6 Best Biography Books Like Running with Scissors

If you liked Augusten Burroughs’s wild and darkly funny memoir Running with Scissors, you’ll love these six books that are just as bizarre. From stories about crazy families to ones about emotional and mental turmoil, these books are sure to entertain and interest readers looking for something different.

Each one is unique and engaging and will keep you hooked until the very end. Whether you’re a fan of mystery novels or autobiographies, there’s something for everyone on this list. So if you’re in the mood for a wild ride, dive into one of these page-turners today.

Books Like Running with Scissors

These books are written by some great authors like Augusten Burroughs…

1. Me Talk Pretty One Day, by David Sedaris

Author David Sedaris is a master at humor and wit. Humor, wit, and the author’s uncanny ability to turn a phrase have made this one of the funniest memoirs ever written. 

This eye-opening book describes a young man’s attempt to become an international journalist for National public radio. Sedaris’s first essay collection evokes the humor of human foibles. This is a must-read like running with scissors.

2. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, by David Sedaris

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim is a delightful book that will have you appreciating how far we have come as a society. The illustrations are life-like, full of detail, and depict American families from different walks of life. This book will teach you about the past, present, and future–all with their own unique story to tell.

3. The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls

This memoir shows how one person can protect their family. The author shows the reader the true meaning of “the glass castle” as something strong, durable, and beautiful like what she built for her family after having gone through hell. This book will hook fans of Running with Scissors.

4. When You Are Engulfed in Flames, by David Sedaris

This book is a stop-gap for when we don’t know what we should do in a given situation. It has 600+ practical and spiritual lessons on how to live and die with grace and humor, the most important of which is: Expect the unexpected and prepare for it. this is a grate book to read after finishing Running with Scissors.

5. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, by Cheryl Strayed

A journey of one woman’s physical and emotional transformation and an adventure of self-discovery that would change her life forever. The perfect summer for anyone who has ever dreamed about taking off on an epic adventure or wished they could take another shot at something they let get away. 

6. Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom

The book accounts Tuesdays in 1997 with Morrie Schwartz, a University of Massachusetts, Amherst professor in sociology. 

He talks about what he thinks about death and dying, what he wishes he had done differently in life, and what he has learned about people. The lessons are funny and sad at the same time. Morrie’s thoughts help people understand their own mortality and have more compassion for others. This is another important book like Running with Scissors.

Final Words:

If you enjoy reading about unconventional childhoods with madcap family dynamics, then these six books are for you. This list of must-read books like Running With Scissors includes stories of children who have had to overcome adversity and cope with the challenges of being raised in an environment that is not typical of society’s standards.