Can a non-celebrity memoir be successful?

Can a Non-Celebrity Memoir be Sucessful?

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Memoirs offer a window into the lives of others and can help us understand novel experiences and perspectives, yet they include universal themes that are likely to be relevant to a large audience. Recently, increasing numbers of award-winning memoirs written by non-celebrities have captivated readers with their powerful storytelling and unique insights.

Non-celebrity memoirs can sell well and make money. They matter. While memoirs by celebrities have a built-in audience and platform, many non-celebrity memoirs have sold millions of copies and achieved commercial success because their stories entertain and move readers.

In fact, according to a report by the Association of American Publishers, non-celebrity memoirs were the fastest-growing genre in the book industry in 2019, with sales increasing by 16.9% compared to the previous year. This suggests that there is a growing appetite for non-celebrity memoirs among readers.

Educated Memoir with a plot about personal accomplishment in the face of obstacles — Available on Amazon

Award-winning, non-celebrity memoirs

1. ‘Educated’ by Tara Westover

Tara Westover’s ‘Educated’ dramatizes her childhood in a poor, Mormon family in rural Idaho through her Ph.D. education at Cambridge University. The book explores themes of family, identity, and the pursuit of knowledge.
Publishers Weekly called it the ‘best memoir in years’ while NPR wrote it was ‘astonishing.’
Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Memoir & Autobiography (2018).

2. ‘The Glass Castle' by Jeannette Walls

Jeannette Walls’ ‘The Glass Castle’ reveals a highly dysfunctional childhood and the family who subjected her to tumult and pain, yet it also recognizes the intentions to love in the home. The book explores themes of resilience, forgiveness, and the power of love.
The Wall Street Journal declared Karr in the company of Frank McCourt and called her memoir ‘magnificent literature. ‘
Winner of the Christopher Award for Books (2010).

3. ’The Fact of a Body’ by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich

Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich’s The Fact of a Body delves into the convergence of her traumatic past and her involvement in a murder case during her time in law school. The book explores themes of memory, trauma, and the criminal justice system.
People Magazine called it a ‘True-crime masterpiece’ while also putting it in the column of a gripping memoir.
‘The Sunday Times didn’t just call it a best memoir of the year, they called it a best book.
Winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Memoir/Biography (2018).

4. ’H is for Hawk' by Helen Macdonald

Helen Macdonald’s ‘H is for Hawk’ is a memoir personal story of grief after the sudden death of her father and concurrently is the story of training a goshawk. The two storylines each give resonance to the other. The book explores themes of grief, nature, and the bond between humans and animals.
‘Mesmerizing... This is a book made from the heart that goes to the heart.’ - The Boston Globe
‘A book of great depth and beauty.’ - The New York Times Book Review
Winner of the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction (2014).

5. ‘Heartland’ by Sarah Smarsh

‘Heartland by Sarah Smarsh’ is a personal account of her upbringing in impoverished rural Kansas, exploring the profound influence of social class on the trajectory of her life. The book explores themes of family, class, and the American Dream.
‘An eye-opening and eloquent plea for empathy and understanding.’ - Booklist
‘Smarsh delivers a sharp and empathetic look at the challenges facing America’s poor and working-class people.’ - Publishers Weekly
Winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction (2018)

More examples of successful non-celebrity memoirs of this century

6. ’Wild’

by Cheryl Strayed - Sold over 4 million copies and its successful film adaptation starred Reese Witherspoon.

7. ’The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks’

by Rebecca Skloot - Sold over 3 million copies and was adapted into a film for HBO.

8. ‘When Breath Becomes Air'

by Paul, Kalanithi s a highly regarded memoir that has received various prestigious awards, such as the Best Memoir in the Goodreads Choice Award. Despite being published after the author’s death, the book has become widely popular and captured the hearts of many readers.

9. ‘Wave’

by Sonali Deraniyagala is a heartbreaking memoir that recounts the author’s grief and despair following the loss of her family during the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. This powerful literary work was a finalist for the esteemed National Book Critics Circle.

10.‘The Argonauts'

is Maggie Nelson’s award-winning memoir that delves into the author’s encounters with love, motherhood, and gender. The book has earned many accolades, including the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism.

11. ‘The Girl with Seven Names’

is Hyeonseo Lee’s popular memoir detailing her flight from North Korea and the road to liberation; it’s been translated into more than 20 languages and is a bestseller around the world.

12. ‘Memorial Drive’

by Natasha Tretheway, won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Autobiography. Through her poignant writing, Tretheway animates the complex dynamic she shared with her mother, who was murdered by her stepfather. The New York Times aptly described the book as both a haunting tribute to a lost loved one and an introspective exploration of themes such as time, grief, and the burden of a complicated past.

13. ‘Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning’

by Cathy Park, Hong’s was awarded the National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography in 2021. Through a series of essays, Hong shares her journey as a Korean American and delves into themes of race, identity, and finding a sense of belonging. The Washington Post has praised the book as a significant addition to the Asian American literary canon.

14. 'Ordinary Girls'

by Jaquira Díaz’s book was awarded the 2020 Whiting Award in Nonfiction. The memoir details the author’s upbringing in both Puerto Rico and Miami, delving into her coming-of-age experiences. The New York Times described the book as fierce and lyrical.

15. ’The Dragons, the Giant, the Women: A Memoir’

by Wayétu Moore won the Lillian Smith Book Award in 2021. It is a memoir about the author’s experiences growing up in Liberia during the civil war and her family’s eventual move to the United States. Publishers Weekly called it ‘an affecting and beautifully written memoir.’

16.‘Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America'

Laila Lalami’s autobiographical work clinched the Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose last year. The memoir reveals the author’s encounters as a Moroccan immigrant and illuminates themes of identity, citizenship, and belonging in America. The New York Times hailed it as a pressing and captivating advocacy for the significance of citizenship.

Non-celebrity doesn't mean ordinary

In conclusion, these award-winning memoirs offer diverse perspectives and themes that shed light on different aspects of human experience. They matter. From Westover’s journey of self-discovery to Walls’ tale of resilience, each of these memoirs has something unique to offer readers. The list of well-selling memoirs in this century could have been in the thousands.

Whether you’re interested in personal growth, true crime, nature, or social justice, a memoir on this list will speak to you. Memoirs can have all the entertainment of your favorite genre of fiction. If you are considering writing a memoir, know you don’t have to be a celebrity to share your story.

Your memoir could share personal stories and be a cross-genre, self-help, nature, business, philosophy, relationship, diet, mechanics, chicken-raising, or any type of subject matter you can imagine. Make it personal and include themes that will be personal to the audience and your hard-earned wisdom could last beyond your years. The answer is YES, non-celebrity memoirs can be highly successful and meaningful.