example biography of a living person

How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps (The Non-Boring Way!)

Compelling biographies help us better connect with others while fostering empathy and understanding. Discover the steps to write one that captivates your audience!

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Have you ever been captivated by someone’s life story? From the ancient tales of great conquerors to the modern accounts of influential figures, biographies have enchanted readers and viewers for centuries. 

The stories of real people’s lives not only entertain and educate but also provide a unique window into the human experience. In fact, according to research 1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8796048/ , human stories like biographies can help us better connect with others while fostering empathy and understanding.

In this article, let’s dive into how to write a compelling biography, from the research phase to delivery.

What Are the Key Elements of a Biography?

The key elements of a well-written biography bring characters to life. They include thorough research, relevant interviews, clear structure, captivating prose, compelling themes, and a balance between objectivity and empathy. 

• Thorough research: Helps create an accurate portrayal of your subject
• Relevant interviews: Insights help provide a deeper understanding of your subject
• Clear structure: Helps you outline your ideas for a compelling narrative
• Captivating prose: Provides descriptive language to paint a picture of your subject
• Compelling themes: Showcases the motivations and desires behind your subject
• A balance between objectivity and empathy: Keeps biases in check and allows your subject to shine for who they are

As you develop your biography, remember that these stories hold an enduring appeal because they offer people an opportunity to explore the depths of the human psyche, unravel extraordinary accomplishments, and discover the vulnerabilities and triumphs of individuals who have left their mark on the world. 

Here are the topics a biography typically covers:

• Early life and background : Provide context about the subject’s upbringing, family, and cultural influences.
• Achievements and milestones: Highlight notable accomplishments, contributions, and significant events throughout their life.
• Challenges and struggles: Explore the obstacles they faced, the lessons learned, and how they overcame adversity.
• Personal characteristics: Describe their personality traits, values, beliefs, and motivations that shaped their actions and decisions.
• Impact and legacy: Discuss the lasting influence and contributions of the subject, both during their lifetime and beyond.

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Let’s look at the six key elements of a well-written biography more closely and the steps you can follow to develop your own.

How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps Using Key Elements

Choose your presentation format.

Presenting your biography can take on various forms, the most traditional being written form. The basis for this article assumes you’re writing a conventional biography; however, this foundation can also help you create a multimedia presentation or website as well. 

Consider these various formats to present your biography:

• Traditional Written Biographies: This classic approach provides a comprehensive account of a person’s life through the written word. Traditional biographies can be published in print or ebooks , allowing readers to engage deeply with the subject’s story.
• Multimedia Presentations: In the digital age, multimedia presentations offer a dynamic way to present biographies. Incorporate audio, video, photographs, and interactive elements to enhance the audience’s experience.
• Online Platforms: Online platforms, such as blogs or dedicated biography websites, provide accessible avenues for sharing biographies. They allow for easy updates, reader engagement, and the incorporation of multimedia elements. 

Choose your subject and conduct research

To create a vivid and accurate portrayal of a person’s life, conduct extensive research. Dive into archives, read letters, examine diaries, explore photographs, and immerse yourself in the historical and cultural context surrounding your subject. This will help you unearth the small details that breathe life into your biography. 

Whether you’re writing a biography about a historical figure, contemporary icon, or everyday individual, you’ll want to consider the different factors to focus on. Here are some examples of three types of individuals and the kind of research that will be most helpful.

• Historical Figures: When writing about historical figures, immerse yourself in their era. Understand the social, political, and cultural forces that shaped their lives. I recommend visiting your local library and connecting with a research librarian for support. Otherwise, other tools for historical research include Google Scholar. Analyze primary sources and multiple perspectives to present a well-rounded account.
• Contemporary Icons: Biographies of modern icons offer a chance to delve into their ongoing impact. Conduct interviews or gather insights from their close associates to understand their present-day influence. Stay current with the latest developments, and be prepared to update your work as the subject’s story unfolds.
• Everyday Individuals: Biographies need not be reserved for the famous. Every day individuals possess stories that can be just as compelling. Uncover the extraordinary within the ordinary, highlighting the struggles, triumphs, and personal growth of individuals who might otherwise remain unsung.
• Yourself! Want to write a biography on yourself? Autobiographies are a great way to explore who you are. Get ready to do some serious self-reflection with the steps below.

Pro Tip: Compile your research digitally using helpful cloud filings systems like Google Drive , OneDrive , or Dropbox . Organize your files by category, including information about their youth, family, achievements, and life lessons. You may also choose to write down research references or collect paper clippings on note cards, categorizing your physical files of research along the way.

Develop compelling themes and motifs 

Identify overarching themes or motifs that emerge from the subject’s life. These could be resilience, ambition, love, or societal change. Weave these elements into the narrative, highlighting their significance and impact on the person’s journey. Here are some examples:

• Overcoming Adversity: These biographies feature perseverance, resilience, and determination. Examples include Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, and Malala Yousafzai.
• Pursuit of Excellence: These biographies highlight people who have worked tirelessly to achieve their goals. Examples include Steve Jobs, Serena Williams, and Michael Jordan.
• Quest for Knowledge: These biographies focus on the curiosity that led to significant contributions to our world. Examples include Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Charles Darwin.
• Personal Transformation: These biographies explore a change in beliefs, values, or priorities. Examples include Malcolm X, Oprah Winfrey, and Maya Angelou.
• Legacy and Impact: These biographies examine a body of work that made a lasting contribution to society. Examples include Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, and Mahatma Gandhi.

Conduct relevant interviews 

Whenever possible, seek firsthand accounts from those who knew or interacted with the subject. Conduct interviews with family members, friends, colleagues, or experts in the field. Their insights and anecdotes can provide a deeper understanding of the person’s character and experiences.

When conducting interviews for a biography, consider the following tips to ensure a productive and insightful conversation:

• Familiarize yourself with the interviewee’s background and accomplishments.
• Develop a list of well-thought-out questions that cover key aspects of their lives and experiences, including questions about your subject’s youth, family, achievements, and life transitions or struggles.
• Begin the interview by establishing a comfortable and friendly atmosphere to put the interviewee at ease.
• Show genuine interest in their story and listen actively to their responses.
• Ask open-ended questions encouraging detailed and reflective responses.
• Avoid yes/no questions and ask for their insights, memories, and personal perspectives.
• Some topics you might consider for your questions include early life, achievements, challenges, motivations, values, relationships, lessons learned, and advice.
• Pay close attention to the interviewee’s answers, body language, and tone of voice.
• Ask follow-up questions to clarify or delve deeper into specific topics.
• Show empathy and understanding, creating a safe space for the interviewee to share personal or sensitive information.
• Remain flexible during the interview, allowing the conversation to flow naturally.
• Be prepared to deviate from your prepared questions if unexpected but relevant topics arise.
• Respect the interviewee’s boundaries and be mindful of any topics they may not wish to discuss.
• Take thorough and organized notes during the interview to capture important details.
• Consider recording the interview (with permission) to ensure accurate quotes and references.
• Ask for permission to follow up with additional questions or for clarification.
• Doing a biography on yourself? Ask yourself deep questions to harvest new stories and anecdotes.

Remember, the goal of the interview is to gather valuable information and personal perspectives that will contribute to the authenticity and depth of your biography. Approach the interview process with sensitivity, respect, and genuine curiosity about the interviewee’s life and experiences.

Develop a clear structure

Outline your biography, ensuring a logical and engaging narrative flow. Consider the chronological order, significant milestones, and turning points in the subject’s life. Organize your gathered information to capture the essence of their journey while maintaining a compelling rhythm throughout. 

A good outline for a biography can vary depending on the specific subject and the desired structure of the narrative. However, here’s a general outline that can serve as a starting point:

A. Introduction

a) Hook or engaging opening to capture the reader’s attention

b) Background information (birthplace, date, family, etc.)

c) A brief overview of the subject’s significance or why they are worth exploring

B. Early Life and Background

a) Childhood and upbringing

b) Influences, such as family, education, or cultural factors

c) Formative experiences or events that shaped the subject’s character or interests

C. Major Achievements and Milestones

a) A chronological exploration of the subject’s notable accomplishments, contributions, or milestones

b) Focus on key moments or achievements that highlight their impact or significance.

c) Provide context and details to paint a vivid picture of their achievements

D. Challenges and Obstacles

a) Discussion of the challenges, setbacks, or adversities the subject encountered

b) How they overcame obstacles or grew through difficult experiences

c) Insights into their resilience, determination, or problem-solving abilities

E. Personal Life and Relationships

a) Exploration of the subject’s relationships, such as family, friends, or romantic partners

b) Insights into their personal joys, struggles, or transformative experiences

c) How their personal life intersected with their professional or public achievements

F. Legacy and Impact

a) Examination of the subject’s lasting influence, contributions, or impact on society

b) Discuss how their work or actions continue to resonate or shape the world today

c) Reflection on their legacy and the lessons we can learn from their life story

G. Conclusion

a) Summarize the key aspects of the subject’s life and their significance

b) Provide a final reflection or insight on their overall journey or impact

c) Leave the reader with a lasting impression or call to action

Pro Tip: Looking for help drafting an outline to get you started? Use free tools like ChatGPT to jumpstart your outline by putting in a prompt request like, “Write an outline for a biography about X, including any relevant details on the subject that should be included.”

Craft captivating prose

Employ descriptive language to transport readers into the subject’s world. Paint vivid portraits of their physical appearance, mannerisms, and surroundings. Use sensory details to evoke emotions and create a strong connection between the reader and the subject. 

Here are some examples:

• “She was a force of nature, with a fierce determination and an unwavering commitment to justice.” (Ruth Bader Ginsburg)
• “His piercing blue eyes seemed to look right through you, and his voice had a commanding presence that demanded attention.” (Winston Churchill)
• “She moved with a grace and elegance that belied her inner strength and resilience.” (Audrey Hepburn)
• “His rugged features and piercing gaze made him a natural leading man, but it was his depth and vulnerability that set him apart.” (Marlon Brando)
• “She had a contagious energy and a magnetic personality that drew people to her like a moth to a flame.” (Princess Diana)
• “His quiet intensity and unwavering dedication to his craft made him one of the greatest artists of his time.” (Leonardo da Vinci)

Action Step: While writing descriptive prose takes some practice, it’s an art you can master with little creative writing skills. To help you write descriptive prose, practice closing your eyes and imagining your subject. 

• What expression is on their face? 
• How are they dressed? 
• What does their body language express? 
• How do they smell? 
• How do they make you feel? 
• How do they make others feel? 
• What’s in their surroundings? 
• What are they doing with their hands? 
• What do you imagine they’re thinking about? 

With questions like these, you’ll start to use descriptive language to bring your subject to life.

Build a balance of objectivity and empathy

Strive for an objective portrayal while infusing empathy and understanding into your writing. Remain aware of biases and preconceived notions, giving your subject the space to shine in their unique light. 

To check yourself, filter your writing and interviewing with these tips:

• Verify Information: Cross-reference information from various sources to ensure accuracy. Use tools like Fact Check Explorer to fact-check claims, dates, and events to avoid errors or inaccuracies that could skew the narrative. 
• Multiple Perspectives: Seek out different viewpoints on the subject. This includes interviewing or reaching out to people with significant interactions or relationships with the subject. Incorporating diverse perspectives can counterbalance biases and provide a broader understanding.
• Empathetic Listening: During interviews or conversations, practice active listening and empathize with the interviewee’s experiences and emotions. This allows you to understand the subject’s perspective and incorporate their insights and feelings into the narrative.
• Contextualize Emotions: When sharing the subject’s emotional experiences or personal struggles, provide sufficient context and background. This helps readers understand the motivations and circumstances behind their actions and allows for empathetic understanding without veering into excessive sentimentality.
• Credible Interpretation: While interpreting the subject’s thoughts, motives, or intentions, be clear about what is factual and what is speculative. Clearly distinguish between evidence-based information and your interpretations to maintain objectivity.
• Respect Boundaries: Be mindful of the subject’s privacy and any requests they may have regarding sensitive or personal information. Respecting their boundaries shows empathy and allows for a respectful portrayal while maintaining the necessary level of objectivity.
• Acknowledge Limitations: Recognize that achieving complete objectivity in a biography is challenging. Biases can inadvertently seep into the narrative. However, by being aware of your biases and consciously presenting a fair and balanced account, you can mitigate their influence.

Respect truth, privacy, and sensitivity

Remember, writing biographies carries ethical responsibilities. It’s important to maintain accuracy through credible research and gain consent while being sensitive to controversial or difficult topics. Here are some considerations:

• Accuracy: Maintain a commitment to truth and accuracy. Verify facts and corroborate information from multiple sources to ensure the reliability of your narrative. Cite your sources and be transparent about any uncertainties or gaps in knowledge.
• Privacy and Consent: Respect the privacy of living individuals mentioned in your biography. Seek consent when sharing personal details or sensitive information. Balance the subject’s right to privacy with the importance of honesty and transparency.
• Sensitivity: Approach sensitive or controversial topics with care and empathy. Consider the potential impact of your words on the subject’s loved ones or affected communities—present differing perspectives without sensationalism or bias.

Writing a Biography FAQs

The length of a biography can vary greatly, depending on the subject and the depth of exploration. Some biographies span a few hundred pages, while others extend to multiple volumes. Focus on capturing the subject’s life’s essence rather than strictly adhering to a predetermined length.

Some common mistakes to avoid when writing a biography include the following: Lack of thorough research or reliance on a single source. Inaccurate or misleading information. Excessive personal bias or projection onto the subject. Neglecting to verify facts or failing to cite sources. Poor organization or a disjointed narrative flow. Neglecting to balance objectivity with empathy. Overloading the biography with irrelevant details or digressions. Failing to respect privacy or ethical considerations.

While chronological order is commonly used in biographies, it is not required. Some biographers employ a thematic approach or explore specific periods or events in the subject’s life. Experiment with different structures to find the most engaging way to tell your subject’s story.

The purpose of writing a biography is to capture and share an individual’s life story. Biographies provide insights into a person’s experiences, achievements, and challenges, offering readers inspiration, knowledge, and understanding. They preserve the legacy of individuals, contribute to historical records, and celebrate the diversity of human lives.

When choosing a subject for your biography, consider someone who inspires you, interests you, or has significantly impacted society. It could be a historical figure, a contemporary icon, or even an everyday individual with a remarkable story. Choose a subject with sufficient available information, access to primary sources or interviews, and a narrative that resonates with you and potential readers.

Key elements to include in a biography are: Early life and background: Provide context about the subject’s upbringing, family, and cultural influences. Achievements and milestones: Highlight notable accomplishments, contributions, and significant events throughout their life. Challenges and struggles: Explore the obstacles they faced, the lessons learned, and how they overcame adversity. Personal characteristics: Describe their personality traits, values, beliefs, and motivations that shaped their actions and decisions. Impact and legacy: Discuss the lasting influence and contributions of the subject, both during their lifetime and beyond.

Including personal anecdotes can add depth and humanize the subject of your biography. However, be selective and ensure that the stories are relevant, contribute to understanding the person’s character or experiences, and align with the overall narrative. Balancing personal anecdotes with factual information is critical to maintaining accuracy and credibility.

Conducting research for a biography involves exploring a variety of sources. Start with primary sources such as personal papers, letters, journals, and interviews with the subject or people who knew them. Secondary sources such as books, articles, and academic papers provide additional context and perspectives. Online databases, archives, libraries, and museums are valuable resources for finding relevant information.

Consult a wide range of sources to ensure a comprehensive and accurate biography. Primary sources, such as personal documents, letters, diaries, and interviews, offer firsthand accounts and unique insights. Secondary sources provide broader context and analysis, including books, articles, scholarly works, and historical records. Remember to evaluate the credibility and reliability of your sources critically.

Organize the information in your biography logically and engagingly. Consider using a chronological structure, starting with the subject’s early life and progressing through significant events and milestones. Alternatively, adopt a thematic approach, grouping related information based on themes or significant aspects of their life. Use clear headings, subheadings, and transitions to guide readers through the narrative flow.

Writing Biographies Key Takeaways

In summary, take note of these ideas and tips before you start writing your biography:

• Biographies hold enduring appeal, offering a glimpse into the human experience across time.
• Thorough research, interviews, and captivating prose are essential for crafting compelling biographies.
• Ethical considerations, such as accuracy, privacy, and sensitivity, are crucial when writing about real people’s lives.
• Choose subjects that genuinely inspire and resonate with you.
• Immerse yourself in the subject’s world to understand their motivations and challenges.
• Develop strong research skills and utilize a wide range of sources.
• Craft a compelling narrative that engages readers from the very first page.
• Seek feedback from trusted sources to refine your writing and storytelling abilities.
• Continuously explore new biographies to broaden your understanding of different styles and approaches.
• Embrace the unique voice and perspective you bring to the storytelling process.

Writing a biography book? Check out this helpful article, How to Write a Book: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Start Writing !

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• Biography Templates

47 Biography Templates & Examples (Personal, Professional)

A biography is simply an account of someone’s life written by another person. A biography can be short in the case of few sentences biography, and it can also be long enough to fill an entire book. The short biographies explain a person’s basic life facts and their importance, but the long biographies would go an extra mile and include more details to make an interesting read. You may find yourself in a situation which requires you to write a biography of a famous person, a close friend or a relative. For this reason, it pays to know how to come up with a biography and the important details that you should include in it. The lives of many people have interesting bits of information, but you ought to know what to capture in the biography and what to leave out.

Table of Contents

• 1 Biography Examples
• 2 What to include in a biography
• 3 How to write a good Biography
• 4 Steps in writing a biography;
• 5 Biography templates
• 6 A professional Biography Template
• 7 Personal Biography Template

Biography Examples

What to include in a biography

The length of a biography depends on the type of information that should be included. The length will determine the nature of information and how extensively it will explain the life of a person. For instance, if you are to write a short paragraph about a person it will mostly capture the important details that identify the person compared to a pages-long biography that may even include the person’s childhood experiences and achievements shaping their life.

For a short biography, maybe a paragraph or two long, the following details should be captured:

• A person’s date and place of birth, at times with the date and place of death as may be applicable
• The person’s major achievements in life
• Their educational background and notable awards
• Work facts of a person and their contribution to that field if any
• A brief account of the significance of an individual in the community

A lengthy biography will bring out more details of a person’s life making it a bit more complex. His/her history will be brought out more clearly especially the details that shaped them to be the persons they turned out to be.

The target audience will also dictate the nature of the information that is to be included. The relation of the audience to an individual will have an impact on how the information is presented and the important details that they could be interested in. In a case where the audience is unknown, more details will have to be included. This mostly happens in the case of a several paged biography. You will have to scrutinize the person in a more detailed way and establish more people relating to the person. Focusing on the uniqueness of an individual can do wonders in this case and this might turn out to be inspirational to many people. The field that the person has majored in or had majored in ought to influence the direction that the biography will take as this will help to bring out the contribution of the individual to their field of study.

How to write a good Biography

A biography is meant to analyze a person’s life and interpret it as well. A good biographer will try to join the dots and explain certain actions and events that a certain figure was involved in. This will help in clearly bringing out the significance of a person’s life through their accomplishments or remarkable deeds.

Biographies are usually written in a chronological order. Some biographers could also draft them in a themed order that is early life, educational background, a person’s achievements or accomplishments. But some especially the short ones will focus on one area in a person’s life.

There are several sources of information that could aid one in writing an astounding biography. These sources of information can be grouped into either primary sources or secondary sources. The primary sources of information include materials like letters, newspaper accounts or diaries. A biographer can also make an arrangement to interview an individual they want to write about. This is also considered as a primary source of information. The secondary sources are reference books, other biographies or historical records that are related to the subject being written about.

Steps in writing a biography;

• Select the individual you want to write about
• Search for the basic facts that relate to a person’s life. The encyclopedia or almanac could be handy at this.
• What’s the most interesting bit about the person?
• What is the significance of the individual to the society and the world in general?
• What qualities or adjectives will be best suited for the description of the individual?
• What actions or life events bring out the qualities or adjectives chosen above?
• What life events or world events shaped the individual or brought out the best in them?
• Did they face obstacles or take some risks in life? How did they handle the obstacles and did they happen to be lucky?
• What impact did they have in the world? Did they add value to the way people view certain aspects of life? Did they come up with a thing, idea or way of action that transformed the way things are handled or rather done in their societies or world in general?
• Carry out some additional research on the internet to answer some of the questions mentioned above. Ensure that you find information that will help you tell a story that many will love.
• After getting everything in order, you can proceed to write the biography. We have provided sample biographies in this site that you could check out in order to get the drift.

Biography templates

A biography template is meant to specifically aid a writer come up with an excellent biography. For this purpose to be achieved the writer needs to get his/her hands on a high-quality biography template, just like the ones provided on this site.

The best biography templates should provide clear instructions, and this should be in great detail to avoid the risk of the writer missing out some important facts. The templates available on this site will help you capture all of the details.

The biography templates should also be precise and avoid beating around the bush. Going round one idea or item will make the biography boring to read and it is prudent for the writer to be straight to the point. By doing this it will be easier for the readers to skim through and find the details they might be interested in with lots of easy. The writer will also save his/her time and concentrate on writing other things.

The general sections of any biography as outlined by our sample biographies will have;

• The name of the person
• A picture of the person
• An account of their early life
• The person’s family life
• The major achievements of the person
• The three main interesting qualities or facts about the individual

A professional Biography Template

A professional biography is a statement that could either be short or long that is written about a person, business or company. It should be engaging, informative and interesting for the readers to identify with the person or business entity being talked about. It has a sales pitch that is a little bit different. A professional biography template is meant to ease the process of generating printed professional biographies especially for an individual who wants to reach a lot of people or institutions.

Elements that should be captured in a professional biography are:

• A summary of one’s early life in a sentence or two, make it interesting
• Then information touching on your education, mention any academic awards or the clubs and societies that you were part of. Any work experience while in school.
• Talk about how creative and innovative you are with coming with solutions to the problems that you have faced as an individual, mention any situation that you were self-reliant in coming up with solutions
• Mention qualities that make you stand out for instance, being independent, principled or discerning to increase your trustworthiness.

The following tips will enable you to come up with the best professional biography;

• Be brief and precise to the point. This is to enable the reader to easily and quickly get to know about you.
• Be spontaneous in your writing
• Be as expressive as possible and avoid too much of self-editing while drafting the professional biography in the initial stages to capture as much information as possible
• Be friendly but not too informal
• Be as interesting as you could in order to get the attention of many people out there
• Write it in third person. Talk about your life as if someone else were describing it.

This site offers you a professional biography template that could aid in making the generation of professional biographies an easy and less time consuming task. You can also check out sample bios to figure out how to go about the whole process of coming up with a professional biography.

Personal Biography Template

A personal biography is a short account of who you are, your credentials and your notable accomplishments in life. Personal bios ought to be short, precise and relevant to your target audience. The use of personal statistics such as hobbies or family should be avoided. A personal biography template will help one to easily and conveniently come up with personal bios.

The key elements in a personal biography are;

• Give an introduction of yourself. Remember to write it in third person and include the year that your professional career started to be relevant. You could give a list of any relevant specializations in your field.
• State your educational facts and credentials. Mention the degrees that you have pursued and the respective institutions. Add any relevant experiences you have that are required for your career and mention the name of the society that you are legally a member of.
• Proceed to outline any notable achievements or awards you have earned in your practice. Remember that the information ought to be relevant to the audience being addressed. If you happen to be an author you could mention the magazines or any publishing house that has recognized your works.
• Your conclusion should mention any upcoming projects or works in progress that people should lookout for in the near future. Don’t forget to mention your current place of residence .

As you age, it is good to keep on updating your biography to reflect who you are at present time. You can make use of the personal biography template offered by this site to easily and in a more convenient way generate your own biography without missing out on the important details.

We also provide sample biographies to give you a feel of what your end draft should look like. If you have kids and you want to let them in on famous historical figures, this site offers biographies for kids. These will help them know the notable people who help shape the world to what it has become to be.

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Autobiography Examples

8 Free Biography Templates for Professionals

A biography is a detailed account of a person's life, highlighting their experiences, achievements, and overall impact on the world. It provides readers with insights into the individual's personal and professional journey. Utilizing biography templates offers the benefit of helping users structure this information in a coherent and professional manner, ensuring that all essential details are covered.

Written by:

Dr. Moina Rauf

Dr. Moina Rauf, fluent in English and Dutch, is a distinguished writer and editor with a PhD in Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Economics. With extensive experience in both academia and industry, she excels in elucidating complex concepts about business management, human resources policies, legal documentation, employee leaves, appointments, contracts, and workplace culture. Her proficiency in analyzing and simplifying intricate documents ensures comprehensive understanding for her audience. Published in academic journals, Dr. Rauf’s authority in her field is well-established.

Whether on LinkedIn, a company website or during networking events, your professional bio can be a conversation starter. It provides a concise summary of your career, making it easier for others to understand your background and engage with you meaningfully​.

A well-crafted professional biography helps establish and reinforce your personal brand. It communicates your professional identity, values, and expertise and makes you memorable to colleagues, potential employers, and clients. You can use it to distinguish yourself in a competitive job market.

In this blog, you’ll find multiple templates tailored to various professions so that you have the perfect starting point to craft a bio that truly represents you. At the conclusion of this post, you will find some helpful advice about adding some personal anecdotes to your bio.

• Where Can You Use a Professional Bio?
• LinkedIn Profiles: A detailed bio on LinkedIn can enhance your professional presence and attract networking opportunities.
• Company Websites: Many organizations feature employee bios on their websites to showcase their team’s expertise.
• Conference Speaking Engagements: If you are presenting at a conference, your bio can provide attendees with a snapshot of your qualifications and accomplishments.
• Author Pages: For writers , a bio on your author page helps readers connect with you personally.
• Portfolio Sites: Artists, designers, and other creatives use bios to tell the story behind their work and attract potential clients.
• Resumes and Cover Letters: A short bio can complement your resume and cover letter and provide a quick overview of who you are.

Write in the active voice to make your bio more engaging and dynamic. Active sentences are typically clearer and more direct. For example, “I led the project” is stronger than “The project was led by me.”

• Free Biography Templates

The suite of biography templates provided below serves a broad spectrum of professionals, from business leaders and board members to educators and artists. It ensures a versatile resource for constructing detailed, personalized biographies. Each template is thoughtfully designed with placeholders that will guide you through the process of detailing your professional achievements, philosophical approaches, and personal journeys. These placeholders prompt you to insert specific details such as career milestones, personal values, educational backgrounds, and notable accolades. They are designed with high graphic quality, ensuring that each biography is not only informative but also visually appealing.

The layout of each template is crafted to provide a logical flow of information, making it easy for readers to follow and understand the narrative being presented. The professional design elements are used to enhance the visual impact of the biographies, which is particularly beneficial for printed materials or digital presentations.

The templates are available in multiple formats, including AI (Adobe Illustrator), Google Docs, DOTX (Word Template), and PowerPoint. This range of formats ensures flexibility and accessibility for different preferences for software or platforms.

Avoid overused terms like “hardworking” or “results-driven.” Instead, use specific examples and achievements to illustrate your skills and strengths.

Business Leader Biography Template

Overview: This template is thoughtfully designed for senior executives and business leaders, such as CEOs, CFOs, and managing directors. It’s crafted to convey a comprehensive portrait of a leader’s career trajectory, leadership style, and their pivotal role in driving corporate strategy and innovation.

Usage: It is best used for company websites, investor relations materials, or professional networking platforms where detailing a leader’s vision and achievements is crucial.

Key aspects

• It includes a detailed exposition of the individual’s leadership philosophy and how it aligns with corporate goals.
• It provides a chronological summary of key business achievements and their impact on the industry.
• The template incorporates personal accolades and recognitions to underscore industry stature.

Board Member Biography Template

Overview: This template is tailored for individuals serving on corporate or non-profit boards, and highlights their governance roles, strategic contributions, and advocacy in board decisions.

Usage: It is ideal for annual reports, organization websites, and professional profiles where it’s essential to outline governance expertise and board contributions.

Key Aspects

• The template includes a clear delineation of roles and responsibilities within various board committees.
• The emphasis is placed on strategic goals and how the board member has influenced organizational direction.
• It includes a reflection on personal governance philosophy and its application to board activities.

Teacher Biography Template

Overview: This template is specifically for educators, including school teachers, university professors, and academic administrators. It focuses on pedagogical methodologies, educational achievements, and philosophical teaching approaches.

Usage: It is useful in academic portfolios, institutional websites, and educational conference materials where showcasing educational credentials and teaching philosophy is essential.

• The template highlights innovative teaching strategies and their effectiveness in student engagement and learning.
• It provides a comprehensive look at the educator’s career progression and specializations.
• It emphasizes contributions to educational reforms and curriculum development.

Personal Biography Template

Overview: This versatile template serves to narrate the comprehensive life story of an individual, merging personal milestones with professional achievements. It’s suited for those whose careers intertwine closely with their personal life philosophies, such as artists, freelancers, or public speakers.

Usage: This template is perfect for personal blogs, memoirs, or motivational speaking portfolios where personal touch and storytelling are key.

• The template effectively conveys the early experiences and how they influenced both the professional and personal trajectories.
• A discussion of core values and how they manifest in professional undertakings and community involvement is mentioned.
• The template illustrates life’s pivotal moments and their transformative impact on the individual.

Professional Biography Template

Overview: Designed for professionals across all sectors, this template offers a structured format to detail one’s expertise, key accomplishments, and industry impact comprehensively. Usage: It is suitable for LinkedIn profiles, professional websites, or industry conference materials where a detailed professional background is crucial.

• The template includes spaces for an exhaustive listing of skills, certifications, and professional milestones.
• Expertise and leadership can be shown by using the template’s space to analyze important projects and their results.
• The template fields include areas to outline professional memberships and affiliations, as well as industry involvement.

Military Service Biography Templates (Army, Air Force)

Overview: These templates highlight the leadership experiences, career highlights, and honors unique to each branch of the military because they are specifically designed for each one.

Usage: This template is ideal for military transition resumes, service recognition ceremonies, or veteran association publications.

• It includes a detailed recount of military deployments, roles, and commendations.
• It focuses on leadership roles and their impact on team performance and mission success.
• It includes space to include an overview of military training, education, and personal dedication to service principles.

Artist Biography Template

Overview: Created for artists and professionals in the creative industry, this template emphasizes the artistic journey, key influences, and notable achievements within their medium.

Usage: This template is best used for gallery introductions, artist statements for exhibitions, or portfolio websites where articulating artistic vision and career highlights is fundamental.

• It includes a detailed exploration of artistic themes, techniques, and the evolution of style.
• It provides spaces to include a listing of significant exhibitions and reviews, spotlighting the artist’s public reception.
• It offers a discussion on artistic philosophy and inspirations, which offers insights into the creative process.

When writing your professional bio, strategically incorporate power words to make your accomplishments and skills stand out. Power words are impactful and persuasive terms that convey strength, dynamism, and confidence.

• Tips on Sharing Personal Anecdotes and Interests in a Professional Bio

Integrating personal anecdotes and interests into your professional bio can make it more engaging and relatable. By carefully selecting and crafting personal anecdotes and interests, you can create a professional bio that is not only informative but also engaging and reflective of your unique personality and values. This approach helps to build a more relatable and memorable professional image. However, it’s essential to ensure that these personal elements enhance your professional image rather than detract from it. Here are some tips on how to do this effectively:

Keep it relevant

Select anecdotes and interests that complement your professional story. The personal details you share should add depth to your professional persona and illustrate qualities or skills relevant to your career.

“A passion for solving complex puzzles since childhood led me to pursue a career in software development, where I enjoy tackling challenging coding problems.”

Highlight transferable skills

Use personal interests to demonstrate skills that are applicable to your professional life. For example, if you enjoy running marathons, this can highlight your determination and commitment.

“An avid marathon runner, I bring the same level of dedication and perseverance to managing large-scale projects and meeting tight deadlines.”

Showcase your values

Share anecdotes that reflect your core values and principles. This can help readers understand what motivates you and how you approach your work.

“Volunteering at local shelters has taught me the importance of community and empathy, values I incorporate into my role as a customer service manager to build strong client relationships.”

• Be brief and purposeful

Keep personal anecdotes concise and directly related to your professional narrative. Avoid lengthy stories that can divert attention from your key professional highlights.

“During my travels, I’ve developed a keen eye for design, which I now apply to create visually compelling marketing materials.”

Maintain a professional tone

Even when sharing personal anecdotes, maintain a professional tone. Avoid overly casual language or details that might be seen as inappropriate in a professional context.

“As a chess enthusiast, I enjoy strategic thinking and planning, skills that are crucial in my role as a financial analyst.”

Connect to your career path

Use personal interests to explain career choices or shifts. This can make your professional journey more relatable and understandable.

“My fascination with technology started with building computers as a teenager, which naturally progressed into a career in IT management.”

Use Humor Sparingly

A touch of humor can make your bio more engaging, but it should be used sparingly and appropriately. Ensure that any humorous anecdotes still reflect positively on your professionalism.

“In addition to being a project manager, I’m also the unofficial office barista, known for brewing the best coffee to fuel our team’s productivity.”

A compelling professional biography is more than just a summary of your career—it’s a powerful tool for personal branding. Whether you’re showcasing your leadership as a business executive, your creative journey as an artist, or your educational impact as a teacher, a well-crafted bio helps you stand out and connect meaningfully with your audience. You can use these diverse templates to create a personalized, detailed, and visually appealing biography that tells your unique story.

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Posted on Jun 30, 2023

How to Write a Biography: A 7-Step Guide [+Template]

From time to time, nonfiction authors become so captivated by a particular figure from either the present or the past, that they feel compelled to write an entire book about their life. Whether casting them as heroes or villains, there is an interesting quality in their humanity that compels these authors to revisit their life paths and write their story.

However, portraying someone’s life on paper in a comprehensive and engaging way requires solid preparation. If you’re looking to write a biography yourself, in this post we’ll share a step-by-step blueprint that you can follow. 

How to write a biography: 

1. Seek permission when possible 

2. research your subject thoroughly, 3. do interviews and visit locations, 4. organize your findings, 5. identify a central thesis, 6. write it using narrative elements, 7. get feedback and polish the text.

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While you technically don’t need permission to write about public figures (or deceased ones), that doesn't guarantee their legal team won't pursue legal action against you. Author Kitty Kelley was sued by Frank Sinatra before she even started to write His Way , a biography that paints Ol Blue Eyes in a controversial light. (Kelley ended up winning the lawsuit, however).  

Whenever feasible, advise the subject’s representatives of your intentions. If all goes according to plan, you’ll get a green light to proceed, or potentially an offer to collaborate. It's a matter of common sense; if someone were to write a book about you, you would likely want to know about it well prior to publication. So, make a sincere effort to reach out to their PR staff to negotiate an agreement or at least a mutual understanding of the scope of your project. 

At the same time, make sure that you still retain editorial control over the project, and not end up writing a puff piece that treats its protagonist like a saint or hero. No biography can ever be entirely objective, but you should always strive for a portrayal that closely aligns with facts and reality.

If you can’t get an answer from your subject, or you’re asked not to proceed forward, you can still accept the potential repercussions and write an unauthorized biography . The “rebellious act” of publishing without consent indeed makes for great marketing, though it’ll likely bring more headaches with it too. 

✋ Please note that, like other nonfiction books, if you intend to release your biography with a publishing house , you can put together a book proposal to send to them before you even write the book. If they like it enough, they might pay you an advance to write it.  

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Once you’ve settled (or not) the permission part, it’s time to dive deep into your character’s story.  

Deep and thorough research skills are the cornerstone of every biographer worth their salt. To paint a vivid and accurate portrait of someone's life, you’ll have to gather qualitative information from a wide range of reliable sources. 

Start with the information already available, from books on your subject to archival documents, then collect new ones firsthand by interviewing people or traveling to locations. 

Browse the web and library archives

Put your researcher hat on and start consuming any piece on your subject you can find, from their Wikipedia page to news articles, interviews, TV and radio appearances, YouTube videos, podcasts, books, magazines, and any other media outlets they may have been featured in. 

Establish a system to orderly collect the information you find 一 even seemingly insignificant details can prove valuable during the writing process, so be sure to save them. 

Depending on their era, you may find most of the information readily available online, or you may need to search through university libraries for older references. 

For his landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow spent untold hours at Columbia University’s library , reading through the Hamilton family papers, visiting the New York Historical Society, as well as interviewing the archivist of the New York Stock Exchange, and so on. The research process took years, but it certainly paid off. Chernow discovered that Hamilton created the first five securities originally traded on Wall Street. This finding, among others, revealed his significant contributions to shaping the current American financial and political systems, a legacy previously often overshadowed by other founding fathers. Today Alexander Hamilton is one of the best-selling biographies of all time, and it has become a cultural phenomenon with its own dedicated musical. 

Besides reading documents about your subject, research can help you understand the world that your subject lived in. 

Try to understand their time and social environment

Many biographies show how their protagonists have had a profound impact on society through their philosophical, artistic, or scientific contributions. But at the same time, it’s worth it as a biographer to make an effort to understand how their societal and historical context influenced their life’s path and work.

An interesting example is Stephen Greenblatt’s Will in the World . Finding himself limited by a lack of verified detail surrounding William Shakespeare's personal life, Greenblatt, instead, employs literary interpretation and imaginative reenactments to transport readers back to the Elizabethan era. The result is a vivid (though speculative) depiction of the playwright's life, enriching our understanding of his world.

Many readers enjoy biographies that transport them to a time and place, so exploring a historical period through the lens of a character can be entertaining in its own right. The Diary of Samuel Pepys became a classic not because people were enthralled by his life as an administrator, but rather from his meticulous and vivid documentation of everyday existence during the Restoration period.

Once you’ve gotten your hands on as many secondary sources as you can find, you’ll want to go hunting for stories first-hand from people who are (or were) close to your subject.

With all the material you’ve been through, by now you should already have a pretty good picture of your protagonist. But you’ll surely have some curiosities and missing dots in their character development to figure out, which you can only get by interviewing primary sources.

Interview friends and associates

This part is more relevant if your subject is contemporary, and you can actually meet up or call with relatives, friends, colleagues, business partners, neighbors, or any other person related to them. 

In writing the popular biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson interviewed more than one hundred people, including Jobs’s family, colleagues, former college mates, business rivals, and the man himself.

🔍 Read other biographies to get a sense of what makes a great one. Check out our list of the 30 best biographies of all time , or take our 30-second quiz below for tips on which one you should read next. 

Which biography should you read next?

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When you conduct your interviews, make sure to record them with high quality audio you can revisit later. Then use tools like Otter.ai or Descript to transcribe them 一 it’ll save you countless hours. 

You can approach the interview with a specific set of questions, or follow your curiosity blindly, trying to uncover revealing stories and anecdotes about your subject. Whatever your method, author and biography editor Tom Bromley suggests that every interviewer arrives prepared, "Show that you’ve done your work. This will help to put the interviewee at ease, and get their best answers.” 

Bromley also places emphasis on the order in which you conduct interviews. “You may want to interview different members of the family or friends first, to get their perspective on something, and then go directly to the main interviewee. You'll be able to use that knowledge to ask sharper, more specific questions.” 

Finally, consider how much time you have with each interviewee. If you only have a 30-minute phone call with an important person, make it count by asking directly the most pressing questions you have. And, if you find a reliable source who is also particularly willing to help, conduct several interviews and ask them, if appropriate, to write a foreword as part of the book’s front matter .

Sometimes an important part of the process is packing your bags, getting on a plane, and personally visiting significant places in your character’s journey.

Visit significant places in their life

A place, whether that’s a city, a rural house, or a bodhi tree, can carry a particular energy that you can only truly experience by being there. In putting the pieces together about someone’s life, it may be useful to go visit where they grew up, or where other significant events of their lives happened. It will be easier to imagine what they experienced, and better tell their story. 

In researching The Lost City of Z , author David Grann embarked on a trek through the Amazon, retracing the steps of British explorer Percy Fawcett. This led Grann to develop new theories about the circumstances surrounding the explorer's disappearance.

Hopefully, you won’t have to deal with jaguars and anacondas to better understand your subject’s environment, but try to walk into their shoes as much as possible. 

Once you’ve researched your character enough, it’s time to put together all the puzzle pieces you collected so far. 

Take the bulk of notes, media, and other documents you’ve collected, and start to give them some order and structure. A simple way to do this is by creating a timeline. 

Create a chronological timeline

It helps to organize your notes chronologically 一 from childhood to the senior years, line up the most significant events of your subject’s life, including dates, places, names and other relevant bits. 

You should be able to divide their life into distinct periods, each with their unique events and significance. Based on that, you can start drafting an outline of the narrative you want to create.  

Draft a story outline 

Since a biography entails writing about a person’s entire life, it will have a beginning, a middle, and an end. You can pick where you want to end the story, depending on how consequential the last years of your subject were. But the nature of the work will give you a starting character arc to work with. 

To outline the story then, you could turn to the popular Three-Act Structure , which divides the narrative in three main parts. In a nutshell, you’ll want to make sure to have the following:

• Act 1. Setup : Introduce the protagonist's background and the turning points that set them on a path to achieve a goal. 
• Act 2. Confrontation : Describe the challenges they encounter, both internal and external, and how they rise to them. Then..
• Act 3. Resolution : Reach a climactic point in their story in which they succeed (or fail), showing how they (and the world around them) have changed as a result. 

Only one question remains before you begin writing: what will be the main focus of your biography?

Think about why you’re so drawn to your subject to dedicate years of your life to recounting their own. What aspect of their life do you want to highlight? Is it their evil nature, artistic genius, or visionary mindset? And what evidence have you got to back that up? Find a central thesis or focus to weave as the main thread throughout your narrative. 

Or find a unique angle

If you don’t have a particular theme to explore, finding a distinct angle on your subject’s story can also help you distinguish your work from other biographies or existing works on the same subject.

Plenty of biographies have been published about The Beatles 一 many of which have different focuses and approaches: 

• Philip Norman's Shout is sometimes regarded as leaning more towards a pro-Lennon and anti-McCartney stance, offering insights into the band's inner dynamics. 
• Ian McDonald's Revolution in the Head closely examines their music track by track, shifting the focus back to McCartney as a primary creative force. 
• Craig Brown's One Two Three Four aims to capture their story through anecdotes, fan letters, diary entries, and interviews. 
• Mark Lewisohn's monumental three-volume biography, Tune In , stands as a testament to over a decade of meticulous research, chronicling every intricate detail of the Beatles' journey.

Finally, consider that biographies are often more than recounting the life of a person. Similar to how Dickens’ Great Expectations is not solely about a boy named Pip (but an examination and critique of Britain’s fickle, unforgiving class system), a biography should strive to illuminate a broader truth — be it social, political, or human — beyond the immediate subject of the book. 

Once you’ve identified your main focus or angle, it’s time to write a great story. 

While biographies are often highly informative, they do not have to be dry and purely expository in nature . You can play with storytelling elements to make it an engaging read. 

You could do that by thoroughly detailing the setting of the story , depicting the people involved in the story as fully-fledged characters , or using rising action and building to a climax when describing a particularly significant milestone of the subject’s life. 

One common way to make a biography interesting to read is starting on a strong foot…

Hook the reader from the start

Just because you're honoring your character's whole life doesn't mean you have to begin when they said their first word. Starting from the middle or end of their life can be more captivating as it introduces conflicts and stakes that shaped their journey.

When he wrote about Christopher McCandless in Into the Wild , author Jon Krakauer didn’t open his subject’s childhood and abusive family environment. Instead, the book begins with McCandless hitchhiking his way into the wilderness, and subsequently being discovered dead in an abandoned bus. By starting in the middle of the action  in medias res, Krakauer hooks the reader’s interest, before tracing back the causes and motivations that led McCandless to die alone in that bus in the first place.

You can bend the timeline to improve the reader’s reading experience throughout the rest of the story too…

Play with flashback 

While biographies tend to follow a chronological narrative, you can use flashbacks to tell brief stories or anecdotes when appropriate. For example, if you were telling the story of footballer Lionel Messi, before the climax of winning the World Cup with Argentina, you could recall when he was just 13 years old, giving an interview to a local newspaper, expressing his lifelong dream of playing for the national team. 

Used sparsely and intentionally, flashbacks can add more context to the story and keep the narrative interesting. Just like including dialogue does…

Reimagine conversations

Recreating conversations that your subject had with people around them is another effective way to color the story. Dialogue helps the reader imagine the story like a movie, providing a deeper sensory experience. 

One thing is trying to articulate the root of Steve Jobs’ obsession with product design, another would be to quote his father , teaching him how to build a fence when he was young: “You've got to make the back of the fence just as good looking as the front of the fence. Even though nobody will see it, you will know. And that will show that you're dedicated to making something perfect.”

Unlike memoirs and autobiographies, in which the author tells the story from their personal viewpoint and enjoys greater freedom to recall conversations, biographies require a commitment to facts. So, when recreating dialogue, try to quote directly from reliable sources like personal diaries, emails, and text messages. You could also use your interview scripts as an alternative to dialogue. As Tom Bromley suggests, “If you talk with a good amount of people, you can try to tell the story from their perspective, interweaving different segments and quoting the interviewees directly.”

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These are just some of the story elements you can use to make your biography more compelling. Once you’ve finished your manuscript, it’s a good idea to ask for feedback. 

If you’re going to publish your own  biography, you’ll have to polish it to professional standards. After leaving your work to rest for a while, look at it with fresh eyes and edit your own manuscript eliminating passive voice, filler words, and redundant adverbs. 

Then, have a professional editor give you a general assessment. They’ll look at the structure and shape of your manuscript and tell you which parts need to be expanded on or cut. As someone who edited and commissioned several biographies, Tom Bromley points out that a professional “will look at the sources used and assess whether they back up the points made, or if more are needed. They would also look for context, and whether or not more background information is needed for the reader to understand the story fully. And they might check your facts, too.”  

In addition to structural editing, you may want to have someone copy-edit and proofread your work.

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Importantly, make sure to include a bibliography with a list of all the interviews, documents, and sources used in the writing process. You’ll have to compile it according to a manual of style, but you can easily create one by using tools like EasyBib . Once the text is nicely polished and typeset in your writing applications , you can prepare for the publication process.  

In conclusion, by mixing storytelling elements with diligent research, you’ll be able to breathe life into a powerful biography that immerses readers in another individual’s life experience. Whether that’ll spark inspiration or controversy, remember you could have an important role in shaping their legacy 一 and that’s something not to take lightly. 

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How to Write a Biography of a Living Person

Writing the biography of a living person is similar to writing that of a person who has died. Many of the considerations are the same, such as major life events, influences and relationships. The major difference is that when writing about a living person, you must consider what he will think about your work, and you also have access to his personal voice and sway.

Contact the subject of your biography via email, agent or telephone. Schedule an interview. If you cannot schedule an interview, make a plan for extra research.

Research your subject on the Internet and in books (if possible). Interview her relatives, friends and anyone who knows her. Formulate questions based on events in her life, her interests and her relationships. Ask about the subject's feelings, reactions and how events in her life progressed. Interview people who don't know the subject, but know of her, and get their take on the biographical details.

Create a timeline with the events and transitions of the person's life so you can visualize the progression. Add to the timeline the details you obtain from the interview and your research. Decide how you'd like to organize the biography--chronologically, by events, or some other way you decide.

Write the biography. Ask for input from friends and advisers to help logically organize your work.

Edit what you have written. Give it to other people to read to help point out mistakes and smooth the writing.

Interview as many people as you can, and consider different perspectives of evaluating and describing the person's life. Keep your notes organized so they don't become overwhelming. Keep in mind your structure throughout your work so that you don't get confused and inundated.

• Remember to consider the feelings of your subject as you write; he still alive so he will have access to your work and will likely have a reaction. If you know that what you are writing will not cause a positive reaction, be ready for the repercussions of your opinions and representation of this person.
• Bookrags.com: How to Write a Biography
• Freelance-writing.lovetoknow.com: How to Write a Biography
• Interview as many people as you can, and consider different perspectives of evaluating and describing the person's life.
• Keep your notes organized so they don't become overwhelming.
• Keep in mind your structure throughout your work so that you don't get confused and inundated.

M.J. Taylor started writing professionally in 2008, working on a blog for an events company. She writes about destination travel and budget travel on various websites. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English.

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How to Write a Biography

Last Updated: May 28, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Stephanie Wong Ken, MFA . Stephanie Wong Ken is a writer based in Canada. Stephanie's writing has appeared in Joyland, Catapult, Pithead Chapel, Cosmonaut's Avenue, and other publications. She holds an MFA in Fiction and Creative Writing from Portland State University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,871,222 times.

Writing a biography can be a fun challenge, where you are sharing the story of someone’s life with readers. You may need to write a biography for a class or decide to write one as a personal project. Once you have identified the subject of the biography, do your research so you know as much about them as possible. Then, dive into the writing of the biography and revising it until it is at its finest.

Researching Your Subject

• If the subject does not give you permission to write the biography, you may want to choose a different subject. If you decide to publish the biography without the subject’s permission, you may be susceptible to legal action by the subject.
• If the subject is no longer alive, you obviously do not need to ask permission to write about them.

• You may create research questions to help focus your research of the subject, such as, What do I find interesting about the subject? Why is this subject important to readers? What can I say that is new about the subject? What would I like to learn more about?

• For in person interviews, record them with a tape recorder or a voice recorder on your computer or phone.
• You may need to interview the subject and others several times to get the material you need.

• You may also want to visit areas where the subject made a major decision or breakthrough in their life. Being physically in the area can give you a sense of how the subject might have felt and help you write their experiences more effectively.

• When researching the time period ask yourself: What were the social norms of that time? What was going on economically and politically? How did the social and political climate affect the subject?

• You may also include historical events or moments that affected the subject on the timeline. For example, maybe there was a conflict or civil war that happened during the person’s life that affected their life.

Writing the Biography

• You may end up focusing on particular areas of the person’s life. If you do this, work through a particular period in the person’s life chronologically.

• For example, you may have a thesis statement about focusing on how the person impacted the civil rights movement in America in the 1970s. You can then make sure all your content relates back to this thesis.

• Flashbacks should feel as detailed and real as present day scenes. Use your research notes and interviews with the subject to get a good sense of their past for the flashbacks.
• For example, you may jump from the person’s death in the present to a flashback to their favorite childhood memory.

• For example, you may focus on the person’s accomplishments in the civil rights movement. You may write a whole section about their contributions and participation in major civil rights marches in their hometown.

• For example, you may notice that the person’s life is patterned with moments of adversity, where the person worked hard and fought against larger forces. You can then use the theme of overcoming adversity in the biography.

• For example, you may note how you see parallels in the person’s life during the civil rights movement with your own interests in social justice. You may also commend the person for their hard work and positive impact on society.

Polishing the Biography

• Revise the biography based on feedback from others. Do not be afraid to cut or edit down the biography to suit the needs of your readers.

• Having a biography riddled with spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors can turn off your readers and result in a poor grade if you are handing in the text for a class.

• If the biography is for a class, use MLA , APA , or Chicago Style citations based on the preferences of your instructor.

Biography Help

Community Q&A

• Be careful when publishing private or embarrassing information, especially if the person is not a celebrity. You may violate their "Right of Privacy" or equivalent. Thanks Helpful 31 Not Helpful 5
• Have the sources to back up your statements about the subject's life. Untruthful written statements can lead to litigation. If it is your opinion, be clear that it is such and not fact (although you can support your opinion with facts). Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 15

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• ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/writing/how-to-write-a-biography.html
• ↑ https://au.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-bio
• ↑ https://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/3-tips-for-writing-successful-flashbacks
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-bio/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ https://www.plagiarism.org/article/how-do-i-cite-sources

About This Article

Before you write a biography, gather as much information about the subject that you can from sources like newspaper articles, interviews, photos, existing biographies, and anything else you can find. Write the story of that person’s life, including as much supporting detail as you can, including information about the place and time where the person lived. Focus on major events and milestones in their life, including historical events, marriage, children, and events which would shape their path later in life. For tips from our reviewer on proofreading the biography and citing your sources, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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30 Professional Biography Examples (& Templates)

A biography is a written depiction of the life of a person that includes factual stories and details from their personal lives along with their successes, trials, and failures. Most of us have read biography examples of famous personalities, especially those we admire.

• 1 Biography Examples
• 2 What is an example of a biography?
• 3 Personal Bio Examples
• 4 How do I write a biography about myself?
• 5 Professional Bio Templates
• 6 How to write a short bio?

Biography Examples

What is an example of a biography.

Biography examples have become so popular these days that we even have a cable network devoted entirely to narrating the stories of the lives of famous people. If you plan to make a biography, you can draw inspiration from various bio samples including:

• “Alexander Hamilton,” written by Ron Chernow
• “Into the Wild,” written by Jon Krakauer
• “Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World,” written by Tracy Kidder
• “Steve Jobs,” written by Walter Isaacson
• “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” written by Rebecca Skloot
• “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time,” written by Greg Mortenson
• “Unbroken,” written by Laura Hillenbrand

Personal Bio Examples

How do i write a biography about myself.

Anyone can write their own personal biography. For instance, you may need your own biography examples when seeking employment. Personal bio examples provide a short introduction and a summary of your professional credentials, education, accomplishments, and other relevant information that makes you what you are.

The document provides hiring managers with an idea of why you consider yourself the perfect person for the job. Aside from the employment angle, you can also use a professional bio template on professional websites and networking platforms.

The hardest part when creating biography examples is to get started. Before writing, you should give yourself time to focus, so that you can include all of the information you want to share in an efficient but concise manner. Consider the following tips to create your personal biography:

• Introduce yourself Start with a short introduction that shows the reader who you are. Your first sentence must include your full name, followed by relevant details that you want to emphasize like your certifications, achievements, and education. After this strong first sentence, mention your attributes, skills, personal, and professional values. You can also include other significant details relevant to your goals like your job title, the industry where you work, and the duties of your job. These details are essential for employers looking for employees on various professional platforms.
• Keep things short Remember to keep your personal bio short. Start by having a word count goal although this may vary depending on the focus and purpose of your biography. For a personal bio for employment purposes, it should be at most just one paragraph or a couple of short paragraphs with descriptions of who you are. The most ideal word count will be between 300 – 500 words. Short bios are usually meant to get the attention of the reader and encourage them to continue reading the rest of your CV or resume. Make sure your bio includes your accomplishments, purpose, history, credentials, and education. In case there is a lot of information you would like to include, you need to organize the most relevant information first. Remove any details that have no relevance to your bio’s purpose.
• Use the third person Remember that you’re making a biography, not an autobiography. Although it may sound strange to write about yourself in the third person, there are many advantages to doing so. Writing in the third person allows you to include your complete name. This method works well for search engine optimization as it tells the search engine that the bio is all about you.
• Think strategically while writing There’s nothing wrong with mentioning all of your achievements but you should avoid creating a list that’s too extensive. If you’re finding it difficult to start, ask yourself the following: Who are you writing for? What do you want your readers to learn about you? What life events should you include to show them who you are? If you can compose a compelling story for others to read so that they can learn more about you, you would have differentiated yourself from the competition. You can include narratives that have inspired you to go after your current job or shaped your goals. Using personal anecdotes provides readers with a more profound understanding of your interests. core values, and passions.
• Include your contact details If the biography is the first step for you to communicate with others, the contact details section of your bio encourages your readers to communicate back as it makes you seem more approachable and open. Your contact details should include your email address and links to your professional social media platforms. Generally, you should place your contact details at the end of your bio.
• Edit and revise as needed Remember that your biography is a reflection of you as an editor and a writer. For this, make sure to proofread for spelling and grammatical errors before sending or publishing it. The following are some tips for refining your bio: Avoid editing as you go – just focus on your writing. Edit after writing all of the content. Read your bio out loud to catch any grammatical errors. Also, find areas where you can still improve the structure. Use online editing software to check and grade your bio in terms of readability. Ask friends, co-workers or family members to give you honest feedback on what you can improve. Editing your work is one of the many important steps to ensure that your personal bio is the most professional representation of your accomplishments, character, and background.

Professional Bio Templates

How to write a short bio.

When you talk about online biographies, you can readily come up with a few short biography examples. Social media platforms all have space for a short description of what you do and who you are.

You should take advantage of the 2 to 3 lines you have for short but creative bio examples. If you have limited space, keep your bios short, sweet, and filled with the most significant details strangers should know about you like:

• Your full name
• Your current job title or role
• Your ultimate goal in life
• Your most notable achievement

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How to Write a Biography: 11 Step Guide + Book Template

So you’d like to know how to write a biography. We can help with that! Learning how to write a biography doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, it can be a lot of fun!

In this guide, we show you how to write a biography from the initial book idea all the way through to publishing your book , and we throw in a free template to help you on your way. 

Ready to learn how to start a biography ? Let’s jump right in. 

Get Our 6″ x 9″ Pre-Formatted Book Template for Word or Mac

We will send you a Book Template for US Trade (standard paperback size).

How to Write a Biography in 11 Simple Steps

Here are the steps you need to take to learn how to write a biography:

1. Read other biographies 

Austin Kleon, Author of Steal Like an Artist , says “the writer tries to master words. All of these pursuits involve the study of those who have come before and the effort to build upon their work in some way.”

In other words, if you want to learn how to write a biography, you need to read the best biographies written by other excellent authors!

In this case, it would behoove you to read several biographies – whether historical, celebrity, or business biographies is up to you and your sub-genre. 

A good author to start with? Walter Isaacson . He’s written highly acclaimed biographies on everyone from Abraham Lincoln and Steve Jobs to Leonardo Da Vinci and Elon Musk. 

Once you’ve read some well-crafted biographies, you’ll have a better idea of how to start a biography of your own.

2. Identify your subject

In order to learn how to start a biography, you need to choose who you’d like to write about – if you don’t already have someone in mind.  

The most important factor will be, of course, your interest in the person you’re planning to write about. You’ll spend months (or even years) deep-diving into this person’s history, so you want to choose someone who you’re unlikely to tire of. 

When learning how to write a biography, here are few factors to consider: 

• How impactful has your potential subject’s life been? In other words, will people care to learn more about this person? 
• How readily available is information about your potential subject? Biographies require extensive research, so it’s critical to choose someone who has enough information out there to dig into! Consider whether your subject has done interviews, written journals, has family or a partner willing to speak with you, and more. 
• Are there already books written about your potential subject? Just because there’s an existing biography about the person you’re interested in doesn’t (necessarily) mean you can’t write another one. But if there are two or three biographies, you may want to reconsider. If you do choose to write about someone who has already been well-documented, be mindful about approaching the topic with a new angle or perspective. For instance, there are several biographies about George Washington, but author Alexis Coe wrote one about how Washington isn’t “quite the man we remember.” This brilliant iteration has over 12,000 ratings on Goodreads .
• Is there a market demand for a book about your potential subject? If you’re learning how to write a biography, you need to be mindful of whether folks will want to read it. Do some research to determine if readers will be receptive to a book about the person you’re interested in. 

Related: Is a Biography a Primary Source?

3. Get permission to write about your subject

We’ll start by stating the obvious. It’s a good idea to get permission to write about your subject, even if you’re not legally required to. For one thing, it’s just good manners. Plus, you’re much more likely to get unfettered access to the information and sources you need to write your book. 

But do you have to get permission? It depends.

In some cases, if your subject is considered a “public figure,” permission may not be required. The definition of a public figure varies depending on your jurisdiction, so you should always consult a lawyer before writing a biography. 

If you do decide to proceed without permission, be mindful of how your book will be received and any legal issues that may arise. That’s why we always recommend asking permission from your subject when learning how to write a biography.

• Difference Between A Memoir and Biography
• Autobiography vs Biography: Differences and Similarities

4. Create an outline

The next step of learning how to write a biography is to outline your story. It’s critical to outline your biography before you begin writing it. Among other things, it helps ensure you cover every topic you’d like to and get the book in the correct chronological order. It also helps you identify themes that emerge as you organize your ideas. 

Need help creating your outline? Learn how to do it (and take advantage of free templates!) in our guide to outlining a book . 

5. Select a working title (using a title generator) 

Now is the fun part of learning how to write a biography! It’s time to create a working title for your book. A working title is just what it sounds like: it’s a title that works – for now. 

Of course, it’s helpful to have something to call the book as you’re working on it. And it encourages you to think about the message you’d like your book to convey. When your biography is complete, you can always do a little more research on how to write book titles for your specific sub-genre and update your working title accordingly.

Or, you can decide you still love your initial title and publish your book with that one! 

We’ve made it easy for you to develop a working title – or multiple – using our book title generator . 

Don't like it?

6. Write a rough draft 

Okay, now it’s time to start writing your rough draft. Don’t be intimidated; just focus on getting something down on the page. As experts on all things writing and self-publishing, we’ve got a rough draft writing guide to help you get through this phase of writing a biography.

Remember to be as balanced and objective as possible when learning how to write a biography.

Make good use of your primary and secondary sources, and double-check all of your facts. You’ve got this!  

7. Self-edit

There are several different types of editing that we recommend each manuscript undergo. But before you give your rough draft to anyone else to review, you should edit it yourself. 

The first step to self-editing?

Take a break! It’s essential to give your mind some time to recuperate before you go over your work. And never self-edit as you go!

After you’ve completed your break, here are a few things to consider as you edit: 

• Grammar. This one is self-explanatory and usually the easiest. You can use an AI editor to make a first pass and quickly catch obvious spelling errors. Depending on prompts and your experience with the tool, you can also use AI to catch some grammar and syntax issues as well.
• Content and structure . This is the time to make sure the bones of your piece are good. Make sure your content flows logically (and in chronological order), no important pieces of information are missing, and there isn’t redundant or unhelpful information. 
• Clarity and consistency. Keep an eye out for any confusing copy and ensure your tone is uniform throughout the book.
• Try reading your draft aloud. You’d be surprised at how many errors, shifts in tone, or other things you’d like to change that you don’t notice while reading in your head. Go ahead and do a read-through of your draft out loud. 

8. Work with an editor

Once you’ve created the best draft you can, it’s time to hire an editor . As we mentioned, there are multiple types of book editing, so you’ll need to choose the one(s) that are best for you and your project when learning how to write a biography. 

For instance, you can work with a developmental editor who helps with big-picture stuff. Think book structure, organization, and overall storytelling. Or you might work with a line editor who focuses on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and the like. 

There are also specialized copy editors, content editors, fact-checkers, and more.

It’s in your best interest to do a substantial amount of research before choosing an editor since they’ll have a large impact on your book. Many editors are open to doing a paid trial so you can see their work before you sign them on for the entire book. 

9. Hire a book cover designer

Once you’ve worked with your editor(s) to finalize your book, it’s time to get your book ready to go out into the world. So the next step in learning how to write a biography is to hire a book cover designer to create a cover that grabs readers’ attention (pssst: did you know that all SelfPublishing authors get done-for-you professional book design? Ask us about it !).

10. Get an ISBN 

The next step in learning how to write a biography is getting an ISBN number for your book – or an International Standard Book Number. It’s a unique way to identify your book and is critical for ordering, inventory tracking, and more. 

Bear in mind that each rendition of your book – regardless of when you publish them – will need their own ISBN numbers. So if you initially publish as a softcover and hardcover book and then decide to publish an ebook with the same exact content, you’ll need 3 total ISBN numbers.

To get an ISBN, head to ISBN.org and follow the steps they provide.  Or reference our guide right here for step-by-step instructions (complete with photos) on how to get an ISBN number for self-published books.

11. Create a launch plan 

Now is the most exciting part of learning how to write a biography. It’s time to get your book out into the world! You’ll need to map out your plan, schedule events , finalize your pricing strategy, and more. 

And you can’t just launch your book in a single day. When you go through all the work of learning how to write a biography, you want your book to succeed – and that requires a strategic marketing plan . Luckily, we have an entire guide to launching a book to help you figure it out. 

Get your free book template!

Learning how to write a biography can be challenging, but when you have a clear plan and guidance, the process is much easier. We’ve helped thousands of aspiring authors just like you write and self-publish their own books. We know what works – and how to become a successfully published author faster.

Take the first step today and down the book template below!

And, if you need additional help with learning how to write a biography, remember that we’re standing by to assist you. Just schedule a book consultation and one of our team members will help answer any of your questions about the writing or self-publishing process.

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24 Biography Templates and Examples (Word | PDF | Google Docs)

Biographies serve as a fascinating lens into the lives of individuals, ranging from influential family members and historical figures to renowned personalities. Whether you’re a student, an aspiring writer, or someone captivated by the art of telling a life story , grasping the essential elements of a biography is vital. Writing a biography goes beyond compiling facts; it involves crafting a narrative that educates and inspires your readers. This guide provides you with practical steps, style advice, and, importantly, biography templates to assist you in structuring your work effectively. With these resources, you can start to create biographies that not only inform but also captivate your audience. Are you ready to capture the essence of a life story in words? Let’s delve into the fundamentals of crafting a compelling and memorable biography.

Biography Templates & Examples

Aesthetic Biography Template

An Aesthetic Biography Template is a carefully designed layout that allows individuals to present their personal and professional information in an organized and visually appealing manner. The template provided in the previous response offers a structured format for users to showcase their educational background, work experience, skills, and personal interests. This format is particularly useful for creating a compelling narrative of one's life and achievements, making it ideal for applications, personal websites, or professional profiles. The inclusion of sample data guides users on how to effectively fill out each section, ensuring clarity and coherence in presenting their unique story.

Short Biography Template

A Short Biography template is a structured format for summarizing an individual's personal, educational, and professional background. It offers a concise yet informative way to present one's achievements, skills, and experiences. The template provided above is designed to capture a wide range of details, from basic personal information to career highlights and skills. It is versatile and can be tailored to suit different situations, whether for a professional profile, a speaker introduction, or a personal website. The inclusion of sample data in the brackets makes it user-friendly, allowing for easy customization. This template serves as a useful starting point for anyone looking to create a clear and engaging biography.

Professional Biography Template

A Professional Bio Template is a structured format designed to aid individuals in crafting a succinct and engaging biography that highlights their career achievements, skills, and personal qualities. This template helps users efficiently organize and present their professional story, ensuring that key elements like career milestones, skills, and personal interests are effectively communicated. This assists in creating a compelling bio that resonates with various audiences, such as potential employers or networking contacts, enhancing their professional presence and impact.

Personal Biography Template

A personal biography template is a structured outline designed to guide individuals in documenting their life stories, achievements, and experiences. It provides a framework to organize personal details in a coherent and engaging manner. This template, created in our prior response, can assist users by simplifying the process of writing their biography. It offers a clear structure, ensuring that key aspects of one's life are highlighted effectively. This can be particularly useful for creating professional bios, personal introductions, or for preserving personal history.

You can explore more free biography templates and examples in the collection at Highfile . This resource offers a diverse range of templates suitable for various needs, whether for professional, personal, or academic purposes.

What Is a Biography?

A biography is an in-depth narrative of someone’s life, written by another person. It encompasses more than just basic facts like birthplace and education. A biography delves into the subject’s personal experiences, significant life events, and the influences that shaped their character and achievements. It’s not just a timeline of events; a biography weaves these details into a compelling story, offering insights into the individual’s motivations and impacts. The aim is to present a well-rounded portrait that is both informative and engaging, allowing readers to understand and empathize with the subject’s journey. A biography, in essence, is a vivid window into another person’s life experience, capturing their unique contributions and the essence of their existence.

Fun Fact: Did you know that one of the earliest biographies ever recorded was about an ancient Egyptian official named Ptahhotep around 2400 BC? This ancient biography was not written in a book but carved on the walls of his tomb, depicting his life and achievements. This highlights how the art of biography writing has been significant throughout human history, evolving from ancient carvings to modern digital formats!

Essential Elements of a Biography Template

Crafting a professional biography involves creating a concise yet comprehensive summary of your career objectives, current position, and notable achievements. This type of bio is ideally suited for professional networking platforms like LinkedIn or AngelList, where a more detailed and career-focused narrative is expected compared to the brief bios often seen on other social media sites.

Key Components to Include in Your Professional Biography:

• Your Name : Clearly state your full name at the beginning.
• Personal Brand or Company Affiliation : Mention your business or the brand you represent.
• Professional Tagline or Current Role : Include your current job title or a tagline that encapsulates your professional essence.
• Career Aspirations : Briefly outline your career goals or what you aim to achieve professionally.
• Unique Personal Fact : Share an interesting personal detail that sets you apart.
• Top Achievements : Highlight two or three significant accomplishments relevant to your professional trajectory.

While primarily professional in tone, don’t hesitate to weave in personal elements like a favorite book or hobby. This adds a human touch, making your bio more relatable and engaging. Remember, a well-rounded biography balances professional accomplishments with personal insights, creating a holistic view of you as both a professional and an individual.

How to Write a Biography

Writing a compelling biography requires a structured approach. Follow these steps to create an engaging and informative biography:

• Choose a Subject : Select a person whose life story is interesting and impactful. Consider whether their contributions or experiences have the potential to inspire or connect with your audience.
• Obtain Permission : If your subject is alive, obtaining their consent is crucial, as it involves discussing personal details. For deceased or public figures, ensure all information is factual to avoid legal issues.
• Conduct Thorough Research : Gather information from primary sources like interviews, letters, and personal accounts for an authentic portrayal. Complement these with secondary sources like documentaries and articles for additional context.
• Formulate a Thesis : In the opening section, clearly state what the reader will learn from the biography. This thesis sets the stage for the narrative to unfold.
• Organize Chronologically : Structure the biography in a timeline format, presenting events in the order they occurred. This helps in maintaining a clear narrative flow.
• Incorporate Flashbacks : Skillfully use flashbacks to provide context or highlight significant past events, enriching the narrative without overloading it with background details.
• Inject Personal Insight : While sticking to factual information, don’t shy away from adding your own perspective on the subject’s achievements and their societal impact. This adds depth and personal touch to the biography.

A good biography balances factual accuracy with narrative flair, bringing the subject’s story to life in a way that resonates with the readers.

Tips on Writing a Biography

Crafting a biography requires a blend of accuracy, creativity, and attention to detail. Here are some essential tips to guide you in writing an effective biography:

• Write in Third Person : Use the third person perspective for a professional and objective tone.
• Inject Humor Appropriately : While maintaining professionalism, subtle humor can make the biography more engaging and relatable.
• Be Mindful of Length : Keep an eye on the word count. A biography should be comprehensive yet concise enough to hold the reader’s interest.
• Narrate a Story, Not Just Facts : Instead of listing events, weave them into a compelling narrative to make the biography more interesting and readable.
• Include Relevant Links : Provide links to your work, projects, or publications to offer readers additional context and evidence of your achievements.
• Provide Contact Information : Make it easy for readers to reach you by including up-to-date contact details.
• Edit Thoroughly : Ensure your biography is free of errors and well-polished. Comprehensive editing enhances readability and professionalism.
• Keep it Concise : Aim for brevity while ensuring all critical information is included. A succinct biography is often more impactful and memorable.

Important Note: Before diving into our FAQs, it’s crucial to remember that while a biography aims to be factual and accurate, it also requires a respectful approach, especially when dealing with sensitive aspects of a person’s life. As a biographer, your responsibility extends beyond mere storytelling; it involves ethical considerations, such as respecting privacy and presenting information in a manner that is fair and considerate to the subject and their family. Keep this in mind as you explore the frequently asked questions and embark on your journey of writing a biography.

For online platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter, a three-sentence bio should be concise yet informative. It should briefly introduce you, focusing on key aspects: Your Name : Start with your full name. Your Current Role : Mention your profession or the role you’re known for. A Notable Achievement or Personal Touch : Include a significant accomplishment or a unique personal detail (like a hobby or goal). This format ensures your bio is succinct but covers essential details.

A personal biography is a brief narrative focusing on your professional life, used for job searches or on professional platforms like LinkedIn. It’s slightly more detailed than a social media bio and should include: Your Name Personal Brand or Company : If applicable. Professional Tagline or Current Role Two or Three Key Achievements : Choose the most relevant and impressive ones. While primarily professional, feel free to add a personal detail like a hobby or favorite book to give a glimpse of your personality.

In a work-related bio, focus on aspects directly relevant to your professional life. This might be more detailed, including your career journey, key skills, and notable projects or roles you’ve held. Personal anecdotes or interests can be included if they relate to your professional persona or add value to your professional story. Remember, the context dictates the bio’s content and tone. Tailor it to suit the platform and the audience you are addressing.

When choosing a subject, consider individuals whose life stories are not only interesting but also have the potential to inspire or educate others. Look for unique experiences, significant achievements, or challenges they’ve overcome. Public figures, historical personalities, or even unsung heroes in your community can make excellent subjects.

Begin with an engaging opening that captures the essence of your subject’s life. This could be a pivotal moment, a significant achievement, or an anecdote that reflects their character. Starting with something compelling draws readers in and sets the tone for the biography.

Effective research methods include conducting interviews with people who know the subject well, reviewing primary documents like letters or diaries, and consulting reputable secondary sources for historical context. Online archives, libraries, and specialized databases are also valuable resources.

To maintain objectivity, present facts without bias, and avoid letting personal opinions color the narrative. Acknowledge different perspectives on the subject’s life, especially in controversial or unclear aspects. Being fair and balanced is key to a trustworthy biography.

Yes, you can write a biography about a family member. However, it’s important to balance personal insights with objective storytelling. Ensure you have enough distance to present their story truthfully and respect their privacy and perspective.

Approach sensitive topics with care and respect. Verify the accuracy of such information and consider its relevance to the overall story. Be mindful of the impact this could have on the subject and their family, especially if they are still living.

The length of a biography depends on the depth of the subject’s life story and the intended audience. Some biographies are short, focusing on key events, while others are comprehensive, covering the subject’s life in detail. Tailor the length to suit the story’s complexity and readers’ expectations.

Final Thoughts

Crafting a biography requires a thoughtful blend of accuracy and creativity to captivate and engage your readers. By focusing on these essential elements and following the outlined steps, you can transform a simple life story into a compelling narrative that holds the reader’s interest from start to finish. Whether you’ve always wanted to write a biography or are just beginning to explore this genre, this guide provides a solid foundation to embark on your biographical writing journey. Remember, a well-written biography not only informs but also inspires, offering a deeper understanding of the subject’s life and legacy.

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The 30 best biographies to add to your reading list

Some stories involve incredible, larger-than-life characters. these are the best biographies ever written..

Writing a great biography is no easy task. The author is charged with capturing some of the most iconic and influential people on the planet, folks that often have larger than life personas. To capture that in words is a genuine challenge that the best biographers relish.

The very best biographies don't just hold a mirror up to these remarkable characters. Instead, they show us a different side of them, or just how a certain approach of philosophy fueled their game-changing ways. Biographies inform, for certain, but they entertain and inspire to no end as well.

Below, we gathered a comprehensive list of the best biographies ever written. Some of these biographies were selected because of the subject matter and others were chosen because of the biographer. It’s often said that reading biographies is the best way to gain new knowledge, so we suggest you start with these great selections. If you love history, you’ll certainly want to include these best history books to your home library.

The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York by Robert Caro

The former parks commissioner of New York, Robert Moses was a man who got power, loved power, and was transformed by power. This 1,000-plus page biography could be the definitive study of power and legacy. It’s a great learning tool of mostly what not to be and who not to become.

Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi

Totto-Chan is a special figure in modern Japanese culture and is on the same celebrity status level as Oprah is to us here in the United States. The book describes the childhood in pre-World War II Japan of a misunderstood girl who suffered from attention disorders and excessive energy and who later was mentored by a very special school principal who truly understood her. The book has sold more than 5 million copies in Japan.

Eisenhower in War and Peace by Jean Edward Smith

The man who was responsible for winning World War II, twice prevented the use of nuclear weapons, and attempted to keep our soldiers out of Vietnam, all while making it look easy, is none other than Dwight D. Eisenhower. This biography is a history lesson as well as an opportunity to get inside the mind of a brilliant man.

Edison: A Biography by Matthew Josephson

This particular biography dates back more than 50 years, which means it was written without the worry of being politically correct or controversial, but instead focused on providing a conclusive picture of the man. Modern enough to be historically accurate, this biography details a lot of the little-known facts about Mr. Edison in addition to his accomplishments, as well as his failures.

Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office by Zach O’Malley Greenburg

Empire State of Mind is both an unofficial biography of the rap mogul Jay-Z as well as a business book. It shows how the rapper hustled his way to the top of the music industry to become one of the most powerful and influential people in music.

Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer

The story of the professional football player who gave up a $3 million NFL contract to join the Army Rangers after 9/11, only to die under suspicious circumstances in the hills of Afghanistan, is a book about everything that is right and wrong with the U.S. military. Pat Tillman wasn’t perfect, but he was a man we could all learn something from. His incredible story is one of bravery and selflessness -- and will forever be tied to the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Titan: The Life of John. D. Rockefeller Sr. by Ron Chernow

Ron Chernow has written some of the best biographies of our time. In this 832-page biography of John. D. Rockefeller, he shares the main lessons you would take away from someone like Rockefeller, a strangely stoic, incredibly resilient, and -- despite his reputation as a robber baron -- humble and compassionate man. Most successful people get worse as they age, but Rockefeller instead became more open-minded and more generous. The biography also details his wrongdoings and permits you the opportunity to make your own judgment on Rockefeller’s character.

Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow

Another example of Chernow’s brilliance in biographical writing is given in his biography of George Washington. Today, we study Washington not only for his against-the-odds military victory over a superior British Army but also for his strategic vision, which is partially responsible for many of the most enduring American institutions and practices. It’s another long read of the type Chernow is famous for, but it's also a page-turner. Although it’s intimidating to look at, the reading time goes by quickly.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson has written some of the greatest biographies in contemporary literature. Our modern-day genius, Steve Jobs, will forever be remembered as the mastermind who brought us Apple. This biography shows Jobs at his best, which includes illustrations of his determination and creativity but also details the worst of him, including his tyrannical and vicious ways of running a business (and his family). From this book, you will learn to appreciate the man for the genius that he was, but it will most likely not inspire you to follow in his path.

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford

Most depictions show the Mongols as bloodthirsty pillagers, but in this biography, we are also shown how they introduced many progressive advances to their conquered nations. You will learn how Genghis Khan abolished torture, permitted universal religious freedom, and destroyed existing feudal systems.

Dostoevsky: A Writer in His Time by Joseph Frank

his five-volume retelling of the life and times of Russian literary giant Fyodor Dostoevsky is considered the best biography available on the subject. The mammoth exploration sheds light on Dostoevsky's works, ideology, and historical context. For those who are not specifically interested in the famous author, the also book paints a picture of 19th-century Russia.

Leonardo da Vinci: The Marvelous Works of Nature and Man by Martin Kemp

Kemp’s account of da Vinci’s life and work is considered the go-to biography of the famous Renaissance figure. This incredible book sheds light on one of the most creative figures who ever lived, guiding readers through a fully integrated account of his scientific, artistic, and technological works, as well as the life events that helped form the man that made them.

Mercury: An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury by Leslie-Ann Jones

After the massive success of the movie recently released about rock legend Freddie Mercury and his band, Queen, you might be interested in learning more about the frontman. This biography draws from hundreds of interviews with key figures in his life to create a revealing glimpse into Mercury’s life.

Empire: The Life, Legend, and Madness of Howard Hughes by Donald Barlett

This is an epic biography of an epic man. It shows the heights of his incredible success as well as the depths of his inner struggles. Readers learn about the tough but eccentric figure in a story that details his incredible success as an aviator, film producer, and more.

Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges

The brilliant mathematician, cytologist, and computer pioneer Alan Turing is beautifully depicted in this biography. It covers his heroic code-breaking efforts during World War II , his computer designs and contributions to mathematical biology in the years following, and the vicious persecution that befell him in the 1950s when homosexual acts were still a crime and punishable by law.

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Of course, we couldn’t highlight Ron Chernow’s best works without including his biography on Alexander Hamilton , which is not only the inspiration for a hit Broadway musical but also a work of creative genius itself. Another more than 800-page book (an ongoing theme for Chernow biographies), this book details every knowable moment of the youngest Founding Father’s life, from his role in the Revolutionary War and early American government to his sordid affair with Maria Reynolds. If you’ve seen the musical, this book will help answer a lot of those burning questions that you may have.

Frida: The Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera

The focal point of this biography is not the suffering that was endured by Frida Kahlo, but instead, her artistic brilliance and her immense resolve to leave her mark on the world. Herrera’s 1983 biography of one of the most recognizable names in modern art has since become the definitive account of her life.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Recommended reading for any adventurer or explorer -- the story of Christopher McCandless, aka Alexander Supertramp, who hitchhiked to Alaska and disappeared into the Denali wilderness in April 1992 only to have his remains discovered in his shelter five months later -- Into the Wild retraces his steps along the trek, attempting to discover what the young man was looking for on his journey. Krakauer delivers one of the best biography books in recent memory.

Prince: A Private View by Afshin Shahidi

Compiled after the superstar’s untimely death in 2016, this intimate snapshot into the life of Prince is largely visual. The author served as the musician’s private photographer from the early 2000s until his passing. You already know the expression, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” and in this case, they are worth a lot more.

Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson

The “Kennedy Curse” didn’t bring forth an assassination or a mysterious plane crash for Rosemary Kennedy, although her fate might have been the worst of them all. As if her botched lobotomy that left her almost completely incapacitated weren’t enough, her parents then hid her away from society, almost never to be seen again. Penned by Kennedy scholar Kate Larson, the full truth of her post-lobotomy life is finally revealed.

Trump Revealed: The Definitive Biography of the 45th President by Michael Kranish and Marc Fisher

Love him or hate him, Donald Trump is likely the most divisive U.S. president of modern times. The comprehensive biography of Trump is reported by a team of award-winning Washington Post journalists and co-authored by investigative political reporter Michael Kranish and senior editor Marc Fisher. The book gives the reader an insight into Trump, from his upbringing in Queens to his turbulent careers in real estate and entertainment to his astonishing rise as the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.

Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang

Most are familiar with the revolutionary Mao Zedong. This carefully curated biography by Jung Chang digs deeper into the life of the "Red Emperor." You won't find these interviews and stories about the world leader in history books alone. This extensive account of the man known simply as Mao begins with a horrific statistic: He was responsible for the deaths of more than 70 million people during his regime.

A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell 

Biographies often give us the stories of people we know and love, but they can also reveal new stories about people that may have been lost to history. In her bestseller, Sonia Purnell tells the story of Virginia Hall, a prolific and heroic spy from World War II who took down the Axis Powers on one leg. 

Black Boy by Richard Wright

A standard biography is usually given by a historian after years and years of research and writing, but sometimes it’s better to go straight to the source. In his memoir, Richard Wright details his life as he recalls it as a black American in the 20th century. Black Boy is a harsh, painful, beautiful, and revealing read about race in the United States -- and about a towering figure of literature. 

Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson

Isaacson represents the gold standard for contemporary biographers, and his tome on Leonardo da Vinci was a bestseller for a reason. Isaacson is able to show a detailed, intimate portrait of the most famous painter of all time from centuries away.

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Want to know how the biggest sports company of all time came to be? Hear it from the man himself. Phil Knight’s book takes you through how his little sneaker company in Oregon became the worldwide leader in sportswear. 

The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley

One of the most famous biographies ever, The Autobiography of Malcolm X remains a classic and an important read. Malcolm X’s politics, though controversial at the time and today, is a valuable and provocative perspective that will make you reconsider how you think about America and the American Dream. 

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Long before becoming Jon Stewart’s successor on The Daily Show, Trevor Noah lived many, many lifetimes. Born to apartheid South Africa, Noah’s story is one of perseverance and triumph, and one that he manages to make funny by some sort of magic trick. 

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae

Of course, today, you know Issa Rae as the writer, actor, and star of HBO’s Insecure, but before her hit show came her webseries and book of the same name, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. Rae’s memoir wrestles with the idea of being an introvert in a world that considers Black people inherently cool.

Robin by Davie Itzkoff

One of the most beloved comedians and actors of all time, Robin Williams' passing in 2014 shook fans across generations. In his book, New York Times culture reporter Dave Itzkoff covers the life, work, and emotions of one of the most complicated and misunderstood comedians ever. Oh captain, my captain...

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Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since. He spent years making, selling, and sipping Pinot Noir in the Dundee Hills before a full return to his journalistic roots in 2016. He's helplessly tied to European soccer, casting for trout, and grunge rock. In addition to The Manual, he writes for SevenFifty Daily , Sip Northwest , The Somm Journal , The Drake , Willamette Week , Travel Oregon , and more. He has a website and occasionally even updates it: markastock.com .

Send all editorial inquiries  HERE .

It's never too late to be a kid. Sure, technically it is, but that's your adult brain at work. With the right state of imagination and a few helpful tools, you can relive your youth.

A great way to do so is by way of our favorite kind of weapon: the fake one. Nerf guns have ruled the category for generations, with their signature soft ammo and inventive designs. Best, they don't hurt anybody involved in a shootout. They'll take you straight back to the playground, with the sound of an ice cream truck and the distance and laughter all around. It's a healthy kind of battle, one that involves lots of exercise and carefree joy. Best, you're also an adult, so if you feel like having a beer or staying out a little later when the battle is over, you can.

Shopping for the best gifts for men can at times seem like a daunting task, whether it be for a birthday, an anniversary, or any gift in between. So, we decided to help you out and lend you a hand and make gift-giving a little less stressful with a thoughtfully curated list of tried-and-true gifts suited for men. And at times, no matter how well or how long you have known someone, you just don't know where to look.

From small everyday carry items and others from the cool tech world to experiences that help you disconnect to reconnect, we offer you a gift guide for every guy on your list or some nice ways to treat yourself, too. Ahead, you will find a list of the best practical gifts for every type of guy. With that being said, here are the best gifts for men in 2023.

We're living in crazy times, especially since this whole pandemic mess started a few long years ago. With so much instability out there, it's easy to feel, well, a little uneasy. That's why it's not a bad idea to consider a few self-defense weapons to have at your disposal, just in case. You never know really know what lies ahead but you can be prepared if things do go very, very wrong.

There are many options out there, but the best of the bunch are packable, discreet, effective, and non-lethal (because you don't necessarily have to put somebody six feet under to "take them out"). Now, it's one thing to have one of these on your person and quite another to use it safely and properly. So make sure you know what you're dealing with beforehand and maybe even set up some training time with your new tool. Whether you're planing to get (intentionally) lost in the backcountry or just milling about in the city, it's not a bad idea to consider getting one of these. Here are the best self-defense weapons for protecting yourself in 2023.

AI Generator

A biography is a detailed account of a person’s life, documenting their experiences, achievements, and impact on the world. It explores the subject’s personal and professional journeys, offering insights into their character and legacy.

What is Biography?

A bibliography is a comprehensive list of all sources consulted for a research project, including books, articles , websites, and more. It provides essential details such as the author, title, publication date, and publisher, formatted according to specific citation styles like APA, MLA , or Chicago. Bibliographies credit sources, avoid plagiarism, and enhance the credibility of your work.

Format of Biography

A well-structured biography format ensures that the narrative is both engaging and informative, offering readers a comprehensive view of the subject’s life. Here is a structured format that can be adapted to suit different types of biographies:

Title: Should capture the essence of the subject’s life. Subtitle: Optional, providing additional context or focus. Author’s Name: The name of the biographer.

Table of Contents

Lists chapters or sections with page numbers for easy navigation.

Introduction

Introduces the subject of the biography, including their significance and the scope of the biography. Provides a thesis statement or the main theme of the biography.

Birth and Family Background: Details about the subject’s birth, parents, siblings, and early family life. Education: Information on the subject’s education, including significant schools attended, degrees earned, and influential teachers or mentors. Formative Experiences: Early experiences that shaped the subject’s character, interests, and future path.

Early Career: Overview of the subject’s initial jobs or roles and early career milestones. Major Contributions and Achievements: Detailed account of the subject’s key contributions, achievements, and career highlights. Challenges and Setbacks: Challenges faced in their career and how they were overcome.

Personal Life

Relationships and Family: Information on the subject’s personal relationships, marriage(s), children, and close friendships. Interests and Hobbies: The subject’s personal interests, hobbies, and extracurricular activities.

Philanthropy and Activism

If applicable, details on the subject’s involvement in philanthropy, social causes, activism, or community service.

Legacy and Impact

Analysis of the subject’s legacy and impact on their field, community, or the world. Includes public and professional recognition, awards, and honors.

Later Life and Death

Details about the subject’s later years, retirement, and circumstances of their death (if applicable). Reflections on their life and contributions.

Summarizes the key points of the biography, reinforcing the subject’s impact and legacy. Reflects on the broader implications of the subject’s life and work.

Appendices (If Applicable)

Includes additional information, such as letters, documents, or photographs.

Bibliography/References

Lists sources, interviews, and materials used in researching the biography.

An alphabetical listing of names, places, and subjects mentioned in the biography, with page numbers.

Examples of Biography for Students

1. abraham lincoln (1809-1865).

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and is best known for leading the country during the Civil War and working to end slavery. Born in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky, Lincoln had humble beginnings. He educated himself by reading books and became a lawyer in Illinois. His political career began in the Illinois State Legislature and later in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Lincoln became a national figure during the debates with Stephen Douglas in 1858, which highlighted his opposition to the expansion of slavery. In 1860, he was elected President. His presidency was dominated by the Civil War, a conflict between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederacy), which had seceded from the Union. Lincoln’s leadership was crucial in preserving the Union.

In 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were free. This was a significant step towards the abolition of slavery. Lincoln was re-elected in 1864 but was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in 1865, just days after the end of the Civil War.

Lincoln is remembered for his eloquent speeches, including the Gettysburg Address, and his dedication to principles of equality and freedom.

2. Malala Yousafzai (1997-Present)

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani education activist and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Born in Mingora, Pakistan, Malala developed a passion for education from an early age, inspired by her father, who was an educator and ran a girls’ school in their village.

In 2009, at just 11 years old, Malala began writing a blog for the BBC under a pseudonym, describing her life under the Taliban’s rule and their attempts to restrict education for girls. Her advocacy made her a target, and in 2012, she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman while riding a bus home from school. Miraculously, she survived and was flown to the United Kingdom for extensive medical treatment.

Malala’s courage and determination gained international attention. In 2013, she co-authored the memoir “I Am Malala,” which became a global bestseller. In 2014, at the age of 17, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.

Today, Malala continues to be a leading voice for education and women’s rights through the Malala Fund, an organization she co-founded to ensure girls around the world have access to 12 years of free, safe, and quality education.

3. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

Martin Luther King Jr. was an American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the American civil rights movement. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, King was a Baptist minister and an advocate for nonviolent resistance based on the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

King first came to national prominence during the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, which was sparked by Rosa Parks’ arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. This boycott lasted for over a year and resulted in the desegregation of the city’s public buses.

In 1963, King led the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where he delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, envisioning a future where people would be judged by their character rather than the color of their skin. His efforts were instrumental in the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

King’s commitment to social justice and equality earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Tragically, his life was cut short when he was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. King’s legacy lives on through his speeches, writings, and the ongoing efforts for racial equality and justice in America.

4. Marie Curie (1867-1934)

Marie Curie was a pioneering physicist and chemist who conducted groundbreaking research on radioactivity. Born in Warsaw, Poland, as Maria Sklodowska, she moved to Paris to study at the Sorbonne, where she met her future husband, Pierre Curie. Together, they discovered the elements polonium and radium.

Marie Curie’s work earned her two Nobel Prizes—one in Physics in 1903 (shared with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel) and another in Chemistry in 1911. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to have won Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields.

Curie’s research contributed significantly to the understanding of radioactivity, a term she coined, and laid the foundation for future scientific advancements, including cancer treatment. Despite facing numerous challenges as a woman in science, Curie’s dedication and perseverance left a lasting legacy in the scientific community.

5. Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)

Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. Born in the village of Mvezo in Umtata, Mandela became involved in the anti-colonial and African nationalist politics while studying law in Johannesburg.

Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944 and co-founded the ANC Youth League. In the 1950s, he led peaceful protests and defiance campaigns against the apartheid regime’s racial segregation policies. However, after the government banned the ANC, Mandela shifted to advocating armed resistance.

In 1962, he was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for his activities against the apartheid government. Mandela spent 27 years in prison, during which he became a global symbol of resistance to apartheid. Released in 1990, Mandela led negotiations to dismantle apartheid and establish multiracial elections.

In 1994, Mandela was elected South Africa’s first black president in the country’s first democratic elections. His presidency focused on reconciliation, nation-building, and social justice. Mandela’s leadership and commitment to peace earned him international acclaim and numerous awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

Examples of Biography for Professionals

1. elon musk.

Elon Musk is a renowned entrepreneur and innovator, best known for his work in the technology and space exploration sectors. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971, Musk moved to the United States to pursue his ambitions in the tech industry. He earned degrees in Physics and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Musk co-founded Zip2, an online city guide software, which was sold to Compaq for nearly $300 million in 1999. He then founded X.com, an online payment company, which later became PayPal and was acquired by eBay for $1.5 billion in stock.

In 2002, Musk founded SpaceX with the goal of reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonization of Mars. SpaceX has since achieved numerous milestones, including the first privately-funded spacecraft to reach the International Space Station.

Musk is also the CEO of Tesla, Inc., a company dedicated to producing electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions. Under his leadership, Tesla has become a leader in the automotive industry, pushing the boundaries of electric car technology and sustainable energy.

Musk’s other ventures include Neuralink, a neurotechnology company, and The Boring Company, which focuses on tunnel construction and infrastructure. His innovative approach and relentless drive continue to shape the future of technology and space exploration.

2. Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Facebook (now Meta Platforms, Inc.) and a prominent advocate for women’s leadership and empowerment. Born in Washington, D.C., in 1969, Sandberg earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Harvard University and later an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Sandberg started her career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company before joining the U.S. Treasury Department as Chief of Staff under President Bill Clinton. In 2001, she joined Google, where she was Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations, significantly contributing to the company’s revenue growth.

In 2008, Sandberg became the COO of Facebook, where she helped scale the company’s operations and expand its global presence. Her leadership was instrumental in turning Facebook into one of the world’s largest and most influential social media platforms.

Sandberg is also the author of the best-selling book “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead,” which encourages women to pursue their ambitions and challenge workplace inequalities. She founded LeanIn.Org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women’s professional growth and leadership.

Sandberg’s influence extends beyond her professional achievements, as she continues to advocate for gender equality and empowerment in the workplace.

3. Satya Nadella

Satya Nadella is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microsoft, one of the world’s leading technology companies. Born in Hyderabad, India, in 1967, Nadella moved to the United States to pursue his education, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology, a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Nadella joined Microsoft in 1992 and held various leadership roles in the company’s enterprise and cloud computing divisions. He played a crucial role in transforming Microsoft’s business model to focus on cloud computing, which significantly boosted the company’s growth and profitability.

In 2014, Nadella was appointed CEO of Microsoft. Under his leadership, Microsoft has embraced a culture of innovation and collaboration, expanding its product offerings and investing heavily in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other advanced technologies. Nadella’s vision has been pivotal in maintaining Microsoft’s status as a global technology leader.

Nadella is also known for his emphasis on empathy and inclusive leadership, which has helped foster a more diverse and supportive workplace culture at Microsoft.

4. Indra Nooyi

Indra Nooyi is a distinguished business executive and former CEO of PepsiCo, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies. Born in Chennai, India, in 1955, Nooyi earned her Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics from Madras Christian College and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta. She later obtained a Master’s degree in Public and Private Management from Yale School of Management.

Nooyi began her career at Johnson & Johnson and later worked at Boston Consulting Group and Motorola. In 1994, she joined PepsiCo and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming CFO in 2001 and CEO in 2006.

During her tenure as CEO, Nooyi led PepsiCo through a period of significant growth and transformation, focusing on product innovation, health and wellness, and sustainability. She spearheaded the acquisition of Tropicana and the merger with Quaker Oats, expanding PepsiCo’s portfolio and market presence.

Nooyi’s leadership earned her numerous accolades, including being consistently ranked among the world’s most powerful women by Forbes and Fortune. She is also known for her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and her commitment to corporate social responsibility.

After stepping down as CEO in 2018, Nooyi continues to serve on various boards and remains an influential voice in the business community.

5. Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos is the founder and former CEO of Amazon, one of the world’s largest and most influential e-commerce and technology companies. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1964, Bezos showed an early interest in science and technology. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Bezos worked in the finance industry before founding Amazon in 1994 from his garage. Initially an online bookstore, Amazon quickly expanded its product offerings and grew into a global e-commerce giant. Bezos’s customer-centric approach and relentless focus on innovation have been key drivers of Amazon’s success.

Under Bezos’s leadership, Amazon introduced groundbreaking services such as Amazon Prime, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Kindle, transforming the retail and technology landscapes. Bezos also acquired The Washington Post in 2013, revitalizing the newspaper through digital innovation.

In 2021, Bezos stepped down as CEO of Amazon to focus on his other ventures, including Blue Origin, a space exploration company he founded to make space travel more accessible. Bezos’s impact on e-commerce, technology, and space exploration continues to shape the future of these industries.

Examples of Biography for Kids

1. albert einstein.

Albert Einstein was one of the most famous scientists of all time. Born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, Germany, Einstein showed a great interest in math and science from a young age. When he was just a teenager, he taught himself advanced mathematics.

Einstein is best known for his theory of relativity, which changed the way we understand time and space. He developed the famous equation E=mc², which explains how energy and mass are related. This discovery had a huge impact on science and technology.

In 1921, Einstein won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the photoelectric effect, which helped scientists understand how light works. He moved to the United States in 1933 and worked at Princeton University.

Einstein was also known for his wild hair and playful personality. He loved to play the violin and was passionate about peace and human rights. He passed away on April 18, 1955, but his discoveries continue to inspire scientists around the world.

2. Helen Keller

Helen Keller was an extraordinary woman who overcame incredible obstacles. Born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama, Keller lost her sight and hearing due to an illness when she was just 19 months old. Despite these challenges, she became a famous author, speaker, and advocate for people with disabilities.

When Keller was six years old, her parents hired a teacher named Anne Sullivan to help her learn. Sullivan taught Keller how to communicate using sign language and braille. Keller quickly learned to read and write, and she even learned to speak.

Keller attended college and graduated with honors in 1904. She wrote several books, including her autobiography, “The Story of My Life.” She traveled the world, giving speeches and raising awareness about the abilities of people with disabilities.

Helen Keller’s determination and achievements continue to inspire people today. She showed that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible. She passed away on June 1, 1968, but her legacy lives on.

3. Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong was an American astronaut and the first person to walk on the moon. Born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio, Armstrong was fascinated by airplanes and space from a young age. He earned his pilot’s license at just 16 years old.

Armstrong studied aerospace engineering and became a test pilot for NASA. In 1962, he was selected to be an astronaut. On July 20, 1969, Armstrong made history when he stepped onto the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. He famously said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Armstrong and his fellow astronauts, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, safely returned to Earth, and they were celebrated as heroes. After his historic mission, Armstrong continued to work in aviation and space exploration.

Neil Armstrong’s bravery and accomplishments continue to inspire future generations of explorers. He passed away on August 25, 2012, but his journey to the moon remains one of the greatest achievements in human history.

4. Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall is a British primatologist and anthropologist who is famous for her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees. Born on April 3, 1934, in London, England, Goodall was fascinated by animals from a young age. She dreamed of living in Africa and studying wildlife.

In 1960, at the age of 26, Goodall traveled to Tanzania to study chimpanzees in the wild. She observed their behavior and discovered that they used tools, a trait previously thought to be unique to humans. Her work changed the way scientists understand primates and their similarities to humans.

Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977 to support wildlife research, education, and conservation. She has spent her life advocating for the protection of animals and the environment, traveling the world to share her message.

Jane Goodall’s passion and dedication have made her a hero to many people who care about animals and the planet. Her work continues to inspire young scientists and conservationists around the world.

5. Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist who became famous for her role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, Parks grew up in a time when African Americans faced widespread discrimination and segregation.

On December 1, 1955, Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a protest against the city’s segregation laws. The boycott lasted for over a year and led to the desegregation of the public bus system.

Parks’ courage made her a symbol of the civil rights movement. She worked alongside other leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. to fight for equality and justice. Parks received many honors for her work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Rosa Parks’ bravery and determination continue to inspire people to stand up for what is right. She passed away on October 24, 2005, but her legacy as a champion of civil rights lives on.

Personal Biography Examples

1. author bio.

Name: Jane Smith Occupation: Author

Jane Smith is a bestselling author known for her compelling narratives and complex characters. Her debut novel, “Echoes of the Heart,” captivated readers worldwide and was awarded the prestigious National Book Award. With a background in journalism and a passion for storytelling, Jane weaves intricate plots that explore the depths of human emotions and relationships. When she’s not writing, Jane enjoys hiking, painting, and spending time with her family in the picturesque countryside of Vermont.

2. Personal Blog Bio

Name: Mark Davis Occupation: Travel Blogger

Mark Davis is an avid traveler and the voice behind the popular blog “Wanderlust Adventures.” With a mission to inspire others to explore the world, Mark shares his experiences and tips from over 50 countries. His journey began as a solo backpacker through Southeast Asia and has since evolved into a full-time adventure, capturing the beauty and culture of each destination. Mark’s blog features stunning photography, in-depth guides, and personal anecdotes that resonate with fellow wanderers. When he’s not on the road, Mark enjoys cooking international cuisines and planning his next trip from his home base in New York City.

3. LinkedIn Bio

Name: Emily Johnson Occupation: Marketing Professional

Emily Johnson is a dynamic marketing professional with over a decade of experience in creating and executing successful marketing strategies. Currently, she is the Marketing Director at Bright Ideas Co., where she leads a talented team in driving brand awareness and customer engagement. Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MBA from Stanford University. Known for her innovative approach and analytical mindset, Emily has a proven track record of boosting sales and enhancing brand loyalty. Outside of work, she is passionate about mentoring young professionals and volunteering at local animal shelters.

4. Instagram Bio

Name: Alex Chen Occupation: Fitness Enthusiast

Alex Chen is a fitness enthusiast dedicated to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. With a background in personal training and nutrition, Alex shares workout routines, healthy recipes, and motivational content on his Instagram page, @FitLifeAlex. His journey began with a personal transformation that ignited his passion for fitness, and now he inspires thousands of followers to achieve their fitness goals. Alex believes in balance and encourages his community to find joy in their fitness journey. When he’s not at the gym, Alex enjoys hiking, experimenting with new recipes, and spending time with his dog, Rocky.

5. Artist Bio

Name: Lisa Martinez Occupation: Visual Artist

Lisa Martinez is a visual artist whose work explores the intersection of nature and human experience. With a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Lisa has exhibited her paintings and installations in galleries across the United States. Her work is characterized by vibrant colors, organic forms, and a deep connection to the environment. Lisa draws inspiration from her travels and the natural world, often incorporating sustainable materials into her pieces. When she’s not in the studio, Lisa enjoys teaching art workshops and exploring national parks with her sketchbook in hand.

Artists Biography Examples

1. visual artist.

Name: Sophia Rivera Medium: Painting and Sculpture

Sophia Rivera is a contemporary visual artist known for her evocative paintings and intricate sculptures. Based in New York City, Sophia has been creating art that explores themes of identity, memory, and transformation for over 15 years. She holds an MFA from the Pratt Institute and has exhibited her work in solo and group shows across the United States and Europe. Sophia’s use of bold colors and mixed media techniques challenges traditional boundaries and invites viewers to engage with her pieces on a personal level. In addition to her studio practice, Sophia teaches art workshops and mentors emerging artists.

2. Photographer

Name: David Lee Medium: Photography

David Lee is an award-winning photographer whose work captures the raw beauty and complexity of urban life. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, David’s photographs reveal the hidden narratives of cityscapes and their inhabitants. He graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York and has since been featured in numerous galleries and publications worldwide. David’s recent project, “Metropolis,” explores the interplay of light and shadow in metropolitan environments. When not behind the lens, David enjoys traveling, teaching photography, and collaborating with other creatives.

3. Digital Artist

Name: Mia Thompson Medium: Digital Art

Mia Thompson is a digital artist known for her innovative use of technology to create immersive and interactive art experiences. Based in Los Angeles, Mia’s work spans digital illustrations, animations, and virtual reality installations. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Digital Media from the California Institute of the Arts and has worked with leading tech companies and art institutions. Mia’s art often explores themes of futurism, identity, and the digital age, pushing the boundaries of how art can be experienced. Her recent VR exhibition, “Beyond the Screen,” received critical acclaim for its groundbreaking approach to digital storytelling.

4. Musician

Name: Alex Martinez Medium: Music

Alex Martinez is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends elements of folk, rock, and indie pop. Hailing from Austin, Texas, Alex has been performing and writing music since his teens, drawing inspiration from personal experiences and the world around him. He has released three albums, with his latest, “Wandering Heart,” earning a spot on the Billboard Top 100. Alex’s soulful lyrics and melodic compositions resonate with audiences of all ages. When he’s not touring, Alex is passionate about music education and works with local schools to inspire the next generation of musicians.

5. Film Director

Name: Raj Patel Medium: Film

Raj Patel is an acclaimed film director known for his thought-provoking and visually stunning films. Born in Mumbai and now based in Los Angeles, Raj’s work often explores themes of cultural identity, social justice, and human connection. He studied film at the University of Southern California and has directed several award-winning films that have been screened at major international film festivals. Raj’s most recent film, “Echoes of Silence,” received widespread praise for its powerful storytelling and cinematography. In addition to directing, Raj is committed to mentoring young filmmakers and advocating for greater diversity in the film industry.

Short Biography Examples

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was a German-born physicist renowned for his theory of relativity and the famous equation E=mc². His groundbreaking work laid the foundation for modern physics and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921. Despite facing numerous challenges, including fleeing Nazi Germany, Einstein’s contributions to science and his advocacy for peace and human rights have left an indelible mark on the world.

2. Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks (1913-2005) was an American civil rights activist whose refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955 sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Her act of defiance became a symbol of the struggle for racial equality and helped propel the civil rights movement forward. Parks’ bravery and commitment to justice continue to inspire generations.

3. Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was an Italian Renaissance polymath whose contributions spanned art, science, and engineering. Best known for masterpieces like the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper,” da Vinci’s work exemplifies the blend of art and scientific inquiry. His detailed studies and inventive designs have influenced countless fields, making him one of history’s most celebrated geniuses.

4. Marie Curie

Marie Curie (1867-1934) was a pioneering physicist and chemist who conducted groundbreaking research on radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to have won Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields (Physics and Chemistry). Curie’s work not only advanced scientific understanding but also paved the way for future generations of women in science.

5. Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and the first black president of South Africa. Imprisoned for 27 years for his activism, Mandela emerged as a global symbol of resistance to apartheid and a leader in the fight for racial equality. His presidency and lifelong dedication to peace and reconciliation have left a lasting legacy on the world stage.

6. Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall (1934-Present) is a British primatologist and anthropologist known for her groundbreaking studies of chimpanzees in Tanzania. Her observations and research have transformed our understanding of primates and their behaviors. Goodall’s commitment to conservation and animal welfare has made her an influential advocate for environmental sustainability.

7. Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs (1955-2011) was an American entrepreneur and co-founder of Apple Inc. Known for his visionary leadership and innovation, Jobs played a crucial role in the development of revolutionary products like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. His impact on technology and consumer electronics has shaped the modern digital landscape and continues to influence the industry.

8. Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai (1997-Present) is a Pakistani education activist and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. After surviving a Taliban assassination attempt for advocating girls’ education, Malala co-authored her memoir “I Am Malala” and founded the Malala Fund to champion education for girls worldwide. Her courage and advocacy work have made her a global symbol of resilience and empowerment.

9. Walt Disney

Walt Disney (1901-1966) was an American animator, film producer, and entrepreneur, best known for creating Disney Studios and iconic characters like Mickey Mouse. His innovative spirit and storytelling revolutionized the entertainment industry, leading to the creation of Disneyland and Disney World. Disney’s legacy lives on through his beloved films and theme parks.

10. Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) was an American aviator and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her daring spirit and achievements in aviation made her an international icon and a symbol of women’s empowerment. Despite her mysterious disappearance during an attempted around-the-world flight, Earhart’s legacy continues to inspire future generations of aviators and adventurers.

More Biography Samples & Examples in PDF

1. biography sample.

2. Biography of Heroes and Heroines

3. Social Biography

4. Author Biography

5. Short Biography

6. Student Biography

7. Historical  Biography Example

8. Object Biography

9. Features of Biography

10. Biography Example PDF

Types of Biography

Biographies come in various forms, each offering a unique perspective on an individual’s life. Understanding the types of biographies can help readers choose the one that best suits their interest or research needs. Here are the main types:

1. Autobiography

• Written by the subject themselves, an autobiography is a self-narrated account of one’s life. It provides personal insights and perspectives, offering a detailed look into the author’s experiences, thoughts, and feelings.
• Focus: Personal journey, challenges, successes, and reflections.
• A memoir is a subset of autobiography but focuses more on specific aspects or periods of the writer’s life rather than a comprehensive life history. It often explores themes, emotions, and personal growth.
• Focus: Emotional journey, significant events, or relationships.

3. Biography

• A biography is an account of someone’s life written by someone else. It covers various aspects of the subject’s life, including their achievements, personal life, and impact on society.
• Focus: Objective analysis, historical context, and comprehensive life story.

4. Authorized Biography

• Authorized biographies are written with the subject’s permission, cooperation, or endorsement. This access can lead to more detailed and personal insights but may also reflect the subject’s bias or desired legacy.
• Focus: Collaborative storytelling, often with direct input from the subject.

5. Unauthorized Biography

• Written without the subject’s permission, unauthorized biographies might offer a more critical or controversial perspective. They rely on public records and third-party interviews, which can lead to disputes about accuracy.
• Focus: Independent research, potentially revealing unknown aspects.

6. Academic Biography

• These biographies are written with a focus on scholarly research, often detailing the subject’s contributions to a specific field. They are usually well-documented and cited, aiming for academic audiences.
• Focus: Scholarly analysis, contributions to the field, and historical impact.

7. Collective Biography

• Also known as group biography, it explores the lives of a group of individuals who share a common theme, profession, or period. It provides a broader perspective on the impact of a collective group.
• Focus: Group dynamics, collective contributions, and shared experiences.

8. Fictional Biography

• These are imaginative accounts that blend facts with fiction, often to fill in gaps in historical records or to create a more engaging narrative. While based on real people, these stories are partly or largely fictionalized.
• Focus: Entertainment, speculative history, and narrative creativity.

Different Aspects of Biography

Biographies encompass several dimensions that contribute to their depth and appeal. Understanding these aspects can enhance both the reading and writing of biographies, offering a more comprehensive view of the subject’s life.

1. Historical Context

This aspect involves placing the subject’s life within the broader historical period in which they lived. It includes the examination of social, political, and cultural events that influenced or were influenced by the subject.

2. Personal Background

This covers the subject’s family origins, upbringing, education, and early life experiences. It helps to understand the foundation upon which they built their achievements and character.

3. Career and Achievements

A critical focus is often on the subject’s professional life, including their career path, significant achievements, contributions to their field, and any obstacles they overcame along the way.

4. Psychological Dimension

Exploring the subject’s personality, motivations, values, and internal struggles offers insights into their actions and decisions. This aspect adds depth, showing the human behind the accomplishments.

5. Personal Relationships

The examination of key relationships in the subject’s life, including family, friends, mentors, and rivals, reveals how these interactions influenced their journey and development.

6. Impact and Legacy

Assessing the subject’s long-term impact on their field, community, or the world highlights their lasting legacy. This includes their influence on future generations, societal changes, or advancements in their area of expertise.

7. Controversies and Challenges

Addressing any controversies, criticisms, or significant challenges faced by the subject provides a balanced view of their life, showcasing resilience, perseverance, or, in some cases, their vulnerabilities.

8. Cultural and Social Contributions

This aspect looks at the subject’s contributions beyond their professional achievements, including their role in societal movements, cultural shifts, philanthropy, and public service.

Characteristics of a Biography

A biography is a detailed account of a person’s life written by someone else. Here are the key characteristics of a biography:

1. Fact-Based

Biographies are based on factual information about the person’s life, including dates, places, and events. They rely on verifiable data and aim to provide an accurate portrayal of the individual.

2. Chronological Structure

Biographies typically follow a chronological order, starting from the subject’s birth and proceeding through their life events. This structure helps readers understand the progression of the person’s life and the context of their achievements.

3. Comprehensive Coverage

A good biography covers all significant aspects of the person’s life, including their childhood, education, career, personal relationships, and major life events. It provides a holistic view of the individual.

4. Detailed and Descriptive

Biographies often include detailed descriptions of events, people, and places. They provide context and background information to help readers understand the significance of the subject’s experiences.

5. Focus on Achievements and Impact

Biographies highlight the subject’s achievements, contributions, and the impact they had on their field or society. This focus helps readers appreciate the individual’s importance and legacy.

6. Personal Anecdotes and Stories

Incorporating personal anecdotes and stories makes a biography more engaging and relatable. These elements provide insight into the subject’s personality, character, and motivations.

7. Objective and Balanced

While biographies may reflect the author’s perspective, they strive to present a balanced and objective view of the subject. They include both positive and negative aspects of the person’s life, providing a nuanced portrayal.

8. Use of Primary and Secondary Sources

Biographies rely on primary sources (such as letters, diaries, interviews) and secondary sources (such as books, articles, documentaries) to gather information. The use of credible sources ensures the accuracy and reliability of the content.

9. Exploration of Influences and Motivations

A biography often explores the influences and motivations behind the subject’s actions and decisions. This exploration helps readers understand the factors that shaped the individual’s life and career.

10. Narrative Style

Biographies are written in a narrative style, telling the story of the person’s life in a compelling and engaging manner. This style makes the biography enjoyable to read and helps maintain the reader’s interest.

What is included in a Biography?

A biography provides a comprehensive account of a person’s life, detailing significant events, achievements, and influences. Here are the key components typically included in a biography:

1. Basic Information

• Date and Place of Birth
• Date and Place of Death (if applicable)
• Nationality

2. Early Life and Background

• Family Background : Information about parents, siblings, and other family members.
• Childhood Experiences : Notable events, upbringing, and early interests.
• Education : Schools attended, academic achievements, and notable teachers or mentors.

3. Career and Major Achievements

• Career Beginnings : First jobs or roles and how the person started in their field.
• Significant Positions and Roles : Important jobs, titles, and responsibilities held.
• Major Achievements : Key accomplishments, awards, and recognitions.
• Impact and Contributions : How their work or actions influenced their field or society.

4. Personal Life

• Relationships : Information about significant relationships, marriages, and children.
• Hobbies and Interests : Personal interests, hobbies, and activities outside of their professional life.
• Challenges and Struggles : Personal or professional obstacles and how they were overcome.

5. Influences and Motivations

• Influences : People, events, or experiences that significantly influenced their life and career.
• Motivations : Insights into what drove them to achieve their goals and aspirations.

6. Anecdotes and Personal Stories

• Memorable Events : Interesting or significant stories from their life.
• Personal Quotes : Quotations that capture their personality or philosophy.
• Lasting Impact : How they are remembered and their long-term contributions to their field or society.
• Recognition and Honors : Posthumous honors, awards, or memorials.

8. Illustrative Material

• Photographs : Images of the person at various stages of their life.
• Documents : Important letters, awards, certificates, or other relevant documents.

Biography vs. Autobiography

How to Write a Biography

A well-written biography allows readers to have insight into the person’s life. Examples of well-written biographies include Steve Jobs a biography written by Walter Isaacson and Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore. If you are still confused about biographies and are still unsure about the whole writing process you may look at the biography examples, samples , and PDFs on the list above.

1.Obtain Permission from the Individual

Begin by obtaining permission from the individual you are writing about. Biographies can be made without the permission of the chosen individual, but having the permission of the individual will help provide more substantial information and gives you access to the thoughts of the chosen individual. Not only that, but their approval will also increase the chances of you being able to interview your chosen individual.

2.Research the Individual

Regardless if you have obtained the permission of the chosen individual, you will need to research the life of your subject. This means you must read articles, reports, and various articles all about the life of your subject. Not only must you read, but you must also interview people associated with and related to your subject’s life. Because of the factual nature of a biography , you must ensure that the data and information you are providing are factual, accurate, and credible.

3.Create a Timeline of Events

After you have completed your research, you will need to create a timeline of the events the subject has lived through. This will help create an outline and a reference that you can in your writing. Not only that but it will also help root out any inconsistencies in the information you have gathered or researched.

4.Write the Biography

Using the timeline, write down the biographical information of the person. Note that this step will be the longest and may take months or even years to accomplish.

5.Write Down Your Thoughts and Opinions.

After you have finished the biography properly, you can write down your thoughts and feelings about the biography to give it a bit of a personal flair and touch. This will help connect you to your target audience. When you have finished with everything, be sure to edit and revise the contents of the biography as you see fit.

How is a biography structured?

A biography typically follows a chronological structure, starting from the subject’s birth and covering significant life events, achievements, and influences in sequence.

What sources are used in a biography?

Biographies use various sources like interviews, letters, diaries, official documents, and historical records to provide accurate and comprehensive information.

Why are biographies important?

Biographies offer insights into the lives of influential individuals, highlighting their contributions and the impact they had on society and history.

Can a biography be biased?

Yes, a biography can reflect the biographer’s perspective and potential biases, although it aims to be objective and balanced.

What is the difference between an authorized and unauthorized biography?

An authorized biography is approved by the subject or their estate, while an unauthorized biography is written without their permission or input.

Who can write a biography?

Anyone with access to reliable information and the ability to research and write comprehensively can write a biography.

How long does it take to write a biography?

Writing a biography can take several months to years, depending on the depth of research and the complexity of the subject’s life.

What makes a biography compelling?

A compelling biography includes detailed descriptions, personal anecdotes, and insights that make the subject’s life story engaging and relatable.

How do biographers verify their information?

Biographers verify information through cross-referencing multiple sources, conducting interviews, and reviewing historical records and documents.

Can a biography include fictional elements?

No, biographies should be factual and based on verifiable information. Fictional elements are not appropriate for a biography.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

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WTO / Letters and Emails / Introduction / 30 Personal Biography Examples & Free Templates

30 Personal Biography Examples & Free Templates

In today’s competitive job market, understanding the skill and art of writing a personal biography that captures your target audience’s attention is essential. A professionally written and optimised biography defines your brand and creates a great first impression anytime your potential employer, client, or someone at a networking event googles you online.

However, writing a personal biography is probably the most difficult task you will ever have. This is simply because it requires you to have polished and developed writing skills as well as intricate self-analysis skills. Mastering the art of writing a great biography also demands that you have a professional and effective self-analysis presentation.

Nonetheless, this should not scare you much, as this article is specifically written to help you understand the importance of writing an effective personal biography that sells your brand out there without being too self-promotional or too flat. Continue reading to find out more about personal biographies.

What is a Personal Biography?

A personal biography is a concise introduction that provides a summarised version of an individual’s professional accomplishments, educational and professional qualifications, as well as any other additional information that makes them who they are.

Personal bios are often used when seeking employment, on professional websites, and during networking events to give people a clear insight into what you are and what brand you represent.

Personal Biography (Examples & Templates)

Biography Vs. Autobiography

A biography, an autobiography, and a memoir both tell a person’s life story. Distinguishing between these three formats can be challenging as they both have some common similarities. However, there are some distinct differences between these three formats, as is discussed in the section that follows:

A biography is the life history of an individual, authored by someone else.

On the other hand;

An autobiography is the story of an individual’s life, written by themselves.

One major distinguishing factor between a biography and an autobiography is that the author of a biography is not the subject. The biographer writes about the subject’s life history and the events that shaped their lives from various research sources such as reference books, essays, photographs, diaries, letters, interviews, etc. In an autobiography, the author is the subject, and he/she is the main character of the story. Thus, autobiographies tend to be more subjective.

A biography is usually written to inform and establish context. In contrast, an autobiography is written to inform and describe the motivation and thoughts behind the author’s actions and decisions. An autobiography offers access to the personal thoughts and feelings of the author as they are the subject. At the same time, a biography has restricted access to the subject’s thoughts and feelings since the author is not the main character of the story.

A biography is written in the third person format, while an autobiography is written in the first person. The final difference between a biography and an autobiography is that a biography can be written anytime, while in the case of an autobiography, the account is written later in the subject’s life.

6 Steps to Write a Personal Biography

Now that you have already understood what a personal biography is and you are better positioned to distinguish between a biography and an autobiography, the next thing you should understand is how to effectively draft a professional biography. When writing a personal biography, you should have a few important things at the back of your mind. These items are usually standard, and they apply to almost all professional bios.

Follow these simple steps to craft your personal biography as a pro:

• Write a proper self-introduction
• Make your personal biography brief
• Write it in the third person format using third-person pronouns
• Include a well-planned story

Provide your contact information

• Before submitting your biography, review it thoroughly

These points are elaborated below :

Write a proper self introduction

Knowing how to introduce yourself properly is the first step of writing a great personal biography. I know you might be wondering how to introduce yourself properly . It is simple- Write your name first! Your readers need to know who you are before they proceed reading to find out what you do. Remember that your most important details, such as your education, accomplishments, and certifications, should be written in the first sentence.

After writing a nice introductory paragraph that sparks interest, write your passions, values, and general outlook on life professionally and humanly. You can achieve this by highlighting your key skills, the attributes that make you exceptional in whatever you, your personal values that helped shape what you are currently, and the goals that you have in your professional life.

Keep your personal biography brief

Determining the length of the bio before finishing it might seem like a daunting thing. But you must narrow down your information to make the entire biography brief. Depending on your primary focus and purpose of the biography, your word count can vary.

Suppose you are writing your personal bio from an SEO perspective. Then the more the words, the better. If you are writing your personal biography on a resume or job-search site such as LinkedIn, keep your word count between 300-600 words. You should use either a single paragraph or a few short paragraphs to explain precisely who you are. Keeping your bio concise helps you capture your audience’s attention and encourage them to read the rest of your bio.

While writing a bio for your professional website, the total word count should be 1500 -2000 words . In this scenario, include as many details as possible but don’t be too detailed either.

When writing your personal biography, it is very important that you include your purpose for writing the given bio. You should be able to answer the “ wh y” and “ what ” questions properly to the reader. After providing the reader with the purpose for your writing the bio, talk about the professional goals you have accomplished so far, the kind of awards and accolades you have received, if any, and whether or not you have exceeded your job goals and responsibilities- especially if your reader is a potential employee or client.

The next thing to include in your bio should be your background history. Give a brief but detailed explanation of your history, considering the aspects of your personal background that contributed to who you are today. While writing this section, highlight the events of your personal life that shaped your career line.

After that, talk about your educational background and the credentials that you have. In this section, you can write about where you schooled, what you studied for, and include educational awards or certificates you received from the various schools you attended.

If you have much information that you feel should be part and parcel of your biography, remember to organize this information, starting with the most important to the least important to encourage your reader to keep on reading. While at it, don’t forget to remove any irrelevant information that does not align with your bio’s purpose to guard your credibility.

Write your biography in the third-person format

As seen earlier, biographies are usually written in the third person. This makes them sound more objective and unbiased. While writing in the third person is difficult for most people- I mean, how do you talk about yourself in the third person? It is very beneficial to do so- especially informal settings.

From an SEO perspective, writing in the third person allows you to include your full names. This is very useful as it helps tell the reader that the piece provided is about you. However, avoid overusing your name as it makes the whole thing unnatural. Your name in a bio should come out as a natural inclusion. Only include it when it is appropriate.

Write a well-planned story

When drafting your personal bio, it is easier to find yourself talking more about your accomplishments instead of anything else. In as much as it is important to write about your achievements, avoid over mentioning them. Your bio should go over and beyond your awards and get to the core of who you are and what your brand is about. This might seem challenging, but if you plan your list well, you will achieve this. While writing this part, ask yourself questions like, who is your audience? What lesson do you want to convey? Which life events in your life best illustrate those main points? Convert your biography to a compelling story that engages the reader and draws their attention to want to know you more.

Once you master the art of writing your personal biography as a story, you are allowing yourself the chance to differentiate yourself from others and connect with the reader. Remember to focus only on accomplishments that relate to a variety of professional skills or the ones that relate to your proficiency and competence.

Your contact information should appear in the last sentence of your personal biography and should be easily visible. This is especially true if you are writing a bio that you will later publish on your website. Providing your contact information encourages your readers to communicate with you as it makes you appear like an open-minded and approachable person. You can include your email address, a link to your professional social media pages such as LinkedIn and Twitter, or a link to your contact page. However, you should be aware of online scammers.

Edit thoroughly

Your bio needs to reflect you in the best way possible. Therefore, it should be updated regularly and edited every time you achieve something new. A well-written, regularly updated personal biography is like a well-optimized search engine. As you gain more experience or, rather, whenever you shift your professional focus, you should always update those changes in your bio.

Writing a personal biography is a continuous process. The work is never truly finished. Therefore, after drafting your longer version of the personal bio that you intend to use on your website or for job-searching reasons, keep in mind that you will have to update it later and edit it where necessary.

After writing your bio, make sure to edit it thoroughly to ensure that it is grammatically correct and well-punctuated. This way, you will write a great personal bio that keeps your readers engaged and glued to your story. You can edit your work using online editing software such as Grammarly. You can read your work out loud to identify areas that need grammatical improvement, and you can ask a friend or family member who is objective to go through your piece and provide honest feedback on areas that need to be improved. It is also important that you avoid editing your work as you write. Instead, edit the entire document once it is complete to achieve a smoother flow.

Tips to Appear Professional in Personal Biography

To write a personal biography that will make you different from the rest of the crowd, you must understand how to make an all-important human connection while creatively showcasing your major accomplishments. It would be best if you do not come out as all-boastful to your readers.

Here are some of the best tips to make your personal bio noticeable:

Use humor where it is appropriate

Using humor in your personal biography is a great way of connecting with your audience. While you should maintain a professional tone throughout your piece, it is a good idea to include a humorous note upfront or at the end of your bio. However, you should first understand your target audience and know what type of joke is appropriate. Making your audience laugh as they read your story helps create a lasting impression on them, thus setting you apart from your peers.

Provide a link to your portfolio

The primary goal of writing a personal bio is to showcase yourself out there and to tell your readers what you have done. Nevertheless, you cannot fully achieve this goal if you fail to include links to examples of your best work in that given field. The links that you provide should anchor and illustrate what you’ve already described yourself. They should not contradict the main thrust of your personal narrative or be a distraction to your readers.

If you have a lot of work and accomplishments to choose from, just pick what you feel is most important, impressive, relevant, or one that tells your story in a way that makes you feel proud. While providing the links to your work, ensure that you use relevant anchor text. The words you choose to use should tell your readers what to expect when they click on the links you’ve provided.

Utilize search engine optimization

Your personal biography should be search engine friendly. This means that you have to watch your word count and make it longer. Your content should also be original, and you should write in the third-person format using third-person pronouns. Search engines value diversity. So, if you use the same bio for many sites, the chances are that only one of them will pop up on the first page of your search results, which most readers tend to overlook.

If you use various personal bios across different sites, then it is most likely that several of your bios will appear on your search engine results, meaning that you will end up with a wider online presence.

Other approaches that you can use to improve your SEO include; using relevant keywords that are related to your field or industry, including links to your social media pages such as Twitter and LinkedIn, adding a professional photo of you that is High-Definition quality, and including internal links to your website or outside work where applicable. All these methods are aimed to promote and market your brand to your readers.

Manage your online presence

Personal biographies are essential, but they only form part of your personal brand. The rest of your online presence should connect with your personal biography rather than contradicting it. This means that you have to find ways to manage your online presence.

First, you need to ensure that all the photos and posts posted on your websites, portfolios, and social media sites are professional. Secondly, countercheck the skills and tone across all your channels online to make sure that it is consistent. Lastly, consider googling yourself online to check for inappropriate or incorrect information about you or your brand.

By doing this, you are allowing yourself an opportunity to convey a consistent and compelling message that you want your readers and prospective employers to come away with.

Do not write in list form

A bio is not a resume. Therefore, avoid writing it in list form. You should not just give a list of your jobs and career awards and recognitions. Rather, present your professional life as a story using story-telling techniques.

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the purpose of the biography. If you are writing a bio for your social media page or for a job-searching site, keep it short. Your word count should be somewhere between 200-300 words . From an SEO perspective, the length of your bio should be longer. The word count should be around 1500-2000 words . The same applies to when you are writing a personal biography for your official website. In these scenarios, you should include more details while remaining relevant to the scope of your work.

Biographies portray the experiences and events that have occurred in a person’s life. Therefore, they are written chronologically, starting with the person’s early life, educational background, personal achievements, and professional accomplishments. However, shorter bios tend to focus more on one specific area in a person’s life.

A personal biography is a well-written short account of who you are, your academic qualifications and your most notable accomplishments in life. Personal biographies shouldn’t be too wordy. They should focus more on what is most important. Personal biographies should not portray you as being too boastful. Instead, you should use your bio to showcase your achievements creatively and tell your story in a good and compelling way that leaves a lasting impression on your potential employers and readers. This way, you will differentiate yourself from your peers and have a better chance of getting your dream job in today’s competitive job market.

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27 of the Best Professional Bio Examples I've Ever Seen [+ Templates]

Published: December 20, 2023

As a writer, I have to let readers and potential clients know my expertise, my skills, and why they should work with me or be interested in what I say. So, a professional bio is a must in my industry.

Though I'm definitely familiar with professional bios, I can admit they can be challenging. What do I include? What do readers need to know?

As daunting as writing a professional bio can be, professional bios are crucial when applying for jobs, seeking new clients, or networking. A professional bio also gives the world a brief snapshot of you and your professional ideals.

If you‘re at a loss for how to write a professional bio that packs a punch, I’ve got you covered. In this journey, tools like HubSpot’s user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder can be instrumental in showcasing your professional bio online with ease and style.

I will walk you through how to write a professional bio that you can proudly publish, provide professional bio templates, and show you the best professional bio examples you can get inspiration from.

What is a professional bio?

Professional bio templates, how to write a professional bio, best professional bio examples, how to write a short bio.

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A professional bio or biography is a short overview of your experience. Professional bios usually include details about education, employment, achievements, and relevant skills.

Purpose of Professional Bios

A bio tells an audience about who you are, what you've done, and what you can do. It can help potential employers, fans, or customers understand your personality and what you stand for.

Writing a bio without a clear starting point is challenging — believe me, I've tried. To ease the process, here are some templates I put together to get you started.

I‘ve found it’s best to keep your professional bio honest and to the point. Too long of a bio, and you risk losing your audience's attention. After all, audiences will only read a web page for less than a minute before clicking elsewhere.

And honesty is key because most consumers and clients won‘t invest in someone or something if it doesn’t seem trustworthy. In fact, 67% of consumers say they must trust a brand before investing in its products or services.

"Plus," she adds, "I'm always happy to talk about my cats at any given moment. You never know when a fellow cat mom could be reading."

Values and Work Approach

Your values can sometimes show your work ethic more effectively than your career path. It can also help you endear yourself to employers and colleagues who want to work with people with similar values.

So don‘t be shy: Share how you incorporate your values into your work. Whether it’s a commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, or ethical decision-making, explain what drives you and be enthusiastic about it.

Your Personality

Remember: Your bio should always include a taste of your personality! Your sense of humor, creativity, or collaborative nature could all give readers a sense of who you are. This helps readers connect with you on a more personal level.

Remember to tailor your bio for different platforms and audiences. Also, keep it concise and impactful while highlighting the most relevant information in each context.

First-Person Bio vs. Third-Person Bio

While first-person bios are common, third-person bios can be more effective in formal situations.

Your decision to write your professional bio in the first or third person depends on your desire to leave a more personable or assertive impression.

Both approaches work, provided you tailor them to your goals and audience. What’s important is to be clear and tell your story in a way that connects with your reader.

How to Write a First-Person Bio

Writing in the first person can be a great way to connect with your audience when building a personal brand. When you write a first-person bio, use "I" or "me" to make yourself relatable and approachable.

Here's one way I’d write a first-person bio:

"I'm a freelance writer specializing in small business content. I've worked with companies in a variety of industries like home care to fine leather goods."

Speaking in the first person here connects you with a client or brand based on your experience and opinions. Put another way, writing a first-person bio is like telling your story to your audience.

Here are a few tips to make your first-person bio great:

Don’t start every sentence with "I."

Showing instead of telling is a great approach.

Let’s say you’re a writer who wants to create a short professional bio. Instead of saying, "I love to write," you can say, "Writer. Bad but enthusiastic dancer."

This portrays your writing skill, shows your personality outside of writing as a dancer, and includes a little sense of humor, which is essential for a writer.

Remember, you know yourself better than anyone.

Adding a back story to your bio helps create context for the roles and successes you write about. Think of it like a case study about who you were, what you are now, and the process that got you to your current position.

Focus on valuable details.

Quick facts about you can showcase your identity and values. For example, if you're writing a bio for LinkedIn, think about how to tie your hobby into what you do.

Let's say Animal Crossing is your hobby. Does it align with your career aspirations? It can be a great addition to your bio if you want to pursue a video game career.

However, if your interests lie elsewhere, including a more relevant hobby is better.

How to Write a Third-Person Bio

Third-person bios sound more authoritative and objective. So, if you’re job searching in a formal industry, applying for grants, or trying to get published, you may want to stick to the third person.

For instance, when you write a third-person bio, you may start with:

"Jasmine Montgomery is a Senior Hiring Manager at L’Oreal based in New York. She recruits across several business units to connect with the brightest talent from around the globe."

By only using your name and pronouns to speak about yourself here, you are letting your title and skill set speak for themselves.

These bios create distance between the subject of the bio (you) and the reader through a third person. This person could be anyone, but they usually speak in a tone emphasizing their expertise.

This makes third-person bios feel aloof or overly formal sometimes.

Ideally, your third-person bio should sound friendly but polished, like a message from a close colleague at work. Here are a few tips on how to write a great third-person bio.

Write from the perspective of someone you know and trust.

It can be challenging to write about yourself, so try to see yourself from the perspective of your favorite person at work or a mentor you trust. This can help you write from a position of authority without feeling self-conscious.

Show the reader why they should trust your opinion.

A professional bio often reflects a specific industry or niche. With this in mind, your text should include relevant details that professionals in your industry know. Avoid jargon whenever you can.

Remember, you're telling a story.

If you want a third-person bio, but you're used to writing in first-person, it may help to write it the most comfortable way for you.

Your professional bio is an essential piece of writing, so edit it carefully. Edit your writing from both points of view and see which works best for your target audience.

Here's how to write a professional bio, step by step.

• Create an 'About' page for your website or profile.
• Begin writing your bio with your first and last name.
• Mention any associated brand name you might use.
• State your current position and what you do.
• Include at least one professional accomplishment.
• Describe your values and how they inform your career.
• Briefly tell your readers who you are outside of work.
• Use humor or a personal story to add flavor to your professional bio.

If you’re anything like me, you probably don't think about your professional bio until you’re asked to "send one over via email."

You have one afternoon to come up with it, so you scramble together a bio that ends up reading like this:

"Rodney Erickson is a content marketing professional at HubSpot, a CRM platform that helps companies attract visitors, convert leads, and close customers.

Previously, Rodney worked as a marketing manager for a tech software startup. He graduated with honors from Columbia University with a dual degree in Business Administration and Creative Writing."

To be fair, in certain contexts, your professional bio needs to be more formal, like Mr. Erickson's up there. But there are also cases where writing a personable and conversational bio is good.

Whether you choose the formal or casual route, use the following steps to create a perfect bio.

1. Create an 'About' page for your website or profile.

You need an online space to keep your professional bio. Here are a few to consider (some of these you might already have in place):

• Facebook Business page .
• Industry blog byline .
• Instagram account .
• Personal website .
• LinkedIn profile .
• Industry website .
• Personal blog .

As you'll see in the professional bio examples below, the length and tone of your bio will differ depending on the platforms you use.

Instagram, for example, allows only 150 characters of bio space, whereas you can write as much as you want on your website or Facebook Business page.

2. Begin writing your bio with your first and last name.

If your readers remember nothing else about your bio, they should remember your name. Therefore, it's a good idea for your first and last name to be the first two words of your professional bio.

Even if your name is printed above this bio (hint: it should), this is a rare moment where it's okay to be redundant.

For example, if I were writing my bio, I might start it like this:

Lindsay Kolowich

Lindsay Kolowich is a Senior Marketing Manager at HubSpot.

3. Mention any associated brand name you might use.

Will your professional bio represent you or a business you work for? Ensure you mention the brand you associate with in your bio. If you're a freelancer, you may have a personal business name or pseudonym you advertise to your clients.

Here are a few examples:

• Lindsay Kolowich Marketing.
• SEO Lindsay.
• Kolowich Consulting.
• Content by Kolowich (what do you think ... too cheesy?).

Maybe you founded your own company and want its name to be separate from your real name. Keep it simple like this: "Lindsay Kolowich is the founder and CEO of Kolowich Consulting."

4. State your current position and what you do.

Whether you're the author of a novel or a mid-level specialist, use the following few lines of your bio to describe what you do in that position. Refrain from assuming your audience knows what your job title entails.

Make your primary responsibilities known so readers can know you and understand what you offer to your industry.

5. Include at least one professional accomplishment.

Just as a business touts its client successes through case studies, your professional bio should let your audience know what you've achieved.

What have you done for yourself — as well as for others — that makes you a valuable player in your industry?

6. Describe your values and how they inform your career.

Why do you do what you do? What might make your contribution to the market different from your colleagues? What are the values that make your business a worthwhile investment to others?

Create a professional bio that answers these questions.

7. Briefly tell your readers who you are outside of work.

Transition from describing your values in work to defining who you are outside of work. This may include:

• Your family.
• Your hometown.
• Sports you play.
• Hobbies and interests.
• Favorite music and travel destinations.
• Side hustles you're working on.

People like connecting with other people. The more transparent you are about who you are personally, the more likable you'll be to people reading about you.

8. Use humor or a personal story to add flavor to your professional bio.

End your professional bio on a good or, more specifically, a funny note. By leaving your audience with something quirky or unique, you can ensure they'll leave your website with a pleasant impression of you.

Following the steps above when writing your bio is important, but take your time with one section. People consume lots of information daily. So ensure your bio hooks 'em in the first line, and you won’t lose them.

(P.S. Want to boost your professional brand? Take one of HubSpot Academy's free certification courses . In just one weekend, you can add a line to your resume and bio that over 60,000 marketers covet.)

Why Good Bios Are Important for a Professional

You may think, "How many people read professional bios, anyway?"

The answer: A lot. Though there's no way to tell who is reading it, you want it catchy. Your professional bio will delight the right people coming across it on multiple platforms.

Professional bios can live on your LinkedIn profile , company website, guest posts, speaker profiles, Twitter bio , Instagram bio , and many other places.

And most importantly, it‘s the tool you can leverage most when you’re networking.

Bottom line? People will read your professional bio. Whether they remember it or it makes them care about you is a matter of how well you present yourself to your intended audience.

So, what does a top-notch professional bio look like? Let‘s review a few sample bios for professionals like you and me. Then, we’ll cover bio examples from some of the best people in the industry.

Short Sample Bios

Your bio doesn't have to be complicated. Here are five samples to glean inspiration from.

Example 1: Friendly Sample Bio

"Hey! My name is Ryan, and I'm a marketing specialist passionate about digital advertising. I have five years of experience managing various online campaigns and improving brand visibility for clients across multiple verticals. I love analyzing consumer behavior and leveraging data-driven strategies to maximize ROI. Outside work, I enjoy traveling, taking funny photos, and exploring new hiking trails."

Example 2: Mid-Career Sample Bio

"Jennifer Patel is a versatile graphic designer known for her creative approach and attention to detail. With a background in visual arts and eight years of experience, Jennifer has worked on diverse projects ranging from logo designs to website layouts. Her ability to understand and translate client needs into visually striking designs sets her apart. Jennifer finds inspiration in nature, music, and pop culture."

Example 3: Sales Sample Bio

"I'm a seasoned sales executive with a track record of exceeding targets and building strong client relationships. With a background in B2B sales, I've built a natural ability to understand customer needs and consistently exceed quota every month. I pride myself in my communication skills and strategic approaches, which have helped me thrive in highly competitive markets such as SaaS sales. Outside work, I enjoy playing basketball and volunteering at local charities."

Example 4: HR Sample Bio

"I am a dedicated human resources professional with a passion for fostering a positive workplace culture and facilitating employee development. With eight years of experience in talent acquisition and HR operations, I've played a key role in building high-performing teams. I'm known for my strong interpersonal skills and ability to create inclusive and supportive work environments. In my free time, I enjoy practicing yoga and exploring new culinary experiences."

Example 5: Software Engineer Sample Bio

"David Chang is a senior software engineer specializing in backend development. With a strong background in computer science and six years of experience, David has successfully built scalable and efficient solutions for complex technical challenges. He is well-versed in various programming languages and frameworks like C++, Java, and Ruby on Rails. In his spare time, David enjoys reading science fiction novels and playing the guitar."

Below, we've curated some of the best professional bio examples we've ever seen on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and the various places you might describe yourself.

Check 'em out and use them as inspiration when crafting your own.

• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Author
• Chima Mmeje: SEO Content Writer
• DJ Nexus: DJ
• Lena Axelsson: Marriage & Family Therapist
• Mark Levy: Branding Firm Founder
• Audra Simpson: Political Anthropologist
• Marie Mikhail: Professional Recruiter
• Wonbo Woo: Executive Producer
• Chris Burkard: Freelance Photographer
• Lisa Quine: Creative Consultant
• Nancy Twine: Hair Care Founder
• Trinity Mouzon: Wellness Brand Founder
• Alberto Perez: Co-Founder of Zumba Fitness
• Ann Handley: Writer and Marketer

1. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie : Author

Bio platform: personal website.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie begins her professional bio with an invitation to her roots.

In a few paragraphs, she describes when and where she was born, her family, her education, her honorary degrees, and the depth of her work, which has been translated into 30 languages and several publications.

She can keep readers engaged by leading with a powerful hook that aligns with her target audience’s marketing needs.

• There’s clarity about who Chima serves.
• The hook is bold, catchy, and compels anyone to read further.
• Including client results makes clients visualize what they can expect.

3. DJ Nexus : DJ

Bio platform: facebook.

This New England-based DJ has single-handedly captured the Likes of over 2,000 people in and beyond Boston, MA. And even if you don‘t listen to the type of music he produces, it’s hard not to read his compelling Facebook bio.

For instance, consider his tagline, under "About" — " Quiet during the day. QUITE LOUD at night! " DJ Nexus tells you when he works awesomely. I got goosebumps just imagining a dance club where he might play music.

The second is the "long version," which is even more interesting than the first. Why? It reads like a story — a compelling one, at that. In fact, it gets hilarious in some parts.

The second sentence of the bio reads: "He was frightened of public school, loved playing baseball and football, ran home to watch ape films on the 4:30 Movie, listened to The Jam and The Buzzcocks, and read magic trick books."

Here's another excerpt from the middle:

It's a well-put value proposition that sets her apart from the rest of the HR industry.

Marie concludes her bio with a smooth mix of professional skills, like her Spanish fluency, and personal interests, such as podcasting and Star Wars (she mentions the latter with just the right amount of humor).

• Straight off the bat, Marie uses a story to share her experiences of how she began as a recruiter.
• It provides a subtle pitch for readers to check out her podcast.
• The bio exudes Maries approachable, fun, and playful personality.

8. Wonbo Woo : Executive Producer

Wonbo Woo is the executive producer of WIRED's video content and has several impressive credits to his name. What does this mean for his professional bio? He has to prioritize.

With this in mind, Wonbo opens his bio with the most eye-catching details first (if the image below is hard to read, click it to see the full copy ).

I wouldn‘t necessarily be inclined to follow Chris if his bio had simply read, "I post beautiful images." But images that inspire me to travel? Now that’s something I can get behind.

Last, he ends on a humble, sweet note: "He is happiest with his wife Breanne raising their two sons." So inject personal information into your bio — it makes you seem approachable.

• It highlights Chris’s achievement without bragging.
• The last sentence portrays Chris as a responsible man who loves his family.
• The well-written bio speaks to nature lovers who like the outdoors, surfing, and more. This gives them reasons to follow Chris.

10. Lisa Quine : Creative Consultant

Bio platform: portfolio website.

Creative professionals who specialize in visual art may find it challenging to balance the writing of their bio and displaying of their portfolio. Not Lisa Quine. Lisa has an exceptional balance of her professional bio and creative work.

Throughout her bio, you'll notice the number of murals she's completed and a brief timeline of her career. This helps her paint the picture of who she is as a professional.

The rest of her bio similarly focuses on Twine's strengths as someone who’s able to take hair care "back to basics."

Mouzon effectively grips the reader's attention with this introduction and then dives into some of her impressive accomplishments — including a brand now sold at Urban Outfitters and Target.

The language used throughout Mouzon's bio is authentic, real, and honest.

For instance, in the second paragraph, she admits:

"While building a brand may have looked effortless from the outside, starting a business at age 23 with no resources or funding quickly forced me to realize that early-stage entrepreneurship was anything but transparent."

As an avid Zumba fan, I was excited to include this one. Perez styles his LinkedIn bio as a short story, starting with his background as a hard-working teen who held three jobs by age 14.

His bio tells the fun and fascinating origin story of Zumba, in which Perez, an aerobics teacher in Florida at the time, forgot his music for class and used a Latin music cassette tape instead ... "And it was an instant hit!"

His bio continues:

"Shortly after he was connected to Alberto Periman and Alberto Aghion, and Zumba was officially created ... What started as a dream now has 15 million people in more than 200,000 locations in 186 countries who take Zumba classes every week."

There's something in there for everyone.

• The last section of the bio shows Ann’s warm personality — "Ann lives in Boston, where she is Mom to creatures two- and four-legged."
• Written in the third person, this bio has lots of proof (like followers), which shows Ann is a terrific marketing leader.

If you're posting a bio on a social media account or sending a quick blurb to a client, you want to keep it short and sweet while showcasing your accomplishments.

To get started, use these best practices for writing your short professional bio:

• Introduce yourself.
• State what you do.
• Add key skills or areas of expertise.
• Include a personal mission statement
• Celebrate your wins.
• Provide your contact information.
• Show them your personality.

1. Introduce yourself.

Your introduction is your first impression, so always begin by telling people who you are. You may start with a greeting like, "Hello, my name is" or "Hi! Let me first introduce myself …" when sending your bio as a message.

If you’re writing a bio for an online platform, stating your name at the beginning works as well.

Leading with your name — even as a question — is important for recognition and building relationships.

2. State what you do.

Give people an idea of what you do daily and where you work. Your job title is how the people put you into context and consider whether your profession relates to their industry.

So detail your most relevant work in your short bios, like CEO, professor, and author.

Take a cue from Angela Duckworth , who specifies what she does in her LinkedIn bio:

3. Add key skills or areas of expertise.

If you send a bio to a client or potential employer, highlight your most valuable skills. For instance, if your expertise is in social media marketing and content creation, like Ivanka Dekoning , list these skills.

• A joke. "Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. At least that’s what I learned when I created…"
• Mention a hobby. "I’ll be honest: for me, tennis is life — Go Nadal!"
• A fun fact. "Every year, I watch 100 new films! I’m a cinephile and love every movie genre."
• A few emojis related to your interests. "🎶🤖🎾🎬🎭"

Whichever way you choose to get personal, give people a glimpse into who you are as an individual.

When writing a short bio, it can be tempting to pack in as much relevant information about yourself as possible — but this isn’t the most effective approach.

Instead, focus on including the details that you and your audience care about most and leave out the fluff.

Let's dive into a few examples of short professional bios.

Short Professional Bio Examples

• Tristen Taylor: Marketing Manager
• Lianna Patch: Copywriter
• Precious Oboidhe: Content Strategist and Writer
• Rebecca Bollwitt: Writer
• Megan Gilmore: Cookbook Author
• Bea Dixon: Feminine Care Founder
• Tammy Hembrow: Instagram Influencer
• Dr. Cody: Chiropractor
• Larry Kim: Founder
• Dharmesh Shah: Founder and CTO
• Lily Ugbaja: Content Strategist
• Ian Anderson Gray: Marketer
• Van Jones: Political Commentator, Author, and Lawyer

1. Tristen Taylor: Marketing Manager

Bio platform: blog byline.

Tristen Taylor is a Marketing Manager here at HubSpot. She's written content for HubSpot's Marketing, Sales, and Customer Service blogs; her blog author bio is one of my favorites.

What I love most about Tristen's bio is that it’s a great example of how to deliver information about yourself that is relevant to your work while also sharing fun details that audiences will find relatable.

Her bio reads:

"Building from her experience with GoCo.io and Southwest Airlines, Tristen's work has been recognized by Marketing Brew and BLACK@INBOUND. She lives in Washington, DC, attending anime conventions and painting in her free time."

Gilmore further includes a CTA link within her Instagram bio that leads followers to free, ready-to-use recipes. You might think, " Why would she do that since it discourages people from buying her book?"

But that couldn't be further from the truth.

By giving her followers the chance to try out her recipes, she's slowly turning leads into customers. After I tried a few of her Instagram recipes and loved them, I bought her book, knowing I'd like more of what she offered.

• The bio is short and direct.
• The CTA link includes an invitation for people to join her newsletter. Meaning, she can build her email list.

6. Bea Dixon : Feminine Care Founder

Bea Dixon, Founder and CEO of The Honey Pot Company, efficiently uses the space on her Instagram profile to highlight who she is as a well-rounded human — not just a businesswoman.

For instance, while she highlights her girl boss attitude with a tiara emoji, she equally calls attention to her fashion interests (Free People), her pets, Boss and Sadie, and her love for ramen noodles.

What more do you need to know?

Ian doesn't take his bio too seriously but uses every character to highlight everything about him.

He includes his skills as a marketer and podcast host, who he is outside work as a dad, and what he can help you do. His smiles also give the bio a sense of humor and realness.

Don't forget to share this post!

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Lesson of The Day

Writing a Short Biography With Obituaries

In this lesson, we invite students to learn about obituary writing in The New York Times, and then write about someone who led an interesting life, using the format of an obituary.

By Erica Ackerberg

Lesson Overview

Featured Section: Obituaries

When the reporter Margalit Fox retired, she reflected on her career as an obituary writer at The New York Times: “Writing daily obits only reinforced what I had long suspected: It is the best beat in journalism. The reason is simple: In following their subjects from cradle to grave, obits are the most narrative genre in any daily paper. For a writer, there is little better than being paid to tell stories.”

Since 1851, hundreds of thousands of obituaries have appeared in The Times. In the most basic sense, an obituary is an announcement of someone’s death. But each one is also a life story: It highlights the impact a person had on the world and what made him or her special. Those you’ll see in the pages of The Times are usually of famous people, such as Hank Aaron or Betty White , but you’ll also find obituaries of lesser known, but otherwise newsworthy, people, like Betty King, who worked backstage at Carnegie Hall, and André Cassagnes , the inventor of the Etch A Sketch.

In this lesson, you will read some of the obituaries published in The New York Times to find out what they’re like, what kinds of information they typically include and how they are written. Then, you’ll research and write an obituary for someone who led an interesting life.

Curriculum Connections

Teachers, writing an obituary can help your students practice essential research, writing and storytelling skills. You can have them write obituaries for people they knew, notable figures or anyone else whose life story is worth knowing. Here are a few ideas for different subject areas:

An English teacher might have students write an obituary for a character from a shared class text to better understand who that person was, what was important to him or her and what effect he or she had on others in the book. Students could also write obituaries for authors or other important people from your curriculum.

A social studies teacher could do the same with a historical figure. A math or science teacher might pick an influential person from a field of study students are learning about.

Health or advisory teachers could use this lesson to talk about ways to remember and memorialize those who have died. They might engage students in discussion on how different cultures honor the dead.

Watch this trailer for a documentary about the Obituaries desk of The New York Times, and think about the following questions:

What does it mean that obituaries are a way “to make the dead live again”?

Does writing or reading about someone who has died feel depressing to you, or even creepy? Or, as with these obituary writers, do you find it intriguing?

Is there anyone whose life story you would like to tell? What made that person’s life special or meaningful?

Pick one of these obituaries to read. Or search through the Obituaries section to find one that interests you.

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More From Forbes

30 great biographies to bury yourself in.

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Jonathan Eig's "King: A Life," a biography of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., was ... [+] recognized as one of the best books of 2023.

Biographies offer a chance to explore the decision-making and circumstances around some of history’s most fascinating events. The best biography books offer fresh insights into familiar situations that you may have learned about in history class but never explored in-depth. You can learn the unexpected reasoning behind why a president went with option A instead of option B, or how a scientist’s early failures led to a groundbreaking discovery. Biographies often chronicle the lives of famous people, but sometimes they focus on people who never attained celebrity status despite doing extraordinary things. This list of the top biographies includes people of all backgrounds who can teach us things about life, passion, perseverance and more.

Top Biography Books

Biographies are different from autobiographies. A biography is an account of someone’s life written by someone else. An autobiography is an account of someone’s life that they write themselves. For instance, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin was written by the Founding Father. But more than two centuries later, Walter Isaacson wrote a biography of Benjamin Franklin.

Some of the most popular and well-known biographies include Isaacson’s recent book about Elon Musk, Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton , which inspired the musical about the former Secretary of the Treasury, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, about a woman who changed the course of modern medicine. The biographies on this list were selected based on critical acclaim, sales and impact on popular culture.

Cincinnati Reds great Pete Rose is the subject of one of the best biographies, a new one called ... [+] "Charlie Hustle."

30. Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball by Keith O'Brien (2024)

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The newest book on the list, this New York Times bestseller chronicles the highs and lows of baseball’s all-time hits leader, who was banned from the Hall of Fame for betting on baseball. Keith O’Brien looks at FBI records and press coverage to build a comprehensive portrait of the former Cincinnati Reds star.

This book is best for sports fans who want to go beyond Xs and Os. Keith O’Brien’s Charlie Hustle is available from Penguin Random House .

29. The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore (2021)

Kate Moore ( Radium Girls ) uncovers the story of Elizabeth Packard, a woman confined to a mental asylum in the 19 th century for daring to have opinions and push back against social norms by giving a voice to other women like herself. It earned a GoodReads Choice nomination for Best History & Biography.

This book is best for history buffs looking for lesser-known stories. Kate Moore’s The Woman They Could Not Silence is available from Sourcebooks .

28. The Doctors Blackwell: How Two Pioneering Sisters Brought Medicine to Women and Women to Medicine by Janice P. Nimura (2021)

Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female physician in the United States in 1849—and perhaps more remarkably, her sister, Emily, soon became the second. This New York Times bestseller traces their journeys and the founding of the famed New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children, the first U.S. hospital run by women.

This book is best for anyone interested in medical history, science pioneers or sibling rivarly. Janice P. Nimura ’s The Doctors Blackwell is available from W.W. Norton .

27. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin (2005)

There have been many biographies of the 16 th president, but this stands out for presenting his story based around his cabinet, which (as the title suggests) he stacked with his political enemies. Pulitzer Prize winner Doris Kearns Goodwin presents the story, which inspired Steven Spielberg ’s Oscar-winning movie Lincoln , like a fast-paced novel.

This book is best for those who enjoy the psychology of rivalries. Doris Kearns Goodwin ’s Team of Rivals is available from Simon & Schuster .

Author Doris Kearns Goodwin's Abraham Lincoln biography is one of the best reads about the 16th ... [+] president.

26. Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera (2002)

Arguably the most famous Mexican woman of her (or any) generation, Frida Kahlo has inspired many with her art. This biography in turn explores her own inspirations and influences, adding greater depth to her well-known romance with Diego Rivera and other stories. The San Francisco Chronicle said the book made Kahlo “fully human.”

This book is best for those who appreciate art or want to learn more about Mexican history. Hayden Herrera ’s Frida is available from HarperCollins .

25. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (2001)

Young mother Henrietta Lacks died of cancer in 1951, but her “immortal cells” live on today, fueling countless medical advances. Yet her family didn’t learn of her contributions until two decades later and didn’t profit from them. Journalist Rebecca Skloot uncovers the racism and disturbing history of discrimination within medicine while telling a human story.

This book is best for anyone who watched the Oprah Winfrey film about Lacks on HBO and wants to learn more. Rebecca Skloot ’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is available from Penguin Random House .

A painting of Henrietta Lacks hangs in the entryway of the Henrietta Lacks Community Center at Lyon ... [+] Homes in the Turner Station neighborhood of Baltimore. She is the subject of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," one of the best biographies.

24. Becoming Dr. Seuss by Brian Jay Jones (2019)

Rhyming isn’t easy, but Dr. Seuss made it look breezy. In this comprehensive look at the former advertising man’s life, Brian Jay Jones traces Theodor Geisel’s career trajectory to political cartoonist and author, as well as discussing some of the views that have received criticism in recent years.

This book is best for anyone who ever read a Dr. Seuss book, which is everyone. Brian Jay Jones ’ Becoming Dr. Seuss is available from Penguin Random House .

23. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (2011)

From his extreme diets to his trademark black turtlenecks, Steve Jobs was a man like none other, for better or worse. Esteemed biographer Walter Isaacson captures the nuance of his personality and the genius that drove him to create companies that made things people feel passionately about. The bestselling book became a 2015 movie.

This book is best for anyone who loves or hates Apple products. Walter Isaacson ’s Steve Jobs is available from Simon & Schuster .

Late Apple CEO Steve Jobs is the subject of an acclaimed biography by Walter Isaacson.

22. All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days by Rebecca Donner (2021)

This National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography made the best books of the year list for Time , The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times . It pulls back the curtain on the women who led the largest resistance groups against the Nazis in Germany, including the author’s great-great aunt.

This book is best for those looking for a new perspective on World War II. Rebecca Donner ’s All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days is available from Little, Brown & Co .

21. Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band by Christian Staebler and Sonia Paoloni, illustrated by Thibault Balahy (2020)

At what price does commercial success come? That question haunted musicians Pat and Lolly Vegas, Native American brothers who influenced stars like Jimi Hendrix and the Doors, as they rose to fame with the Redbone hit “Come and Get Your Love.” But they later shifted their focus to the American Indian Movement.

This book is best for fans of the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack and those looking for a different take on Native American history. Christian Staebler and Sonia Paoloni ’s Redbone is available from Penguin Random House .

20. The Vice President's Black Wife: The Untold Life of Julia Chinn by Amrita Chakrabarti Myers (2023)

Richard Mentor Johnson, vice president under Martin Van Buren, married enslaved Black woman Julia Ann Chinn. Though he refused to give her freedom, he did give her power on his estate. The relationship, which was likely not consensual, ultimately cost him his political career, and this book details how.

This book is best for fans of presidential history looking for untold stories. Amrita Chakrabarti Myers ’ The Vice President’s Black Wife is available from University of North Carolina Press .

19. Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff (2011)

Cleopatra may be the most famous woman in history, but her notoriety has overshadowed her incredible life and accomplishments. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Stacy Schiff adds depth to her story through a thoroughly researched history that also dispels misogynistic myths about the queen of Egypt.

This book is best for anyone curious about Egyptian history or who loves the classics . Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra is available from Little, Brown & Co .

Stacy Schiff wrote an outstanding biography of Egyptian queen Cleopatra.

18. All That She Carried by Tiya Miles (2021)

This National Book Award winner and New York Times bestseller chronicles a bag passed down from an enslaved woman to future generations, which becomes the starting point for this poignant and well-researched book about the generational impact of slavery.

This book is best for everyone and should be required reading to humanize topics too often glossed over in political debates. Tiya Miles ’ All That She Carried is available from Simon & Schuster .

17. Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S. C. Gwynne (2011)

Quanah Parker, the biracial son of a pioneer woman who became the last Comanche chief, battled white settlers over land in the American West for decades. The book traces both his personal story (he was undefeated in battle) and the greater implications of the stealing of tribal lands.

This book is best for those looking for new stories about the Old West. S.C. Gwynne ’s Empire of the Summer Moon is available from Simon & Schuster .

16. Becoming Nicole: The inspiring story of transgender actor-activist Nicole Maines and her extraordinary family by Amy Ellis Nutt (2016)

Nicole Maines rose to fame when she became the first transgender woman to play a superhero on TV. Chronicling her journey from adoption to getting the job on Supergirl , this Amazon Editors Pick and New York Times bestseller also shows how her family changed their views on gender identity and the impact on their community.

This book is best for fans of comic books. Amy Ellis Nutt ’s Becoming Nicole is available from Penguin Random House .

Actress Nicole Maines speaks at a "Supergirl" presentation at Comic-Con International. She's the ... [+] subject of a heralded biography.

15. Victoria: The Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire by Julia Baird (2016)

The Victoria depicted in history books is way too dry. An Esquire and New York Times pick for best book of 2016, Victoria illuminates how the future monarch went from fifth in line for the crown to a teenage queen to a mother of nine who somehow survived eight attempts on her life.

This book is best for anyone who’s ever struggled with work-life balance. Julia Baird’s Victoria is available from Penguin Random House .

14. The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs (2021)

This remarkable book draws a line between the mothers of three of the most important Black men in American history, celebrating Black motherhood and shining a light on how they resisted Jim Crow while bringing up their sons. It was named one of Amazon's Best Biographies and Memoirs of 2021.

This book is best for parents and anyone interested in civil rights. Anna Malaika Tubbs ’ The Three Mothers is available from Macmillan .

13. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (2004)

Lin-Manuel Miranda was so inspired by this Founding Father biography that he famously wrote some of the music for Hamilton on his honeymoon. Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Chernow follows Alexandar Hamilton from immigration to member of George Washington’s cabinet to death in a duel with his nemesis, Aaron Burr.

This book is best for fans of the Broadway show and presidential history. Ron Chernow ’s Alexander Hamilton is available from Penguin Random House .

"Hamilton" author Ron Chernow and the cast appear onstage at the opening night curtain call for ... [+] "Hamilton" at the Pantages Theatre on August 16, 2017 in Los Angeles.

12. The Crusades of Cesar Chavez: A Biography by Miriam Pawel (2014)

Pulitzer Prize winner Miriam Pawel tells the story of one of the most influential and revered U.S. labor leaders in this National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. She doesn't cover up his flaws, but she does illustrate why he was so successful while saluting his enduring humanity.

This book is best for those looking for deep dives on labor or Latine history. Miriam Pawel ’s The Crusades of Cesar Chavez is available from Macmillan .

11. Warhol by Blake Gopnik (2020)

Andy Warhol is so famous, you only need to mention his last name for instant recognition. Art critic Blake Gopnik blends understanding of Warhol’s medium with excellent research and conclusions to paint the most complete picture yet of one of the defining artists of the 20 th century.

This book is best for pop culture devotees and fans of art history. Blake Gopnik ’s Warhol is available from HarperCollins .

10. Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World by Bradley Hope and Tom Wright (2018)

The Financial Times and Fortune tabbed this one of the best books of 2018 for telling the unlikeliest of stories: How a Malaysian MBA used Goldman Sachs and other financial institutions to steal billions of dollars he used to pay for real estate, parties—and even the making of The Wolf of Wall Street .

This book is best for Hollywood and movie lovers. Bradley Hope and Tom Wright’s Billion Dollar Whale is available from Hachette Books .

9. The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks by Jeanne Theoharis (2013)

There’s so much more to Rosa Parks’ story than one day on a bus in Montgomery. Jeanne Theoharis takes a comprehensive look at her six decades of activism and why she wasn’t the “accidental catalyst” the history books have made her sound like, regaining Parks her agency.

This book is best for those who know how the Montgomery Bus Boycott began but don’t know about Parks’ earlier involvement in organizing. Jeanne Theoharis’ The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks is available from Penguin Random House .

8. American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin (2005)

The inspiration behind Christopher Nolan ’s summer’s blockbuster film Oppenheimer won the Pulitzer Prize and hit No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It tells J. Robert Oppenheimer’s life story, with a particular focus on the bomb and how it played into the Cold War.

This book is best for anyone who saw the movie and wants to know more. Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s American Prometheus is available from Penguin Random House .

"Oppenheimer" cast members Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh. The movie is ... [+] based on the prize-winning biography.

7. Self Made: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker by A'Lelia Bundles (2002)

Madam C.J. Walker, her enslaved parents’ first freeborn child, became one of the wealthiest women of her time. Entirely self-made, she used wealth gained from her cosmetics empire caring for Black hair to help uplift other women and connect with civil rights leaders. The author is Walker’s great-great granddaughter.

This book is best for people obsessed with the Forbes billionaire lists. A’Lelia Bundles ’ Self Made (originally titled On Her Own Ground) is available from Simon & Schuster .

6. Three Ordinary Girls: The Remarkable Story of Three Dutch Teenagers Who Became Spies, Saboteurs, Nazi Assassins—and WWII Heroes by Tim Brady (2021)

World War II is a hugely popular literary period, and here’s another worthy biography from that era, following the Nazi resistance efforts of Dutch teens Hannie Schaft and sisters Truus and Freddie Oversteegen. They saved countless children and Jews from concentration camps and even assassinated German soldiers.

This book is best for World War II aficionados and fans of hidden history. Tim Brady’s Three Ordinary Girls is available from Kensington Books .

5. Bruce Lee: A Life by Matthew Polly (2018)

This highly rated (4.8/5 stars on Amazon) book incorporates information gleaned from more than 100 interviews, which helped Polly piece together scenes from Lee’s childhood in Hong Kong and the challenges he faced from racism in Hollywood. It also investigates his shocking and still mysterious death.

This book is best for fans of martial arts or who want to know what it was like to be Asian in Hollywood decades ago. Matthew Polly ’s Bruce Lee is available from Simon & Schuster .

Bruce Lee from the 1972 film "The Way of the Dragon." He is the subject of Matthew Polly's ... [+] biography.

4. Orwell's Roses by Rebecca Solnit (2021)

This finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award explores author George Orwell’s career from a unique angle: looking at his passion for gardening. Rebecca Solnit ties his devotion to his plants to his work as a writer and an antifascist. It presents him in a different light than past biographies.

This book is best for gardeners and those who’ve read 1984 . Rebecca Solnit ’s Orwell’s Roses is available from Penguin Random House .

3. Billie Holiday: The Musician and the Myth by John Szwed (2015)

Billie Holiday’s story is too often simplified to a rags-to-riches tale focusing on her struggles pre- and post-fame. But her influence, accomplishments and enduring power are far too grand to tokenize. This biography focuses on her music, allowing jazz scholar John Szwed to illustrate what made her so spectacular.

This book is best for jazz and music fans. John Szwed ’s Billie Holiday is available from Penguin Random House .

2. Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe (2023)

The Sacklers were once revered for their philanthropy, but the opioid epidemic unmasked how they sold and marketed a painkiller that catalyzed the crisis. This New York Times bestseller traces three generations of the family and their insistence on downplaying the addictiveness of opioids. It asks and answers how they avoided accountability.

This book is best for fans of Hulu’s Dopesick and anyone looking for more information about the opioid crisis. Patrick Radden Keefe ’s Empire of Pain is available from Penguin Random House .

Tufts employee Gabe Ryan removes letters from signage featuring the Sackler family name at the Tufts ... [+] building. The biography "Empire of Pain" details what led to the Sacklers' fall from grace.

1. King: A Life by Jonathan Eig (2023)

Hailed by the New Yorker , Washington Post , Time and Chicago Tribune as one of the best books of 2023, King is a definitive biography of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. It’s also the first to rely on recently declassified FBI files, giving greater depth to the narrative and this unique American story.

This book is best for those who want to go beyond the “I Have a Dream” speech. Jonathan Eig ’s King is available from Macmillan .

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the most entertaining biographies.

The most entertaining biographies will teach lessons and impart wisdom while also keeping you on the edge of your seat, anticipating the next development in a storied life. Famed pop culture figures and entertainers make great subjects. 

For an in-depth and fast-paced look at one of our most celebrated jurists, check out 2018’s  Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life by Jane Sherron de Hart. If you want laughs and a behind-the-scenes peek at a seminal variety show, try David Bianculli’s 2010 book The Uncensored Story of 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour . And to lose yourself in a dishy, reads-like-a-novel bio of the ultimate girlboss, try Marisa Meltzer’s 2023 Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss's Glossier .

What Are The Best Professional Biographies?

The best professional biographies make connections between the habits and hopes of dreamers and their eventual success. They often provide a blueprint for success that readers can adopt for their own lives. 

To learn how to build a truly impressive empire, read Neal Gabler’s 2006  Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination . Another American legend is the subject of T.J. Stiles’ 2010 National Book Award winner The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt , which is as much about capitalism as Vanderbilt. And in 2016’s Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race , Margot Lee Shetterly shows how Black women professionals were discriminated against at NASA—but still helped land a man on the moon. 

What Are The Best Presidential Biographies?

The best presidential biographies reveal never-before-known details about famous leaders’ lives. It can be challenging to dig up something new but so rewarding because it helps our understanding of how these men governed and led. 

Arguably the best presidential biography is Robert Caro’s portrait of Lyndon B. Johnson, starting with 1990’s  The Path to Power , which traces LBJ’s journey from early childhood to the start of his political career. An enduring book is Edmund Morris’ acclaimed 1979 The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt , which paints a full picture of a complicated man. And 2017’s  The Unexpected President: The Life and Times of Chester A. Arthur by Scott S. Greenberger shows that even a long-forgotten president still has influence and value. 

Bottom Line

Biographies offer an escape into someone else’s story, giving you the chance to see why they made their decisions and second-guess them if you like. Whether you prefer biographies focused on history, pop culture or science, you can find a book you’ll love on this list.

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English Grammar Here

5 Example of Biography, Biography Samples and Formats

Table of Contents

Biography appears as a genre of literature. There are different types. Biography in general means telling about a person’s life. In our article, you will find answers to the questions of what is a biography and how to write it.

What Should Be Considered When Writing A Biography? How To Write A Biography?

Biography means writing about a person. Therefore, a person must be determined first. Usually, biographies are written for well-known people. Shakespeare, for example, could be an example. So what should be considered while writing? Chronology is important when writing a biography. We have to give the events in order.

So what do we need to talk about? We can talk about the person’s place of birth, place of residence, education, business life, marriages, and children. Apart from these, we can add important events in the person’s life to the biography. Biographies can consist of five different types and these are as follows.

• Popular biography
• Historical biography
• Literary biography
• Reference biography
• Fictional biography

Why Are Biographies Written?

The purpose of writing a biography is not always just to do literature. They can be written to help us learn from the lives of important people. They can also serve as a guide for us. This is not the case with fictional biographies. Those works are written for literary purposes only and are delightful to the reader.

Examples Of Biography

Below you will see different examples of the biography. Biographies are long works. We offer you some snippets. The names mentioned below are purely fictional.

• Emily Anderson is a very successful writer born in 1991. She herself completed her education at Cambridge University. His works are always published in the horror category. She has received many awards and appeared in different magazines so far. She is now married and has 3 children. He has 5 works in total, but she declared that he will continue to write.
• Mark Merlin appears as a Nobel prize-winning physicist. He was born in 1960 and died in 2005. He actually started his education in Spain but studied university in America. The university he graduated from is Harvard University. The reason for his Nobel Prize winner is his discovery of a previously undiscovered physics rule. He was married 3 times but has no children. His main profession is teaching. He did his work in his spare time.
• Coming from a very poor family, Matthew Wesley is a self-help professional who has improved a lot over time. A person who has devoted his life to learning and teaching. He was born in 1985 and has analyzed our age very well. His main profession is software engineering. The reason it does not do its job is that enough software is already in progress. His purpose is to inspire and motivate people. He gives seminars every week. His seminars are famous around the world and she goes to different countries. You can also attend these seminars online if you wish.
• Would you like to meet a very famous photographer? You will be surprised to see why he became famous. Jack Brown is a blind photographer. So how does he take pictures of it? Thanks to his mother, who is always beside him. He has not received any training. When asked, he said that he was very impressed by the sound of the camera. He cannot see himself, but he makes people’s memories immortal. Despite not seeing it, he decides where the photos will be taken and the poses and tells people. He won an award for some of the landscape photographs he took. She tells her mother what she wants a picture and her mom tells her to press the shutter when the time is right. This turns out to be a complete success story.

As you can see in the examples, we talked about different characteristics of people. You don’t always have to talk about education or anything else. Specifically, a biography can be written by mentioning 2 features. First of all, you need to determine the features you want to focus on. You can also choose to write in much more detail while writing. However, you usually have to pay attention to the chronological order.

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Supercentenarians who live past 110 have 9 things in common, according to a scientist who studies them

• There's no one secret to living to 110 like supercentenarians.
• But supercentenarians tend to share nine traits, a longevity expert says.
• These include having friends and maintaining a healthy weight. 

A supercentenarian expert shared with Business Insider the nine things people who live to 110 and beyond have in common.

Jimmy Lindberg has studied thousands of supercentenarians in her role as a scientific advisor for LongeviQuest , an organization that verifies the ages of the world's oldest people.

Out of the nine traits Lindberg listed, several were out of our control: long-living relatives , being born in the winter months but somewhere warm, and being female (a study from 2015 found that 95% of supercentenarians were women).

It's unsurprising that research also suggests wealth is a factor. The Financial Times reported last year that the poorest Americans were living 50 fewer years than their wealthy counterparts, with their lives more likely to be shortened by exposure to opioid use and gun violence. They also have less financial security and access to medical care.

But Linberg said that "lifestyle is of course a contributor" to a long, healthy life. Here are the factors she shared.

Be resilient

Being resilient and able to endure hard times is one of the key predictors of longevity in supercentenarians, Lindberg says.

"You don't have to be a superendurance athlete or anything like that, but you have to keep going," she said.

A 2023 study by researchers at the Complutense University of Madrid on the traits centenarians tend to share found looking for a silver lining and carrying on in the face of adversity was common.

BI has previously reported on how to build resilience .

Be spiritual

Spirituality, meaning believing in something greater than us, is also very common among the supercentenarians that Lindberg has studied.

This is reflected in research, with one 2016 study by a team at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finding that women who attended a religious service more than once a week were 33% less likely to die of any cause, potentially because it provided social support and boosted their optimism.

Dr. Joseph Maroon , an 84-year-old neurosurgeon and Ironman triathlete, previously told BI he believed spirituality had contributed to his health and longevity as much as diet and fitness.

Maintain a healthy weight

"There haven't really been any obese supercentenarians," Lindberg said. "They tend to maintain a relatively healthy weight throughout their lives."

Related stories

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of conditions including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, kidney diseases, and liver disease — all of which increase the risk of early death.

One 2022 study published in the journal JAMA Network Open on 29,621 people found that those with a BMI of more than 30, which is considered "obese," lived to 77.7 on average, while people with "normal" or "overweight" BMIs (18.5 to 29.9) lived almost five years longer, to about 82.

BI has previously reported on how to lose weight healthily .

Take steps to prevent chronic disease

Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes, are the leading causes of death and disability in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Whether we develop chronic diseases is partly out of our control because of a range of factors, from our genes to our environment, but there are certain steps we can take to lower our risk.

They include not smoking, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in sodium and saturated fats, being physically active, and reducing how much alcohol you drink, according to the CDC.

Eating a Mediterranean diet can help reduce the risks of developing chronic disease, as BI previously reported.

Have a strong support network

Multiple studies have found links between maintaining strong social relationships with living longer, including the Harvard Study of Adult Development , an 85-year project that followed three generations to see what kept them healthy and happy.

Dr. Robert Waldinger, the study's lead researcher, previously told BI that healthy relationships had a surprisingly large impact on people's odds of living longer.

And Professor Rose Anne Kenny, a gerontologist at Trinity College Dublin, having good relationships is just as important to longevity as eating well and exercising.

Correction: July 10, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated Dr. Maroon's age. He is 84 not 83.

Watch: Gen Z is receptive to health information, especially in the social channels where they live, says Haleon's CMO

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Unsure who to vote for in Maricopa County District 4 supervisor race? Hear from the candidates

The upcoming state primary will determine who has a shot at representing the Northwest Valley on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

The county is the most populous in the state and all of its top seats are up for grabs in 2024. Its leaders must navigate a housing crisis, rapid population growth and unfounded election conspiracies, among other issues.

In District 4, two Republicans are running for the job: U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko and GCU professor Bob Branch, who has long represented the district on the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. Whoever wins will face Peoria Unified Governing Board member David Sandoval, a Democrat, in the November election.

Which district do you live in? Check with county maps

All three candidates are looking to replace outgoing Supervisor Clint Hickman. He served on the board for more than a decade, but chose not to seek reelection following harassment and threats after recent elections . He said he wanted more time with his family.

Lesko is a high-profile candidate, but Branch has run for elected office before and come within spitting range of seasoned opponents . Meanwhile, Sandoval hopes to test whether the largely conservative district could be ready for political change.

The Arizona Republic asked each candidate questions about their bid for office and how they would handle key issues if elected. Here's what they had to say. Answers may have been slightly edited for clarity and brevity.

Budgeting: Where would you increase or decrease county spending?

One of the primary responsibilities of the Board of Supervisors is to control the county’s checkbook. What areas of county government would you prioritize in your ideal county budget? Would you decrease spending in any areas?

Debbie Lesko: I have a track record as a U.S. congresswoman and Arizona state legislator of being fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars and voting to keep taxes as low as possible. I will prioritize fighting crime and the effects of illegal immigration by ensuring that the Sheriff’s Office and County Attorney’s Office have the resources they need.  Another priority will be the maintenance and improvement of roads.

Bob Branch: Our county has 40 departments and 21 elected offices under the Board of Supervisors. Each of these 61 entities is essential to our county's success. Neglecting any one of them would ignore the diverse needs of our community. Therefore, as supervisor, I will ensure every department and elected office receives my full attention.

I demand election integrity, which requires a stronger county recorder than we currently have. I will work to bring back precinct-level voting and eliminate no-excuse early ballots. Public safety is paramount, so I will support a robust Sheriff's Office and a fair court system. Our current sheriff and county attorney needs to be replaced. I look forward to a new sheriff restoring the Sheriff’s Posse and being a leader who can recruit sheriff's deputies. And, a new county attorney who will hold criminals accountable. Every department will be fully funded to ensure they serve the people effectively.

David Sandoval: The county’s current budget was reduced by 11%, while it continues to realize growth and a need for infrastructure and resources to accommodate an influx of people. Without a clear understanding of the rationale here, I would influence an informed budget that invests in people and the prosperity of future generations. You can tell a lot about what an organization values by looking at its books. I value people and what matters to them most.

Being that Maricopa County continues to realize year-over-year growth, I will prioritize a budget that invests in the future, infrastructure and water resources to ensure that future generations have an equitable opportunity to live a life of fulfillment and be inspired every day. I would look at the budget from a lens of relevance. Meaning, is its current appropriation structure aligned with the current needs of the community. And does it lift up the lives of our youth by investing in education in a way that fosters success in a 21st century workforce?

Arizona election: Read our full coverage of county supervisor races

Growth: How would you address continued population increases?

In recent years, Maricopa County has continued to experience rapid growth. That has tested the region’s roads, increased concerns about water supply and led to overcrowding in county animal shelters, among other issues. How would you position and prepare the county to navigate the ongoing influx of new residents?

Lesko: Maricopa County is the fourth largest county in the nation and is growing every day. As your county supervisor, I will work to ensure we continue to grow high-quality jobs and beautiful and safe neighborhoods in a way that will provide for optimum standards of living. Throughout my time as a U.S. congresswoman and an Arizona state legislator, I have participated in numerous discussions, meetings and hearings on Arizona water and growth issues. I will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure that Maricopa County continues to grow in a responsible manner.

Branch: I bring a distinctive advantage as the only candidate with extensive experience in county government and comprehensive expertise in water management at both county and state levels.

Proven leadership: I am in my seventh term as a commissioner of parks and recreation for Maricopa County, where I have demonstrated effective leadership in managing the top regional park system in the United States. This experience has honed my skills in strategic planning and collaborative governance.

Water management expertise: My tenure overseeing Lake Pleasant and navigating Arizona's intricate water rights and conservation issues has uniquely prepared me to address the critical water challenges facing our county. For instance, I am actively engaged in initiatives to mitigate potential water shortages affecting communities like Gila Bend and Paloma due to proposed dam expansions at Bartlett Lake. My partnerships with entities such as Buckeye Water and Drainage involve developing crucial water sustainability projects like a recharge lake in Buckeye.

I am committed to leveraging my unmatched county and water management experience to ensure sustainable growth and effective governance. This includes prioritizing infrastructure enhancements, streamlining regulatory processes, fostering economic development through workforce initiatives and promoting innovation across our community.

Sandoval: I will work with resident experts in these areas to ensure that the $4.5 billion Maricopa County budget is appropriated in a way that invests in the future. We must have an infinite mindset with existential flexibility that ensures that future generations have the resources and infrastructure to thrive and be fulfilled. We must have stakeholder input with diverse lenses to make sure that our decisions have an infinite impact while addressing current hurdles and needs.

Housing: How would you work to address the Valley's housing crisis?

Affordable housing is a challenge facing the entire region. If elected, how would you approach this issue in your district and countywide?

Lesko: The cost of housing has skyrocketed in Maricopa County due in part to inflation that increases construction costs, higher mortgage rates, increased government regulations under the current federal administration, limits on new construction imposed by our current state government administration and more demand for housing than supply. Housing prices will decline if supply increases. I plan to work with the governor, the Arizona Legislature and home and apartment builders to find ways to increase the Maricopa County housing supply.

Branch: As the most qualified candidate for county supervisor, and the only candidate with county government experience, keeping housing affordable in the county is a key priority. Here are some proposals and strategies I would advocate for:

• Promote lower property taxes
• Reduce regulatory barriers
• Promote market competition
• Address infrastructure costs
• Promote economic growth

By implementing these strategies and collaborating with stakeholders across the county, we can work towards keeping housing affordable for residents while fostering a vibrant and sustainable housing market.

Sandoval: There are many developments formalizing throughout Maricopa County. We have college graduates and young up-and-coming adults who are making minimum wage, a wage that has seen the most significant increases in years. However, they cannot afford a home. We must work with banks, landlords and builders to establish alternative-affordable down payment options. Five percent of $350,000, the average house price in Arizona, is approximately $18,000. Incentivize new home buyer programs and work with landlords on rent caps.

Government relations: How will you work with state lawmakers and others to address issues facing the county?

Counties are arms of the state and have only specific powers prescribed in Arizona law. If elected, how would you lobby state lawmakers and other officials to address issues facing the county? Would you advocate for increased powers at the county level — and if so, what ones?

Lesko: As a U.S. congresswoman and former Arizona state legislator, I have already worked with my fellow U.S. congressmembers, the governor and state legislators on issues that affect our county, state and nation.  I will utilize my relationship with our U.S. congressmembers, the governor and state legislators for the betterment of Maricopa County residents.

Branch: The powers of the county supervisor come from Arizona Revised Statutes 11-251. The 68 powers of the Board of Supervisors are comprehensive and include overseeing county officers' conduct, managing public revenues and ensuring legal compliance. They have authority over county districts, election precincts and public infrastructure like roads and hospitals. The board manages county properties, including prisons, and oversees courthouse construction. They handle county finances, audits and tax levies, and manage county legal affairs and health services. The board enforces ordinances, regulates public activities and administers public benefits and employee compensation.

Additionally, they engage in environmental regulation, transportation services, public safety, property transactions and intergovernmental agreements. These powers collectively empower county boards to govern and provide essential services effectively. I do not see myself lobbying for additional powers. I will work with the Arizona Legislature and the governor to strengthen election integrity. I will advocate for same-day, precinct-level voting and stop no-excuse early ballots. Excuse early ballots will continue, but the no-excuse early ballot is the weakest link to our voter integrity.

Sandoval: I am in my second term as a governing board member on the Peoria Unified Governing Board, where I have made special connections with all stakeholders. I will continue to be very engaged and ensure that all stakeholder voices are at the table as input versus feedback, influencing the makeup of budgets, policies and resources in a way that addresses what matters most to the community. I will continue to be very collaborative and value all perspectives and opinions resulting in outcomes that are centered around the health and wellness of people.

Elections: How confident are you in election results?

Maricopa County supervisors are responsible for overseeing Election Day voting, running tabulation and certifying election results. The county also saw widespread printer issues during the 2022 election, although they did not impact the outcome. How confident are you in the certified results of the 2020 and 2022 elections? Regardless of your answer, how would you work to improve voting and election administration in the county?

Lesko: Election integrity is the cornerstone of our democracy. That is why as your county supervisor I pledge to listen to all voter concerns and work to ensure we have a smooth, fair, open and transparent election process. The printer problems experienced in the 2022 election were unacceptable. I am also concerned about the recent security breach caused by a temporary election worker having access to a key fob and key .

As your next county supervisor, I would like to see a review of election security protocols to determine what changes need to be made. As your U.S. congresswoman and Arizona state legislator, I sponsored and voted for legislation and supported ballot measures that require voter ID, require proof of citizenship, prohibit non-citizens from voting and end ballot harvesting. As your county supervisor, I will continue my work to ensure election integrity.

Branch: Why was someone with three arrests in three years hired at a secure site in the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center (MCTEC)? How did this person access and steal a high-security digital magnetic key, especially one designated for Election Day tabulators? This all points to a glaring lack of leadership and adherence to security protocols. Because of failures like these in our election integrity, Maricopa County is at the center of election concerns.

I have serious doubts about the certified results. I am the only candidate in this race with a military background. I held a top-secret crypto job in the U.S. Air Force, so I understand that security rules must never be compromised. MCTEC’s leadership clearly does not uphold these standards, allowing a temporary worker to steal a crucial security key. This incident highlights the urgent need for strict election integrity measures. As county supervisor, I am committed to addressing these issues by ensuring our election infrastructure is reliable, our poll workers are well-trained and strict protocols are followed to protect every voter's right to participate in our elections fairly and securely.

Sandoval: I am confident in the results of the 2020 and 2022 elections. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to tour the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center (MCTEC) and was very impressed by the redundancy and processes that are centered on fair, secure and accurate outcomes. I will be unwavering in my support of the process and safeguard and honor our democratic process. I will be steadfast in protecting one’s right to vote and their ability to do so. I will advocate for a permanent early voting process, influencing greater accessibility for all registered voters and day-of system efficiencies.

On a personal note: Who do you admire?

What person in public life, past or present, do you most admire, and why?

Lesko: I admire former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl. He was a common-sense conservative senator who worked hard for our state and nation. 

Branch: As a Christian conservative college professor, my response will not shock anyone. I most admire the Lord Jesus Christ, and his unparalleled influence, moral teachings and selfless love. Jesus' life and ministry transformed the world and continue to inspire billions. His message of love, forgiveness and humility transcends cultural and temporal boundaries, offering a timeless blueprint for ethical living. Jesus' willingness to serve others, even to the point of sacrificing his life, exemplifies the highest form of leadership — servant leadership.

He healed the sick, comforted the downtrodden and spoke truth to power, demonstrating courage and compassion in equal measure. His teachings emphasize the importance of loving one's neighbor, seeking justice and living with integrity, principles that remain as relevant today as they were 2,000 years ago. Moreover, Jesus' resurrection symbolizes hope and redemption, providing a profound sense of purpose and encouragement to persevere through life's challenges. I accepted the Lord as my savior many years ago. In a world often driven by self-interest and divisiveness, Jesus' example of sacrificial love and unwavering commitment to truth serves as a beacon of hope and a model for all who seek to lead with integrity and compassion.

David Sandoval: My wife. She is the most compassionate and empathetic individual, who never wavers from her values and beliefs. Her ability to navigate tough conversations with an open mind and without judgment continues to result in outcomes that lift up our youth. She makes me a better person every day and I cannot imagine a life without her.

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Coping With Grief and Loss

On this page:

Finding a support system

What is complicated grief, how grief counseling can help, taking care of yourself while grieving, mourning the loss of a spouse or partner, socializing after the death of a loved one, getting your legal and financial paperwork in order.

When you grieve, you can feel both physical and emotional pain. People who are grieving often cry easily and can have:

• Trouble sleeping
• Little interest in food
• Problems with concentration
• A hard time making decisions

As time passes, you may still miss your loved one. But for most people, the intense pain will lessen. There will be good and bad days. You may feel guilty or surprised for laughing at a joke or enjoying a visit with a friend. It is important to understand that these can be common feelings.

There are many ways to grieve and to learn to accept loss. Try not to ignore your grief. Support may be available until you can manage your grief on your own.

While family and compassionate friends can be supportive, they may be grieving, too. Some people find that sharing memories and stories about the person who is gone is one way to help each other. Sometimes, people hesitate to bring up the loss or mention the name of the person who died because they worry this can be hurtful. But many people may find it helpful to talk directly about their loss. You are all coping with the death of someone who was important in your lives.

It is normal to feel sad, numb, or lost for a while after someone close to you dies. But for some people, mourning can go on so long or be so distressing that it becomes unhealthy. This prolonged and intense reaction to loss is known as complicated grief. People with this condition may be unable to comprehend or accept the loss, experience intense sorrow and emotional pain, and have trouble resuming their own life and making plans for the future. Other signs of complicated grief may include having overwhelmingly negative emotions, feeling preoccupied with the person who died or the circumstances of the death, and being unable to find meaning or a purpose in life.

Complicated grief can be a serious condition. Those who have it may need additional help to overcome the loss. If sadness is making it difficult for you to carry on in your day-to-day life, help is available. Reach out to a support group, mental health professional, or loved ones for support. If cost is a factor for you, ask your doctor or other healthcare provider if they know of any local health professionals or programs that offer low-cost or free help.

Some people find that grief counseling makes it easier to work through their sorrow. Regular talk therapy with a grief counselor or therapist can help those who are grieving learn to accept a death.

There are also support groups for grieving people to help each other. These groups can be specialized — people who have lost loved ones to Alzheimer’s disease, for example — or they can be for anyone learning to manage grief. Check with local hospitals and senior centers, nursing homes, religious groups, funeral homes, or your doctor to find support groups in your area. Hospice care professionals can also provide grief counseling, sometimes called bereavement support, to the family of someone who was under their care. You can also ask hospice workers for bereavement support even if hospice was not used before the death.

For older adults who are socially isolated or have limited family nearby, there are resources available. Try one of the suggestions below:

• Online support groups. Many online forums or support groups online are free and can help offer support from the home.
• Online therapy or counseling sessions. If you’re looking for a therapist or counselor to address your grief or loss, many offer online sessions that you can attend from your home.
• Support books. Books can be a great way to understand grief and sorrow, and they can provide tips to help overcome these feelings. Check your local library or ask a librarian for recommendations.
• Community resources. Some communities offer grief and loss counseling or resources. Check with your local community center, senior center, faith community, or hospital to learn about what they offer.

In the beginning, you may find that taking care of details and keeping busy helps. For a while, family and friends may be around to assist you. But there comes a time when you will need to face the change in your life.

Here are some ideas to keep in mind:

• Take care of yourself. Grief can be hard on your health. Exercise regularly, eat healthy food , and try to get enough sleep . Bad habits, such as drinking too much alcohol or smoking , can put your health at risk.
• Make mealtime plans. Some people who have lost a loved one lose interest in cooking and eating. Sometimes eating at home alone feels too quiet, so it may help to have lunch with friends. Turning on the radio or TV during meals can also help. For information on nutrition and cooking for one, look for books at your local library, bookstore, or online.
• Talk with caring friends. Let family and friends know when you want to talk about your loved one. When possible, accept their offers of help and company.
• Participate in your favorite activities. Doing things you enjoy , such as painting, biking, volunteering, or social club events can help improve overall mood and well-being. Listening to uplifting music may also bring comfort.
• Reach out to your faith community. Many people who are grieving find comfort in spending time with others who share their religious beliefs, praying, or reading religious or spiritual scripture.
• See your doctor. Keep up with visits to your healthcare provider. If it has been a while, schedule a check-up and bring your doctor up to date on pre-existing medical conditions and  any new health issues that may be of concern. Let your health care provider know if you are having trouble taking care of everyday activities such as personal hygiene and dressing, or fixing meals.
• Mourning takes time. It’s common to have a roller coaster of emotions for a while.

If you have children, remember that they are grieving, too. It will take time for the whole family to adjust to life without your loved one. You may find that your relationship with your children and their relationships with each other have changed. Open, honest communication is important.

When you feel ready, go through your loved one’s clothes and other personal items. It may be hard to give away these belongings. Instead of parting with everything at once, you might make three piles: one to keep, one to give away, and one “not sure.” Ask your children or others to help. Think about setting aside items such as a special piece of clothing, watch, favorite book, or picture to give to your children or grandchildren as personal reminders of your loved one.

If you have lost a spouse or partner, you may worry about how you will take care of yourself or your home. Many couples divide up their household tasks. One person may pay bills and handle car repairs. The other may cook meals and mow the lawn. Splitting up jobs often works well until there is only one person who must do it all. Learning to manage new tasks — from chores to household repairs to finances — can take time.

Reaching out to friends and family who are close by to help manage tasks right after your loss can help. If you don’t have loved ones nearby, local organizations may be able to help. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) offers online tools to help connect people with resources in their community. After a while, you may develop a better understanding of how to handle tasks on your own.

Being alone can also increase concerns about safety. It’s a good idea to ensure there are working locks on the doors and windows.

Facing the future without a spouse or partner can be scary, especially for those who have never lived alone. Those who are both widowed and retired may feel very lonely and become depressed. Talk with your doctor about how you are feeling.

It may be overwhelming to think about going to parties or other social events without your loved one. It can be hard to think about coming home alone. If you were married or had a long-time partner, you may feel anxious about dating. Many people miss the feeling of closeness that marriage or other intimate relationship brings. After time, some may be ready to have a social life again.

Here are some things to remember:

• Go at a comfortable pace. There’s no rush.
• It’s okay to make the first move when it comes to planning things to do.
• Try group activities. Invite friends for a potluck dinner or participate in an activity at a local community or senior center.
• Consider lower-stress, informal outings such as walks or movies.
• Find an activity you like. You may have fun and meet people who share your interests.
• You can develop meaningful relationships with friends and family members of all ages.
• Many people find that pets provide comforting companionship.

When you feel ready, you might consider getting your legal and financial affairs in order . If you were married and your spouse died, you may need to update certain legal documents and other paperwork. For example, you might need to:

• Write a new will and update your advance care planning .
• Look into a durable power of attorney for legal matters and health care in case you are unable to make your own medical decisions in the future.
• Put joint property (such as a house or car) in your name.
• Consider changes you may need to make to your health insurance as well as to your life, car, and homeowner’s insurance.
• Make a list of bills you will need to pay in the next few months, for example, your rent or mortgage; utilities such as electricity, water, and phone and internet services; insurance; and state and federal taxes.

You may also be interested in

• Exploring this checklist to get your affairs in order
• Finding fun ways to stay active
• Learning how to talk with your doctor about sensitive topics

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For more information about mourning and grief.

Eldercare Locator 800-677-1116 [email protected] https://eldercare.acl.gov

Hospice Foundation of America 800-854-3402 [email protected] www.hospicefoundation.org

Well Spouse Association 800-838-0879 [email protected] www.wellspouse.org

This content is provided by the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA). NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and up to date.

Content reviewed: July 15, 2024

nia.nih.gov

An official website of the National Institutes of Health

The Art of Big-Picture Thinking

It's your job to know where—and how—you fit in your company's big picture..

Posted July 20, 2024 | Reviewed by Hara Estroff Marano

• It is up to individuals to place themselves into their workplace's big picture.
• Think holistically to put facts, pictures, sounds, and details into context
• Recognize patterns for what is really there, not what you expect to see.
• What do you perceive that others do not?

Given the nearly unprecedented uncertainties caused by the rise of generative AI , professionals must accomplish their work at high levels and remain relevant, yet with little job security.

Whatever field or industry they work in, today's knowledge workers (a term coined in the late 1950s by management expert Peter Drucker and now in widespread use) are often specialists in one or more endeavors—a fact of life that creates challenges beyond how well they perform and collaborate with colleagues. They must also be attuned to the mission their organization is trying to accomplish, communicate the importance of their role, and justify their place within that organization and mission.

And that brings with it a larger challenge—figuring out the big picture, the overall mission of the organization, and where each fits in. As Drucker himself told workers : "You must take integrating responsibility for putting yourself into the big picture."

Cultivating Big Picture Thinking

How and where you fit into the big picture isn’t always readily apparent. It requires big-picture thinking.

A good way to start is to realize that there is a big picture in the first place. What is your organization trying to accomplish, and how is it going about it? What ecosystems does it operate within— not just in which industries, markets, or fields of study, but in terms of communities and society? Who are the people the organization tries to serve?

Seeing the big picture doesn’t mean ignoring the details. Focus is important, yet we must make sure we are focusing on the right things. This requires putting facts and details into context while thinking holistically and system-wide. Sometimes it means zooming out for a bird’s-eye view.

Drucker urged people to widen their horizons and take an expansive view of themselves and what they want to accomplish. It requires thinking about what constitutes their own big picture as an individual at work and outside of it. Doing so enables people to determine aspirations, set goals , and know how to allocate their time.

Big-picture thinking means constantly being alert and observational, discovering and acting upon relevant information. That includes having a sense of what to read in various formats (in print, on the web, in various apps.), plus who to talk and listen to. Above all, it means paying close attention .

Detecting Patterns

Pattern recognition contributes to discerning the big picture and our roles and responsibilities. Drucker wrote often about the need for training perception and the ability to see patterns. “In the new society of organizations, you need to be able to recognize patterns to see what is there rather than what you expect to see," he said presciently in a 1993 Harvard Business Review interview.

Drucker was known for employing visual and visualization -related metaphors in his work and writing. “The characteristic of the innovator,” he declared 60 years ago, “is the ability to envisage as a system what to others are unrelated, separate elements.”

An important part of Drucker‘s life was appreciation for and deep knowledge of Japanese art; he even taught the subject in the early 1980s at Pomona College. And that, too, was related to his ideas of perception and discerning the big picture/larger context. "What interests him in Japanese art," said art writer Suzanne Muchnic, “ is not only the fine points of its styles, techniques, subjects, and creators but how it fits into world art history and what makes it special.”

Looking Out of Windows

Drucker was known for the observation/metaphor that he "looked out the window" to see what was visible but unseen by others. If we want to follow his example, we need to look out of not one but many windows and from a variety of vantage points and in different time periods. Looking at the same data or information, what do you perceive that others do not? Can you communicate its importance to your colleagues and anyone else who needs to know?

Drucker acknowledged that trained perception is not always natural or familiar. “We perceive, as a rule, what we expect to perceive. We see largely what we expect to see, and we hear largely what we expect to hear,” he said in a 1969 presentation in Tokyo to the Fellows of the International Academy of Management: “Perception, we know, is not logic," he added. "It is experience. This means, in the first place, that one always perceives a configuration. One cannot perceive single specifics. They are always part of a total picture.”

Conclusion: An Ongoing Process

Training perception is an ongoing process, as is the professional development that furthers our claim to a role in the big picture. Refining big-picture thinking can be a source of continual enrichment of our lives, inside and outside the workplace.

Peter F. Drucker: Classic Drucker: Wisdom from Peter Drucker from the Pages of Harvard Business Review (Harvard Business Review Press, 2006)

Peter F. Drucker: Managing For Results: Economic Tasks and Risk-taking Decisions (HarperCollins, 1964)

Peter F. Drucker: The Drucker Lectures: Essential Lessons on Management, Society, and Economy (McGraw Hill, 2010)

Peter F. Drucker: The Ecological Vision: Reflections on the American Condition (Transaction Publishers, 1993)

Suzanne Muchnic: “Landscapes of the Mind,” Pomona College Magazine , Fall 1994

Bruce Rosenstein is Managing Editor of Leader to Leader and author of Living in More Than One World: How Peter Drucker's Wisdom Can Inspire and Transform Your Life.

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Sticking up for yourself is no easy task. But there are concrete skills you can use to hone your assertiveness and advocate for yourself.

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