nmoira Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I've just started what promises to be a terrific biography about Jimmy Winkfield, the last black jockey to win the Kentucky Derby... and so very much more. He left the US for Russia because of racism, built up a career there, ended up fleeing during the Revolution with a party on horseback, starts over again in Paris, until WWII hit, and made and remade himself from nothing, until his eventual retirement. His is an amazing story. Black Maestro: Epic Life of an American Legend I'm starting to make a master biography list for high-school level reading and would love some recommendations of your favourites of the extraordinary people in perhaps extraordinary times, but ones that probably wouldn't be formally assigned for history. I've got an avid and fast reader. The requirement will be at least 45 a year for five years. They won't be assigned, but must be chosen from the pool (or be an approved substitute), so I need a big pool to start. Black Maestro My Life in France To Tell the Truth Freely: The Life of Ida B. Wells Molly Brown: Unraveling the Myth Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt: The Story of a Daughter and a Mother in the Gilded Age The Brendan Voyage The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary The Illustrated Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Don't know if these are what you're looking for at all, but the coolest autobiographies I've read were in conjunction with the audiobook. Walter Cronkite's A Reporter's Life with the audio version read by him, and Angela's Ashes read by Frank McCourt. I still think of how rich we are in comparison every time I cook eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share Posted February 4, 2013 Don't know if these are what you're looking for at all, but the coolest autobiographies I've read were in conjunction with the audiobook. Walter Cronkite's A Reporter's Life with the audio version read by him, and Angela's Ashes read by Frank McCourt. I still think of how rich we are in comparison every time I cook eggs. I'm looking for everything. :) Clear as mud, I know. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missouri Okie Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Here's a similar thread from the high school board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunriseiz Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I really enjoyed The Same Kind of Different as Me. It's the best book I've read in a long time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunriseiz Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 The Illustrated Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time I don't want to hijack, but I wonder if anyone can tell me about this one? I took a quick look and it would fit well topically with things we are doing, but my eldest is only 9. She is a voracious and high school level reader, but I always have to worry about content, so any input would be great. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Don't miss out on Teacher Man by Frank McCourt (it's in my siggie!). It's a memoir of his career teaching English in several NYC public schools, including many years at Stuyvesant. My son and I loved this book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share Posted February 4, 2013 I don't want to hijack, but I wonder if anyone can tell me about this one? I took a quick look and it would fit well topically with things we are doing, but my eldest is only 9. She is a voracious and high school level reader, but I always have to worry about content, so any input would be great. It's fine for kids, but be sure to get the illustrated version... it's a far richer experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 One more we loved: http://www.amazon.com/Sole-Survivor-Story-Record-Endurance/dp/0807071390/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359953206&sr=1-1&keywords=poon+lim The story of Poon Lim, who survived adrift on a raft for 135 days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Just thought of Franklin's Autobiography & what about Frederick Douglass's as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccolopy Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Just thought of Franklin's Autobiography & what about Frederick Douglass's as well. Definitely these two. A few others, mostly recommended by the quirky men in my life: The Mascot: Unraveling the Mystery of My Jewish Father's Nazi Boyhood, by Mark Kurzem The Bielski Brothers: The True Story of Three Men Who Defied the Nazis, Built a Village in the Forest, and Saved 1,200 Jews, by Peter Duffy. (Apparently, this one is better than Defiance, which is about the same men.) Life in a Jar: The Irina Sendler Project, by Jack Mayer The Story of My Life, by Helen Keller The Forbidden Experiment, by Roger Shattuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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