For your mother, father, grandparents, or yourself
A professional interviewer leads the conversation. A real book arrives a few weeks later.
They enjoy around five hours of pleasant conversation from the comfort of their home. We turn it into a beautifully written, printed book that sounds exactly like them.
How it works. They talk, we do everything else.
No writing, no homework, no memory prompts left on the kitchen table.
Choose how to start.
Pay in full, fill out the questionnaire, and start straight away, or reserve a planning video call with our team with a $150 deposit.
They just talk.
They just need to join a Zoom video call. It will last around five hours in total, split into several sessions. The interviewer guides with questions and allows the memories to flow.
You read every page.
We write the book and send you the complete draft for review. You can add your edits and send us photos to implement in the book.
The printed book arrives.
A few weeks after the first interview, and after your full approval, a beautifully written, printed book is in their hands, and in yours.
Printed Life Story Books
Real books we have made for families, not mock-ups. What's written inside belongs to each family alone, so we share the covers, with their permission.
The life story of Danny, in Hebrew
The life story of Adina and Nehemia, a couple's book in Hebrew
The life story of Bruria, in Hebrew
Memoir by Maja, in English
The life story of Danny, in Hebrew
The life story of Adina and Nehemia, a couple's book in Hebrew
The life story of Bruria, in Hebrew
Memoir by Maja, in English
The life story of Danny, in Hebrew
The life story of Adina and Nehemia, a couple's book in Hebrew
The life story of Bruria, in Hebrew
Memoir by Maja, in English
The moment the book arrives
We ask every family if we may share this moment. Some say yes. Here they are.
I'm not Golda, he is not Ben Gurion, I never thought we would write a book. At first I did not know what to expect, but after we had the first session, I was excited and waiting for the next one. It is so exciting to see the book, it is beautiful.Adina, who made a couple's book with her husband NehemiaThe book is super beautiful. I never thought about writing a book before because I did not know where to start. I'm so grateful that the process was so easy and flowed naturally. This book is priceless!Nehemia, who made a couple's book with his wife AdinaI could have cried. In fact, I did when I saw the book. Shock, amazement, and admiration for the final product. I didn't realise I could remember everything.Maja, author of the memoir "As It Is"The final book exceeded my expectations. It's our family's legacy for generations.Danny Zach, who made his own life story bookI'm just profoundly stunned by it. It's an incredible gift to the whole family, I feel moved. I've gained insight into mom, I feel very humbled and amazed, it's just unbelievable.Helena, who made the book for her motherThank you Jonathan Zacharie from Life Story, for the thoughtful interview and the spark he lit in me that brought this book to life.Bruria, in the printed acknowledgments of her bookThe people who will sit with your loved one
An interview like this takes patience, kindness, and the skill to help someone open a door they haven't opened in many years. That's why every book starts with a professional interviewer.
Jonathan Zacharie
Founder of Life Story. A tech entrepreneur and former documentary film producer, with a degree in government, diplomacy and strategy.
Speaks: Hebrew, English, French
Marta Fagundo
Senior Director of Writing. Holds a degree in psychology and health sciences, with experience as a mental health counselor, as well as being a writer for global companies for several years.
Speaks: English, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese
Nicola Biondi
Project Manager. Holds a degree in economics and is completing a master's degree in global leadership.
Speaks: Italian, English, Spanish, GermanOne clear price. Nothing hidden.
$1,000
for the complete service
The price breakdown
- A dedicated professional interviewer, start to finish
- Around five hours of conversation via Zoom, split into several sessions
- The complete written book, in their own voice
- Unlimited edits: you can edit each page
- Professional writing and cover design
- The first printed copy of the finished book
- A digital copy of the finished book
Pay in full and start straight away, or reserve with a $150 deposit. The deposit secures a planning video call with our team to walk you through the process. The balance is due right after, if you decide to proceed. If not, you will get your deposit back.
You approve every page before we print.
Nothing is printed until you've read the complete draft and approved every page. Extra copies, $10–$45 per copy, paid just before we print, with delivery included.
It is worth any price. I recommend for everyone my age to do this, especially if they have a family. Everyone has a story to tell.Nehemia, who made a couple's book with his wife AdinaMarta Fagundo, Senior Director of Writing
Three ways to turn a life into a book
Here's the honest difference between them.
| What we compare | Do it yourselves (question-a-week apps and blank journals) | Life Story | A private ghostwriter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | They write or record alone, week after week. Many books are never finished. | They just talk. We do the interviewing, writing, editing, and design. | They talk, then wait through months of back-and-forth. |
| Time to a finished book | Often years of weekly prompts, if finished at all. | A few weeks from the first interview to the printed book. | Several months to over a year. |
| The writing | Their raw, unedited text, printed as-is. | Professionally written in their own voice. | Professional prose, in the writer's interpretation. |
| Your say | You see it when they've finished. | You read every page and change anything. Nothing prints until you approve. | Review rounds are usually limited by contract. |
| Price | It depends on how much their time is worth, often years of effort. | $1,000 for the complete service, first printed copy included. | Typically between $7,000 to $30,000. |
Competitor prices are typical published ranges. Ours is the price you'll pay.
Why we make these books
I started in the film productions and technology worlds, where I led revenue growth for international language-technology companies, working with some of the biggest corporates in the industry. The book that shaped Life Story the most was written at home: my grandfather was a writer, and his autobiography let me meet him again long after he was gone. I started Life Story the day I realized that today's technology can give that same gift to every family: a real conversation, beautifully written, printed, and kept for generations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is my mother tech-savvy enough for this?
If she can join a Zoom video call, she's ready. We send a link. One tap and she's in, no apps, no accounts. If anything goes wrong mid-call, her interviewer sorts it out with her, patiently.
How long does it take?
A few weeks from the first interview to the printed book in your hands. You'll always know which stage the book is in.
How many copies do we get, and what do extra copies cost?
Your first printed copy is included in the price. Order as many extra copies as you like. They cost $10–$45 each depending on quantity and delivery location, with delivery included. The exact quote comes when you approve the book, and you pay just before printing.
What languages can the book be done in?
We interview, write, and print in English, Hebrew (עברית), Arabic (العربية), Portuguese (Português), French, Spanish, Italian, and German. Hebrew and Arabic books are properly typeset right-to-left.
I want to give it as a gift. Will it spoil the surprise?
No. Nothing the recipient sees shows a price, and we only contact them when you say it's time.
The stories are all still there. Start while they're telling them.
We take on a limited number of new books each month, so every family gets a dedicated interviewer. When a month is full, we'll offer you the next one.