Biography Books > M Biography Books > S

Advantages: Great detail and insight
Disadvantages: Upsetting in parts

Fantastic Book I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It really is a brilliant read. It gives a deep insight into the war going on in Iraq from a woman's point of view. The torture and pain they go through. It is a great book which is very relevant to today's society. It is extremely interesting and wouldn't want to say a lot about it or else it would just spoil it. You have to read it for yourself to understand it and to realise ... Read review

Advantages: Very detailed and objective
Disadvantages: Not a casual read - one for the specialist

Mao was undoubtedly one of the most influential politicians and philosophers of the 20th century. In transforming China according to his revolutionary ideals, this 800-page book reveals, he took the lives of more of his subjects than any other national leader of the time - including Hitler and Stalin. The author is a former BBC correspondent, and he has used extensive interviews and previously suppressed documentary sources to examine in detail such ...
...Wisely, he refuses to judge Mao's place in history, and asks whether he was a hero, a tyrant, or simply a misguided failure. I have little doubt that this will remain the standard biography for years to come, and recommend it to anybody who is interested in modern world history. ... Read review

Advantages: Gripping, informative
Disadvantages: May be found quite hard going

Carla Van Raay's autobiography "Gods Callgirl" details the life of a naive, immature girl, then woman who is devoted to God but goes from obedient convent girl to sexual prostitute over the course of her life, but remains as naive as ever. This life story is divided into three parts and develops the tale of this Dutch girl's life over the course of the book. Part one examines the life of a child abused by her father, yet finding she felt abandoned ...
...God from a very young age. As a school girl she idolising the convent and her sole ambition in life is to serve God as a nun in one of Australia's many convents. As an early teenager feeling unloved at home by her family yet supporting her mother in everyday chores and childcare of her brothers and sister she found herself believing she was a product of the devil. A problem no confession could speak of, and no action could heal. Part two follows ... Read review

Advantages: Neil Warnock
Disadvantages: Neil Warnock

There are individuals in sports that only come around so often. People that get everyone talking whether it be how much they admire them or how much they dislike them; Neil Warnock fits this category perfectly. Controversy follows him everywhere, so it is fitting that he should produce an autobiography that i'm sure even those that hate him so much would be just a little intrigued to read. This is the story of one of english domestic football's ...
...humble beginnings in Sheffield through an unglamorous but respectable playing career to a managerial career littered with controversy, success and disappointment. The dream of the Sheffield born man and Blades fan was always to manage his beloved Sheffield United and this dream was realised. He was hated by sections of his own teams support often but his team battled adversity to reach the promised land of the premiership - only to be denied by ... Read review

Advantages: Expertly written
Disadvantages: No chapters/sections to 'break up' the reading

I'm a student and had to read this book for an exam. I read it in 2 days and felt quite tired by the end of it. The main reason being that there are no chapters or sections, so it is basically one long detailed insight into what life was like during the Plague. However, it is very well written and there are times where the reader's emotions are 'pulled at'. The detailed descriptions of both people and places allow the reader to feel part of the drama. ...
...would not recommend this book to anyone who does not appreciate good literature as you will get easily bored and find it difficult to continue reading. However, if you like pre-18th Century Literature and enjoy a good piece of writing, i would highly recommend this old yet insightful masterpiece. ... Read review