Best biographries you've read?

[nando1000]

Malcolm X by Alex Haley

[Bobby Hundreds]

Fly fishing by J R Hartley.

[Lee909]

 

 

I read one about kody Scott when I was younger which was pretty fucked up, you'd be safer on the Gaza Strip than some parts of LA.

Monster

Scary bastard

[KMD7]

I read 'High Concept : Don Simpson and the Hollywood Culture of Excess' by Charles Fleming about the Hollywood scene in the late 70's and 80's when Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer were producing the likes of Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop.  Well worth a read, Goes into details about how hedonistic and debauched the Hollywood party scene was then (probably no different now) with Simpson at the forefront and he destroyed himself with drugs and drink.  Lifts the lid on other celebs at the time as well.  

[cloggypop]

Any good survival, war stories out there?

 

Papillon by Henri Charrière

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Harper-Perennial-Modern-Classics-Papillon/dp/0007179960

[Lee909]

From the documentary i watched they say its pure BS. He stole other peoples events and his accounts and descriptions dont add up. 

Sounds like it should join Bravo Two Zero and The one that got away in the fiction section

[Arl arse]

Hurricane - The Life Story of Ruben Carter.

[Jennings]

Any good survival, war stories out there?

 

You may like:-

 

Unbroken - the story of Luis Zamperini

50 dead men walking

The railway man

[Jennings]

Papillon by Henri Charrière

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Harper-Perennial-Modern-Classics-Papillon/dp/0007179960

 

If you thought that one was good try Dry Guillotine - by Rene Belbenoit. 

[cloggypop]

If you thought that one was good try Dry Guillotine - by Rene Belbenoit. 

 

I have it downloaded from last time you recommended it!

[Jennings]

I have it downloaded from last time you recommended it!

 

Hope you enjoy it mate. let me know how you get on with it.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

I Partridge...We need to talk about Alan............the life story of the great man, and possibly the funniest book I have read.

Also, it's one of very few books which is actually even better in the audio version.

 

"Pitter patter.  Pitter patter.  Pitter patter..."

[Elite]

Not a biography as such but the book

'In harms way' is one of the most horrific books I have ever read. Its the story of thr USS Indianapolis that was sunk in the Pacific after brining the Atomic bombs across. The crew spent days lost at sea in shark infested waters.

 

I'll see if I have it still if you want it, ill send it to you.

Gis a PM if you find it.

[Chairman Meow]

Commando by Deneys Reitz.

 

Ignore the horrible cover shot on Amazon. Really well written autobiography of a Boer fighter.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Commando-Deneys-Reitz/dp/1920265686/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406486477&sr=1-1&keywords=commando+denys+reitz

 

 

Fangio biography by Gerald Donaldson.

 

I honestly think this is a good read even for people not interested in motorsport, the tales of the South American road races and classics like the Targa events in Italy to being a Grand Prix champion in his forties Fangio had such an interesting life. That's before you even mention being kidnapped by the 26th of July movement in Cuba.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fangio-Behind-Legend-Gerald-Donaldson/dp/0753518279/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406486697&sr=1-1&keywords=fangio

[jonnybastard]

Anyone who enjoyed the McLean or Shaw books, or has interest in cockernee villiany, should give 'Mad Frank' by Frankie Frasier a read. There's a bit where he justifies killing a dog which gives an insight into what goes on in his head, and why such a little fella could inspire such fear and respect from his peers.

[Chairman Meow]

Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger.

 

A WW1 memoir form the point of view of a German soldier, no romanticising about the war and told in a very direct and matter of fact way by a man who is happy to acknowledge that part of him actively enjoyed fighting in the war. 

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Storm-Steel-Penguin-Modern-Classics/dp/0141186917/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406487322&sr=1-1&keywords=storm+of+steel+ernst+junger

[jonnybastard]

Any good survival, war stories out there?

Legionnaire by Simon Murray.

[jonnybastard]

"A sense of freedom" by Jimmy Boyle is another for those with an interest in bad fuckers. And Jimmy was one bad fucker. But a completely rehabilitated upstanding member of the community since someone showed him some humanity.

[Teflon Don]

A couple of very good music biographies:

 

 

[FanchesterCity]

I have to say, Frank Skinner's was pretty decent.

[cloggypop]

Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi but about Henry Hill is so good they made Goodfellas out of it.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wiseguy-Nicholas-Pileggi/dp/1439184216

[Bjornebye]

 

Just about to start this

[Lee909]

Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi but about Henry Hill is so good they made Goodfellas out of it.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wiseguy-Nicholas-Pileggi/dp/1439184216

Legionnaire by Simon Murray.

Good shouts

[VladimirIlyich]

Donnie Brasco by Joe Pistone.

A lot better than the film and the reason why i thought Depp was a poor choice for the role.

[Elite]

Some cracking shouts on here. Think I'll start with Legionaire.