Most autobiographies are written in first person, meaning the narrative consists of "I" and "we." An autobiography typically tells the chronological story of the author's life--from birth to the present. Examples of autobiographies are "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" written by Benjamin Franklin and "Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life" by Steve Martin. Even though most autobiographies are self-authored, some may be co-written--"as told to"--or ghostwritten by a professional writer. This is especially common in autobiographies of celebrities, sports figures, politicians and anyone else who may not have the writing abilities to author an entire book.
An autobiography is a glimpse into a person's life. Many celebrities and popular athletes utilize autobiography to gain attention, exploit notoriety or tell their side of a controversial story--these types of stories are called ad hoc autobiographies. Some people use their story as a healing tool, especially if they've been a victim of trauma, and others simply want to piece together their life experiences. When writing an autobiography, it may help to focus on three things: who you are, what you perceive the meaning of your life to be, and your outlook on the future. Autobiographies are infused with the author's personality and perception of himself and the world.
The history of autobiographies dates back to A.D. 400 with the Confessions of St. Augustine, the story of a prodigal who became a saint. The term autobiography was coined by poet Robert Southey in 1809 in the British "Quarterly Review." "Autos" is Greek for self, "Bios" means life and "graphe" stands for writing. Southey predicted an "epidemical rage for autobiography," which, judging by the popularity of celebrity tell-all books, has continued to this day.
A memoir is a more subjective style of autobiography that's based on exploring the author's feelings and experiences about a particular event. A memoir is more of a musing and is often based on one experience, rather than spanning an entire life. "Running with Scissors: A Memoir" by Augusten Burroughs details the author's life from 13 to 16 years old growing up in a dysfunctional family. Eyewitness accounts are memoirs with historical significance, such as "Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela." Fictional autobiographies are written in first person by a fictional character.
According to post-modern and autobiographical theory, an individual's life story is shaped by cultural events and sociological influences and is, therefore, not based in pure fact. When reading an autobiography, it's important to remember the time it was written in and the cultural attitudes and beliefs of that time. Many colleges offer a course in autobiographical theory, especially as it relates to women's writing.