A new wave of memoirs promises to offer intimate, thought-provoking, and inspiring glimpses into the lives of some extraordinary individuals. Whether you're drawn to stories of resilience, reinvention, or raw vulnerability, these upcoming releases are sure to leave an impact. Here are the memoirs we’re most excited about in 2025.
To Save and to Destroy: Writing as an Other by Viet Thanh Nguyen
From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Sympathizer, Viet Thanh Nguyen’s latest work is a deeply personal meditation on otherness and a bold call for political solidarity. Born in war-torn Vietnam and arriving in the U.S. as a refugee in 1975, Nguyen reflects on the meaning of being an outsider, drawing from literary, historical, political, and familial lenses. Through essays originally delivered as the Norton Lectures, he examines the influence of writers like Melville, Fitzgerald, and Maxine Hong Kingston, while intertwining his own experiences, including his late mother’s struggles with mental illness. Nguyen critiques the role of the writer in times of violence, advocating for a more radical solidarity with those devastated by imperialism and war, challenging the notion of the "model minority" and the limited inclusion it entails.
Spellbound by Phil Hanley
In Spellbound, comedian Phil Hanley shares his unlikely journey to success, blending humor and heartache. Diagnosed with severe dyslexia in childhood, Phil struggled through school and faced countless obstacles, including being unable to read and falling behind his peers. After a series of unconventional jobs, including a stint as a runway model in Europe, he found his true calling in stand-up comedy. For Phil, comedy became a lifeline, offering purpose and a sense of triumph. Spellbound is a powerful story of overcoming adversity, showing that dyslexia, while a challenge, can also be a guiding force.
Shattered by Hanif Kureishi
In Shattered, acclaimed author Hanif Kureishi recounts his life-altering journey after a fall in Rome left him unable to walk. Confined to hospitals for a year, he dictated a series of poignant reflections on his condition, parenthood, immigration, and writing, despite being unable to hold a pen. This memoir, drawn from those dispatches, explores both the devastation of physical loss and the reassembly of a new life, filled with gratitude, humility, and renewed love. With raw honesty and humor, Kureishi offers a compelling account of resilience in the face of pain.
The Loves of My Life by Edmund White
In The Loves of My Life, legendary author Edmund White, at 85, reflects on over sixty years of gay love and sex, offering a revelatory memoir of his sexual experiences and their influence on his work. From secret encounters in the 50s Midwest to relationships during the Stonewall and HIV eras, White’s candid narrative explores the complexities of queer life, love, and loss. Written with his signature wit and honesty, this memoir is a powerful, moving portrait of a life lived unabashedly gay and in love with love.
Learning from Silence by Pico Iyer
Learning from Silence, by acclaimed travel writer Pico Iyer, shares lessons from over 100 monastery retreats. Set to be released by Penguin Random House India in February, the book explores Iyer's experiences in patience, solitude, and companionship, offering a unique, intimate perspective on monastic life and the transformative power of silence.
The Himalaya in a Small House by Anuradha Roy
Anuradha Roy, Booker-shortlisted author of Sleeping on Jupiter and The Folded Earth, shares the true story of how she and her husband, Rukun, renovated a dilapidated cottage in the Himalayas, eventually building new lives there. The book not only recounts their journey but also reflects on the region's ecology, its pace of life, and its fragile, breathtaking beauty.
Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy
Arundhati Roy’s highly anticipated 2025 memoir is a poignant tribute to her late mother, Mary, who passed away in 2022. Roy reflects on their complex relationship, explaining that she left her mother at 18 "not because I didn’t love her, but to continue to love her." The memoir, set to be published by Penguin Random House India, is a captivating blend of disturbing, fascinating, moving, and humorous moments, offering a deeply personal look at one of Roy’s most significant bonds.
Words Platform Desk
Date 14.01.2025