QuickRead - Book Summaries
QuickRead AS
FREE - In Google Play
Biography & Memoir
From Elton John to David Cameron, our biography and memoir section has it all! Come explore the lives and memoirs of musicians, philosophers, and politicians.
Sort By:
alphabetically
most recent
most popular
Chris Hadfield
What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared For Anything.
Becoming an astronaut is a childhood dream of people all over the world. Being able to leave Earth, experience zero-gravity, and float among the stars is something only a few people in life are lucky enough to experience. Chris Hadfield is one of the lucky few. After logging nearly 4,000 hours in space and spending decades training, Chris has plenty of stories to tell and lessons that he’s learned. The secret to his success and his survival can boil down to one unconventional philosophy he learned at NASA: prepare for the worst. You see, preparing for the worst sounds negative and pessimistic, but for an astronaut, preparing for the worst is a matter of life and death. Throughout An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, Chris Hadfield aims to teach his readers what he’s learned through his time in space. The lessons from space can be easily applied to life on Earth, no matter what you do for a living. As you read, you’ll learn how thinking like an astronaut can help you find peace of mind, how there is no such thing as over-preparation, and how landing a capsule from space is nothing like landing a plane.
14 minutes
Tara Westover
The captivating memoir of a woman who grew up isolated from society, abused by her family, and despite zero childhood education, she broke the restraints of her father’s twisted worldly views and earned her Ph.D. at Cambridge and Harvard University.
Born on a rural farm in Idaho to strict Mormon parents, Tara Westover spent her childhood and teen years working in her father’s junkyard and helping her mother create herbal medicine while attending a small, devout church. Tara’s parents were skeptical of public education, medical institutions, and the government’s role in the lives of its citizens. This skepticism led to their self-sufficient lifestyle, homeschooling their children and even tending to serious burns and injuries with herbal remedies. Plagued with physical and emotional violence, Tara’s household became a space filled with turmoil and brutality. As Tara grew older, she gained a curiosity about the world beyond her family and set out to receive higher education.
Going against her father’s wishes, Tara attended Brigham Young University, a Mormon college in Utah, and eventually went on to study at Cambridge University and complete a fellowship at Harvard. As Tara continued her education, her home life became more abusive and violent, eventually forcing her to make the difficult decision to choose between her family and education.
14 minutes
Ashlee Vance
Delve behind the scenes and learn about the man behind Tesla, Space-X, and more!
Elon Musk (2015) is an up-close and personal look at one of America’s most brilliant minds. Although the average person knows Elon Musk for his inventions and his zany personality, this expose will take you behind the scenes and provide a rare glimpse into Musk’s mind and private life.
13 minutes
David Cameron
A memoir from Britain’s former prime minister.
For the Record (2019) is David Cameron’s personal account of his life and career as prime minister of Britain. In his autobiography, you’ll learn about his experiences with the Tory party and his vision for his country, including behind-the-scenes details of his involvement with Britain’s controversial decision to leave the European Union.
15 minutes
Satya Nadella
How one boy’s journey led him to become the CEO of Microsoft.
When you think “Microsoft,” you probably think about Bill Gates. But Hit Refresh (2017) will introduce you to Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s third CEO. Satya’s memoir will take you through his unexpected journey to success, documenting his childhood in Hyderabad, India, his early dreams of athletic success, and his family’s powerful impact on his relationship with technology and empathy.
17 minutes
Russ
Learn the inspirational story of self-made music superstar, Russ, who wishes to inspire you to believe in yourself and get out of your own way.
At just twenty-seven-years-old, Russ has become a successful rapper, songwriter, and producer. He proved the industry wrong by surpassing over a billion streams on Spotify and Apple Music without a major record label behind him. He then made the Forbes 2019 “30 Under 30” list and ranked number 20 for most sold-out arenas across the U.S. and around the globe. Today, he’s one of the most popular rappers around, so what’s the secret to his success? According to Russ, you should simply love and believe in yourself and work hard no matter what. In It’s All In Your Head, Russ reflects on the lessons he’s learned from his career and relationships while inspiring others to believe in themselves and take a leap of faith. As you read, you'll learn how Russ manifested his dreams into reality, why passion is critical to success, and how he went from recording in his parents' basement to making millions and selling out arenas.
13 minutes
Michael Eric Dyson
Explore JAY-Z’s impact on culture, art, and music through this biography.
Although it’s not written by JAY-Z himself, Michael Eric Dyson’s reflection on the rapper’s life and work nonetheless offers readers a uniquely personal exploration. Written with reverence and sensitivity, Dyson takes us through a tour of what he calls “JAY-Z’s America,” positing that the artist has fundamentally shaped the American public’s understanding of race, culture, music, and social justice.
9 minutes
Chanel Miller
Learn the painful yet inspiring true story of Chanel Miller, known as Emily Doe, who aims to reclaim her identity and voice after a years-long trial against Brock Turner.
In the wake of a high-profile sexual assault case, Chanel Miller chose to stand up to the man who raped her but soon learned that she would lose herself in the process. With media surrounding the case, Chanel chose to remain anonymous and instead became referred to as “the victim,” “Emily Doe,” and even, “Brock Turner’s victim,” as if she was somehow connected to the stranger who raped her. Additionally, Turner’s defense team intended to silence her while twisting her words until they were no longer her own. They criticized her for drinking, took advantage of her memory loss, and created a narrative that benefited a rapist. In this book, Chanel has reclaimed the power of her voice and continues to fight for the rights of sexual assault survivors among a court system that has consistently let them down.
13 minutes
Common
Discover the rapper Common’s memoir.
“Let love have the last word” is a wonderful motto to live by. And the rapper Common believes these words have been his guiding mantra throughout his life. Let Love Have the Last Word (2019) tells the story of his faith, family, and career while expounding on his life philosophy.
15 minutes
Cecile Richards
Make Trouble is the captivating memoir of Cecile Richards, activist, advocate, and president of Planned Parenthood. Documenting Cecile’s lifelong fight for social justice, from a child who was labeled a “hell-raiser” in conservative Texas to the iconic troublemaker she is today, Make Trouble explores the drive, passion, and ferocity that motivates Cecile to keep fighting.
Make Trouble is the story of maverick and activist Cecile Richards, who lives by the mantra, “If you want to make change, you have to make trouble!” Her memoir explores the origins of this mantra, which originated in her childhood, and the struggles and triumphs which developed along the way as she put it into practice. Make Trouble also illustrates how Cecile’s success can be emulated by future activists seeking to making the world a better place and provides a comprehensive guide to Cecile’s tips for success.
10 minutes
- ← Prev
- 0
- Next →