A biography is the story of someone's life written by another person. In contrast, an autobiography is the story of one's own life, written or dictated by oneself. Some celebrities prefer to work with ghost writers rather than write the words themselves. An autobiography should be a work of nonfiction, and the events depicted should be factual. However, the challenge of writing an autobiography is to select interesting and entertaining details.
Reality television has created a new market for celebrity autobiography.
Other people with a story to tell include sports stars and business people. The publishing world has also lured many famous movie stars, TV actors and singers into publishing an autobiography. Ordinary people who have been victims of crime or abuse often turn to autobiography to tell their stories. Former criminals have also published autobiographies.
People write personal autobiographies for many reasons. In some cases, the writer wants to explain his choices and actions. This is prevalent among politicians and military leaders who want to put a stamp on future historical interpretations. Other people, such as celebrities, tend to respond to public demand for information about their personal lives. In the case of victims or people describing a traumatic life, writing an autobiography can be a therapeutic and cathartic experience.
Age is no barrier to writing an autobiography. Slumdog Millionaire actress Rubina Ali wrote her autobiography about growing up in India at the tender age of nine. Canadian singer Justin Bieber is another young person who believes his short life story is interesting enough to publish as an autobiography. An example of an autobiography that captures a young person's coming of age is "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," by writer and poet Maya Angelou.