The 23 best memoirs to read in 2021, according to Goodreads members

“Educated” by Tara Westover

“Educated” by Tara Westover, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $13 

With one million ratings and over 600,000 five-star reviews, “Educated” is the top-rated memoir by Goodreads users, (and also voted the best memoir of 2018 in the Goodreads Choice Awards). This memoir is about Tara Westover, whose lifelong quest for knowledge gave her the ability to explore the world and herself — even though she didn’t step into her first classroom until she was 17.

“When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi

“When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $14.63

At 36, Paul Kalanithi was nearly finished with his training to become a neurosurgeon when he received the devastating diagnosis of terminal stage IV lung cancer. Though he passed away before he could finish this book, his memoir became his search to find what makes life worth living when everything suddenly changes.

“Born A Crime” by Trevor Noah

“Born A Crime” by Trevor Noah, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $7.21

Before Trevor Noah became the host of “The Daily Show,” he was born in South Africa to a white father and a Black mother — a criminal act at the time. Trevor’s memoir is deeply emotional (yet equally funny) as he transitions from growing up a secret to navigating and celebrating the adventure of life.

“Hillbilly Elegy” by J.D. Vance

“Hillbilly Elegy” by J.D. Vance, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $7.85

In this memoir about middle-class America and the American Dream, J.D. Vance tells the Vance family story, beginning with his grandparents moving to Ohio to escape poverty. Through the generations, his family struggled with abuse, poverty, and trauma as they sought the middle-class goal of upward mobility. 

“Untamed” by Glennon Doyle

“Untamed” by Glennon Doyle, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $13.98

“Untamed” is a memoir that turns both the readers’ and the author’s failures, weaknesses, and differences into inspiration by acknowledging the humanity behind imperfection. After her divorce, Glennon Doyle redefined her family, her motherhood, and herself in this memoir that encourages readers to fully be themselves.

“Maybe You Should Talk To Someone” by Lori Gottlieb

“Maybe You Should Talk To Someone” by Lori Gottlieb, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $17.29

When a sudden crisis affects her whole life, therapist Lori Gottlieb finds herself seeking therapy to process her own mental health. This memoir is full of fascinating anecdotes from Gottlieb’s experience as both a therapist and a patient, while also exploring why we seek therapy and how it can improve our lives. 

“This Is Going To Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor” by Adam Kay

“This Is Going To Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor” by Adam Kay, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $17.89

Written from diary entries in between seemingly endless days as a medical resident, Adam Kay’s memoir reveals all the highs and lows of the medical field. With all the gripping excitement and heartbreak of a fictional medical drama, this very real memoir is easily read in one sitting. 

“Know My Name” by Chanel Miller

Know My Name by Chanel Miller, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $16.20

“Know My Name” is the memoir of a young woman formerly known only as “Emily Doe” yet championed millions of sexual assault survivors through her victim impact statement in 2015. Now ready to identify herself and tell her story, Chanel Miller’s memoir is a heartbreaking chronicle of trauma and healing after sexual assault.

“Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey

“Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $16.95

In a book that feels like you’re sitting with the author and listening to his life experiences, Matthew McConaughey has proudly dubbed his memoir “a love letter to life.” After looking over 35 years of his personal journals, Matthew encourages readers to enjoy success while facing life’s challenges.  

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

“The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo” by Amy Schumer, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $10.86

Amy Schumer is most famously known for her raunchy comedy. While her memoir has its moments of hilarity, it is also a humanizing account of her efforts, her darkest days, and her journey to become herself. This is a collection of extremely personal essays that allow the reader to see a new side of the comedian.

“Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body” by Roxane Gay

“Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body” by Roxane Gay, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $11.23

Roxane Gay, the author of the bestselling book “Bad Feminist,” uses her own experiences with food, self-image, and self-care to explore our shared experiences of balancing hunger and fullness. Far more than a discussion of food, weight, and our bodies, this memoir is beloved for its bravery, power, and embracing dark experiences. 

“Talking as Fast as I Can” by Lauren Graham

“Talking as Fast as I Can” by Lauren Graham, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $11.53

The winner in the “humor” genre of the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards, Lauren Graham’s “Talking as Fast as I Can” is a memoir told through personal essays about her life before, during, and after her role as Lorelai Gilmore. Lauren Graham’ offers her unique voice in this short, nostalgic, and highly amusing memoir.

“Scrappy Little Nobody” by Anna Kendrick

“Scrappy Little Nobody” by Anna Kendrick, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $9.78

Anna Kendrick’s collection of autobiographical essays chronicle her rise to stardom from her shy beginnings. It’s a charming and fun memoir that lets readers know the “Twilight” and “Pitch Perfect” star on a much more intimate level.

“Dear Girls” by Ali Wong

“Dear Girls” by Ali Wong, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $15.99

Written as a letter to her daughters, Ali Wong’s memoir is a series of anecdotes and life advice from dating, to their Asian heritage, to being a working mom. “Dear Girls” is a fascinating, enlightening, and heartwarming gift of everything Ali wants to teach her daughters about life.

“The Princess Diarist” by Carrie Fisher

“The Princess Diarist” by Carrie Fisher, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $11.39

Woven with cherished memories, this memoir is full of excerpts from journals Carrie Fisher kept when filming the first “Star Wars” movie. Overflowing with nostalgia, the memoir offers a unique view of Carrie’s young life, her crush on Harrison Ford, and the early stages of the “Star Wars” empire.

“I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness” by Austin Channing Brown

“I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness” by Austin Channing Brown, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $11.62

In a country that appears to pride itself on diversity, Austin Channing Brown first realized the ways in which the world centered around whiteness when she was seven and discovered her parents had made her name sound like that of a white man so she wouldn’t be discriminated against when she applied for jobs. In this short but stunning memoir, Austin writes about genuinely celebrating Blackness and diversity in majority-white schools, companies, and organizations.

“In the Dream House” by Carmen Maria Machado

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $14.40

Using a variety of narrative tropes that express her fractured reality, Carmen Maria Machado’s memoir is about surviving abuse in a same-sex relationship. This book is complex and fragile, a series of chronological revelations that leave readers feeling haunted.

“Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered” by Karen Kilgariff and Georgina Hardstark

“Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered” by Karen Kilgariff and Georgina Hardstark, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $15.49

Karen Kilgariff and Georgina Hardstark are the hosts of the hit true crime podcast “Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered,” where the pair researched and discusses murders. In their dual memoir, the women trade stories from their childhoods, their path to their podcast, and advice on how not to get murdered.

“The Choice: Embrace the Possible” by Dr. Edith Eva Eger

“The Choice: Embrace the Possible” by Dr. Edith Eva Eger, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $10.37

In 1944, when Dr. Edith Eva Eger was sent to Auschwitz when she was 16 years old. Immediately separated from her parents, she survived unimaginable horrors until the day she was pulled from a pile of bodies once the camp was liberated. Now, Dr. Eger is a psychologist who helps patients work through their own trauma in this memoir of pain, healing, and recovery.

“Love Warrior” by Glennon Doyle Melton

“Love Warrior” by Glennon Doyle Melton, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $10.33

With a second hugely popular memoir on this list, Glennon Doyle’s first memoir “Love Warrior”,  published in 2016, focuses on her marriage to her husband and the bravery needed to embark on a journey of self-discovery. This memoir challenges readers’ ideas of being our whole selves and encourages us to be our own warriors and champions, despite any pain we may carry.

“The Last Black Unicorn” by Tiffany Haddish

“The Last Black Unicorn” by Tiffany Haddish, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $7.18

Winner of the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards in the “humor” category is comedian Tiffany Haddish’s memoir. Her inspiring and heartbreaking story of surviving the foster care system through comedy is one that draws both tears of laughter and overwhelming emotion.

“Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman” by Lindy West

“Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman” by Lindy West, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $9.89

Lindy West is a writer, comedian, and activist who is far from what she was told society expects women to be and is proud of it. Lindy’s book is a hysterical and honest account of internet harassment, being a woman in comedy, and letting go of the external expectations the world has for us and our bodies. 

“Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, available at Amazon and Bookshop, from $16.17

Michelle Zauner grew up as the only Korean American student at her school, thriving on memories and meals shared in her grandmother’s apartment in Seoul. When her mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Michelle’s journey to discover her own identity became urgent in this memoir about self-discovery, family, and food.