7 Kindle Unlimited autobiographies for summer

Gone are the days when autobiographies and memoirs were strictly physical books. A perfect inspiring activity for the summer holidays, here’s a few picks for the best on Kindle Unlimited.

With gaming consoles now fitting in our pockets and podcasts being so accessible, it can sometimes be hard for our attention span to focus on reading – especially when the book at hand is just not the right fit. being so accessible, it can sometimes be hard for our attention span to focus on reading – especially when the book at hand is just not the right fit.

So, if you’re trying to get into the reading habit or just looking for a good recommendation, autobiographies and memoirs are always a good place to start.

With Kindle Unlimited now available through Optus SubHub, there are over a million books to choose from including a ton of critically acclaimed autobiographies and memoirs to keep you entertained. We’ve picked a couple of our favourites that we think you might like this summer, check them out below.

If the title sounds familiar, it’s probably because this book was adapted into a motion picture movie starring Reese Witherspoon (who even went on to be nominated for an Academy Award for her performance).

At age 26, Cheryl Strayed found herself at a moral crossroad. Her mother had just died from cancer, her husband wanted a divorce, and she recently lost her home due to some poor financial decisions. Not knowing what to do or where to go with her life, Strayed decided to embark on an 1,100  journey on foot through the East Coast of America. With nothing to lose, Strayed wanted to test herself and prove that she was strong enough to withstand anything.

Left to her own devices along the harrowing and silent trek, Strayed begins to confront her past and finally allow herself to dream for a better future. Her documented journey to self discovery is so inspiring, it’s even been featured in Oprah’s Book Club. You can currently borrow Wild for free if you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Even though this book is over 700 pages long, it’s certainly worth the effort.

Garnering rave reviews and often found on “Must Read” lists, Nelson Mandela’s autobiography documents his childhood experiences that lead to his freedom fighter movement all the way to his twenty-seven-year prison sentence in South Africa.

Sometimes events described in the books can be hard to swallow and even make you think ‘I can’t believe this happened’, but once the shock factor settles, you’re left inspired and wanting to learn more about how a ruined man eventually became one of the most prolific icons for freedom in history.

One of the most famous athletes of all time, Usain Bolt’s autobiography Faster than Lightening is written in a way that makes you feel as if you are sitting across from the man hearing an old friend recount stories of his life. Co-authored by Matt Allen, tThe book is incredibly charming and funny in parts but other sections make you empathise with his Bolt’s struggles and finally understand his determination to be the best – only confirming his legacy as the fastest man of all time to be well earned.

In his autobiography, Bolt talks about the trials and tribulations of training, his childhood in Jamaica and how hard the journey was to finally make it to the Olympic qualifiers.  Faster than Lightening is not just for sports fans, it’s for anyone looking to read about one’s commitment to becoming the best version of themselves.

It would be near impossible to find someone who doesn’t love Julie Andrews. To many she’s Maria from the Sound of Music, to others she might be their favourite Broadway star but to most - she’s probably our beloved Mary Poppins.

However, while things seemed to be so picturesque on screen, things were a little different behind cameras. In her second memoir, Julie Andrews recounts her difficult childhood and being the breadwinner for entire family. After emerging as a respectable singer on stage, she heads to Hollywood to start her career as a professional performer where life seemingly throws some hurdles in her direction.

Andrews not only describes her experiences filming her now classic movies but also gets incredible personal about how she coped with the stress of fame and being a good parent. Debuting as a New York Times Bestseller, Andrew’s follow up memoir is a page turner that will only make you love her more.

One of the newest celebrity memoirs to take the world by storm, Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died is an honest documentation of McCurdy’s complicated life, from her rough childhood starring in iCarly to misguided adolescence.

The morbid title might be a hint of what’s to come, and a trigger warning, McCurdy’s memoir is not a light read. It touches on difficult themes of sexual harassment, eating disorders, religion, and abuse, drawing from McCurdy’s rough childhood at the whims of her narcissistic mother.

Having been in the public spotlight since she was 8, McCurdy shares her unique experience as a child actress in the cut-throat world of Hollywood. From co-star dynamics to politics between producers, she gives readers an unfiltered peek into the entertainment industry, and how it affected her life growing up. A compelling read from one of the biggest child stars the world has seen, I’m Glad My Mom Died is a great addition to the memoir genre on Kindle Unlimited.

A personal account of the South African apartheid policy experience, Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime is a fascinating memoir about his complicated childhood and unexpected success in adult life. Having been born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhohas mother, Trevor’s life began with a criminal act that kept him indoors for most of his childhood.

It was only after the liberation of South Africa that Noah lived openly and embraced exciting opportunities that led him to where he is today. Born a Crime tells a touching tale of Noah’s growth from a mischievous young boy to a curious adult man, as well as his heart-warming relationship with his mother.

Australia’s favourite football player, Sam Kerr, has written an autobiography of her own covering her early days as an aspiring AFL player to today, as one of the most decorated female footballers of all time. Aimed at younger audiences, the book looks to inspire a new generation of Australian footballers, especially after the record-breaking performance from the Matildas at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Not only does My Journey to the World Cup detail Kerr’s personal adventures in the sport, it also features facts about the FIFA World Cup, famed Matilda moments and life playing for Chelsea.

These pages won’t turn themselves

…Unless that’s a new feature of a Kindle device that we haven’t heard of yet. Either way, if you’re true bibliophile, you’ll know as well as we do that any time of year is the best time for a book. And if you’re not a bibliophile yet, then now’s the perfect time to become one. If you’re just easing into it, check out some of the best books on Kindle Unlimited.

Dive into Kindle Unlimited on Optus SubHub and read your way to a richer life. Kindle Unlimited is a platform with thousands of e-books, comics, and short works to choose from. Eligible Optus customers can bring their Kindle Unlimited subscription and other eligible subscriptions together with Optus SubHub.

Watch, work, listen, learn, and enjoy more of what you love on Optus SubHub, all sorted in the one place. You’ll find a range of the best subscriptions like Optus Sport, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, Microsoft 365, and many more. Eligible customers may save up to 10% if they link three or more subscriptions. T&Cs apply.