My Favorite Memoirs on Audible.

Memoirs are among my favorite books to listen to on Audible. Truly, there is nothing better than taking a memoir for a walk and feeling like you just spent an hour chatting with (or– listening to!) your new best friend Ina Garten (or another celebrity!) telling you their life story. 

I am a big Audible user. I listen to audiobooks constantly—when I’m doing chores, in the shower/getting ready, and always out for a walk. I listen to a lot of different books on audio, but memoirs are my absolute favorite. Today, I am rounding up sixteen memoirs that I really enjoyed!

PS – Now through January 21st, eligible Amazon customers in the US can sign up for Audible Premium Plus, at $0.99 for the first three months.

PPS – For even more great listens, head to The Library and filter to audiobooks!

My Favorite memoirs to listen to on audible

Food-Related

My love of food and restaurants definitely comes into play here; a big chunk of this list is restaurant-related!

Be Ready When the Luck Happens, by Ina Garten 

This is the newest addition to my favorites list, and it’s such a treat! I had no idea how interesting Ina Garten’s life has been–or that she worked for the government before launching her incredible career. I am still listening to this (about four hours left; I want to savor it!!!) I love her and Jeffrey’s love story (it is incredible how in love they still are and how they are truly each other’s favorite person), and it’s so interesting hearing about the early days of building and growing Barefoot Contessa. Order it here.

Save Me the Plums, by Ruth Reichl

This is Ruth Reichl’s memoir, and I just adored it. It is probably one of my all-time favorite books, let alone memoirs. It’s definitely my favorite of all of Ruth Reichl’s books. Ruth is a former food critic who was brought in to bring big changes to Gourmet magazine (and oh –she does!) Save Me The Plums takes you inside the glamorous world of Conde Nast during its heyday… from S.I. Neuhouse’s birthday party (and art collections!) to the private kitchen inside the magazine, with looks at all of the most famous celebrity chefs. I cried during the bits about 911 and then again at the end when Conde Nast decided to fold the magazine. Order it here.

Taste, by Stanley Tucci

This book was just… lovely! I am a huge fan of Stanley Tucci (and could listen to him read the dictionary to be honest) but loved getting to know him and his story better. I had no idea of his previous marriage (and losing his wife to cancer) or his own personal journey with cancer. And you know I love a foodie memoir. The way he talks about food will make you hungry (and it will make you want to travel). And I (somewhat randomly), really enjoyed learning about the food he ate on set and when he traveled for work. I also loved all his stories about his friends (you know, Meryl… Ryan and Blake). No gossip, just fun stories. And you will feel like he is your old pal by the end of the book. Order it here.

Setting the Table, by Danny Meyer

This is an older one but I saw it recommended somewhere and immediately downloaded it. I LOVED it. It is equal parts business book and memoir. When I lived in New York I loved eating at Danny Meyer’s restaurants (and I still do!). Shake Shack, Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe… the man is a genius! He is someone who definitely started on third base, coming from a very privileged background, etc. but the way he used that privilege and has run his restaurants is genius.

I wish more restaurants (and businesses) focused on hospitality the way that he and his teams do. Even though it is a little bit older, if you have a business or work in the service industry (I 100% include influencing as the service industry!), it is an absolute must-read. So much incredible advice on how to treat people and build a loyal clientele. And it’s fun. He is honest and isn’t afraid to share stories where he messed up. Order it here.

Crying in H-Mart, by Michelle Zauner 

This book came highly recommended by so many friends, but initially I wasn’t sure I could handle it. It’s really sad. There are content warnings for cancer, taking care of someone with cancer, a dying parent. But truly, the book is so worth reading. It’s beautifully written and will also make you very hungry.

Michelle writes about growing up (as one of the few Asian-American kids) in Oregon, and her mother’s high expectations. I loved all of the parts about visiting her grandmother and aunts in Korea (it made me want to plan a trip!). And of course there are the more painful parts. Seeing her take care of her mother, watching her mother fade away, watching the Michelle and her father drift apart and fight… it’s really just an incredibly sad and vulnerable book (but so beautiful and unforgettable that it’s very much worth the read). I loved it. Order it here.

Celebrity

Because there is nothing quite as fun as having a new celeb bestie for a week or so.

The Woman in Me, by Britney Spears

I came for the juicy stuff (and there is plenty of it, even with all the media spoilers) but stayed for the more gut wrenching bits. I cannot imagine enduring everything that Spears has gone through. To have every single person close to her have an ulterior motive. To have everyone (including her own parents) just take, take, take. Variety’s review (I read several reviews; this one is very good) describes the book as an explanation of how she survived the men in her life and I think that is very true. Her father, Justin, Kevin… the paparazzi (mostly men), late-night talk show hosts, creepy interviewers, a sexist media narrative, etc.

This is a woman who is/was so incredibly talented and has accomplished so much yet had to beg (publicly, in court!) for her freedom. (All the while living on a $2,000/month allowance as her parents took millions of dollars from her!). Order it here.

Going There, by Katie Couric

Katie Couric does not hold back in her memoir! I had never been a big morning show person or even a fan of Katie Couric. I knew who she was, and she seemed like a smart, good person. But she just wasn’t someone I cared about or thought of as relevant to my life. I loved this book. Loved. Katie takes us all the way from her childhood through her rise in media to the #metoo movement and what happened between her and Matt Lauer all the way through until today. I went from not knowing anything about her to feeling deeply invested in her life. It is heartbreaking (we witness her husband’s death from colon cancer), self-deprecating and vulnerable at times, and also very salacious (like I said: she does not hold back). Order it here.

Open Book, by Jessica Simpson

When I listened to this I was that annoying person, referring to Simpson as “my best friend Jess” the whole time. This one was SUCH a departure from my usual type of read, but I loved listening to it – Jessica was a fun narrator, and I enjoyed it IMMENSELY. I did watch Newlyweds back in the day so that was part of it. And I’ve also related to Jessica on and off throughout her life (I think she’s someone people underestimate. And I’ve had a lot of people think I’m stupid because I can be spacey; there’s a difference). She talked about all of her relationships in an extremely unfiltered way (the John Mayer parts were my favorite!) Highly recommend, and if you are quarantined in NYC and taking daily walks to stay sane, Jessica makes for the perfect walking partner!!! Order it here.

Mean Baby, by Selma Blair

I went into this book not knowing what to expect. I’ve always liked Selma Blair, and of course, I loved her in Legally Blonde and Cruel Intentions. I also liked the cover of the book, I had seen a lot of people posting about it, and let’s be honest: I LOVE a celebrity memoir. So I scooped this one up, only to be unable to put it down.

First of all, BLAIR CAN WRITE. The book is incredibly well-written. Second, she is very self-aware and very raw and vulnerable. She talks about trauma, abuse, addiction, and, of course, her MS diagnosis in a way that is honest and messy, heartbreaking but still somehow hopeful. It’s a look at her life from birth (literally, she was born with a cute little smirk and deemed a “mean baby”) all the way through the present day. There is also fun stuff: Hollywood tea, working with Reese Witherspoon and Sarah Michelle Gellar, the friendships she has made in the industry, etc. I tore through this in just a few days and think that you will do the same. Cannot recommend it enough. Order it here.

Tippi, by Tippi Hedren

I read (listened) to this one on such a whim (it’s a little older, from 2015) because I had been watching Hitchcock films (The Birds and Marnie) and just loved Tippi Hedren’s style. Upon googling her, I learned she had a lot of drama with Hitchcock (and had blamed him for ruining her career). I also learned that she was Melanie Griffith’s mother. So I got curious, and downloaded the book.

I loved (if that is the right word, it sounds like what she went through was horrible) learning more about her experience working with Alfred Hitchcock but the book is so much more than that. Her three marriages, but especially: living with LIONS. Yes, you heard that right. Her and her second husband lived with lions and established an entire lion preserve. That was the most fascinating part of the book. I felt like my very glamorous and exciting grandmother was telling me a story and just love love loved every minute of it. I highly recommend this book. Even if it feels a little bit random, I promise that you will enjoy it! Order it here.

Founder Stories

Four Seasons, by Isadore Sharpe

This is an older book (it came out in 2012, though the audio version was not released until 2023, but it had been on my list for a while as I tend to really love anything about the hospitality business. This one isn’t salacious or gossipy in the way that some of these books can be (you should read Heads in Beds for that sort of thing) but it is super super interesting as both a memoir and business book. It is the memoir of Isadore Sharp, Four Seasons’ founder (he’s now 92!).

I love a humble beginnings success story — Isadore grew up as a child of Polish immigrants with no background in hotels. His background and initial talents were actually in building! But over half a century, he built his brand from scratch into one of the most admired, successful hotel brands. We also learn about his private life. His wife Rosalie, his children, his commitment to funding cancer research. But how did he create such a wildly successful brand? As it is older, parts feel a little dated but it’s still a fascinating story about a brand (and now founder) that I really admire. Order it here.

Burn Rate, by Andy Dunn

I had been eagerly anticipating this one as I worked in the startup world during Bonobos’ peak era – we were watching everything they did. I’d seen Andy Dunn speak a few times and knew quite a bit about him from mutual friends, and was really curious what his book would be like. This is his memoir – of founding (and building Bonobos) and his experiences as a person living with bipolar disorder. Entrepreneurship and mental health. I have to be honest, I like him more after reading this. It’s really vulnerable, raw, and honest — I think a lot of people will benefit from his experience. He isn’t afraid to admit where he makes mistakes and we also see the prevalence of mental health in the startup community. (It takes a very specific personality both when it comes to creativity, performance, drive, etc. to found a startup.)

The book follows him from college where he had a scary manic episode through graduate school (where he sweeps it under the rug, seeing his diagnosis as an unspeakable shame) through founding and ultimately selling Bonobos. I enjoyed it. The startup/entrepreneurship parts and bits about living in New York were nostalgic for me and I appreciated his vulnerability. Order it here.

Other!

Token Black Girl, by Danielle Prescod

If you are unfamiliar with Danielle Prescod, she has held some amazing jobs in fashion media and now runs her own consulting practice 2BG alongside Chrissy Rutherford. This is her memoir: of growing up Black in an all-white environment, working in fashion (you know I gobble up a fashion girl memoir), tokenism, disordered eating, being too Black, not being Black enough, racism, sexism, and size-ism.

It is heartbreaking and difficult to read at times, bitingly funny at others… and ultimately: extremely honest and vulnerable. She takes us all the way through her childhood through her career in beauty and fashion. I really think that every person in fashion and media should read this book. Or any white person, really. I loved that besides being personal, it was also educational. I am not the best at keeping up with pop culture and there was some really racist shit I definitely missed. I loved this book. Order it here.

The Chiffon Trenches, by Andre Leon Talley

The book chronicles André Leon Talley’s rise from growing up in the Jim Crow South to moving to New York and working under Andy Warhol at Interview Magazine. From there, he wound up at WWD, moved to Paris, then back to New York to Vogue. This book is positively dazzling. When it was over, I felt really sad to leave his glittery world.. Besides all of the glamour and fashion it also tackles some more serious (and timely things) like racism: the reason André left WWD and Paris was a terrible racist incident with a publicist at YSL. There is also some SERIOUS fashion tea.

From his forty year long friendship (and falling out) with Karl Lagerfeld, to all things Anna Wintour, to the political dynamics at Vogue…. it’s fascinating. If you love fashion or the publishing industry this is a must-read. It’s simultaneously a frivolous distraction but also a really important book. I absolutely loved it. I have a book hangover upon finishing it! Order it here.

Sociopath, by Patric Gagne

I went into this thinking I was going to get some sort of juicy, dark confessional. And at times, it was! But it was so much more than that. It was a raw & real memoir of someone who I think I’d like a lot in real life. This is Gagne’s memoir, starting from childhood (when she would sneak out of the house late at night when she realized that she made people uncomfortable before even starting kindergarten) through adulthood.

It is a story of trying to fit in and conform, a story of feeling nothing (and not liking that feeling very much). Trying to learn more about her diagnosis and realizing that sociopathy had been neglected by mental health professionals for decades. Working with a therapist, being told she couldn’t have a normal life. Being haunted by the stereotypical sociopaths of pop culture (always the villain). Finding romantic love and wanting to keep it. The book is utterly engrossing and so interesting; but also very hopeful. I really loved it. I definitely recommend listening to it, as the author is a fantastic narrator. Order it here.

Private Equity, by Carrie Sun

This is a fun read. If you loved Billions the TV show, you will absolutely devour this. The book is not a takedown or a juicy tell-all. This is a memoir of a young woman’s self-discovery. And with that, a look at privilege, extreme wealth, and intense work cultures. What it’s like to lose yourself and give up everything for the company you work for.

Carrie Sun is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. She’s excelled at everything she’s done. Still, she’s trapped in an unhappy engagement and feels unfulfilled. When she gets the (very rare) opportunity to work at one of the best private equity funds as the billionaire founder’s assistant, she can’t say no. Her job is intense. She works constantly. There is never enough time. She has too much work. Still: there are incredible job perks. Lavish gifts. Amazing company parties. But as Carrie dives deeper into this world, she finds herself losing herself. I really enjoyed it. I loved the look at what it’s like to work for a company like that. I liked the peek into the firm’s work culture. And of course it was fun to read about all the perks! Order it here.

Thank you to Audible for sponsoring this post!