A writer who creates a book about another person’s life, achievements, or experiences writes a “biography.” This genre provides a detailed account of an individual’s life. Biographies can cover comprehensive life histories or focused studies on specific events or periods of a person’s life.
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The Many Forms of Biographies
Biographies come in various forms, each with unique characteristics. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify what makes this genre so vast and intriguing.
Traditional Biography
A traditional biography presents an extensive narrative covering a person’s life events in chronological order. For instance, if a writer decides to chronicle the life of Amelia Earhart, they would explore her childhood, aviation career, and untimely disappearance. These books aim to inform readers about the individual’s accomplishments, struggles, and impact on society.
Autobiography vs. Biography
A biography tells someone’s story through another writer’s perspective, while an autobiography puts the subject’s voice front and center. For example, Barack Obama’s book “Dreams from My Father” offers his personal take on his upbringing and the events that shaped him. This autobiography gives readers a close look at how Obama interprets his own past. Meanwhile, a biography about him, such as “A Promised Land,” written by another author, would aim to curate his story through an external lens.
Memoir
Memoirs form a branch of autobiography that centers on selected themes or distinct periods, rather than covering an entire lifetime. For instance, “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls recounts her unconventional and often chaotic upbringing. Writers of memoirs typically explore emotional truths and personal reflections, providing readers with insight into their thought processes, motivations, and life lessons.
Biopic and Popular Culture
In today’s entertainment industry, biographies often take the form of films or television series. Biopics portray a dramatized version of someone’s life and can take liberties with the facts to enhance storytelling. “The Theory of Everything,” which tells the story of Stephen Hawking, blends fact with dramatization, bringing an individual’s experiences to life on screen. While the film remains grounded in reality, the cinematic portrayal allows for artistic interpretation, catering to a broader audience.
Examples of Notable Biographies
Several biographies have become landmark works in literature, providing rich detail about their subjects while inspiring readers through compelling storytelling.
“The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank
This poignant work captures the life of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl in hiding during World War II. While technically a diary, it has been published in various formats, blending autobiography with a biography-like quality as it chronicles her thoughts and experiences during a turbulent time. It serves both as a historical testimony and a personal reflection.
“Alexander Hamilton” by Ron Chernow
This biography provided the basis for the popular musical “Hamilton.” Chernow’s thorough research and engaging prose bring Alexander Hamilton’s work for the United States to life. The book illuminates Hamilton’s rise from obscurity to founding father status, flawlessly weaving historical analysis with personal anecdotes.
The Ethics of Writing About Others
Writing a biography involves ethical considerations that authors must navigate. Accuracy, representation, and the subject’s consent are crucial elements writers must tackle.
Research and Accuracy
Writers strive to paint an accurate picture, but research demands serious effort. Authors should consult primary sources, interviews, and historical documents. This commitment to accuracy maintains credibility. For example, David McCullough’s biography “Truman” draws from extensive archives, offering readers a richly detailed and factual look at the life of President Harry S. Truman.
Representation
Another dimension of writing biographies concerns representation. Authors should capture the subject’s voice authentically, presenting them with complexity and humanity. Some biographers miss the mark and end up delivering a biased or one-dimensional version of the subject. The backlash from relatives and the public can sometimes lead to controversies surrounding the author’s representation.
Consent and Privacy
The issue of consent is also significant. Many biographers ask subjects or their families for permission to give an accurate and respectful account. However, when it comes to public figures, this can become tricky. For example, a writer who plans a biography about a deceased celebrity must decide how much personal information to include and which details to protect. These choices raise ethical debates about privacy and disclosure.
How to Become a Biographer
If you find writing about others appealing, becoming a biographer can be rewarding. Here’s a roadmap for aspiring biographers.
Research Skills
Effective biographers are excellent researchers. They must be adept at confirming facts, finding primary sources, and navigating diverse archives. Think of it as an investigative journey; biographers dig deep to uncover not just the facts of someone’s life but also the nuances that surround those events.
Writing Skills
Aside from researching, strong writing skills are essential. Creating a narrative that flows well while maintaining factual integrity can be a challenging task. Biographers must also develop engaging and clear prose that draws readers in while reflecting the subject’s voice.
Networking and Interviews
Networking is vital in this field. Engaging with historians or experts about your subject can yield valuable insights. Conducting interviews with the biography subject or relatives also enriches the narrative, adding layers of authenticity.
The Impact of Biographies on Readers and Society
Biographies have a profound influence on readers, offering inspiration and lessons. They can motivate individuals by showcasing success against the odds or provide closure by presenting time-tested truths about human experiences.
Inspiration for Success
Many readers pick up biographies to find life inspiration. For instance, “Becoming” by Michelle Obama has resonated widely, offering candid insights into her life, struggles, and triumphs. Stories like these can help readers spot similarities with their own lives and find direction.
Challenges and Human Experience
Biographies often reveal a deep understanding of human adaptability. They illustrate that even the most successful individuals face adversity. For example, “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson depicts the entrepreneurial challenges and personal tumult Jobs faced in building Apple. Understanding that behind every success story lies a history of setbacks can be comforting and motivating for many.
Cultural Understanding
Biographies can provide cultural context and historical significance. Readers often gain a better understanding of specific events and lifestyles through someone else’s experiences. Books such as “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot highlight medical ethics and show how race influences healthcare. These stories help preserve experiences that might slip from memory.
Notable Biographers
Familiarizing yourself with renowned biographers can offer insight into the craft.
Walter Isaacson
Isaacson has written extensively on historical figures such as Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, and Benjamin Franklin. His ability to weave narratives that captivate while educating readers has made him a favorite among biography enthusiasts.
David McCullough
Another giant in the biographical genre, McCullough has penned works about significant figures in American history. His engaging writing style helps bring historical events to life, making them accessible and enjoyable.
Additional Information
When someone writes a book about another person, it’s called a biography; however, there are some intriguing and lesser-known aspects of this genre.
- Autobiography vs. Biography: An autobiography is written by the subject themselves, while a biography shares someone’s story as written by another author. However, there’s a fun twist: memoirs are like biographies but focus on specific events rather than a complete life story.
- The Authorized vs. Unauthorized Scope: An authorized biography has the subject’s permission and often access to personal documents, enhancing its authenticity. Unauthorized biographies can be more sensational but might lack accuracy due to limited sources.
- Living Subjects Require More Tact: Writing about people who are still alive often brings extra complications. Authors must handle potential legal problems, such as defamation lawsuits, with additional care when these subjects can read and respond to what gets published.
- Research Is Key: Biographers study their subjects closely, often spending years conducting interviews and sifting through archives to piece together an accurate portrayal. Some biographers even develop relationships with their subjects to gain deeper insights.
- The Impact of Ghostwriters: Some popular biographies are ghostwritten, with the author receiving credit while the actual writer remains anonymous. This practice has led to debates about authenticity and whether or not these works truly represent the subject’s voice.
- The Role of a Good Narrative: Even in non-fiction, storytelling matters. Successful biographies often employ narrative techniques commonly found in fiction to engage readers and bring dry historical facts to life.
- Ethics and Responsibility: Biographers must navigate ethical dilemmas, such as what to leave out and how to portray sensitive subjects honestly without causing harm. This moral balancing act is a hidden challenge in the field.
- Cultural Context: Different cultures have varying approaches to biography. Some traditions highlight group achievements more than personal milestones, which changes the style and focus of storytelling.
- The Rise of Digital Biographies: With the rise of online information, digital biographers can now utilize social media, blogs, and other content to provide richer, up-to-date accounts of their subjects’ lives.
- Influence of Subjectivity: Every biographer has their own perspective. This subjectivity can lead to contrasting portrayals of the same person, especially if the biographer has a personal bias or a specific agenda.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Related to What Is It Called When Someone Writes A Book About Someone Else
Q. What is it called when someone writes a book about another person?
A. When someone writes a book about another person, it’s called a biography.
Q. Is there a specific term for a biography that focuses on a famous person’s life?
A. Yes, biographies that focus on famous individuals are often referred to as “celebrity biographies.”
Q. What do you call a book that tells a person’s life story but uses fictional storytelling?
A. That type of book is usually called a “fictional biography” or “biographical fiction.”
Q. What is the term for a book that gives a detailed account of someone’s life from an objective perspective?
A. That would be a standard “biography,” which aims for factual accuracy.
Q. If a writer tells someone’s life story but does so with a personal touch, what is that called?
A. That style is often called an “autobiography,” if the person writes it themselves, or a “memoir” if it’s more focused on specific events.
Q. Are there books that tell the life stories of many people at once?
A. Yes, those are often called “collective biographies” or “anthologies.”
Q. What do you call it when a writer uses a person’s life to inspire an entirely fictional story?
A. That would be considered “inspired by” or “biographically inspired fiction.”
Q. Can you write a book about someone without their permission?
A. Generally, yes, you can write a biography without permission. However, it’s a good idea to be mindful of legal implications and potential defamation.
Q. What’s the difference between a biography and an autobiography?
A. A biography is written by someone else about a person’s life. Meanwhile, an autobiography shares a person’s life story in their own words.
Q. Is it important to conduct research when writing a biography?
A. Yes, conducting thorough research is crucial in writing a biography to ensure the information is accurate and credible.
Conclusion
When someone writes a book about another person, it’s known as a biography. This genre explores the subject’s life, experiences, and achievements, letting readers see the world from a new perspective. Whether it’s a famous figure or a lesser-known individual, biographies play a significant role in sharing stories that inspire and educate. So, if you’re ever curious about how someone else’s life unfolded, pick up a biography and dive in!
