Celebrity Memoirs

If you love books about Hollywood and movies, this list of celebrity memoirs is for you.

I love memoirs. They give you a look into a life that you would not get otherwise.

You don’t have to agree with everything a person says or does to appreciate their story.

Our stories shape us into the person that we are today.

Memoirs share stories of how people overcome difficult things and how those things make them who they are.

Memoirs share journeys, both good and bad, that we can learn from.

I read all kinds of memoirs, but celebrity memoirs are some of my favorites, especially on audio.

When a celebrity narrates their memoir, it brings it to life in a way that other books don’t.

Celebrities are used to talking and performing. They know when to express emotion in their voices and when not to, and their voices have ups and downs in just the right places.

Those things make the book so interesting to listen to because it makes the book come alive.

That doesn’t mean I only listen to celebrity memoirs. I sometimes read them as well, but my favorite way to read a celebrity memoir is to listen to it.

Memoirs By Celebrities

There are so many celebrity memoirs that have been written. It would be almost impossible to list them all. For this list today, I am only sharing the ones we have read.

I have quite a few more in my to be read stack, so I will update the list as I read more.

The Answer Is by Alec Trebeck. In this book, Alex Trebeck shares his life before and during Jeopardy. He gives a look at his childhood and his road to Hollywood.

The main part of this book, though, is about Jeopardy. It gives you a fascinating look behind the scenes at the famous game show. If you love Jeopardy, this is a great memoir.

The Boys by Ron and Clint Howard. Ron Howard and his brother Clint share their story of growing up in Hollywood, acting in TV and movies. It starts with their parents’ story of growing up in Oklahoma, meeting, getting married, and changing their names to fit better in show business.

It then continues with Ron and Clint’s story of being childhood actors. I thought they gave an honest look at what it was like. Ron and Clint also provide a ton of behind-the-scenes facts about the shows they were part of.

I loved this book and all the facts about Leave It To Beaver, Happy Days, and More.

If You Ask Me by Betty White. I listened to this on audio and enjoyed it. I am sure the print version is good, but Betty White narrated it, which made the audiobook great.

I decided to read this book when it was promoted after Betty White’s death. It was an interesting look into Betty White’s life. Although the book doesn’t cover her whole life, it is full of interesting facts.

Homework by Julie Andrews. This is another one that I listened to on audio and enjoyed. I loved learning the behind the scenes information about Mary Poppins and the Sound of Music.

She also gave us a look at the not so glamorous life of an actress. There is a lot that goes into it that the average person has no clue about and I found all of that interesting.

I enjoyed this book, but I did think it was a bit long and could have been edited down quite a bit.

James Patterson by James Patterson. I almost did not put this one on the list, but James Patterson is definitely a celebrity author. I have never read one of James Patterson’s fiction books, but I loved his memoir, so I added it to the list of celebrity memoirs.

The chapters are short in this and felt more like short stories, but I enjoyed it. If you love James Patterson’s writing, this is a good read.

My American Dream by Lidia Bastianich. You might not recognize Lidia Bastianich as a celebrity but she is a cookbook author and television host. She was a well known chef on television back in the early 2000s.

She has an amazing story of how she came to the United States and ended up as a chef and celebrity.

Waxing On by Ralph Macchio. This is a fun read if you grew up watching the Karate Kid like I did. My husband and I both enjoyed this one on audio. Ralph Macchio narrated it made it great.

Like A River by Granger Smith. Granger Smith is a country movie star, or maybe I should say was a country movie star.

After struggling through the pain of the death of his son, he gave it all up to go to seminary. This is one of the best modern Christian memoirs that I have read.

Not That Fancy by Reba McEntire. I have mixed thoughts on this one, but if you are a Reba fan, I think you will like it. The audiobook is well done because Reba narrates it.

Taste My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci. This book is about food, growing up in New York in an Italian family, acting, Hollywood, and life in general. 

I really enjoyed this audiobook because Stanley Tucci narrates it. However, I will say there are some PG-13 scenes and swearing, especially the “F” word, that I could have done without.

In Pursuit of the Common Good by Paul Newman. This book combines food, business, and Hollywood. It the story of Newman’s Own and how the company came to be. It gives you a fun look into Paul Newman’s life outside Hollywood.

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines. If you are a fan of Chip and Joanna Gaines this book is a must read. My daughters and I all read it and loved it.

This book helps show what went into the success of Chip and Joanna.

Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines. I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed it. Chip Gaines reads it and it is very well done. Chip narrating it gives a personal depth to his story that makes it great.

Being Henry by Henry Winkler. If you are a Fonz and Henry Winkler fan, I think you will enjoy his memoir.

Henry Winkler gives you a look into his career in Hollywood, but he is also candid about his struggles with dyslexia and issues from his childhood. 

I enjoyed this one, but I will say that there are a few things about Henry Winkler I could have done without knowing. There are some things about celebrities that we just don’t need to know.

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey. My husband and I both listened to this one, but I almost didn’t include it on the list.

Matthew McConaughey narrates it, which makes it so good. If he ever needs another career, which I am sure he won’t, he should become an audiobook narrator.

This book has so many good reviews. I have read and heard so many people say they loved it, and I can see why. It is a good celebrity memoir; however, I had some issues with it.

There are some great thoughts and lessons about life, but it is mixed in with a ton of language and crudeness that made it extremely challenging for me to get through. The book was honest and raw, but not always in a good way. Some details in life are best left untold. So, I recommend this one with caution.