An autobiography is a self-written account of a person's own life, typically written in the first person. It provides a personal narrative reflecting the author's experiences, memories, and insights, often covering their life from birth to the present or a significant portion of it
. Unlike a biography, which is written by someone else about a person, an autobiography is authored by the subject themselves, offering a subjective but intimate perspective on their life events
. Autobiographies can vary in form, including memoirs that focus on specific themes or periods, spiritual autobiographies detailing religious journeys, or even fictionalized accounts resembling novels but based on real experiences
. They serve multiple purposes such as self-reflection, historical documentation, and personal expression, and have been a popular literary genre for centuries, with some classic examples like Saint Augustine's Confessions and Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography
. In summary, an autobiography is a nonfiction literary work where an individual narrates their own life story, often revealing personal growth and self-discovery through their own words and perspective
