies critically, considering the biographer's expertise, sources, and potential biases.

While autobiographies and biographies have distinct characteristics, they also share some similarities. Both genres aim to provide insights into the lives of individuals, allowing readers to learn from their experiences and gain a deeper understanding of their motivations and impact. Both genres can be highly informative and engaging, offering valuable lessons and inspiration.

Autobiographies and biographies also have the potential to inspire empathy and connection. By exploring the lives of others, readers can develop a sense of empathy and understanding for different perspectives and experiences. Both genres offer opportunities for personal growth and self-reflection, as readers can relate their own lives to the challenges and triumphs of the individuals they are reading about.

However, the key difference between autobiographies and biographies lies in the perspective and authorship. Autobiographies provide a first-person account, allowing readers to directly engage with the author's thoughts and emotions. On the other hand, biographies offer a third-person perspective, providing a more objective and comprehensive view of the subject's life.

Autobiographies are often more subjective, as they are influenced by the author's personal memories, interpretations, and motivations. Biographies, on the other hand, strive to present a balanced and well-researched account, drawing on multiple sources and perspectives. While autobiographies offer a more intimate connection with the author, biographies provide a broader understanding of the subject's life within a historical and cultural context.

Autobiographies and biographies are two valuable genres of literature that offer unique insights into the lives of individuals. Autobiographies provide a personal and subjective perspective, allowing readers to connect with the author on a deeper level. Biographies, on the other hand, offer a more objective and comprehensive view, drawing on extensive research and multiple sources.

Both genres have their own strengths and limitations, and readers should approach them with a critical mindset. Autobiographies can be powerful in their authenticity, while biographies provide a broader understanding of historical and cultural contexts. By exploring both genres, readers can gain a well-rounded perspective on the lives of notable individuals and find inspiration in their stories.

Comparisons may contain inaccurate information about people, places, or facts. Please report any issues.

How To Write An Autobiography

Autobiography Vs Biography

Last updated on: May 30, 2024

Autobiography vs. Biography - What are the Differences?

By: Cordon J.

12 min read

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Mar 22, 2023

Have you ever wondered about the differences between an autobiography and a biography?

You may have heard of these two terms before, but do you know how they are different from each other? Unfortunately, many people think that both could be used interchangeably, and that both are the same.

Well, you're in luck, because in this blog, we'll explore autobiographies and biographies and their unique perspectives on people's lives. This blog will go over the key differences between biographies and autobiographies so you can make a decision easily.

So without further delay let’s get started!

On this Page

What is an Autobiography?

An autobiography is a book written by someone about their life. Autobiographies are written in the first person throughout because the writer is the protagonist and the main character of the story.

The purpose of writing an autobiography is to provide a detailed account of the narrator's accomplishments and life events.

The autobiography style generally begins with early childhood and proceeds chronologically, listing all of a person's experiences throughout their life.

Autobiographies include information about where someone grew up, their career, life choices, accomplishments, and challenges they overcame.

Related Blog: Click here to discover the various types of autobiography .

Elements of an Autobiography

Let's explore these key components of an autobiography:

• First-person narrative: An autobiography is written in the first person, which means that the author tells their story using the pronoun "I."
• Personal tone: As the author is writing about their own experiences and insights, autobiographies often have a more personal and introspective tone.
• Comprehensive coverage: Autobiographies aim to cover the entire life story of the author, from their childhood to the present. This can include pivotal events such as the author's birth, family life, education, relationships, etc.
• Life experiences and motivations: Autobiography informs the audience about the author's life experiences, motivations, and perspectives. This can include the author's beliefs, values, and goals. 
• ‘The Story of My Life’ by Helen Keller
• ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ by Anne Frank

Here's a short sample autobiography:

Follow the link to uncover the secrets to writing an astonishing autobiography, with this “ how to write an autobiography ” guide.

What is a Biography?

A biography is a history of a person's life written by someone else. Biographies are often written about famous individuals and personalities like sportsmen, motivational speakers, inspirational figures, etc.

Biographies also cover the subject's entire life. Therefore, it is crucial to include important information about the person's place of birth, education, childhood experiences, partnerships, and so on.

Elements of a Biography

Here are some key components of biography:

• Third-person perspective: Biographies are written in the third-person perspective. That means that the author tells the subject's story using pronouns such as "he," "she," or "they." 
• Chronological order: Biographies are typically organized in chronological order. It means that biographies are structured according to the timeline of the subject's life. 
• Formal and impersonal tone: Biographies are often more formal and impersonal in tone than autobiographies. The author may use a more scholarly writing style and avoid revealing personal thoughts and feelings. 
• Comprehensive coverage: Biographies are meant to provide a comprehensive account of the subject's life. It covers all of the important events and milestones in their life, from their childhood to their achievements, and legacy. 
• Accuracy: Biographies are often used as historical or educational resources. Therefore, it is important that the information presented is accurate and well-researched. 
• ‘His Excellency: George Washington’ by Joseph J. Ellis
• ‘Einstein: The Life and Times’ by Ronald William Clark

Here is a short biography sample:

Looking for an exceptional biography to read? Click on the link to read one for inspiration!

Autobiography vs. Biography - Key Differences

There are a few significant distinctions between biographies and autobiographies, despite the fact that they may appear to be similar.

Let’s take a look at some significant and key differences between the two.

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Similarities between an Autobiography and a Biography

Although they are distinct genres, biographies and autobiographies do have some things in common.

• Primary and Main Goal - The main goal of both types of books is to tell the story and life events of a person's life.
• Non-fiction Works - Autobiographies and biographies are nonfiction works that document significant events in a person's life. You can safely say that that is a kind of nonfiction novel that presents the facts.
• Prominent Figures as Subjects - Biography or autobiography is typically used to tell the stories of well-known people who have made remarkable achievements. Based on these similarities, many people wrongly think that they are the same.

Based on these similarities, many people wrongly think that they are the same.

Get a closer look at this autobiography vs biography worksheet we've designed for you!

Autobiography vs Biography Worksheet

Are Autobiography and Memoir the Same?

A biography includes the life of an individual, whereas a memoir is not necessarily an autobiography.

An autobiography, as the name implies, is a book that includes details like the person’s life story in chronological order. A formal, non-fiction style is employed.

A memoir focuses on a specific incident or component of someone's life rather than the complete narrative. Writing a memoir is more casual and emotional in nature.

Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoir

Here is a complete comparison chart that displays the key differences between all three kinds of works.

Curious to learn the differences between autobiographies and memoirs in detail? If so, click on this link to get your questions answered!

In an autobiography, the subject is telling a story about their own life. In a biography, someone else tells the story of someone's life. Both are important and interesting, but they both have different perspectives to offer. 

With so many options out there, we hope this blog helps narrow your search for one that best suits your interests!

Still, feeling unsure about how to start your autobiography or biography? MyPerfectPaper.net can help! 

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which is better: biography or autobiography.

Both of these works are different from each other so no one could say for sure which one is better. Both are written for the same purpose and, therefore, besides the usual differences, both of them serve an important purpose.

What are the 4 types of biography?

Here are the 4 types of biography;

• Historical fiction
• Academic biography
• Fictional academic
• Prophetic biography

All 4 are different from each other and have different purposes also.

What is the difference between an autobiography and an autobiographical narrative?

An autobiography is a complete account of a person’s life, written and told in the person’s own words. However, when only a few events are narrated, it becomes an autobiographical narrative.

Is autobiography a narrative?

An autobiography is a nonfiction narrative. It means that though the stories and events are true it is told in a storytelling format.

How long is an autobiography?

Usually, an autobiography is between 200 to 400 pages long.

Can a book be both biography and autobiography?

No, a book cannot be both biography and an autobiography at the same time. A biography is a written account of someone's life as written by someone else. In contrast, an autobiography is a written account of someone's life written by the person themselves.

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• How To Write An Autobiography: Tips, Ideas & Guidelines to Write Your Life Story

• Different Types of Autobiography Writing With Examples

• How to Write an Autobiography Format Easily?

• Autobiography vs. Memoir - How Are They Different?

• Autobiography Examples: Inspiration & Guidelines to Get You Started

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How To Write An Autobiography

Autobiography Vs Biography

Last updated on: Jul 11, 2024

Similarities & Differences of Autobiography vs Biography

By: Cathy A.

Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.

Published on: Jan 4, 2023

Autobiographies are a great way to share your story with the world. It can be tough, funny and emotional all at once!

Biography is usually more about telling facts than it is about writing in a third-person voice like an autobiography does but both have their own unique qualities that make them worth reading for anyone.

We're committed to making sure that each and every one of our customers have the best experience possible.

Do you enjoy reading autobiographies or biographies? Are you unsure of the difference between these two? In this blog post, we will explore the key differences between these two types of books.

Keep reading to find out more!

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Autobiography vs Biography - Definition

Key Elements of a Good Autobiography

These are the main characteristics of an autobiography:

• It always presents the facts in a 1st-person narrative.
• More detailed & subjective than a biography.
• Discusses the life of the character in much detail.
• It also tells the reason behind the actions of the main character.

Popular Examples of Autobiographies and Biographies

Here are many examples that you can read and use samples for writing your stories:

Autobiographies

The famous autobiographies include:

• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
• The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
• I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
• Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
• Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
• Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
• M Train by Patti Smith
• Not Yet by Wayson Choy
• This Is Happy by Camilla Gibb
• My Prizes by Thomas Bernhard

Biographies

The famous biographies include:

• The Life and Times by Ronald William Clark
• His Excellency: George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis and Einstein
• A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar
• Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
• Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston
• Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert
• E=mc²: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation by David Bodanis
• Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario
• Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

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Main Differences between & Autobiography

There are many key differences between autobiography and biography, some of them are:

• Biography is the story of someone’s life written by some other writer. Autobiographies are usually written by the subjects themselves.
• Biographies can be an interesting read whether or not you have permission to use the subject's life story. Autobiographics are self-written accounts, so they do not require any form of legal clearance before publication.
• The information in a biography is based on the information collected from various sources. On the other hand, the information is narrowed down in an autobiography.
• Autobiography uses first-person pronouns, whereas biographies use third-person pronouns.
• Biography aims to provide readers with an in-depth look into the life experiences of a person, whereas in an autobiography, the author simply writes about themself.

Autobiography vs Biography vs Memoir

The story of one's life is an interesting and captivating read, but how can we not put it in writing? Memoirs are just like autobiographies and they are also written by the person himself.

Memoirs are a great way to explore your life and memories from every angle. You can go back in time with these written accounts, or look at how you felt about certain events when they happened because there is no limit on what type of memory an author could choose for their memoir.

Memoirs are a unique form of literature that offers the reader an immersive and detailed look into one person’s life. On the other hand, biographies provide more information about someone than just their story; they often include background details to help paint context for what you're reading.

Comparison Chart-Autobiography vs Biography vs Memoir

The difference between an autobiography and a biography is often unclear. The two genres tend to be interchangeable, but there are some key differences you should know if your goal is writing of these.

When writing your own life story, it's important to take the time and make sure that you are telling a compelling tale in which readers can feel like they're right there alongside you.

We hope that this guide is helpful for you. In case, you need help writing these kind of books you can contact professional writers who provide writing help for these books.

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Biography & Autobiography: What’s The Difference?

Since the beginning of time, people have loved telling stories. Most favourably? Stories about themselves. You may well remember learning about genre and book type in your English lessons at school, but, for many of us, this knowledge fades out with algebra and times tables as we grow older.

Despite differences between types and genres being one of the first things we are taught about books, many readers still get confused between categories like fiction and non-fiction — and, especially, biography and autobiography.

If you’re still stumped by the subtle variations between these two classification types, we’ve got you covered. Read on for a comprehensive guide to biography, autobiography, and the differences between them.

What is biography?

If you’ve ever used social media, you’ll likely have had to set up a profile at some point. Many platforms prompt their users to fill out a “bio” when setting up an account, giving core information about themselves, their core interests, or personal lives. This is usually short but can include quotes, dates, relationship statuses, and even important achievements. If you haven’t guessed yet, “bio” is short for “biography”. Applying this to a literary context, then, a biography is a non-ficton (factual) piece of writing about a person. Like when setting up a social media account, a biography can contain everything from accounts of childhood, to birthplace, education, and work. However, unlike an Instagram or Twitter ‘bio’, a biography about someone doesn’t have to be written by the person it’s about. Unlike autobiography, in a biography the author is not the subject of the work. A biography is a work of literature written by someone about someone else — famous or family, living or someone who lived years ago.

Key features of biographies

Since biographies are written by an author about someone else, they are usually highly factual, using sources and information from any one of the following:

• Family or friend testimonials 
• Photographs 
• Newspaper clippings
• Documentaries
• Interviews (if the person is living).

Biographies also usually follow a chronological order, taking readers on a journey from the start of the subject’s life until either the end or the point at which the biography is being written. As such, it is common for the chapters in biography books to relate to two time periods.

Biographies you may know

A few famous examples of biographies you may well have encountered:

• Alan Turing: The Enigma, Andrew Hodges (1983)
• Churchill: A Life , Martin Gilbert (1991)
• E=mc²: A Biography of the World’s Most Famous Equation , David Bodanis (2000)
• Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson (2011)
• Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow (2004)
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks , Rebecca Skloot (2010)
• Mad Girl’s Love Song: Sylvia Plath and Life Before Ted ,  Andrew Wilson (2013)

To learn more about biography as a genre, explore the different subgenres of biography, and read our reviews for this genre, head over to our main Biography page .

What is an autobiography?

Different to biography – but only in authorship, really – autobiography refers to the genre in which individuals chronicle their own lives. 

Unique in its first-person narrative perspective, rare in non-fiction aside from essays, autobiography is a great opportunity for individuals to offer wider insight into their personal lives, achievements, and thoughts. While anyone can write an autobiography, mostly they are written by celebrities or individuals who are well-renowned in a certain area to inform and entertain others.

When it comes to the amplification of marginalised voices, autobiography has been an influential genre, allowing individuals who otherwise may not have had the space to do so to write about their experiences at length. As a form of literature, the term ‘autobiography’ was first used in 1797 by William Taylor. If we break down the term, using latin derivatives, we can gain an even clearer understanding:

Auto (self) bio (life) graph (writing)

Core features of autobiographies

Aside from the chronological approach also seen in biography, due to the self-authored nature of autobiographies, the most common literary feature in them is the use of the first-person singular, “I”. Readers of autobiography will also encounter a lot of “me” and “my” too.

Another common feature is the use of time connectives such as “while”, “when”, “whilst”, “before”, “after”, and “during”. These are used to place readers at specific moments in the subject’s life.

You can expect to come across a great deal of sentimentality in autobiographical works, often with a nostalgic or melancholic tone — especially when discussing childhood. Why? Because, although the reading of an autobiography is a journey for the reader, it is also an exercise in self-reflection for the writer too, and this can be quite heavy.

Lastly, autobiographies – if not published posthumously (that is, after an individual has died) – often end with a look towards the future as the author anticipates where they will go next.

Autobiographies you may know

Some of the most famous autobiographies you may have come across – old and new – are as follows: 

• Spare , Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (2023)
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X , Malcolm X and Alex Haley (1965)
• I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban , Malala Yousafzai (2013)
• The Diary of a Young Girl , Anne Frank (1947)
• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin , Benjamin Franklin, (1791)
• I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jenette McCurdy (2022)
• The Illustrated Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela (1994)
• Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass , an American Slave , Frederick Douglass (1845)

The differences between biography & autobiography

Simply put, then, while biography is a factual account of someone’s life written by a separate author, autobiography is a telling of someone’s own life in their own words. Got that?

If you’re keen to keep learning about all things books, stay up to date with the Victoria Freudenheim blog and never miss a literary trick again. And, if you’re looking for your next read, check out our latest reviews page to get inspired.

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Difference Between Autobiography and Biography

• Categorized under Language , Miscellaneous | Difference Between Autobiography and Biography

An autobiography is technically a work that describes a life that is created by that individual. In general this refers to a book that is written by the individual about their life. Autobiographies can vary in their artistic and reporting approach. Some may be intentionally entertaining and other intentionally informative. Typically they are intended to be fairly accurate regarding hard facts. Something that is common among some autobiographies is the work of a ghost-writer. A ghost writer may have a varying role in different projects. For example in one work they may simply create an outline or edit a work. In others,  they may actually help in the writing of the text. Usually if a ghost-writer writes the entire book you would expect the work to be labeled a biography.

A biography is also a work that describes a life. These works however are created by an individual other than the individual that the work is about. Biographies are typically considered to be accurate in regard to hard facts also. These works however are instances where differences even in the reporting of hard facts become evident. Some biographies, especially when written about living individuals can be the cause of controversy and the terming ‘unauthorized biography’ has become rather common. These distinctions and the greater possibility of revealing unwanted information attract a number of individuals to biographies for reading. Biographies can be written by anyone and about anyone. As a result it is less common that ghost-writers work on biographies, but it isn’t unheard of.

Autobiographies and biographies can provide information that is collected through time consuming research. It can inform an audience and bring them closer to the people they want to know. Many however, shouldn’t be considered the same types of reference works as encyclopedias and dictionaries.

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Difference between Biography and Autobiography

When you read a biography or an autobiography, you read about a person’s life, right?

Summary Table

Descriptions

Biographies are usually written about famous people like writers, artists, movie stars, or people who stood up against an oppressive system. This piece of writing tries to explain the context of their lives and actions – what made them who they are and caused them to write, to act, or to take a stand. This is why the person writing a biography must be very knowledgeable and well-informed. Years of study are required.

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This type of writing is usually more subjective and is filled with emotions and personal accounts, impressions, and resolutions which have led to that person’s great achievements. It must not be fictional, but it still is just one person’s opinion on a series of events which may include other people as well.

Biography vs Autobiography

To write a biography, the writer will have to collect facts, usually from other people or from other written texts. The author of an autobiography, however, will tell things as he/she experienced them. The biography author is compelled to be objective, while the author writing his own account can present personal opinions.

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semi - au to bi og ra phy

Definition of semi-autobiography, examples of semi-autobiography in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'semi-autobiography.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1856, in the meaning defined above

Dictionary Entries Near semi-autobiography

semi-autobiographical

semi-autobiography

semiautomated

Cite this Entry

“Semi-autobiography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semi-autobiography. Accessed 28 Jul. 2024.

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