Biographies provide insights into individuals' lives and achievements. Biographies come in all shapes and sizes: some offer just factual information (full name, birth and death dates, place of birth, career history, etc.) while others provide more in-depth accounts as well as references for further reading.
When and Why You Should Use Biographies:
- You need a quick account of an individual's life or accomplishments (e.g. brief sketches in encyclopedias)
- You need an in-depth account of an individual's life or accomplishments (e.g. book-length biographies)
- You need to offer a view of history through the lens of one individual's life or contributions
- You need to track down where an individual's personal documents or objects are located
- You need to better understand how perceptions of an individual have changed over time
Remember: Biographies are often subjective. Keep in mind who wrote and published the biography, and decide whether or not that author/publisher had any possible biases. You may need to consult multiple biographies on the same individual.
