My Favorite Biographies

I am an avid reader of biographies. This is my drug of choice for consuming historical information i.e. through the eyes of the prominent people of the times. Here are my favorites.

1
The Agony and The Ecstasy by Irving Stone
This book is about the life of Michelangelo. It covers the fascinating period when Florence was leading the world in art and science during the renaissance period with the Medici family leading the charge.
It was this book that made me take a pilgrimage to Florence in the late 1990\'s and the experience was far, far richer, for having read it before I went.

Its a pretty thick book but it really is fascinating and is a great way to consume history during that period.
2
Nelson Mandela by Mary Benson
This was a brilliant book about the life of Nelson Mandela. There are also other good books about his life like the one by his jailer called Goodbye Bafana by James Gregory. Either way, a great way to learn more about this amazing man and the activities taking place during that period in South Africa.
3
Eva Peron: A Biography by Alicia Dujovne
I was always fascinated by the story of Evita Peron. Perhaps originally inspired by the musical produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber which I listened to as a kid. She has always been depicted as a romantic, much loved character but this book rectified that vision and was a great education on one of the most interesting periods of history in Argentina.

I read this book before visiting Buenos Aires in Argentina and it made the trip so much more fascinating for me because the events during that period evoke some very strong passions in Argentinia.