Best Unauthorized Biographies (2026): 4 Picks Compared

For readers who prefer the story the subject never approved, the best unauthorized biographies are the ones to reach for. We compared several by page count, edition and publisher.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Bush Unauthorized by Tarpley	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Money by Martin	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Life by Fortey	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
4	W.A.R. by Wall	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Bush Unauthorized by Tarpley

Webster Griffin Tarpley·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 659 page biography of the Bush dynasty, built from archive searches and insider interviews.

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Pros

• 659 pages make it the longest volume here
• Draws on dozens of archives and months of insider interviews, per the listing
• Covers the family fortune to the presidency

Cons

• A 1991 first edition, so later events are outside its pages
• The description names war, genocide and other heavy themes, so preview before recommending
• Single-subject focus, so it suits only readers interested in this family

2

Money by Martin

Felix Martin·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A political and cultural history of money, from ancient coinage to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

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Pros

• A 2015 reprint with a new introduction and epilogue on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies
• Ranges from ancient coinage to the Soviet Union
• 336 pages keep a big subject in one volume

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated
• A biography of an idea rather than a person
• The 2015 edition predates later developments in cryptocurrency

3

Life by Fortey

Richard Fortey·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A natural history of the first four thousand million years of life, for curious readers with little background.

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Pros

• 416 pages cover the full history of life in one volume
• Aimed at curious readers with little background, per the description
• Covers dust and volcanoes to dinosaurs and mammoths

Cons

• A 1998 edition, so newer discoveries are outside its pages
• A biography of life itself rather than a person
• The description calls the subject complex, so a casual reader may find it demanding

4

W.A.R. by Wall

Mick Wall·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A journalist who traveled with Guns n’ Roses traces Axl Rose from childhood influences to the band's rise and aftermath.

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Pros

• The author traveled with the band in the late 1980s and early 1990s
• 368 pages cover childhood influences to the band's later years
• Covers the band's hit albums and the stories around them

Cons

• A 2008 first edition, so the 'present' it covers ended years ago
• The description names substance abuse, a concert death and fights, so preview before recommending
• Focused on one musician, so it suits only rock fans

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More picks to compare

• Testosterone by Jordan-YoungFor science readers, a myth-busting look at the hormone behind ideas of masculinity.Check on Amazon
• Michael Jackson by AndersenFor music fans, an unauthorized look at a monumental musical figure's controversial life.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 22 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level. None of the four listings gives a reading age or grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best unauthorized biographies

Pick the subject that holds the reader

An unauthorized biography only works if the reader cares about the subject. A music fan will finish W.A.R. on the Axl Rose years, while a reader curious about presidential power will stay with the 659 page Bush volume. More lives of well known figures sit on the history and biography shelf.

Check the edition date against the story

Unauthorized biographies are written from a moment in time. The Money listing is a 2015 reprint with a new epilogue on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, while the W.A.R. listing is a 2008 first edition. For political lives with a longer shelf life, see our best biographies of Nixon list.

Before you buy

• Check the edition date: the W.A.R. listing is a 2008 first edition.
• Match the subject to the reader: the 659 page Bush volume suits a political history reader.
• Compare subjects, not just pages: Life covers natural history in 416 pages, while Money covers an economic idea in 336.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a biography unauthorized?

It is published without the subject’s approval, so check the listing for sources: W.A.R. says its author traveled with the band, while the Bush listing cites archive searches and insider interviews.

Which unauthorized biography should I read first?

Start with the subject you know best: a music fan will stay with W.A.R., while a political history reader will get the most from the Bush listing.

Do any of these listings give a reading age or grade level?

None of the four listings states a reading age or grade level, so use the page count and the description’s subject matter to judge fit.

Still deciding? Our top pickBush Unauthorized by Tarpley

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Related lists

See every history and biography list and all nonfiction lists.

More lists: see biographies of celebrities, biographies of Donald Trump and biographies of business leaders.