What types of non-fiction are there?

Biography and Autobiography

Biographies and autobiographies are the stories about individuals and their experiences. Biography writers choose a person, complete research, and write about the person. Autobiographies, however, are written by the person being described. Modern biographies tend to focus on trying to understand the person’s motivations and to understand their “inner thoughts”.

Biographies and auto biographies are written about many famous people. They are also written about ordinary people. Some biographies and autobiographies focus on specific events or personality traits of a person. This type of writing is often seen in “Hollywood biographies” of famous people. Often these are written quickly and are sold quickly. The best literature presents a well balanced account of a person’s personalities and abilities. “Good” biographies are recognized by their balanced approach and evidence of comprehensive research. Evidence of research include number of quotes from a variety of sources as well as a bibliography outlining the written sources used.

How to read biographies and autobiographies

When reading biographies and autobiographies, it is important to read critically. You will need to distinguish fact from opinion. You will also need to evaluate the evidences and the sources. Are the sources reliable? How well do the sources know the person being described? How much access did the biographer have with the person being described? Lastly, is the writer’s style appropriate?

Some biographers present every detail about a person while others provide only as much detail as needed to support the statement. A balanced style of including positive and negative qualities of a person is preferred to a slanted or a biased account of a person. Finally, does the writer use of facts, quotes, anecdotes, and other research used effectively?