While all non-fiction stories focus on events that really happened, memoirs stand apart from other non-fiction genres because of how vividly they portray a person’s life. How do you do justice to a story like that in book trailer form? You make it real! Here are six non-fiction book trailers that immerse you in the story of each memoir before you start reading.
1. Medical Medium by Anthony William
Anthony William, AKA the Medical Medium, delves into the childhood experience where he first developed his abilities to heal. William’s books have sold millions of copies and contain health benefits and tips for nearly everyone.
2. Brotherhood: Dharma, Destiny, and the American Dream by Deepak Chopra and Sanjiv Chopra
In this trailer, photos of Deepak and Sanjiv throughout their life tell us that this is a true story, while different video clips give us a sense of place and diverging paths.
3. Black Box, A Memoir by Chelsey Glasson
The Black Box non-fiction book trailer features author Chelsey Glasson sharing her powerful story of standing up to workplace discrimination, offering a firsthand account of resilience, justice, and the fight to make corporate environments more equitable for women and minorities.
4. The Answer to the Riddle is Me by David S. MacLean
Photos help establish character and place, while stock images establish plot points, but it’s the illustrations and music in this trailer that really capture the emotion and tone of this story.
5. Would It Kill You to Put on Some Lipstick! by Holly Martyn
The over-the-top movie trailer voice immediately tells us the memoir is going to be funny. The author plays herself toward the end of this trailer, which works well when the author can act and is a recognizable figure.
6. Calling Dr. Laura by Nicole Georges
Sometimes an interview-style trailer is the best way to capture the essence of the author and their story. Since this is a graphic novel memoir, the author also takes us behind-the-scenes and showcases her process from sketch to finished art.
Megan Barlog loves great stories, be they books, movies, TV shows, or anything in between! She has studied both creative writing and screenwriting, and worked for both a library and a major NYC publisher. When she’s not writing a novel or screenplay, she’s probably out for a run or binge-watching something on Netflix.
If you liked this article on book trailers for memoirs, you might enjoy The 50 Most Cinematic Book Trailers Ever Made
