You capture well the benefits of what is sometimes called life writing. Professionally I have read a lot of political memoirs which can provide an insight into the details of particular crises but almost always reveal less about the author explicitly than they do unintentionally. I recently read Michelle Obama's memoir and what was revealing was just the sheer energy and stamina she has (going to the gym at 6am so that she can be back to get the children ready for school at 8!) It made me realize that I am lazier than that.