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This Boy’s Life

This Boy's Life book cover
TB
Biography & Memoir Non-Fiction Biography & Memoir Classics

by Tobias Wolff

starstarstarstar_halfstar
3.98 (20K ratings)
calendar_today 1989
description 304 pages

This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff holds a well received rating of 3.98 out of 5, based on 20K reader ratings. First published in 1989. The book spans 304 pages.

About This Boy's Life

This unforgettable memoir, by one of our most gifted writers, introduces us to the young Toby Wolff, by turns tough and vulnerable, crafty and bumbling, and ultimately winning. Separated by divorce from his father and brother, Toby and his mother are constantly on the move, yet they develop an extraordinarily close, almost telepathic relationship. As Toby fights for identity and self-respect against the unrelenting hostility of a new stepfather, his experiences are at once poignant and comical, and Wolff does a masterful job of re-creating the frustrations and cruelties of adolescence. His various schemes - running away to Alaska, forging checks, and stealing cars - lead eventually to an act of outrageous self-invention that releases him into a new world of possibility.

Detail Value
Author Tobias Wolff
Published 1989
Pages 304
Genres Biography & Memoir, Non-Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Classics
Average Rating 3.98 / 5.00
Total Ratings 19,981

Reader Ratings & Analysis

Rating Overview

4.0
starstarstarstar_halfstar
20K ratings
With a rating of 3.98, This Boy's Life is rated below the global average of 4.17. Compared to its genre average of 3.97, it performs on par.

How It Compares

3.98
This Book
3.97
Biography & Memoir Average
4.17
Global Average

Frequently Asked Questions

What genre is This Boy's Life?

This Boy's Life is categorized as Biography & Memoir, Non-Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Classics. Its primary genre classification is Biography & Memoir.

Is This Boy's Life worth reading?

Based on 20K reader ratings, This Boy's Life has an average score of 3.98 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."

How many pages is This Boy's Life?

This Boy's Life has 304 pages.

Who wrote This Boy's Life?

This Boy's Life was written by Tobias Wolff. It was first published in 1989.

What is the ISBN for This Boy's Life?

The ISBN-13 for This Boy's Life is 9780802136690.0.

Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026