Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoirs: The Differences & Similarities

Understanding Autobiography

Writing an autobiography is different from a biography, although both describe the character of the story of one's life. 

An autobiography is a description of a person’s life written by that person. As the book is written by the author, they are the main characters. 

The aim of writing an autobiography is to describe the achievements and life experiences of the narrator. The autobiography format typically starts with early childhood and chronologically lists down life experiences. 

These include information about a person’s childhood, career, life choices, achievements, and the difficulties they face. 

Key Traits of an Autobiography

• Written in the first person 
• More subjective than biographies
• Broad in scope often covers the writer’s entire life up to the present
• Inform and explain the motive behind the subject’s actions

The “Story of My Life” by Helen Keller is a famous example of an autobiography. 

Here is another example of an autobiography for you to understand the key traits:

Understanding Biography

A biography is the story of a person’s life written by someone else. Usually, people write biographies about famous personalities. 

Since the writer is telling the story of someone, that’s why biographies include a third-person perspective. 

Like an autobiography, biographies also cover the entire subject’s life. So, it is important to include details about birthplace, education, childhood, relationships, etc. 

Key Traits of a Biography

• Written in the third person point of view
• Follows chronological order
• More formal than autobiographies
• Cover the subject’s entire life
• Requires more research and fact-checking to ensure all the details are correct

“His Excellency: George Washington” by Joseph J. Ellis and “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson are some of the key examples of a biography. 

Look at an example to help you understand:

Key Difference Between Autobiography and Biography - H2

Look at the key differences between autobiography and biography in the following table:

Autobiography vs. Biography Examples 

Here are some examples below to get a better understanding of the concepts:

How are they Different from a Memoir?

A memoir is similar to an autobiography as it is also the story of a person’s life written by that person.

The main difference between autobiography vs. memoir is that a memoir focuses on reflecting and establishing an emotional connection.

Writing a memoir not only presents the facts but also provides a personal and intimate story about the major happenings in their life.

Whereas a biography provides full contextual information that reads like a novel but is non-fiction in nature.

“The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank is a famous example of a historic memoir. 

Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoir: Comparison Chart

Want to know more about autobiography vs. biography vs. memoir meaning and the key differences and similarities?

Here is a comparison chart for your help:

Hopefully, the above guide helps you understand the difference between an autobiography, a biography, and a memoir.

For a successful autobiography, you need to tell your story in a way to make your readers feel in your place.

Writing a captivating autobiography is not an easy task. You need to plan your time, read books for inspiration, and search for information about various writing styles and formats.

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