Best Biographies of 2014

by John Branch

A sad, tragic story that underscores the high human cost of violent entertainment. Full review >

by Edward White

A vigorous, fully fleshed biography of an important contributor to American culture. Full review >

by Nigel Hamilton

Lively, elucidating, elegant and highly knowledgeable. Full review >

by Alan Paul

The author doesn’t pull punches, but all involved should find it fair as well as comprehensive. Full review >

by Holly George-Warren

As an artist who “left behind…many lifetimes of brilliant music, a legacy that will inspire generations to come,” Chilton... Full review >

by Luke Harding

Whether you view Snowden’s act as patriotic or treasonous, this fast-paced, densely detailed book is the narrative of first... Full review >

by Jeff Hobbs

An urgent report on the state of American aspirations and a haunting dispatch from forsaken streets. Full review >

by John Lahr

There is only one word for this biography: superb. Full review >

by Evelyn Barish

An extraordinary story of a complex personality presented with a wise dose of irony and respect. Full review >

by Ezra Greenspan

A solid biography of a deserving subject. Full review >

by Richard Zoglin

In this rich and entertaining work, Zoglin pulls no punches but also remains an astonished admirer. Full review >

by Harold Holzer

An exhaustive feat of research with a focused structure and robust prose. Full review >

by Kirstin Downey

A strong, fascinating woman, Isabella helped to usher in the modern age, and this rich, clearly written biography is a... Full review >

by David Ritz

An honest and genuinely respectful portrait of a true diva by a writer who feels the power of her art. Full review >

by Stephen Kotkin

Staggeringly wide in scope (note the 100-page bibliography), this work meticulously examines the structural forces that... Full review >

by Richard Norton Smith

An overdue comprehensive biography of a giant of mid-20th-century American politics. Full review >