Berik Shakhanov was born in 1941 in farm “Zhaiylma” of Sarysu area, Dzhambul region. He graduated from journalism department of philology faculty at the Kazakh state university named after S.M. Kirov in 1966.
He worked as a literary employee at editorial office of Dzhambul local newspaper “Енбек туы” (“Enbek tuy”), as a literary employee of the republican youth newspaper “Лениншил жас” (“Leninshil zhas”). Since 1973 till present days works at the editorial office “Жазушы” (“Zhazushy”).
He is the author of the book “О любви не говорят” (“Don't speak about love”, collection of stories, 1973), “Светлая река” (“Bright river”, stories and tales, 1979). He translated into Kazakh the book of Azerbaijan writer Anar “Круг” (“Round”).
