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AW

Artists, Writers and Musicians

Biographies

Lives of painters, designers, writers, poets and musicians, from Vasari's artists and Boswell's Johnson to Chanel, Dylan and Springsteen.

64 books on Artists, Writers and Musicians, 2 of them tier 1, recommended by 39 people including Patrick Collison and Mohnish Pabrai.

64 books · 40 experts

Start here

  1. Lives of the ArtistsGiorgio Vasari, 1550
  2. Coco Chanel: An Intimate LifeLisa Chaney, 2011
  3. DuveenS. N. Behrman, 1952
  4. Chanel: A Woman of Her OwnAxel Madsen, 1990
  5. Leonardo da VinciWalter Isaacson, 2017

The best books on Artists, Writers and Musicians 64

Lives of the ArtistsLives of the Artists
T1 Lives of the Artists
Giorgio Vasari · 1550
Vasari's lives; the origin of artistic reputation and its market
Open Library
“Vasari, Lives of the Artists”Paul Graham
Recommended byPaul Graham
Coco Chanel: An Intimate LifeCoco Chanel: An Intimate Life
T1 Coco Chanel: An Intimate Life
Lisa Chaney · 2011
The best-documented modern biography.
Open Library
DuveenDuveen
T2 Duveen
S. N. Behrman · 1952
The dealer who moved Old Masters to American money; still the model.
Open Library
Chanel: A Woman of Her OwnChanel: A Woman of Her Own
T2 Chanel: A Woman of Her Own
Axel Madsen · 1990
The standard biography before Chaney and Vaughan.
Open Library
Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci
T2 Leonardo da Vinci
Walter Isaacson · 2017
Open Library
“Musk recommended Isaacson's Da Vinci biography when it came out, noting that Da Vinci's notebooks — which moved between anatomy, optics, engineering, and painting without treating them as separate disciplines — model the kind of cross-domain thinking he tries to cultivate at his companies.”Elon Musk
Recommended byBill GatesAusten AllredDaniel PetreElon MuskJohn HendersonMichael BloombergSahil BloomSatya Nadella+2 more
Chanel: Her Life, Her WorldChanel: Her Life, Her World
T3 Chanel: Her Life, Her World
Edmonde Charles-Roux · 1975
The foundational biography; every later book argues with it.
Open Library
The Allure of ChanelThe Allure of Chanel
T3 The Allure of Chanel
Paul Morand · 2008
As-told-to: Morand's record of her 1946 conversations, published posthumously.
Open Library
Coco Chanel: The Legend and the LifeCoco Chanel: The Legend and the Life
T3 Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life
Justine Picardie · 2009
House-access biography; good on the business, softer on the war.
Open Library
Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's SecreSleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War
T3 Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War
Hal Vaughan · 2011
Declassified files on her Abwehr connection; contested by the house.
Open Library
Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of HMademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History
T3 Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History
Rhonda K. Garelick · 2014
Reads the brand as politics; the most intellectually serious account.
Open Library
Gods and KingsGods and Kings
T3 Gods and Kings
Dana Thomas · 2015
Galliano and McQueen inside the LVMH and Kering machine.
Open Library
The Life of Samuel Johnson (Penguin ClassicsThe Life of Samuel Johnson (Penguin Classics)
T4 The Life of Samuel Johnson (Penguin Classics)
James Boswell · 1791
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
The Lives of the Poets: A SelectionThe Lives of the Poets: A Selection
T4 The Lives of the Poets: A Selection
Samuel Johnson · 1820
Open Library
Recommended byPatrick Collison
The Secret Life of Salvador DalíThe Secret Life of Salvador Dalí
T4 The Secret Life of Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí · 1942
Open Library
Recommended byNaval Ravikant
Memoirs of My LifeMemoirs of My Life
T4 Memoirs of My Life
Edward Gibbon · 1966
Open Library
Recommended byPaul Graham
The Diary of Anais NinThe Diary of Anais Nin
T4 The Diary of Anais Nin
Anaïs Nin · 1966
Open Library
Recommended byEric Weinstein
The Letters of Anton ChekhovThe Letters of Anton Chekhov
T4 The Letters of Anton Chekhov
Антон Павлович Чехов, Avrahm Yarmolinsky · 1973
Open Library
Recommended byPatrick Collison
Born to RunBorn to Run
T4 Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen · 1975
Open Library
Recommended byBob Iger
Louise BourgeoisLouise Bourgeois
T4 Louise Bourgeois
Louise Bourgeois, Lawrence Rinder · 1981
Open Library
Recommended byCaterina Fake
Ernest Hemingway on WritingErnest Hemingway on Writing
T4 Ernest Hemingway on Writing
Ernest Hemingway · 1984
Open Library
Recommended byMatt Mullenweg
Jackson PollockJackson Pollock
T4 Jackson Pollock
Ellen G. Landau · 1989
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Self-ConsciousnessSelf-Consciousness
T4 Self-Consciousness
John Updike · 1989
Open Library
Recommended byAndrew Wilkinson
Where I Was FromWhere I Was From
T4 Where I Was From
Joan Didion · 2003
Open Library
Recommended byAnn Handley
The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, ScThe Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects
T4 The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects
Giorgio Vasari · 2005
Open Library
Recommended byRyan Holiday
My Life in My WordsMy Life in My Words
T4 My Life in My Words
Rabindranath Tagore · 2006
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
The Paris Review Interviews, IThe Paris Review Interviews, I
T4 The Paris Review Interviews, I
The Paris Review · 2006
Open Library
Recommended byPatrick Collison
Schulz and PeanutsSchulz and Peanuts
T4 Schulz and Peanuts
David Michaelis · 2007
Open Library
Recommended byMarc Andreessen
The Evolution of a Cro-MagnonThe Evolution of a Cro-Magnon
T4 The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon
John Joseph · 2007
Open Library
Recommended byDavid Cancel
The Paris Review Interviews, IIThe Paris Review Interviews, II
T4 The Paris Review Interviews, II
The Paris Review · 2007
Open Library
Recommended byPatrick Collison
Samuel Johnson: A BiographySamuel Johnson: A Biography
T4 Samuel Johnson: A Biography
Peter Martin · 2008
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Samuel Johnson: The StruggleSamuel Johnson: The Struggle
T4 Samuel Johnson: The Struggle
Jeffrey Meyers · 2008
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Although of Course You End Up Becoming YoursAlthough of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself
T4 Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself
David Lipsky · 2010
Open Library
Recommended byAndrew Wilkinson
DecodedDecoded
T4 Decoded
Jay-Z · 2010
Open Library
Recommended byMark ZuckerbergSahil Lavingia
J. D. Salinger: A LifeJ. D. Salinger: A Life
T4 J. D. Salinger: A Life
Kenneth Slawenski · 2010
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter RaLess and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams
T4 Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams
Klaus Klemp, Keiko Ueki-Polet · 2011
Open Library
Recommended byPatrick Collison
Violence GirlViolence Girl
T4 Violence Girl
Alice Bag · 2011
Open Library
Recommended byAudrey Gelman
​Van Gogh​Van Gogh
T4 ​Van Gogh
Steven Naifeh · 2011
Open Library
Recommended byDavid Kadavy
Michelangelo: His Epic LifeMichelangelo: His Epic Life
T4 Michelangelo: His Epic Life
Martin Gayford · 2013
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Essays After EightyEssays After Eighty
T4 Essays After Eighty
Donald Hall · 2014
Open Library
Recommended bySafi Bahcall
The Art of AskingThe Art of Asking
T4 The Art of Asking
Amanda Palmer · 2014
Open Library
Recommended byTim Ferriss
How To
T4 How To
Michael Bierut · 2015
Open Library
Recommended byRan Segall
In ProgressIn Progress
T4 In Progress
Jessica Hische · 2015
Open Library
Recommended byJessica Hische
The Diary of John Evelyn Volume 2The Diary of John Evelyn Volume 2
T4 The Diary of John Evelyn Volume 2
Austin Dobson, John Evelyn · 2015
Open Library
Recommended byPatrick Collison
An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope
T4 An Autobiography of Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope · 2017
Open Library
Recommended byPaul Graham
Brand by Hand
T4 Brand by Hand
Jon Contino · 2018
Open Library
Recommended byZack Onisko
SharpSharp
T4 Sharp
Michelle Dean · 2018
Open Library
Recommended bySheryl Sandberg
SurrenderSurrender
T4 Surrender
Bono · 2022
Open Library
Recommended byBill Gates
John & Paul: A Love Story in SongsJohn & Paul: A Love Story in Songs
T4 John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs
Ian Leslie · 2025
Open Library
“Ian Leslie's wonderful new book about the relationship between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. If you're into The Beatles, or even just interested in how creativity happens, it's a great read.”Andrew Wilkinson
Recommended byAndrew Wilkinson
A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005
T4 A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005
unverified
Recommended byPatrick Collison
An Eames Primer
T4 An Eames Primer
Eames Demetrios et al.
unverified
Recommended byYves Béhar
Can We Talk About Something More Pleasant?
T4 Can We Talk About Something More Pleasant?
Roz Chast
unverified
Recommended byAnn Handley
Chronicles, Vol. 1
T4 Chronicles, Vol. 1
Bob Dylan
unverified
Recommended byBill Gurley
Humorists: From Hogarth to Noel CowardHumorists: From Hogarth to Noel Coward
T4 Humorists: From Hogarth to Noel Coward
Paul Johnson
unverified
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple's GreatestJony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products
T4 Jony Ive: The Genius Behind Apple's Greatest Products
unverified
Recommended byPatrick Collison
Life Keith Richards
T4 Life Keith Richards
James Fox
unverified
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Made in Harlem
T4 Made in Harlem
Daniel R. Day
unverified
Recommended byBen Horowitz
On That Note
T4 On That Note
Michael Wolff
unverified
Recommended byMatt Mullenweg
The Diary of John Evelyn Volumes 1 + 2
T4 The Diary of John Evelyn Volumes 1 + 2
unverified
Recommended byPatrick Collison
The Paris Review Interviews
T4 The Paris Review Interviews
The Paris Review
unverified
Recommended byPatrick Collison
The Paris Review Interviews, III
T4 The Paris Review Interviews, III
unverified
Recommended byPatrick Collison
The Paris Review Interviews, IVThe Paris Review Interviews, IV
T4 The Paris Review Interviews, IV
unverified
Recommended byPatrick Collison
The Writing LifeThe Writing Life
T4 The Writing Life
Annie Dillard
unverified
Recommended byPatrick O'Shaughnessy
Truth & Beauty
T4 Truth & Beauty
Ann Patchett
unverified
Recommended byDiana Kimball
Your Own Kind of GirlYour Own Kind of Girl
T4 Your Own Kind of Girl
Clare Bowditch
Open Library
Recommended byZoë Foster Blake

Experts 40

The people who wrote this page's books, and the people who recommend them.

Authors 2

Walter Isaacsonwrote 1 book hereJessica Hischewrote 1 book here

Recommenders 39

Patrick Collisonrecommends 12 books here
MP
Mohnish Pabrairecommends 9 books herePaul Grahamrecommends 3 books here
AW
Andrew Wilkinsonrecommends 3 books here
AH
Ann Handleyrecommends 2 books hereBill Gatesrecommends 2 books hereMatt Mullenwegrecommends 2 books hereBen Horowitzrecommends 1 book hereMarc Andreessenrecommends 1 book hereRyan Holidayrecommends 1 book here
SB
Safi Bahcallrecommends 1 book hereAudrey Gelmanrecommends 1 book here
Show all 39
AA
Austen Allredrecommends 1 book hereBill Gurleyrecommends 1 book hereBob Igerrecommends 1 book hereCaterina Fakerecommends 1 book here
DP
Daniel Petrerecommends 1 book here
DC
David Cancelrecommends 1 book here
DK
David Kadavyrecommends 1 book here
DK
Diana Kimballrecommends 1 book hereElon Muskrecommends 1 book hereEric Weinsteinrecommends 1 book hereJessica Hischerecommends 1 book here
JH
John Hendersonrecommends 1 book hereMark Zuckerbergrecommends 1 book hereMichael Bloombergrecommends 1 book hereNaval Ravikantrecommends 1 book here
PO
Patrick O'Shaughnessyrecommends 1 book here
RS
Ran Segallrecommends 1 book here
SB
Sahil Bloomrecommends 1 book here
SL
Sahil Lavingiarecommends 1 book hereSatya Nadellarecommends 1 book hereSheryl Sandbergrecommends 1 book here
SB
Sophie Bakalarrecommends 1 book here
RW
The Rational Walkrecommends 1 book hereTim Ferrissrecommends 1 book hereYves Béharrecommends 1 book here
ZO
Zack Oniskorecommends 1 book hereZoë Foster Blakerecommends 1 book here
See all 40 in the Experts tab →

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