Autobiography, Personal History and Memoirs

It's a common misconception that Autobiographies can only be written by celebrities, that only those in the public eye have led lives worthy of reading about. This is simply not true. In fact, most of the everyday people I meet have led far more interesting lives because they have had to deal with real issues in the real world. When we read about the struggles and triumphs of the famous we cannot identify with their experiences. When we read about the struggles and triumphs of 'ordinary people' we normally recognize experiences we have had ourselves and we take comfort from the fact we are not alone and there is a way forward.

In recent years there has been a growing interest in writing Personal Histories, Autobiographies and Memoirs. Not just from those in the public eye but from everyday people like us. It makes sense to examine the phenomenon a little closer.