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Bookswithtea
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I need to help ds choose either a biography or an autobiography for a 12 week long literature project (he's 16). I want it to be something classic, but not boring. He's an excellent reader. I don't even know where to begin.  Its not a genre I normally read.
Any suggestions?
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guitarnan
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Some of my favorite biographies:
John Adams by David McCullough
Stephen Ambrose's bio of Dwight D. Eisenhower (2 volumes)
Truman by David McCullough
Henry VIII by Alison Weir
Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne by David Starkey (Queen Elizabeth I of England)
Alison Weir's bio of Eleanor of Aquitaine
But...my #1 choice would be Joseph Ellis' excellent bio of George Washington. President Washington was an amazing man, and Ellis really brings this out through his (and George's) writing. Highly recommended. Excellent for anyone who has to take U.S. History and write that "Who is our greatest president?" essay!
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Bookswithtea
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Thanks, Nancy. I'll start with reading on Amazon about these.
I'm not sure what is going to interest him...Hard to say...
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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ekbell
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My favorite autobiography is Agatha Christie's Autobiography but it's unlikely to be a sixteen year old boy's pick.
A (maybe THE) classic biography is Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson (1791).
As for classic autobiographies there's The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin among others. [I think THE classic autobiography might be St. Augustine's Confessions]
Remember that books on Saints ARE biographies.
However this is really the sort of assignment where a librarian can be of real use. I'd recommmend asking your local librarian where these books are kept in your local library (some libraries will have a separate section for biographies) so that your son can browse.
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guitarnan
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My son really enjoyed the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (he is 17).
I'd avoid "tell all" bios of Hollywood folks or rock stars, though...I've read quite a few and some are more than a little disturbing.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Bookswithtea
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Yeah, I'm avoiding the bio's of rock stars as well. Blech. I guess maybe talking with a librarian is not such a bad idea?
If I could find a biography of an adventurer who had climbed several mountains or something like that...its not classic, but I have this feeling he is going to resist a biography of an historical figure. He loved Kon Tiki and the Shackleton voyage book (I learned about that one from MA). I wonder if there's something high school level in this vein???
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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guitarnan
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Well, Into Thin Air has several references to illegal drug use...just a FYI...it's a compelling (and sad) tale otherwise, but not really a biography.
Maybe your librarian can recommend a bio of Sir Edmund Hillary?
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave
Love,
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My dh mentioned the autobiography of Chuck Yeager (sp?), he was the test pilot for the air force, first break the sound barrier dh thinks he remembers.
I haven't read it but there is a biography/autobiography of Davey Crockett which could be real interesting.
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: biography/autobiography
