The 10 Best Memoirs of 2025

We often find ourselves captivated by stories rooted in an author’s personal life. While memoirs can be interesting, insightful, or offer a new perspective, what truly draws me to them is the chance to gain a fresh understanding of my own life through someone else’s honest and detailed experiences. These stories encourage me to think about my own past, the people I’ve known, and the events that have shaped me, all while witnessing the author’s own journey of self-discovery. Ultimately, I appreciate a well-written memoir that resonates with me at the right moment, whether it sparks inspiration, challenges my beliefs, or simply offers a new way of looking at things.

Here, my picks for the top 10 memoirs of the year.

10. Medicine River: A Story of Survival and the Legacy of Indian Boarding Schools, Mary Annette Pember

I recently encountered a deeply moving story that felt less like a documentary and more like a personal reckoning. Mary Annette Pember, a journalist and member of the Red Cliff Band of Wisconsin Ojibwe, always sensed a hidden pain in her mother, a pain stemming from eight years spent at St. Mary’s Catholic Indian Mission School. Her mother refused to talk about it, leaving Pember with unanswered questions and a lingering sense of disconnect. After her mother’s passing, Pember embarked on a journey to uncover the truth, not just about what happened at the school – where her mother and grandmother were sent – but also about how it shaped their family. What unfolds is a powerful look at the trauma inflicted by these government-run boarding schools, and how that trauma reverberates through generations. It’s a story about family separation, a complicated mother-daughter relationship, and ultimately, a search for healing. While Pember confronts some difficult truths, she also beautifully showcases the resilience and enduring spirit of her Ojibwe culture, finding a sense of peace and understanding along the way. It’s a profoundly affecting film that stayed with me long after the credits rolled.

9. Strong Roots: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Ukraine, Olia Hercules

Olia Hercules’ grandmother taught her family that when caring for rose bushes, the strength of the roots is what truly matters – strong roots mean even damaged parts can recover. This idea forms the core of Hercules’ memoir, Strong Roots, a story of family, food, and Ukraine. Born in Kakhova and now living in London, Hercules writes about the challenges her family has faced since Russia’s 2022 invasion: her parents were forced to leave their home, her brother fought to defend Ukraine, and their hometown was flooded after a dam was destroyed. However, the book focuses on the enduring strength of her ancestors and the legacy they’ve left behind. In the midst of ongoing war, Hercules doesn’t offer solutions or hope for peace, but powerfully affirms life itself, declaring, “We are not victims. And we are not just survivors… We, Ukrainians… are united… And here I am, living and breathing, writing these words for you, dear reader, to feel and understand our story.”

8. Articulate: A Deaf Memoir of Voice, Rachel Kolb

What does it mean for a deaf person to find and use their own voice in a world designed for hearing people and spoken language? In her insightful first memoir, Rachel Kolb, a writer and scholar, shares her personal experiences and offers a thoughtful look at deafness and disability. She challenges us to think broadly about how we communicate – and what we might overlook when we only value speaking and listening. Kolb argues that our ideas about perfect communication are recent creations, and that language itself is wonderfully diverse. Articulate is a curious and thought-provoking book that will change how you think about expressing yourself, making connections, and creating truly accessible communication for everyone.

7. Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism, Sarah Wynn-Williams

When Sarah Wynn-Williams joined Facebook in 2011 as a Manager of Global Public Policy, she genuinely believed in the company’s mission to connect the world. However, her initial enthusiasm turned into disillusionment as she witnessed what she describes as a dangerous disregard for responsibility within the company’s culture. In her memoir, Wynn-Williams paints a critical picture of Facebook’s leadership, characterizing it as reckless, sexist, and driven by power. By the time she recounts the confrontation with Mark Zuckerberg regarding Facebook’s potential influence on the 2016 election, readers are likely unsurprised by a lack of genuine accountability, as she portrays the company as essentially a one-person dictatorship. Wynn-Williams acknowledges her own role in the situation, admitting she tried and failed to bring about change and continues to grapple with that failure. While she doesn’t hesitate to identify problematic individuals and behaviors, it’s her honest, engaging, and often humorous storytelling – particularly in contrast to the often ridiculous work environment – that makes her memoir so captivating.

6. Memorial Days, Geraldine Brooks

Reading Geraldine Brooks’s memoir reminded me of something a friend told me after my mother died: no one prepares you for all the practical tasks that come with loss. Brooks’s book begins with the sudden death of her husband, Tony Horwitz, while he was on a book tour. Instead of allowing herself to grieve immediately, she was faced with a mountain of things to handle – a harsh reality of a flawed system. She describes the overwhelming responsibilities and the exhausting effort of simply going through the motions after such a loss – an experience many who have lost someone unexpectedly will recognize. It wasn’t until she traveled to a remote Australian island that she finally felt able to truly mourn. In Memorial Days, Brooks celebrates their life together and asserts the importance of allowing ourselves to grieve – something our society often discourages.

5. Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity, Joseph Lee

In his book, Nothing More of This Land, Aquinnah Wampanoag author Joseph Lee shares the story of his family and community on Martha’s Vineyard—known as Noepe to the Wampanoag—and explores issues of tribal sovereignty, tradition, and identity across Native communities, from Oklahoma to Alaska. Lee combines personal experiences, historical research, and reporting to create a compelling and easy-to-read narrative. He honestly addresses the damaging effects of colonialism and the challenges faced by those working for change, presenting himself as a fellow learner and inviting readers to consider these important questions alongside him.

4. The Waterbearers: A Memoir of Mothers and Daughters, Sasha Bonét

In her beautiful memoir, The Waterbearers, Sasha Bonét writes about how each woman in her family has strived for change, yet always seems to return to their roots. She traces her lineage back to resilient Louisiana women who navigated the challenges of the South. The book is both a personal story of the Black women who raised Bonét – their struggles and triumphs in building lives and legacies – and a reflection of American history itself. Bonét suggests that the experiences of her family reveal a deeper truth about the nation’s past. The Waterbearers is a deeply moving and honest exploration of motherhood, love, and survival, passed down through generations, making it a truly unforgettable read.

3. Mother Mary Comes to Me, Arundhati Roy

Following the death of her mother, Mary Roy, in 2022, novelist Arundhati Roy experienced profound grief and a sense of disorientation, though she was also surprised by how deeply she felt the loss. Their relationship had been complex since Roy declared her independence at age 18. Her mother, a strong and independent school founder, had always prioritized living life on her own terms, and Roy often found she needed to maintain a distance from her powerful, sometimes intimidating, parent. In her book, Mother Mary Comes to Me, Roy reflects on her identity after losing the woman she describes as both a protector and a source of turmoil—and acknowledges that her mother profoundly shaped who she became. She realized that her years of trying to understand her mother also shaped her writing, which she views as a legacy. She describes becoming like a complex maze, seeking new perspectives to truly see and appreciate her mother for who she was, and ultimately finding her voice as a writer in the process.

2. The Trouble of Color: An American Family Memoir, Martha S. Jones

Martha S. Jones’s memoir begins with a striking memory: a college classmate, during a discussion of Frantz Fanon, mistakenly assumed she was white. Though they became friends, the classmate’s question – “Who do you think you are?” – stayed with Jones. In The Trouble of Color, she answers that question by tracing her family’s history back to her earliest known ancestor, Nancy Bell Graves, who was enslaved in Kentucky. Jones shares a photo of Graves, noting the contrast between her skin tone and her clothing, and explains that Graves left behind not just a portrait, but also a legacy of navigating the complexities of race – being perceived as having “too little” or “too much” color. But this book is more than just a family history. Jones delves deeply into the lives of her determined ancestors, many of whom also struggled with racial identity. By uncovering their stories, she demonstrates the power of connecting with one’s past, seeking truths that go beyond simple facts. It’s a book born from a desire to understand where she comes from, learn from those who came before her, and find her place within her family’s story.

1. Things in Nature Merely Grow, Yiyun Li

In Things in Nature Merely Grow, Yiyun Li wrote a book not about grief itself, but for her son James, who died by suicide in 2024. Having already written for her older son Vincent after his suicide in 2017, Li understood she would write for James too. However, unlike Vincent, James wouldn’t have wanted a book filled with emotion. To honor him, Li aimed to write as he lived: logically, rationally, and based on facts. The book is unflinchingly honest, yet remarkably restrained in its emotion. It avoids dwelling on questions of why, how, or what if, because those questions would deny the reality of James’s death – something Li felt would betray his spirit. Instead, it’s a deeply thoughtful exploration of loss, written from a place of profound sadness. Li accepts her grief as a permanent part of her life, stating that one shouldn’t fight against the circumstances they find themselves in. While this level of acceptance may not be possible for everyone, her relentless pursuit of understanding, her dedication to truthfully portraying her sons’ lives, and her search for simple language to express an unimaginable loss will resonate with any reader, even knowing that words can never fully capture such pain.

I truly believe that help is always available, and it’s okay to reach out. If you’re struggling, or you’re worried about someone else, please don’t hesitate to call or text 988 – it connects you to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also find more resources at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources. Remember, you’re not alone, and there are people who care and want to help.

2025-12-16 18:07