Top 10 Inspirational Biographies

A philosopher once claimed that “we can see the future better if we stand on the shoulders of giants.” We are not the first to walk this planet, and we can learn from past legends how to plan a more successful future.

Here’s a list of popular biographies that have meant something to me.

1. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin – Few persons throughout history have succeeded in so many fields. This printer-writer-inventor-scientist-philosopher-statesman takes us on an unforgettable tour of his early struggles and eventual successes.

2. Davy Crockett: His Own Story – Here’s another autobiography of a legendary pioneer, written only two years before he died. His growth and outlook parallels that of many explorers of 19th century America.

3. Mark Twain by Ron Powers – This recent work is my favorite on the life of Samuel L. Clemens, perhaps America’s finest writer. Twain’s books continue to live and sell well nearly 100 years after his death.

4. Lincoln by David Herbert Donald – There are many books about the celebrated 16h President, and this is a superb one.

5. No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

6. Truman by David McCullough – This amazing story of Harry Truman – a vice-president suddenly asked to assume the Presidency only 12 weeks after FDR began his fourth term – discusses the life of a good man who made some of the 20th century’s most critical decisions.

7. Dale Carnegie: The Man Who Influenced Millions by Giles Kemp – Mr. Carnegie wrote one of the best-selling books of all time: How to Win Friends and Influence People. This book tells the story of a writer who has influenced thousands of people in many industries.

8. Eisenhower by Stephen E. Ambrose – This is a great book about the Allied Supreme Commander in World War II and the American President during the 1950’s.

9. The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany by Stephen E. Ambrose – This book vividly describes the war years of 1972 Presidential candidate George McGovern and his brave crew. It also discusses other flyers like the Tuskegee Airmen.

10. What Every American Should Know About American History by Dr. Alan Axelrod and Charles Phillips – This fascinating book offers a look at “200 events that shaped the nation.”