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A user-friendly guide to reading, writing, and theorizing autobiographical texts and practices for students, scholars, and practitioners of life narrative
 

The boom in autobiographical narratives continues apace. It now encompasses a global spectrum of texts and practices in such media as graphic memoir, auto-photography, performance and plastic arts, film and video, and online platforms. Reading Autobiography Now offers both a critical engagement with life narrative in historical perspective and a theoretical framework for interpreting texts and practices in this wide-ranging field. Hailed upon its initial publication as “the Whole Earth Catalog of autobiography studies,” this essential book has been updated, reorganized, and expanded in scope to serve as an accessible and contemporary guide for scholars, students, and practitioners.

Sidonie Smith and Julia Watson explore definitions of life narrative, probe issues of subjectivity, and outline salient features of autobiographical acts and practices. In this updated edition, they address emergent topics such as autotheory, autofiction, and autoethnography; expand the discussions of identity, relationality, and agency; and introduce new material on autobiographical archives and the profusion of “I”s in contemporary works. Smith and Watson also provide a helpful toolkit of strategies for reading life narrative and an extensive glossary of mini-essays analyzing key theoretical concepts and dozens of autobiographical genres.

An indispensable exploration of this expansive, transnational, multimedia field,  Reading Autobiography Now meticulously unpacks the heterogeneous modes of life narratives through which people tell their stories, from traditional memoirs and trauma narratives to collaborative life narrative and autobiographical comics.

Widely acknowledged as the benchmark text for both students and RIM professionals ("extremely comprehensive and accessible," raves Archival Issues) the new third edition updates its authoritative blend of theory and practice to reflect the field’s dynamically evolving environment, including the rapid rise of applications powered by AI/ML. Franks presents complete coverage of the records and information lifecycle model, encompassing paper, electronic (databases, office suites such as Microsoft 365, and email), and new media records (blogs, chat messages, and software as a service), while acknowledging the influence of emerging and developing technologies and encouraging new ways of meeting the resulting challenges. In this book, enhanced with supplemental contributions from a wide range of thought leaders and practitioners, readers will explore such keys topics as

• the latest advances in disruptive technologies, including blockchain, Web3, the metaverse, and evolving digital communication tools such as enterprise social media;
• an overview of the origins and development of records and information management;
• the discipline of information governance and the steps to develop a strategic records and information management plan;
• a completely new chapter that demystifies data governance, automation, and AI;
• strategies for the creation/capture and classification of records and information;
• approaches to retention strategies, inactive records management, archives, and long-term digital preservation;
• methods for access, storage, and retrieval of records and information;
• insight into electronic records and electronic records management systems;
• practices for safeguarding essential records, including disaster preparedness, recovery, and business continuity;
• approaches to monitoring, auditing, privacy, security, and risk management;
• fresh discussion of the leadership and management skills required of RIM professionals; and
• expert guidance on trendspotting, education, and training.