This Boy's Life: A MemoirThis Boy's Life: A Memoir
Score Classic
What it's about
In the 1950s, young Toby Wolff and his mother drive west, running from a violent boyfriend, to Utah and then to Seattle, where she marries Dwight, a mechanic who takes them to live in a tiny town in the Cascade Mountains. Dwight is petty, cruel and bullying, and Toby, lonely and angry, invents himself, lying, stealing and finally forging his way into a prestigious school back East.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Modern Library list of the best nonfiction and is one of the great American memoirs. It's funny and painful, and the 1993 film starred Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.
You'll love it if you liked
The Glass Castle
Educated: A Memoir
Angela's AshesGood to know
There's emotional and physical abuse.
By the numbers
- Readers40 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics59 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller12 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Moving, Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is This Boy's Life: A Memoir worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Modern Library list of the best nonfiction and is one of the great American memoirs. It ranks #1,544 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is This Boy's Life: A Memoir about?
In the 1950s, young Toby Wolff and his mother drive west, running from a violent boyfriend, to Utah and then to Seattle, where she marries Dwight, a mechanic who takes them to live in a tiny town in the Cascade Mountains. Dwight is petty, cruel and bullying, and Toby, lonely and angry, invents himself, lying, stealing and finally forging his way into a prestigious school back East.
How long does it take to read This Boy's Life: A Memoir?
About 7 hours (288 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after This Boy's Life: A Memoir?
If you liked it, try The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover or Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt.