The most common type of autobiography is a full autobiography. A full autobiography details the subject's life, often in chronological form, from birth until the time of publishing. Full autobiographies provide background information on the subject's family members, family life, upbringing, education, professional achievements and personal/romantic relationships. A full autobiography is popular among famous people, who know that people want to know about their entire life, or by people who want to write down their life story in such detail that a stranger could read the book and have great insight into their lives.
A memoir is a condensed autobiography that focuses on a specific event or time period in the author's life. A memoir can also detail a certain aspect of a person's life experience. For example, "The Glass Castle" is a memoir by Jeannette Walls that focuses on her dysfunctional childhood during which her parents preferred to remain homeless even after she was able to provide for their basic necessities. Memoirs can also be based on a person's experience living somewhere unique; Frances Mayes' "Under the Tuscan Sun" and Isak Dinesen's "Out of Africa" are two popular examples of geographical memoirs.
Many authors use an autobiography to confess to dangerous, unsavory or sinful behavior. Confession autobiographies can serve as cautionary and inspirational tales. Pete Hamill, a well-respected journalist, wrote "A Drinking Life," in which he confessed to being a longtime alcoholic and chronicled his road to sobriety. Writing a confession autobiography takes courage because revealing an addiction, illegal behavior or less-than-desirable character traits can leave the writer open to scorn and judgment. On the other hand, writing a confession autobiography can also be liberating; as the old adage goes, "the truth will set you free."
Complaint autobiographies are used to protest a person's place in history or to change the public's perception about a public persona. In 1978, Christina Crawford wrote "Mommie Dearest," an autobiography that exposed her famous mother's (actress Joan Crawford) alleged physical abuse and promiscuous behavior. Following his acquittal for double murder, O.J. Simpson wrote "If I Did It," a controversial book, that in part, protests the public's perception that he is guilty of double murder. Complaint autobiographies can be a cathartic writing experience, but because the author is protesting an event or revealing a person's true nature, readers may wonder what the author's motive is for writing the autobiography.