Memoir

Harry Moffitt’s memoir of his nearly three decades with Australia’s elite Special Air Service Regiment, told through the lens of his love for cricket. Each of the eleven deployments in his career is paired with a cricket bat he carried to the field, using the sport as a thread to connect stories of combat, leadership, and the bonds between soldiers. For an interview with Harry, listen to episode 107 of our podcast.

Follows Scott Ryder’s 22-year career in the Australian Army, including 16 years with the elite 2nd Commando Regiment. Ryder shares his path from joining at age 17 to earning his green beret, enduring relentless training and deployments to Afghanistan, and surviving a devastating Black Hawk helicopter crash in Kandahar. He includes precise battlefield stories, like the Battle of Shah Wali Kot, alongside deeply personal accounts of rescue, recovery, and the emotional toll of trauma. Listen to episode 102 of our podcast for an interview with Scott.

Major Tom Schueman and his longtime interpreter Zainullah Zaki (aka Zak). They share their intertwined journeys in this dual memoir. Schueman recounts combat in Sangin and the chaos of America’s withdrawal, while Zak offers a grounded perspective shaped by his Afghan homeland. Their parallel narratives converge in a race against time with Schueman’s efforts to get Zak and his family out of Kabul during the Taliban takeover just before “Wheels up.” The result is an immersive, personal view of a war shaped by loyalty, bureaucratic failure, and the bonds that outlast conflict. You can listen to an interview with Lt. Col. Schueman on episode 82 of our podcast.

Part memoir, part guide to healing, this book tells the story of Edith Eger, who survived Auschwitz as a teenager and went on to become a psychologist specializing in trauma. She recounts the horrors she endured, including being forced to dance for Joseph Mengele after her parents had been murdered, and shows how the human mind can choose freedom even under the worst conditions. Eger’s central lesson is that while we can’t control what happens to us, we can control how we respond. Read alongside Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, this book carries forward the same theme: survival depends as much on mindset as on circumstance. Eger’s writing is less abstract and more intimate, showing what it looks like to apply these principles across a lifetime.

Peter Boardman’s account of his and Joe Tasker’s 1976 expedition to climb the unclimbed West Wall of Changabang in the Indian Himalaya. The peak’s daunting granite face and treacherous weather made it a test of skill, endurance, and partnership. This captures the physical hardship and technical precision of high-altitude climbing, as well as the humor, doubt, and camaraderie that shape an expedition. It’s regarded as a classic of mountaineering literature for its unvarnished portrayal of ambition and the human side of extreme adventure.

Masih Alinejad grew up in a small Iranian village under the restrictions of the Islamic Republic, where the mandatory hijab was a daily reminder of state control over women’s lives. Defiant from an early age, she became a journalist known for challenging political leaders and exposing corruption. Her criticism eventually forced her into exile, where she launched the “My Stealthy Freedom” campaign, encouraging Iranian women to share photos without headscarves in protest. This memoir traces her journey from rural Iran to becoming an international voice for women’s rights. An important voice of lived experience when it comes to a topic that’s rife with moral confusion.

A first-hand account of trench warfare on the Western Front during World War I, written by a young German officer who would later become one of the war’s most decorated soldiers. Jünger’s memoir is notable for its unflinching, unsentimental depiction of combat and for his cool, precise observations amid chaos. Rather than moralizing, he records the daily reality of battle, from mud and artillery to moments of strange beauty, offering a soldier’s-eye view of industrialized war.

Yasmine Mohammed grew up in Canada in a conservative Muslim household, enduring abuse (sometimes sanctioned by the Canadian legal system because it was “her culture”) and forced marriage to an al-Qaeda operative. Breaking free meant risking her life, but it also gave her the clarity to speak out against the ideology she escaped. Here, she tells her story while arguing that Western cultural relativism and fear of offense allow oppressive practices to persist unchallenged in societies that are theoretically against that oppression. It’s a critique of how extremism and misplaced tolerance can conspire to silence the voices of those fighting for freedom from within.

Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of a Hamas co-founder, grew up inside the movement’s inner circle. As he witnessed its violence and corruption and the toll it took on both Israelis and Palestinians, he began secretly working with Israeli intelligence. Son of Hamas tells the story of his transformation from an insider in a militant organization to a double agent risking his life to prevent attacks, and eventually to a man rejecting the belief system he was raised in. This is another one where a first-person perspective provides valuable insight into an idealogy.

Keith Richards’ unapologetic account of his journey from a postwar childhood in England to global fame with the Rolling Stones. He recounts the band’s rise, the creative process behind its music, his decades-long friendship and clashes with Mick Jagger, and a life shaped by excess, addiction, and survival.

The incredible story of Roger Sparks, a Marine Recon veteran, Silver Star recipient, and Air Force Pararescueman based in Alaska whose life has been defined by service in some of the world’s most dangerous environments. Sparks recounts combat in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, perilous rescue missions in the Alaskan wilderness, and the personal code that guided him through loss, trauma, and survival.

Traces Malcolm’s transformation from a street hustler and convict to a leading voice in the Nation of Islam, and later, an advocate for a more inclusive vision of human rights after breaking with the movement. He recounts his early struggles, radicalization, and evolving views on race, religion, and justice, in an unflinching account of personal change amid the turbulent civil rights era.

Alex Messenger’s firsthand account of a 2005 canoe expedition in the Canadian tundra that turned into a fight for survival. At 17, Messenger was mauled by a grizzly bear hundreds of miles from help, suffering severe injuries that left him dependent on his own resolve and the teamwork of his companions to make it out alive.

Stephanie Land’s memoir of working as a house cleaner while struggling to support herself and her young daughter. After leaving an abusive relationship, she navigated poverty, homelessness, and the maze of government assistance programs, all while cleaning the homes of the wealthy. She details the hidden labor that sustains others’ comfort, the stigma of low-wage work, and the personal costs of America’s economic inequality.

Harrison Scott Key’s comedic memoir about the pursuit of a big, audacious dream: becoming a famous writer. Framed as a tongue-in-cheek self-help manual for chasing glory, it follows his quest from lofty ambition through years of rejection, hard work, and absurd setbacks. One of the funniest writers out there today.

My favorite of Harrison Scott Key's work is about growing up in the rural South under the shadow of his tough, complicated father. A very funny story told with a sharp eye for the absurd, it covers stories of Harrison’s boyhood, journey to manhood, and the sometimes-clumsy process of becoming one’s own person while wrestling with the legacies of family, place, and masculinity.

A fast-paced memoir from one of the world’s most wanted hackers. He recounts how he breached some of the biggest corporations and government agencies in the world, stayed a step ahead of the FBI for years, and ultimately served time in prison. Because technology evolves so rapidly, some of the methods he discusses will seem quite dated (such as using landline phones to eavesdrop on the FBI while they discussed trying to find him), but other aspects of social engineering remain timeless. So, a little bit of a how-to manual mixed with a memoir.

Maiden Voyage tells the story of Tania Aebi, who at 18 set out alone to sail solo around the world with little sailing experience. What began as a deal with her father to avoid college became a two-and-a-half-year journey across oceans and cultures. Aebi faced storms, equipment failures, loneliness, and moments of profound beauty, growing from a restless teenager into a capable and self-reliant sailor.

Tom Satterly is a retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major who served in Delta Force for two decades. He recounts missions from some of America’s most dangerous conflicts, including the Battle of Mogadishu, Iraq, and Afghanistan, describing the toll of operating at the highest levels of special operations. Satterly also lays bare his post-service struggles with PTSD, depression, and suicidal thoughts, and the hard work of recovery that followed. The book offers an unvarnished look at life in an elite unit and the human cost of war long after the fighting ends. He and his wife, Jen, appear on episode 29 of our podcast.

This is a fascinating and inspiring story of one person’s unique life, not a how-to manual. It’s David Goggins’ highly readable account of his transformation from an abused and overweight young man into a Navy SEAL, ultra-endurance athlete, and record-setting performer. He frames his life through what he calls the “40% rule,” arguing that most people quit well before reaching their actual limits.

The autobiography of Jack Johnson, the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion, originally published in 1914 and reissued in later editions. Johnson recounts his rise from the son of formerly enslaved parents in Galveston, Texas, to the top of the boxing world, defying racial barriers and provoking outrage in Jim Crow America. He describes his toughest fights in and out of the ring, from legendary bouts against white challengers to legal persecution under the Mann Act.

Former Delta Force officer Pete Blaber’s reflection on leadership and decision-making under extreme conditions. Drawing from combat missions and unconventional operations, Blaber distills principles like “Don’t get treed by a Chihuahua” and “When in doubt, develop the situation” to emphasize adaptability, situational awareness, and putting people ahead of rigid plans. I liked Blaber’s “saturate, incubate, illuminate” framework for decision-making: First, flood your mind with every piece of relevant information. Then, give it time and space to work in the background. Finally, act on the insight that surfaces, often unexpectedly, once the mental connections lock into place. Sort of a way to deliberately use “shower thoughts” or the sorts of insights we have when casually contemplating complex ideas.

William Finnegan’s memoir about his life shaped by an obsession with surfing, from his youth in California and Hawaii to chasing waves across the South Pacific, Australia, Asia, and Africa. He weaves detailed accounts of breaks and boards with reflections on risk, friendship, and the search for meaning in a pursuit that’s equal parts sport, craft, and art.

Liz Clark, a professional surfer, set out from California on her 40-foot sailboat, Swell, chasing waves and a freer life across the Pacific. Alone at sea for long stretches, she navigated storms, mechanical failures, and the constant push-pull between isolation and connection. Like Barbarian Days, it’s a meditation on the surfing life, rooted in the rhythms of swells, reefs, and far-flung shores. Unlike Maiden Voyage, which focuses on a young sailor’s trial-by-fire around the world, Swell is less about ticking off miles and more about blending sailing with surf exploration, advocating for healthy reefs and coastlines, and personal transformation.

Written by one of the 20th century’s most interesting men. This is a collection of autobiographical stories from the life of Nobel Prize–winning physicist Richard Feynman. His curiosity pulls him into everything from safecracking at Los Alamos to sketching nude models, studying biology, and playing bongo drums. During a stint teaching in Brazil, he learned the frigideira, joined a samba school, and marched in Rio’s Carnaval parade just for the hell of it. The memoir captures his relentless appetite for learning, his refusal to take himself too seriously, and his conviction that the world is far more interesting when you dive into it without fear or pretense.

Here, Feynman takes a more serious tone and mixes autobiographical stories with reflections on science, curiosity, and integrity. The book is best known for its account of his role in the Rogers Commission investigating the Challenger disaster, where his clear-eyed reasoning and public demonstration of the O-ring failure cut through bureaucratic evasion. It also contains deeply personal pieces, including moving recollections of his first wife, Arline.

Liz Murray’s memoir of growing up in the Bronx with drug-addicted parents, chronic hunger, and long stretches of homelessness, then finding her way to Harvard University. She writes about sleeping on subway trains, caring for her mother during the final stages of AIDS, and piecing together an education while living on the streets. It’s a good one for the “people who had it worse than you and did more anyway” collection.

The account of Nujood Ali, a Yemeni girl forced into marriage at the age of ten to a man three times her age. Enduring abuse and denied schooling, she made the extraordinary decision to go to court by herself and demand a divorce, an act that defied cultural norms and drew global attention. It took a great deal of courage to confront her family, her husband, and an entrenched system, and it became a rallying point in the fight against child marriage worldwide.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s memoir of her journey from a childhood in Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and Kenya, marked by strict religious upbringing, political upheaval, and abuse, to seeking asylum in the Netherlands and becoming a critic of Islamic fundamentalism. She recounts her break with her faith, her advocacy for women’s rights, and her work in Dutch politics, where she confronted the cultural and political costs of challenging entrenched beliefs. A manifesto against the oppression of women under religious authoritarianism by someone who grew up under it.

Arkady Babchenko’s raw account of his time as a young Russian conscript and later a contract soldier in the First and Second Chechen Wars. Drawing from his own diaries and memories, he depicts the chaos, brutality, and moral corrosion of those conflicts, where poor training, corruption, and indifference from commanders left soldiers to endure hunger, cold, and constant fear. He strips away official propaganda to show the human cost of Russia’s war in Chechnya, for both soldiers and civilians. It’s an interesting one to read alongside My Jihad.

This book was on the reading list that the instructors gave me as a SCRUFT, early in the Naval Special Warfare pipeline. It’s the memoir of Aukai Collins, an American who converted to Islam, trained in Afghanistan, and fought as a mujahid in Chechnya during the 1990s. Collins gives a first-person account of how he was drawn into the conflicts of the post-Soviet Muslim world, his disillusionment with some aspects of the jihadist movement, and his later work as an FBI informant. It provides an inside look into the complex motivations and moral compromises of someone who moved between militant networks and U.S. intelligence.

Sam Sheridan seems like the kind of guy you’d want to have a beer with. In this book, he travels the globe to train with and learn from some of the world’s most dedicated combat athletes. From Muay Thai camps in Thailand to Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Rio, and from American boxing gyms to MMA training in Iowa, Sheridan immerses himself in the cultures, disciplines, and philosophies behind each fighting style. It’s about the techniques and toughness required in combat sports, and the deeper motivations, identities, and personal codes that drive fighters to step into the ring or cage.

This book, about the inner workings at Facebook since its inception, is just as infuriating and depressing as you’d expect it to be. It’s from a former global public policy director at Facebook (now Meta), offering a critical, inside account of the company during her 2011–2017 tenure. Wynn‑Williams describes ethical compromises and aggressive expansion, ranging from Facebook’s mishandling of hate speech in Myanmar and support for repressive regimes, to its attempts to enter China by building censorship tools. She recounts decisions by leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, and Joel Kaplan, portraying them as emotionally immature, morally compromised, and disconnected from real-world consequences. Meta played into a Streisand Effect and escalated the book’s visibility by seeking to bar her from promoting it, which many readers saw as an attempt to suppress the truth. That helped it rapidly become an NYT bestseller.

Tara Westover’s inspiring story of growing up in a strict and isolated religious fundamentalist household in rural Idaho, with no formal schooling and parents deeply distrustful of government and mainstream institutions. Through self-study, she taught herself enough to earn admission to Brigham Young University, eventually completing a Ph.D. at Cambridge. Would have made a much better movie than The Glass Castle, which it’s sometimes compared to.

A firsthand account of survival that reads like a field manual in resilience. After his sailboat capsized in the Atlantic, Callahan spent seventy-six days alone in a life raft, facing hunger, thirst, storms, and sharks.

A raw memoir of survival in Thailand’s infamous Bangkwang Prison, where Fellows served over a decade after being caught smuggling heroin. The book’s title refers to his nearly 12 years (4,000 days) behind bars, a stretch marked by brutality, disease, and the grinding erosion of hope. Unlike sea survival tales like Adrift or exploration ordeals like Endurance, this is a survival story set in a man-made hell, where the test isn’t nature’s indifference but human cruelty and systemic corruption.

An insider’s account of the grueling, high-stakes world of Olympic rowing, told by the man who lived it. Brad Alan Lewis chronicles his journey from repeated setbacks and near-misses to winning gold in the double sculls at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The book takes you inside the physical demands, mental battles, and relentless pursuit of technical perfection that define elite rowing, culminating in the high-pressure showdown on Lake Casitas.

A firsthand narrative of mountaineering at its most extreme, written by one of Britain’s leading climbers of the 1970s and early 1980s. Joe Tasker recounts ascents on some of the world’s most challenging peaks, including Everest, Kangchenjunga, and Dunagiri. His accounts blend meticulous detail of climbing technique with the stark realities of risk, isolation, and endurance in the world’s highest mountains. Tasker completed this manuscript shortly before disappearing on Everest’s Northeast Ridge in 1982.

Part memoir, part business philosophy, this book tells the story of Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard. A climber and craftsman who never wanted to run a company, Chouinard built Patagonia around values that put the environment and employees first. He explains how the company’s culture (flexible schedules, environmental activism, quality over growth) grew out of his own life as a climber, surfer, and environmentalist. The book is equal parts autobiography, manifesto, and field guide for anyone trying to build a business without losing their principles.