I am enjoying the "meta-discussion" about the value of biographies. Although not directly computer-related, these two deserve mention:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lives_of_the_Saints 
(Bonus points if you went to a Jesuit high school and read them in Latin.)

https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/lives-engineers 
This edition is edited by Thomas Parke Hughes. At one time required reading for anyone studying the history of technology. 
Best,

Paul Ceruzzi