★best-of-all-time.comAll 50 lists

The top 50

Memoirs by musicians

50 standout choices selected for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

What earns a placeVoice, candor, music history and storytelling. Every pick combines lasting value with current availability.
#1

Just Kids

Just Kids by Patti Smith is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#2

Chronicles: Volume One

Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#3

Life

Life by Keith Richards is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#4

Born to Run

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#5

The Storyteller

The Storyteller by Dave Grohl is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#6

Slash

Slash by Slash is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#7

Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain

Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain by Charles R. Cross is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#8

The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band

The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#9

Clapton: The Autobiography

Clapton: The Autobiography by Eric Clapton is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#10

The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star

The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star by Nikki Sixx is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#11

It's So Easy: And Other Lies

It's So Easy: And Other Lies by Duff McKagan is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#12

Who I Am

Who I Am by Pete Townshend is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#13

No One Here Gets Out Alive

No One Here Gets Out Alive by Jerry Hopkins is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#14

Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician

Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician by Christoph Wolff is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#15

John

John by Cynthia Lennon is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#16

Autobiography

Autobiography by Morrissey is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#17

Scar Tissue

Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#18

Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me

Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me by Pattie Boyd is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#19

Cash

Cash by Johnny Cash is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#20

Girl in a Band

Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#21

Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix

Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix by Charles R. Cross is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#22

Loretta Lynn - Coal Miner's Daughter

Loretta Lynn - Coal Miner's Daughter by Loretta Lynn is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#23

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#24

Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl

Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#25

Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys

Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys by Viv Albertine is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#26

My Cross to Bear

My Cross to Bear by Gregg Allman is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#27

Rocks: My Life in and out of Aerosmith

Rocks: My Life in and out of Aerosmith by Joe Perry is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#28

The Long Hard Road Out of Hell: A shocking, candid memoir tracing Marilyn Manson's rise from frightened Christian schoolboy to feared rock superstar

The Long Hard Road Out of Hell: A shocking, candid memoir tracing Marilyn Manson's rise from frightened Christian schoolboy to feared rock superstar by Marilyn Manson is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#29

Jimi Hendrix: Black Legacy

Jimi Hendrix: Black Legacy by Corey A. Washington is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#30

Dolly Parton Songteller: My Life in Lyrics

Dolly Parton Songteller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#31

Not Dead Yet: The Memoir

Not Dead Yet: The Memoir by Phil Collins is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#32

Book of Longing

Book of Longing by Leonard Cohen is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#33

Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream

Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream by Neil Young is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#34

Blues All Around Me: The Autobiography of B.B. King

Blues All Around Me: The Autobiography of B.B. King by B.B. King is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#35

This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of the Band

This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of the Band by Levon Helm is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#36

I Am Ozzy

I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#37

Me

Me by Elton John is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#38

Leonard Cohen: A Remarkable Life

Leonard Cohen: A Remarkable Life by Anthony Reynolds is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#39

Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd

Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd by Mark Blake is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#40

And A Voice to Sing With: A Memoir

And A Voice to Sing With: A Memoir by Joan Baez is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#41

Kicking & Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll

Kicking & Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll by Ann Wilson is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#42

Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley

Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#43

Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir

Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir by Dave Mustaine is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#44

Somebody to Love?: A Rock-and-Roll Memoir

Somebody to Love?: A Rock-and-Roll Memoir by Grace Slick is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#45

A Natural Woman: A Memoir

A Natural Woman: A Memoir by Carole King is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#46

Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke

Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke by Peter Guralnick is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#47

It's a Long Story: My Life

It's a Long Story: My Life by Willie Nelson is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#48

Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991

Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991 by Michael Azerrad is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#49

Hellfire

Hellfire by Nick Tosches is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →
#50

A Pirate Looks at Fifty

A Pirate Looks at Fifty by Jimmy Buffett is a durable memoir choice, recognized for voice, candor, music history and storytelling.

Why It Ranks →