Biographies & Memoirs
Explore the stories of remarkable lives in our Biographies & Memoirs section at Thryft. Discover firsthand accounts of influential figures and captivating memoirs that'll inspire and educate. Our collection is carefully curated to ensure you find the perfect narrative to delve into.
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Liao Yiwu, Wenguang Huang, Philip Gourevitch
The Corpse Walker : Real-Life Stories, China from the Bottom Up
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The Corpse Walker is a compilation of twenty-seven extraordinary oral histories that opens a window, unlike any other, onto the lives of ordinary, often outcast, Chinese men and women. Liao Yiwu (one of the best-known writers in China because he is also one of the most censored) chose his subjects from the bottom of Chinese people for whom the “new” China--the China of economic growth and globalization-—is no more beneficial than the old. By asking challenging questions with respect and empathy, he manages to get his subjects to talk openly about their lives.Here are a professional mourner, a trafficker in humans, a leper, an abbot, a retired government official, a former landowner, a mortician, a feng shui master, a former Red Guard, a political prisoner, a village teacher, a blind street musician, a Falun Gong practitioner, and many others–people who have been battered by life but who have managed to retain their dignity, their humor, and their essential, complex humanity.Liao crafted the interviews (conducted between 1990 and 2003) with sensitivity and patience, working both from notes and from his own memory of these remarkable conversations. The result is an idiosyncratic, powerful, and richly revealing portrait of a people, a time, and a place we might otherwise have never known.
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Hoe Yeong Loke
Speaking Truth To Power: Singapore's Pioneer Public Servants
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It is said that the duty of public servants is to "speak truth to power" — to give honest, sound and sometimes unpopular advice to political leaders. Underneath the narrative of the Singapore story, as personified by Lee Kuan Yew and the first-generation leaders, lie the lesser-known tales of dedicated public servants in the nation-building process. Singapore's development cannot be fully understood without considering the role of those in public service during the transition to independence from the 1950s to 60s. Featuring oral history interviews from the National Archives of Singapore with 11 pioneer public servants, Speaking Truth to Singapore's Pioneer Public Servants reveals first-hand, personal accounts of the civil service's transition from the colonial era, their relationship with the political leaders, and how Singapore's economic development was driven by sound public administration in those critical years. The annotated interviews make for an easily readable format for researchers and general audiences alike. Some of Singapore's pioneer public servants featured in the book Wee Chong Jin, The First Local Chief Justice Goh Koh Pui, Chairman of the PSA Abdul Wahab Ghows, Solicitor-General and High Court Judge Hedwig Anuar, Director of the National Library Kwa Soon Bee, Pioneer of Singapore's Healthcare System Alan Choe, HDB's First Architect-Planner, and Founder of the URA Chan Chin Bock, Chairman of the EDB J. Y. Pillay, The Man Behind Singapore Airlines Ngiam Tong Dow, The Maverick Perm Sec Tommy Koh, Singapore's Representative at the United Nations Winston Choo, The First Chief of Defence Force
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William David Freeman, John Campbell
The Iron Lady : Margaret Thatcher, from Grocer's Daughter to Prime Minister
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The Iron Lady, the definitive Margaret Thatcher biography, is available just in time for the movie starring Meryl Streep as one of the most infamous figures in postwar politics. Whether you love her or hate her, Margaret Thatcher's impact on twentieth-century history is undeniable. From her humble, small-town upbringing to her rise to power as the United Kingdom's first female prime minister, to her dramatic fall from grace after more than three decades of service, celebrated biographer John Campbell delves into the story of this fascinating woman's life as no one has before. The result of more than nine years of meticulous research, The Iron Lady is the only balanced, unvarnished portrait of Margaret Thatcher, one of the most vital and controversial political figures of our time.
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King-Kok Cheung
Chinese American Literature without Borders : Gender, Genre, and Form
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This book could be a good read for someone interested in exploring the intersection of gender, culture, and writing. The author explores how Chinese American literature transcends traditional gender roles and forms and uses a bilingual approach to examine both Chinese and Chinese American writers. The book highlights how these writers experiment with poetry, theory, and metafiction to offer a reflexive lens on both their native and adopted countries. Readers interested in exploring new literary frontiers would enjoy this book.
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Klara Glowczewska
The Conde Nast Traveler Book of Unforgettable Journeys : Great Writers on Great Places
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The Conde Nast Traveler Book of Unforgettable Journeys is a must-read for those who love travel writing and storytelling. The collection features some of the best travel writers of our time, each sharing their personal experiences and perspectives on the most fascinating destinations around the world. Readers will be transported to exotic locales such as Tanzania and Iceland, and gain insight on popular tourist destinations like Italy and Hawaii. The book is both entertaining and enlightening, making it a perfect companion for anyone looking to explore the world, whether that be through actual travel or armchair wanderlust.
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Victoria Mary Clarke, Shane MacGowan
A Drink with Shane Macgowan
from RM28.15 MYR
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Best known as the cofounder of the Irish band The Pogues, Shane MacGowan has become a cult figure on the alternative-music scene. His achingly beautiful lyrics, as well as his legendary lifestyle of excess, have earned him an avid following that packs his shows and buys his albums. One of the most unusual memoirs to come along in quite a while, A Drink with Shane MacGowan is structured as a series of interviews between MacGowan and his wife, Clarke. The singer recounts his experiences growing up on a farm in Ireland, where his family began giving him two pints of Guinness a night at the tender age of five and his father took him to hang out with bookies and drunks at the local pub. He tells of moving to London and becoming part of the London club scene in the mid-1970s, just as punk was beginning to emerge, offering a firsthand portrait of a seminal time and place in music history. MacGowan also provides his own, strongly opinionated views on The Pogues' success and the reasons for his abrupt departure from the band. As he invites us into this fascinating world, MacGowan tells many hilarious stories and riffs on a wide range of subjects, from Irish history and politics to literature, film, religion, his own substance abuse, and much more. Sometimes maddening, sometimes charming, often brilliant, and always honest, A Drink with Shane MacGowan is an enjoyable romp with a truly unique personality. PRAISE FOR SHANE MACGOWAN: "MacGowan can be a dazzling songwriter, channeling his unruliness into rambunctious tales of drinking, sporting, drinking, fighting, and drinking."--Los Angeles Times
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Nicholas Tarling
Studying Singapore's Past : C.M. Turnball and the History of Modern Singapore
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C.M. (Mary) Turnbull's contributions to historical writing on Singapore extended from her 1962 thesis, published in 1972 as The Straits Settlements, 1826-67: Indian presidency to crown colony, to her magisterial history of Singapore, first published in 1977 and re-issued in 2009 in an updated edition as A History of Modern Singapore, 1816-2006. Her approach to history involved detailed work with documents and published materials, with a particular focus on political and economic history. One contributor to the present volume described the book as an "exercise in endowing a modern 'nation-state' with a coherent past that should explain the present."As styles in history evolved, younger scholars including some of her former students and colleagues began exploring new approaches to historical research that drew on non-English-language source material and asked fresh questions of the sources. Mary enjoyed controversy and expected debate, and had a deep interest in these accounts, which were in many ways a natural progression from her own publications even when they raised questions about her interpretations and conclusions.Studying Singapore's Past had its origins in a conference organized to discuss her work. The volume includes ten contributions, some from long-established scholars of Singapore's history, others from a new generation of researchers. Their work offers an evaluation of established understandings of Singapore's history, and gives an indication of new directions that researchers are exploring. In publishing the book, the editor not only pays tribute to a distinguished historian but also makes a contribution to the historiography of Singapore and to ongoing debates about Singapore's past.
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Sandra Mackey
The Saudis : Inside the Desert Kingdom
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The book is recommended for those who seek to understand the kingdom from an insight outside of the Kingdom. Mackey provides a well-detailed account of Saudi Arabia's unique culture and politics, its metamorphosis from a desert kingdom to world power, its struggle to maintain an influential stance in the modern world. Her insider knowledge is invaluable to anyone seeking to comprehend the complexities of the kingdom.
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Peter Wright, Paul Greengrass
Spycatcher: The Candid Autobiography of a Senior Intelligence Officer
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Recommendation: Spycatcher is a thrilling firsthand account of the inner workings of espionage and surveillance. Peter Wright's experience as a senior intelligence officer provides unique insights into the world of espionage and makes for an exciting and informative read. Readers interested in the Cold War and intelligence operations will find this book particularly fascinating.
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James R. Lilley, Jeffrey Lilley
China Hands - Nine Decades Of Adventure, Espionage, And Diplomacy In Asia
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This book is a great recommendation for anyone interested in U.S.-China relations. James Lilley's personal experience, from his childhood in China to his career as a CIA agent and diplomat, provides an insightful and informative account of the subject. He offers an up-close and candid look into the U.S. government's inner workings during a time of great upheaval in Asia.
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Peter Popham
The Lady and the Peacock: The Life of Aung San Suu Kyi
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This book is a must-read for anyone looking to be inspired by the extraordinary life of Aung San Suu Kyi. It captures her remarkable journey as a pro-democracy leader in Burma, from her years under house arrest to her unwavering commitment to her people. The book will leave you in awe of her courage and fortitude, and her ability to remain a symbol of hope in the face of adversity. Aung San Suu Kyi's story will resonate with anyone seeking inspiration and a reminder of the power of resilience.
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Chris Patten
Not Quite the Diplomat : Home Truths About World Affairs
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Not Quite the Diplomat would be a great read for someone interested in the inner workings of international diplomacy. Chris Patten offers candid personal experiences, and his own opinion on some of the biggest issues in world affairs. His frank and witty writing style will keep readers engaged throughout the book.
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Tom E. Hughes
Tangled Worlds : The Story of Maria Hertogh
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Recommendation: Tangled Worlds is a recount of a historical incident which involves intense cultural and religious clashes between different communities. The book offers an insightful portrayal of how far people can go in order to uphold their traditions and identity. It's a recommended read for history enthusiasts who enjoys learning about unique cultural perspectives and controversial events.
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Robert A. Caro
Means Of Ascent
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In Means of Ascent, Book Two of The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Robert A. Caro brings alive Lyndon Johnson in his wilderness years.Here, Johnson’s almost mythic personality—part genius, part behemoth, at once hotly emotional and icily calculating—is seen at its most nakedly ambitious. This multifaceted book carries the President-to-be from the aftermath of his devastating defeat in his 1941 campaign for the Senate-the despair it engendered in him, and the grueling test of his spirit that followed as political doors slammed shut-through his service in World War II (and his artful embellishment of his record) to the foundation of his fortune (and the actual facts behind the myth he created about it). The culminating drama—the explosive heart of the book—is Caro’s illumination, based on extraordinarily detailed investigation, of one of the great political mysteries of the century. Having immersed himself in Johnson’s life and world, Caro is able to reveal the true story of the fiercely contested 1948 senatorial election, for years shrouded in rumor, which Johnson was not believed capable of winning, which he “had to” win or face certain political death, and which he did win-by 87 votes, the “87 votes that changed history.” Telling that epic story “in riveting and eye-opening detail,” Caro returns to the American consciousness a magnificent lost hero. He focuses closely not only on Johnson, whom we see harnessing every last particle of his strategic brilliance and energy, but on Johnson’s “unbeatable” opponent, the beloved former Texas Governor Coke Stevenson, who embodied in his own life the myth of the cowboy knight and was himself a legend for his unfaltering integrity. And ultimately, as the political duel between the two men quickens—carrying with it all the confrontational and moral drama of the perfect Western—Caro makes us witness to a momentous turning point in American the tragic last stand of the old politics versus the new—the politics of issue versus the politics of image, mass manipulation, money and electronic dazzle.
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Dalai Lama XIV, Melissa Mathison Ford
My Land and My People
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This book gives a rare insight into the life of the Dalai Lama and the history of Tibet. It portrays the Dalai Lama as an advocate of non-violence and compassion, which are the two major principles of Buddhism. Those interested in spirituality, Tibetan history and Buddhism will find this book quite interesting.
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Brent Walth
Fire at Eden's Gate : Tom Mccall and the Oregon Story
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This book would be a great read for someone interested in the political history of the state of Oregon, particularly during the tenure of the iconic governor Tom McCall. The author, Brent Walth, provides a detailed and well-researched account of McCall's career, showcasing his leadership amidst the tumultuous times in Oregon's history. The most unique and distinctive feature of this book is the insider perspective on McCall's life, accompanied by accounts of his achievements and challenges, which makes the book a highly informative and intriguing read.
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Lee Kuan Yew
The Singapore Story : Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew
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This memoir is a must-read for anyone interested in politics, leadership, and the incredible transformation of Singapore. Through the eyes of Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore, you'll gain insights into his visionary leadership and the strategies he employed to turn a small, resource-poor nation into a thriving global hub. Lee's candid and pragmatic approach to governance will leave you inspired and in awe of Singapore's success story.
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Daniel Domscheit-Berg
Inside WikiLeaks - My Time With Julian Assange At The World's Most Dangerous Website
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"Inside WikiLeaks" provides an insider's account of the rise of the organization and its leader, Julian Assange. The book offers never-disclosed details about the inner workings of the organization and its evolution, finances, inner tensions, and lack of transparency. The author's disenchantment with the loss of political neutrality and Assange's increasing concentration of power eventually led to his withdrawal from the organization. This book is an eye-opening account of a controversial organization that has struck fear into governments and businesses worldwide.
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Zoya Phan, Damien Lewis
Little Daughter - A Memoir of Survival in Burma and the West
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Uplifting, tragic and entirely gripping, this is the extraordinary true story of the girl from the jungle who became an icon of a suffering land.Zoya Phan was born in the remote jungles of Burma to the Karen tribe. For decades the Karen have been under attack from Burma's military junta; Zoya's mother was a guerrilla soldier, her father a freedom activist. Many Karen are Christian or Buddhist, but Zoya's parents were animist, venerating the spirits of the forest, river and moon, and the family lived in a bamboo hut on stilts by the Moei River. Her early years were blissfully removed from the war.At the age of 14, however, Zoya's childhood was shattered as the Burma army attacked. With their house in flames, Zoya and her family fled. So began two terrible years of running from guns, as Zoya joined thousands of refugees hiding in the jungle. Her family scattered, Zoya sought sanctuary across the border in a Thai refugee camp. Zoya, a gifted pupil, was eventually able to escape, first to Bangkok and then, with her enemies still pursuing her, in 2004 she fled to the UK and claimed asylum.The following year, at a 'free Burma' march, she was plucked form the crowd to appear on BBC, the first of countless interview with the world's media. She became the face of a nation enslaved, rubbing shoulders with presidents and film stars.Zoya Phan, now 28, lives in London and works for the human rights organisation Burma Campaign UK.
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Tom Brokaw
Boom! - Voices Of The Sixties : Personal Reflections On The '60S And Today
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Boom! provides valuable insights into how the '60s changed American institutions from politics to social values. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the impact of the cultural upheaval that defined this pivotal era in our nation's history.
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Harrison E. Salisbury
THE New Emperors
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A dual biography of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping draws from conversations with colleagues to present the people behind the political figures and, at the same time, creates a narrative history of twentieth-century China. Tour.
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Ian Ward
The Killer They Called a God
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This book is a gripping account of Colonel Masanobu Tsuji, a notorious war criminal who managed to escape justice. The author takes the reader on a thrilling journey from the blood-soaked beaches of Singapore to the baffling conclusion, unraveling the shocking secrets and the role of American and British authorities in his escape. If you're a history enthusiast seeking to understand the tangled web of politics and war, this book offers a captivating exploration into the hidden chapters of World War II.
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Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson's African Diary
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Bill Bryson goes to Kenya at the invitation of CARE International, the charity dedicated to working with local communities to eradicate poverty around the world. Kenya, generally regarded as the cradle of mankind, is a land of contrasts, with famous game reserves, stunning landscapes, and a vibrant cultural tradition. It also provides plenty to worry a traveller like Bill Bryson, fixated as he is on the dangers posed by snakes, insects and large predators. But on a more sober note, it is a country that shares many serious human and environmental problems with the rest of Africa: refugees, AIDS, drought and grinding poverty. Travelling around the country, Bryson casts his inimitable eye on a continent new to him, and the resultant diary, though short in length, contains the trademark Bryson stamp of wry observation and curious insight. All the author's royalties from Bill Bryson's African Diary, as well as all profits, will go to CARE International.
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William Dampier, Nicholas Thomas
A New Voyage Round the World
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The first great English-language travel book, A New Voyage Round the World (1697) is an incomparably vivid, chaotic and fascinating account by the pirate, explorer and naturalist William Dampier of his many adventures.The world he describes sprawls all the way from the Caribbean west across the Pacific to the Philippines and Southeast Asia - a vast expanse tied together by the Spanish Empire. Dampier and his men live lives of rascally precariousness, in the shadow of great Spanish galleons and fortresses, always on the verge of disaster. His book is filled with raids, escapes, wrecks and storms, but Dampier is also a great observer of animals, exotic foods, boats, customs: the book is a cornucopia of descriptions of everything from giant centipedes to bananas. It was originally designed simply to entertain and inform, but it is now a unique document, miraculously preserving glimpses of now long-vanished peoples and places.This new edition, introduced and annotated by Nicholas Thomas, makes clear Dampier's key role as a proselytizer for the early British Empire, as an inspiration for generations of naturalist and explorers, and as a uniquely curious character.
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Jean Sasson
Princess
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Sultana is a Saudi Arabian princess, a woman born to fabulous, uncountable wealth. She has four mansions on three continents, her own private jet, glittering jewels, designer dresses galore. But in reality she lives in a gilded cage. She has no freedom, no control over her own life, no value but as a bearer of sons. Hidden behind her black floor-length veil, she is a prisoner, jailed by her father, her husband, her sons, and her country.Sultana is a member of the Saudi royal family, closely related to the king. For the sake of her daughters, she has decided to take the risk of speaking out about the life of women in her country, regardless of their rank. She must hide her identity for fear that the religious leaders in her country would call for her death to punish her honesty. Only a woman in her position could possibly hope to escape from being revealed and punished, despite her cloak and anonymity. Sultana tells of her own life, from her turbulent childhood to her arranged marriage--a happy one until her husband decided to displace her by taking a second wife--and of the lives of her sisters, her friends and her servants. Although they share affection, confidences and an easy camaraderie within the confines of the women's quarters, they also share a history of appalling oppression, everyday occurrences that in any other culture would be seen as shocking human rights violations; thirteen-year-old girls forced to marry men five times their age, young women killed by drowning, stoning, or isolation in the women's room, a padded, windowless cell where women are confined with neither light nor conversation until death claims them.By speaking out, Sultana risks bringing the wrath of the Saudi establishment upon her head and the heads of her children. But by telling her story to Jean Sasson, Sultana has allowed us to see beyond the veils of this secret society, to the heart of a nation where sex, money, and power reign supreme.
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Dive Into Real-Life Stories
Biographies and memoirs offer unparalleled insights into the lives and minds of individuals who've shaped our world. Be it political icons, celebrities, or unsung heroes, Thryft brings you a rich assortment of stories that reveal extraordinary experiences and life lessons. Embark on a journey through time as you explore the personal tales that have influenced history and culture.
Our collection includes a wide range of biographies, from influential leaders to pop culture icons. Find engrossing memoirs that give insight into personal journeys and historical events.
Consider what aspects of life you’re curious about. Whether it’s artistic journeys, political memoirs, or overcoming adversity, our collection will have something that resonates with you.
Yes, we include stories about notable religious figures. You might also explore our Religion collection for more faith-based narratives.
Yes, we celebrate local voices and histories. Discover the lives of Singaporean figures that have shaped our city-state's unique culture and heritage.