What, according to you, should be the criteria to write/publish a biography on a famous person?
Asked by
rebbel (
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January 17th, 2012
Last evening, in a sports talk show they talked about some biographies that were published recently.
They were all (three) on Dutch sports personalities/-journalists.
All three of them are still alive though.
Also I have seen in the recent years, ‘celebrities’ (from reality tv and such shows) that announced that they were going to publish an autobiography.
To me that just sounds silly; first off, I am not interested in the ‘celebs’ (but that is my indifference), but more important to me is the fact that they are not dead yet (and some of those ‘celebs’ just have reached maturity (if at all)).
I get the feeling (in some cases, especially where the writer(s) consulted the subject of the biography and they agree) that it is merely to boost their own prestige.
Am I alone in thinking that one deserves a biography, after one has passed on?
Doesn’t the same applies for statues first you die, then they erect one?
What is your view on this?
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9 Answers
Either dead, very old, or after the highest point of accomplishment in one’s life after they’ve settled? I’m indifferent as well, as I don’t read them at all.
What, according to you, should be the criteria to write/publish a biography on a famous person?
There is a sufficient market (interest) to want to read the book.
I agree with @Blackberry and am also indifferent, I have read few biographies, Einstein, most recently.
Another criteria should be a ban on all biographies of has been child stars in competition with their equally narcissitic co-siblings, like Marcia Brady and her Brady Bunch consorts. Gag me with a ink cartridge.
I don’t believe that the subjects of biographies have to be dead.
I think erections are better on living persons but I guess that is a bit off-topic!
@janbb LOL…you’re in fine form today I see. ;-)
I am in a good mood this afternoon. Being back in pjs doesn’t hurt.
That they have a story interesting enough to sell. The best autobiography I’ve ever read was written by a girl of 16 who’d just escaped from Sarajevo during the war there.
I believe that the OP is correct; if the subject is living at the time of publication, he should be lightly killed before the biography is released.
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