Self Biography

Here are 30 inspirational stories about words that changed lives, health challenges, and making every day special. The stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive will encourage listeners to stay upbeat, because there's always a brighter way to look at life. This book continues Chicken Soup for the Soul's focus on inspiration and hope, reminding us that each day holds something to be thankful for.

Forget the gold medals, the championships, and the undefeated seasons. When all-star athletes were growing up, they had regular-kid problems just like you. Baseball legend Babe Ruth was such a troublemaker that his family sent him to reform school. Race-car champion Danica Patrick fended off bullies who told her “girls can’t drive”. And football superstar Peyton Manning was forced to dance the tango in his school play.

Women today feel a constant pressure to improve themselves and just never feel like they’re “enough.” All too often, they live their daily lives disheartened, disillusioned, and disappointed. That’s because joy doesn’t come from a new self-improvement strategy; it comes from rooting their identity in who God says they are and what he has done on their behalf.

After Zaila Avant-garde became the first African American student to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2021, she turned into an overnight sensation. People wanted to know who she was and how she'd achieved so much while so young. Zaila shares about her family, her accomplishments, her experience of being homeschooled, and so much more in order to motivate and uplift other kids who have small-, medium-, and even big-sized dreams.

Zara seemed happily married. But behind her smile at parties and gatherings was a lonely woman. She found herself neglected by her husband Jay, a successful and preoccupied businessman and was no longer needed by her entitled and wayward son Arun. This all changed when they met the award-winning coach Rita Chowdhry. Through the framework called SAVVI, the three characters, based on real-life stories, transformed their lives.

This uplifting book is a heartfelt wish for all children and a timeless introduction to the Grammy Award-winning and multi platinum singer and songwriter. YOU ARE FEARLESS presents Taylor Swift’s inspirational journey, encouraging children to be fearless, defy limits, and follow their hearts.

Living with Behcet's disease (sometimes called Behcet's syndrome) can be an everyday struggle filled with pain and suffering. And while Ellis' journey has been a bumpy one to say the least, filled with depression, anxiety, drug addiction, and at times utter despair, he's managed to live an awesome life in spite of his diagnosis. By learning to see the silver linings of his illness, by focusing on the positives instead of the negatives, Ellis transformed his mind, his body, and his entire life.

This personal memoir chronicles the first 25 years of her life living in abusive environments, how she survived and, ultimately, found her way into the supportive and caring arms of 12-step recovery programs. Along the way, she describes for the listener exactly how she survived the traumas of physical and sexual abuse, mental illness, suicidal ideas, grief and loss as well as her struggles with sexual identity, bulimia, addiction, and more.

Delving into the incredible legacy of America’s most successful railroad tycoon, this illuminating biography offers a powerful glimpse into the mind of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Nicknamed “the Commodore”, this influential and cunning businessman represents the classic rags-to-riches story. His life is an inspiring and empowering tale of triumph against adversity and a burning desire to persevere no matter what obstacles stood in his way.

In "I Change Course," Kate offers a candid reflection on the power of choice and the beauty in every ordinary moment. Her story is both inspiring and entertaining, showing how embracing change with an open heart can lead to remarkable personal growth. With wisdom and humor, Kate Bean guides listeners through the process of rediscovering, reimagining, and rebuilding their lives after change. Whether you are facing your own crossroads or simply seeking inspiration, this memoir is a beacon of hope and a reminder of the transformative power of embracing life's uncertainties.

Long before he became known for his YouTube videos, Alex Bertie was an isolated, often-afraid transgender teenager looking for answers. In this revolutionary memoir and valuable resource, Alex recounts his life, struggles, and victories as a young trans man. Along the way, he provides readers with accessible, highly researched explanations of gender, sexuality, and transitions. He explores without judgment how complicated all these things can be and how many equally authentic ways there are to live as yourself and find happiness.

A REBELLIOUS APPROACH TO ACHIEVING PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS. In Unbeatable Latinas, Valeria Aloe takes us on a transformative journey. She begins by examining how ancestral cultural messages —such as "be humble," "just work hard," "be grateful for what you already have," and "don't create conflict"— have historically hindered our professional advancement, leaving many of us feeling undervalued, underpaid, or unsupported in our growth.

After a number of years of being chronically ill with Lyme disease, Jenny Rush had a momentary realization that she was overlooking a lesson that was resulting in continued ill health. As she went into her last year of dealing with chronic illness at a physical level, Jenny shifted her primary focus from the illness itself to addressing the multitude of experiences that the illness was provoking.

The Self-Improver is an autobiographical account about how a university drop-out took his first steps towards becoming the world’s most experienced Boeing 747 captain. Author Nick Eades was going nowhere fast when it struck him that after all, he was destined to follow in family footsteps and become a pilot. The book takes us into the cockpit to follow his journey to captaining one of the most iconic aircraft ever flown.

Self-Elected is a story of abundance. Part memoir, part business guide, and part manifesto, it invites the listener to explore the convergence of social justice and profit.

Challenged by life's proud waves, may The seeds of Self-Destruction or Success serve as common ground through which all people collectively walk together to challenge, inspire, and nurture the mind, body, and spirit.

Jack Ma is the founder and CEO of the Alibaba Group, a privately owned Internet-based e-commerce company in China whose sales are estimated to be bigger than its American competitors eBay and Amazon.com combined. This book reveals a Jack Ma different from your imagination.

Self-Value: The Story of Me is an eye-opening, poignant, often hilarious story that explores my 12 years of childhood homelessness, juvenile delinquency, and success. My life story is about a mother and son in peril who find serenity through their faith. In sharing my story, I highlight many problems society is faced with today such as domestic violence, illiteracy, bullying, low self-esteem, depression, and suicide. My story resonates with people fighting against those conditions and similar life experiences.

Wife | Daughter | Self investigates identity and the writing life through the perspective of one of the nation’s top memoir teachers and critics.

The psychiatric emergency room, a fast-paced combat zone with pressure to match, thrusts its medical providers into the outland of human experience where they must respond rapidly and decisively in spite of uncertainty and, very often, danger. In this lively first-person narrative, Paul R. Linde takes listeners behind the scenes at an urban psychiatric emergency room, with all its chaos and pathos, where we witness mental health professionals doing their best to alleviate suffering.