Best Memoirs Worth Reading (2026): 5 Compared

A life well told stays with you, and the best memoirs worth reading earn every page. We compared five memoirs by memoir fit, publisher and length, using only what each Amazon listing states. Every figure below comes from the listings, not from our own reading.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Personal Memoirs	9.8/10	Buy
2	On Writing	9.7/10	Buy
3	Building a Life Worth Living	9.7/10	Buy
4	Hurricanes	9.6/10	Buy
5	Call the Midwife	9.6/10	Buy

1

Personal Memoirs

Ulysses S. Grant·9.8/10 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 military memoir, 704 pages, published January 1, 1999.

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Pros

• 704 pages; the longest here
• Penguin Classics edition
• McPherson introduction per the listing

Cons

• 1999 edition
• Military focus; not for all
• Direct style; dense for some

2

On Writing

Stephen King·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 memoir of the craft, 320 pages, published June 2, 2020.

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Pros

• 320 pages; quick read
• Scribner; 2020 reissue
• Part memoir, part craft

Cons

• Sales claims in the description are the publisher's
• Writers; narrow focus
• 1999 accident; heavy themes

3

Building a Life Worth Living

Marsha M. Linehan·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 memoir, 384 pages, published January 5, 2021.

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Pros

• 384 pages of DBT story
• 2021 edition
• Gloria Steinem praised it

Cons

• Suicide and depression; heavy themes
• Therapy focus; not for all
• Publisher not stated in the listing

4

Hurricanes

Rick Ross·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 memoir, 304 pages, published November 3, 2020.

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Pros

• 304 pages; first edition
• 2020 edition
• Hanover Square Press

Cons

• Sales claims in the description are the publisher's
• Crack epidemic; heavy themes
• Hip-hop; narrow focus

5

Call the Midwife

Jennifer Worth·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 memoir, Book 2 of 3: The Midwife Trilogy, published January 22, 2013.

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Pros

• Book 2 of 3: The Midwife Trilogy
• Ecco; 2013 edition
• Basis for the PBS series per the listing

Cons

• Sales claims in the description are the publisher's
• Workhouse; heavy themes
• No page count stated in the listing

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More picks to compare

• Midnight on the PotomacSuits readers wanting Civil War history, 336 pages.Check on Amazon
• The Art of MemoirSuits readers wanting a memoir craft guide, 256 pages.Check on Amazon
• SavedSuits readers wanting an animal rescue memoir, 320 pages.Check on Amazon
• Reading My FatherSuits readers wanting a literary memoir, 320 pages.Check on Amazon
• Ginseng RootsSuits readers wanting a graphic memoir, 448 pages.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Specs as published on each listing, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs memoir fit, publisher, value and reading guidance. No reading ages are stated from customers here. 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 memoirs worth reading

Subject

Military (Grant), craft (King), psychology (Linehan), music (Ross) or midwifery (Worth). Browse history and biography for more.

Length

Page counts run from 304 (Ross) to 704 (Grant). One listing states no page count. Our war memoirs list covers more.

Tone

Some memoirs are heavy; check the themes before you buy.

Before you buy

• Check the subject and themes.
• Compare the 304 to 704 page counts.
• Sales claims in the descriptions are the publisher’s; treat as marketing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which memoir is the longest?

Personal Memoirs, at 704 pages.

Which memoir is about writing?

On Writing, by Stephen King.

Which memoir is about DBT?

Building a Life Worth Living.

Which memoir starts a series?

Call the Midwife, Book 2 of 3.

Still deciding? Our top pickPersonal Memoirs

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Related lists

See every history and biography list and all nonfiction lists.

More lists: war memoirs, memoirs New York Times and YA memoirs.