Ask HN: Recommend a Good Biography to Read

2 points·DrBoring··3 comments

No particular topic in mind, I just want to read about interesting people.

In your reply please 1 name the book which you recommend, and 2 say a few words about who this person is and 3 why you find them interesting.

View on HN

JRR Tolkien by Humphrey Carpenter. Author of Lord of The Rings and Oxford professor. Fascinating to get a broader idea of the person behind the fantasy world and to learn more of his passion for languages and nature and his friendships with others such as CS Lewis. Very glad to have been able to have a pint at the Lamb and Flag pub which has now closed as a result of Covid after 450 years of operation.

“Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death and Jazz Chickens”, Eddie Izzard’s autobiography. Ran 43 marathons in 51 days despite no history of long-distance running, learns new languages and does stand-up in them, and is a political activist. I recommend the audiobook because you’ll get a rambling read reminiscent of the stand-ups, which at times feels like improvisation.

"Faraday - the life" by James Hamilton, Harper Collins publishers, paperback 2003. Prior to reading the book I knew Faraday was famous but this biography spelled out just how important his work was for humanity. Just 2 of his inventions are the electric generator and the electric motor. Imagine life without them.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com