[Melissa K Posts: 650 Status: Offline]

My dad loves reading biographies of famous historical figures from US history. I was browsing his shelves the other day, and it hit me that he reads almost exclusively about white guys--Washington, Jefferson, etc. For Christmas this year, I thought I might buy him a biography of a really amazing woman or person of color. But I'm not much of a biography reader, so I thought I'd ask you all for recommendations. Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony come to mind as possible subjects, but I could branch out if anybody has other thoughts.

My dad really responds to elegant (and in my opinion, sort of purple) language in the books he reads. Whatever I buy, I have to stay away from clunky prose or he'll put it down and drift on to something else. Thanks in advance!

[Barbara Etlin Posts: 2,242 Status: Offline]

It's YA and illustrated and poetry, but well written and very interesting:

BECOMING BILLIE HOLIDAY by Carole Boston Weatherford, ill. by Floyd Cooper

And I can't recommend anything, but you could look for a good biography of Duke Ellington.

Oh, I just remembered reading this one, LOUIS ARMSTRONG: AN EXTRAVAGANT LIFE by Laurence Bergreen.

[JodyJS Posts: 1,319 Status: Offline Available for preorder! Out 12/12/23]

What about HIDDEN FIGURES? I haven't read it, though.

Just found this: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/must-read-biographies-about-incredible-women_us_56d58b71e4b0871f60eca295

[Schriscoe Posts: 1,765 Status: Offline www.sharonchriscoebooks.com]

What about Maya Angelou?

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,070 Status: Online Language is so cool!]

What about Maya Angelou?

Love her. I bet there are a bunch on sports' figures. Having Our Say by the Delaney Sisters was good too. Think about the other things he likes and look for bios in that area.

[annemleone Posts: 243 Status: Offline]

The Firebrand the First Lady: Portrait of a Friendship is about the unlikely and long-lived friendship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Pauli Murray (black, lesbian social justice crusader). It's got a lot of historical insight, but also presents an angle from Murray's point of view that you don't often get in history. The author, Patricia Bell-Scott, is black as well.

I haven't read it yet, but First Women: The Grace and Power of America's Modern First Ladies by Kate Andersen Brower has been highly recommended to me.

[Vijaya Posts: 7,104 Status: Offline Encourage]

What about HIDDEN FIGURES? I haven't read it, though.

Loved this so much.

One of my favorite books is Nobel Prize Women in Science by Sharon McGrayne. It's not US history but in case he likes science, this is a wonderful book.

I've read several first person accounts of slavery: 12 Years a Slave was really good.

Something more recent. How about books by Condoleeza Rice? I have her autobiography.

Happy shopping!!!

[Mrs. Jones Posts: 1,311 Status: Offline]

Okay, I admit this is an AUTObiography, but I read it many years ago and will likely read it again at some point, I enjoyed it that much. I loved being immersed in her world of growing up and becoming a writer! 

Agatha Christie, An Autobiography.

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,875 Status: Offline Happy writing to all!]

Will he do a memoir?
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Reyna Grande is powerful.

[Betsy Posts: 2,106 Status: Offline PICKY EATERS]

I really enjoyed Trevor Noah's autobiography: BORN A CRIME:  Stories from a South African childhood. There's certainly a lot of history throughout, though not American history.

[Barbara Etlin Posts: 2,242 Status: Offline]

Another vote for HIDDEN FIGURES. It was fascinating.

[dewsanddamps Posts: 2,320 Status: Offline]

If he likes sports, maybe a bio of Jackie Robinson or Muhammad Ali. They both led interesting lives.

If he likes science, George Washington Carver or Rosalind Franklin (who discovered the double helix).

And bless you for noticing. 

(I have a recommendation for a bio that's not what you're looking for right now, but Philip Freeman's Alexander the Great is a magnificent read--narrative history at its finest. He might enjoy expanding beyond the U.S., too. Maybe when he's read up on Jackie and Rosalind you can let him have it.) 

[christripp Posts: 1,218 Status: Offline]

Depending on how interesting he might find Beautiful Movie Stars of the past:) perhaps "Hedy's Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World",  would interest him. I'm thinking of gifting this to myself actually:)