The Celebrity Memoirs

There is just no originality to becoming a celebrity anymore. The once-arduous road to becoming a household name has become so formulaic that you could probably Google the path to stardom. First, become someone big, whether that is by being a top-rated actor, mediocre pop artist or making it big on YouTube singing about hiding your kids and hiding your wife from bed intruders. Next, cover all morning talk shows and late night shows to get your name and face into America's living rooms. After that, go on The Oprah Winfrey Show and reflect. An optional fourth step would be starting a product line for the masses, such as clothing, perfume or cologne.

But the clincher to all of these completely unorchestrated events, the thing that finally seals the deal of celebrity status is to write a book about it all. Although publishing a best-seller increases status and income, does it really establish them as a figure of great wisdom and accomplishment?

Soccer superstar David Beckham has followed this path. After impressing audiences with his moves on the field and marrying Spice Girl Victoria Adams, Beckham and his wife became the talk of the tabloids and entertainment news. He has since appeared on Oprah Winfrey's talk show, launched Intimately Beckham perfume and cologne with his wife and released Beckham: Both Feet on the Ground - An Autobiography. Susan Boyle: Dreams Can Come True by Alice Montgomery covers the fame of fellow Brit Susan Boyle, one that many considered an overnight success after her astounding performance of "I Dreamed A Dream," on Britain's Got Talent last year. In April of this year, Britney Spears: Little Girl Lost by Christopher Heard was published, chronicling the singer's tumultuous personal life through relationships, the tabloids and rehabilitation. She has launched her own perfume line as well, although she has rejected the offer to be on Oprah's show.

Political figures are not above using books to increase their public recognition either. The highly anticipated memoir Decision Points was just released Tuesday, the author of which is former President George W. Bush. He has spoken with Matt Lauer in a primetime interview, visited The Today Show and chatted with Oprah in an effort to promote his book.

A clear example of this book-solidifies-fame effect can be seen with former Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin. The former Republican vice presidential candidate published Going Rogue last year at the height of her fame following the 2008 presidential election campaign. As governor of Alaska, Palin was relatively uninteresting — but add a surprise vice-presidential candidacy, a few comic bits on SNL, a visit to Oprah and a book to top it all off, and you get a household name. On the contrary, you have President Barack Obama's The Audacity of Hope, which was completed when he was just a rising star for the Democratic Party and did a lot less for his fame at the time.

It's hard to say why famous people choose to write biographical tomes. Some reasons may be image control, attempting to sound relatable to the public, showing off their literary chops and the list goes on. But behind all those valid reasons, just remember that there is no better, no more permanent way to extend those 15 minutes and cash in on success than getting a book out about it.