Winner of the National Book Award for nonfiction, Just Kids is a triumph of the memoir genre. In her own voice, punk poet laureate Patti Smith tells of her scrappy early days in NYC as a budding artist and her friendship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. The result is simply gorgeous, a delicate, breathtaking rumination on a generation of lost souls.

Written and narrated by The Boss himself, the Audie Award-winning Born to Run is a cornerstone of rock autobiography. From his working-class childhood in New Jersey to his days as a bar-band king in Asbury Park and the rise of the E Street Band, Springsteen’s reflections on life, work, dreams, family, and music are as lyrical and authentic as his career.

Much ink has been spilled on Mariah Carey, but in this story of hope, faith, and resilience, the legendary singer tells her story in her own words and voice for the very first time. Carey explores how she found her way out of darkness at different points in her life, unearthing the pain of isolation and fraught relationships within her complicated, mixed-race family.

World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma has a singular gift for his craft. With each movement of his bow, Ma plays with an inimitable sense of contentedness and tranquility, his exquisite skill matched only by his passion for the craft. His Beginner’s Mind houses deeply personal recollections, meditations on humanity and culture, and exceptional live recordings.

Artist and author Michelle Zauner of indie rock project Japanese Breakfast serves up a gutting reflection on love, culture, identity, food, and loss in her memoir. Whether Zauner is people-watching in the titular grocer’s food court or learning of her mother’s cancer diagnosis, her candid prose and delicate delivery provide an honest, unrelenting look at the realities of grief.

Artist, activist, and U2 frontman Bono has no shortage of stories to tell from his decades-spanning, Grammy-decorated career. Now, in his Audie Award-winning memoir, the Irish icon tells those tales through the lens of 40 songs, opening up about his life against the backdrop of a soul-searching soundtrack. As tremendous as it is humble, his story will stay with you.

Alicia Keys is one of the most impressive vocalists of her generation. Her control and range are tremendous, and her music rightfully topped the charts throughout the 2000s. But while her talent is no secret, Keys has been rather guarded and private over the years. In More Myself, she opens up, sharing the story behind her meteoric rise to fame.

Trailblazing and rowdy, the eclectic sounds of the Beastie Boys have stayed with us long after their initial debut (as a hardcore band!) in 1981. Since then, the unlikeliest of hip-hop superstars have become a household name. In this stellar autobiography, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horowitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond detail the band’s history and explore their indelible legacy.

Brandi Carlile's memoir is an exceptional exercise in humility, vulnerability, and wit, resonant in its genuine sense of self-reflection. Through her fittingly down-to-earth storytelling, the singer, songwriter, and humanitarian recalls each moment of her personal journey, from a childhood near-death experience to the tensions between her faith and her sexuality.

Keith Richards’s Life is a rollicking, unfiltered look at the life and times of a classic rock paragon. Beyond crafting some of our favorite guitar riffs for the Rolling Stones, the legendary wild man is also a gifted memoirst, sharing a great deal of insight into the frenzy of fame, bandmate quarrels, and the highs (freedom) and lows (isolation) of life the road.

Usher's The Last Showman delivers an intimate, captivating narrative that pulls back the curtain on one of the most electrifying entertainers of our time, spanning three decades of global superstardom. Along the way, Usher offers behind-the-scenes anecdotes, heartfelt reflections on his creative process, and candid revelations about the sacrifices that accompany fame.

Dave Grohl's got another confession to make. The drummer for illustrious grunge trio Nirvana and the founder and frontman of The Foo Fighters is as good-natured as ever in The Storyteller. Whether recounting the shattering loss of dear friend and bandmate Kurt Cobain, his months on the road, or time with his family, Grohl voices his story with warmth, humor, and heart.

In Sir Elton John’s autobiography, the pop star-turned-living legend offers a revelatory look at the story behind his meteoric rise to fame. With narration from Rocketman's Taron Egerton, this listen is at once uproarious and moving, exploring moments that range from larger-than-life to more intimate events, like getting sober and finding love. Hear more from the star here.

Singer-songwriter Janis Ian’s story is the quintessence of the music memoir genre, a Grammy and Audie Award-winning listen that explores an exceptional life with down-to-earth honesty. Graceful, measured, and conversational, Society's Child—named for the controversial 1966 hit that made a teenage Ian a burgeoning star—will stay with you long after it's over.

When Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature for his exquisite contributions to the songwriting canon, naysayers questioned whether Dylan’s lyrical achievements directly translated to literary greatness. Those cynics may want to listen to Chronicles: Volume One, a work that illuminates Dylan’s career with rhythm and expression in glimmering, imaginative prose.

Few singer-songwriters are as beloved as James Taylor, and in this Audible Original, the folk icon explores his tumultuous youth with remarkable candor. Unearthing the trials of forging his way through addiction, mental illness, and a turbulent home life at the very outset of his career, Taylor shares intimate details of his life that paint his work in an entirely new light.

Underground alt-darlings Sonic Youth spearheaded the experimental noise rock movement in New York City, skyrocketing bassist and founding member Kim Gordon into the limelight. A stylish, rough-around-the-edges artist unafraid to trample over uncharted territory, Gordon details the moments that defined her musical and personal life in Girl in the Band.

Musical legend Miles Davis was the most influential and acclaimed artist in jazz, a genius who always seemed to be ahead of the curve on each new development or style. In Miles, Davis is more candid than ever, starkly detailing his struggles with addiction, his battle for sobriety, and the crippling violence of racism in both the music industry and America at large.

How lucky we are to have this memoir filled with stories, wisdom, and musical interludes from American treasure Dolly Parton. Throughout Songteller, the living legend's signature drawl shimmers, her authenticity and talent shining brighter than ever. This isn't just the story of a cultural icon, this is a warm and welcome reminder of all that is good in this world.

With hits like "Lean Back" to his name, it's likely you've heard Fat Joe's music—but how much do you really know about the hip-hop star? In The Book of Jose, Fat Joe recalls the traumas of his coming-of-age in the South Bronx and the healing born from a passion for art and music, offering a thought-provoking, deeply inspiring story of resilience and success.

Trans icon Laura Jane Grace is best known as the front woman of Florida-founded punk band Against Me! In her memoir (so named to reclaim the slurs oft-hurled at her), Grace offers a far more intimate look at her life, detailing her search for identity, beating back repression and despondency along the way. To hear more, check out her Words + Music feature, Black Me Out.

In Miracle and Wonder, Paul Simon pulls back the curtain on the inspiration for the songs we love and the artistry that has driven a lifetime of songwriting. Comprised of 30+ hours of conversation between Simon, Malcolm Gladwell, and journalist Bruce Headlam, this audio portrait is a true gift, a poignant and revelatory reflection on an unparalleled career.

In early 1990s Olympia, WA, Sleater-Kinney debuted, finding their niche in an underground punk subculture that bucked the male-dominated scene. In the lyrically named Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl, guitarist Carrie Brownstein shares her history with the label-resistant band, crafting a raw, genuine memoir that muses on identity and art in the process.

This memoir unravels the Purple One's persona to reveal Prince Rogers Nelson, an observant, bright-eyed kid from Minnesota who would go on to change music forever. While Prince passed before its completion, the story is enriched by his scrapbooks, resulting in a touching reminder of the talent, spirit, and unbridled genius he brought into this world.

Guitarist Carlos Santana is a trailblazer in music, blending rock-and-roll, blues, Latin jazz, and a psychedelic flare to craft hits like "Smooth" and "Black Magic Woman." In Light, Spirit, and Soul, Santana explores the places, people, and music that have inspired and informed his career, interspersing recollections with exclusive new recordings of beloved songs.

While many of the selections on this list focus on the years spent touring and recording, Acid for the Children is a stirring music memoir that deliberately does not focus on the active period of fame. Flea, the bassist for the funk rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers, instead chooses to home in on his years prior to worldwide fame, exploring his childhood and adolescence.

Told in whip-fast, stream-of-consciousness chapters that span from punk pioneer Kathleen Hanna’s turbulent childhood and the trauma of male violence to tours across the country and the stability of marriage and motherhood, Rebel Girl is, at its core, a validating ode to survival, whatever it takes. Hanna’s narration, like her writing, is smart and sharp.

Powerhouse Alanis Morissette is one of the most complex, thoughtful artists of her generation, and in this soul-searching listen, she offers a glimpse into an uphill battle in a male-dominated industry and her journey towards peace and gratitude, tapping into the depths of her emotions and engaging with all of life's contradictions along the way.

A raucous tell-all written by the four members of Mötley Crüe, The Dirt is a salacious, shocking listen. From trashed hotel rooms to booze-fueled parties, this listen embodies the excesses of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle (sex, drugs, liquor, the occasional hotheaded fistfight), giving fans a glance into the scandals, affairs, and antics that made the band notorious.

With a decades-spanning career and relentlessly energetic stage presence, Tina Turner was nothing short of a rock, soul, R&B, and pop icon. In My Love Story, Turner is as unafraid and spirited as ever, rebuffing years of tabloid coverage, taking control of the narrative and detailing moments of her life, ranging from the heartbreaking to the chart-topping.

You likely know John Legend as the musical heavyweight he is today: a Grammy winner gone platinum with no shortage of hits to his name. But this meditative Audible Original offers a window into Legend’s life prior to his rise to stardom, from his roots as a bright young boy singing in his church’s choir to his time performing on nightclub stages.

By the time she was 17, Britney Spears was one of the most famous human beings on the planet. Yet her narrative was so seldom her own, dominated instead by exploitative media coverage and a restrictive conservatorship. In her bombshell memoir, narrated to perfection by actor Michelle Williams, a liberated Spears reclaims her story with hard-won candor.

A pioneer of the trap music subgenre, rapper Gucci Mane is known for his tremendous influence on the hip-hop soundscape. But his path to renown hasn't been an easy one. In this memoir, Gucci Mane details the demons of his adolescence and early career, as well as the fortitude that allowed him to transform his outlook on life entirely.

Canada-based indie pop duo Tegan & Sara co-authored this coming-of-age memoir about their early lives as high schoolers in 1990s Calgary, Alberta. Whether exploring queer identity or reflecting on their earliest sound, the twin sisters offer a soul-excavating look at the lives of two young artists, further enlivened by cassette tape demos from that very era.

Common is a talent in so many fields—he’s a rapper, writer, activist, and actor, with a Grammy and Oscar to his name. All of his gifts are on full display in this deeply personal and highly creative work that blends a variety of forms to tell his story—from a childhood spent longing for a loving father to his constant search for understanding in life, community, identity, and faith.

Irish iconoclast Sinéad O'Connor was unabashedly authentic in her legendary life and career, a true original unafraid to speak her mind. In her open-hearted, illuminating memoir, the artist and activist does not shy from controversy, engaging with her past fearlessly as she details how music offered an escape from the pains of an abusive upbringing.

Alex Van Halen is the co-founder and drummer of legendary rock band Van Halen, but his memoir doesn't dwell on fame. Instead, Alex offers a loving, full-bodied portrait of his younger brother, Edward, known to fans as "Eddie." A grief memoir that shines with affection and bad-boy antics, this story of brotherhood and music is one you won't soon forget.

There are few women in rock more esteemed than Debbie Harry, the lead vocalist for new-wave punks Blondie. Here, Harry dives deep on the gritty culture of 1970s NYC, her work with the band as well as her solo career, and her history as an activist. Along the way, she meditates on the heartbreaks she's endured and the intricacies of her inner life she's long kept hidden.

One of the most quintessentially Californian groups ever formed, The Beach Boys brought a surf-rock flair to the forefront of pop culture. Brian Wilson co-founded the group in the '60s, his gift for composition and songwriting foundational to the band. Here, Wilson recounts his mental health struggles, his road to healing, and the perspective he's gained.

Though we lost disco-soul-funk visionary Maurice White nearly a decade ago, his legacy lives on in this absorbing and uplifting memoir. As the founder of Earth, Wind & Fire, White totally changed the sound of American music forever, reinventing pop while defying all attempts at categorization, and his story is as singular and spirited as the art he created.

Though you may not know her by name, Sophia Chang is one of the most ferocious, fearless figures in the music industry, and her powerful, pioneering story is not to be missed. Listen in as Chang details her career as one of the first Asian women working in hip-hop and R&B, managing stars such as Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, and D’Angelo.

Acclaimed alt-pop artist Halsey wields the gift for language displayed throughout their songwriting in this memoir in poems. Offering a glimpse into their personal struggles and triumphs, assessing ghosts of past relationships, life with bipolar disorder, and explorations of love and sexuality, this intimate, confessional listen is a testament to the power of vulnerability.

Ronnie Spector co-founded and fronted '60s girl group The Ronettes, leaving a lasting mark on music history with her incomparable voice and bold, memorable style. In this memoir titled after one of the band's biggest hits, Spector reflected on the traumas of domestic abuse, the process of reclaiming her art and autonomy, and the liberation of a second act.

In this emotional memoir, Rush drummer and lyrical maestro Neil Peart chronicled a destination-free motorcycle journey across North America—an expedition that he hoped would bring him reprieve from grief and heartache in the wake of unthinkable loss as he mourned both his 19-year-old daughter and his wife in the span of less than a year.

An examination of personal identity and the creative process, this podcast centering some of today's biggest, most innovative rising stars is a fascinating take on memoir storytelling. Featuring artists like Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Troye Sivan, Tobe Nwigwe, King Princess, and Dominic Fike, this series explores the diverse backgrounds and journeys of the soundscape's latest hitmakers.