Can you spot the difference between these two photos?
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These photos of a student killed during a protest at Kent State University in 1970 have one very minor difference. The fencepost in the center of the original photograph (right) was removed before publication because it disrupted the image, looking like something sticking out of the central figure's head. As doctored photos go, this is a relatively innocent change, but it's a good example of how a published photo doesn't always tell the whole story, or sometimes even the right story. Remember, sometimes you can't take things at face value! These photos, and more examples like these, can be seen in the Times Magazine photo essay linked to below.
Most biographies you get from the library should be solid, scholarly sources, but it's important to learn how to tell the difference between reliable sources and questionable sources. Just like evaluating websites and other sources for relevancy and bias, you have to pay attention to several factors when you're reading biography.
1. Is the author considered an expert? What do they think of their subject? How do their opinions affect their interpretation of the subject's life? What conclusions do they come to about their subject? Are they biased in any way, and, if so, where and how do you find evidence of that bias?
2. Is there anything left out of the biography? Doing some research, or even reading a second biography about the same person may show you that certain events, or people are left out of one of the biographies. Why might that be, and what can it tell you about the author's interpretation?
3. What kinds of sources did the author use? They could be primary sources, like letters, diaries or interviews, or they could be secondary sources, like other books. Check to see if the book has a bibliography or notes explaining the sources, and where specific information came from.
4. When was the book published? Is it relatively current? If it's older than 5 or 10 years, is it still relevant, or has newer research and scholarship been done on the subject?