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Publishing a book and making the New York Times Best Sellers list is every author's dream. As far as writers are concerned, the New York Times Best Sellers list is one of the only lists that really matter. It's a goldmine for some of the most read and best-received books at the moment.
As new books make their way to shelves, the list changes but the NY Times also does a 'Best of 2019' or 'Best of 2020' segment, which means a book is truly one of the best reads of the year. However, established writers aren't the only ones who can pump out award-winning books — both non-fiction and fiction. Celebrities of all types can do the same and make it big, simply due to notoriety and good stories. From standup comics to reality TV stars let's take a look at 10 celebrities who made it big with their own books.
TERESA GIUDICE
Believe it or not, Real Housewives of New Jersey star, Teresa Giudice, has six books to her name, all of which did incredibly well. But it was her 2016 book, Turning the Tables: From Housewife to Inmate and Back Again, that caught everyone's attention.
While serving a 15-month sentence in federal prison for fraud, it was announced in 2015 that Teresa would be writing a detailed memoir about her life in prison and the events leading up to it. A year later, the book came out.
ELTON JOHN
Me is the official autobiography written by the famed performer, Elton John. The memoir details the legendary life of the iconic musician and has been long awaited for. He touches base on everything from the first plane he bought to growing up in the '60s.
After Rocketman hit theaters this past summer, the world couldn't wait for more Elton John written in his own words. As of this publishing, his book Me has spent 11 weeks on this NY Times Best Sellers list.
TINA FEY
Tina Fey is an actress, writer, producer, mother, and now, author. She's a woman in the limelight who can do it all with meticulous precision. She's incredibly bright and pushes the boundaries.
In 2013, Tina's book Bossypants hit shelves and sold over one million copies. The memoir detailed Tina's life growing up, her dreams, her fears — personal stories from an incredible person in showbusiness.
PRINCE
Legendary singer Prince past away back in 2016, which is why his memoir The Beautiful Ones has been long-awaited. His memoir hit shelves in the fall of 2019, a book he had been writing before he passed away. The New York Times Book Review even called it "one of the best books of the year."
In the book, readers and fans can find pictures and lyric sheets that have never been seen before. It's beautifully organized into four parts, detailing Prince's rise to stardom, his childhood, and before he made it big. It's a real inside look at the man who broke down walls in the music industry.
AMY POEHLER
Similar to friend and colleague, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler also wrote a biography of sorts called Yes Please. The beautiful thing about her first book and Amy herself is that she also adds twinklings of advice. She shares funny stories and moments of love and life but also shares words to live by. Think of this biography as an older sister sharing her words of wisdom. She's fantastic and Yes Please makes fans love her even more.
Yes Please released in 2014 and hit the number one spot. But despite its success, one journalist in particular, Dwight Garner of the Times, noted that as funny as Poehler was she couldn't write.
TAN FRANCE
Tan France is both a TV personality and fashion designer but is most known in the States for his presence on Queer Eye on Netflix. He's brilliant and tailored, he's a wonderful part of the series. He released his autobiography Naturally Tan in the summer of 2019 and fans resonated with the Brittish fashion designer.
It's a coming of age story, really. As a gay man growing up in a Muslim family in an area with people who didn't really look like him, Tan shares his life experiences growing up and the man he is today. He's compassionate and spreads love with his words, which is another reason it made the New York Times Best Sellers list.
ALI WONG
Comedian, writer, and actress Ali Wong really made it big after her stand-up special made it on Netflix. She's incredibly raw and honest and sheds major light on female comics and the differences between women and men.
In the fall of 2019, her humorous biography, Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life hit shelves and made fans fall in love with her even more. Her book is essentially an open letter to her daughters and what to expect in a male-dominated world. She shares tales of love, loss, success, and of course, her relationship with her husband.
JULIE ANDREWS
Does Julie Andrews even need an introduction? She's an icon in the world of film and music. She's done everything from The Sound of Music to Mary Poppins to The Princess Diaries. Her talent is unmatched. When it was announced that Julie would be releasing an autobiography in October of 2019, her fans were practically already in line.
Her book Home Work is a sequel of sorts to her first autobiography Home. While Home may have detailed Julie's younger years, Home Work shows Julie's life when she made it to Hollywood. And since we can't get enough of Julie Andrews, her book hit the NY Times Best Sellers list.
TREVOR NOAH
As the host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah is much more than a host. He's an actor, a writer, a comic — he's a man with many hats. His biography Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood hit shelves in 2016 and hooked readers into another side of Noah. We learn about his childhood in apartheid South Africa, where he was born to biracial parents.
It wasn't until South Africa's liberation where Noah and his family could finally line in peace and justice. Ultimately, we learn about his growth and how he reached the stardom he has today. It's an incredible tale, even for those who may not be a fan of Noah's comedic talents.
DEMI MOORE
Actress Demi Moore's memoir Inside Out dropped a lot of bombshells before it even hit shelves. Readers and fans learned a lot about Moore's life behind closed doors.
With a history of addiction, she details her moments of weakness and what got her back on track. We also got an inside scoop on her former relationships with actors Bruce Willis and Ashton Kutcher.