Memoir, as a genre focused on the lives of real people told from their own vantage point, gives audiences the unique opportunity to connect with the experience of others. Whether looking for guidance, consolation, or simply a new perspective, the audience gains a powerful and eye-opening sense of kinship with fellow human beings.

In the six lessons of Why Memoir Matters: Learning from the Lives of Others, associate professor and author Tahneer Oksman guides you through enduring categories and themes within the genre of memoir, exploring how these deeply personal stories work and why they are so impactful. The course also addresses the ethical responsibilities of the memoir writer, in terms of writing about personal life details and what it means to tell the truth as a writer while sharing personal memories, shocking events, and even family secrets.

While everyone has a story and a perspective of their own, many of the best-known and most resonant memoirs focus on the fundamental experiences and life-altering transitions of the writer’s life. From the painful process of growing up captured in a coming-of-age story, to the difficulties of ordeals like major illness and grief to the multigenerational upheaval of immigration, you will see how a memoir offers the audience an opportunity for healing, growth, and self-discovery through the stories of others.