This memoir, narrated by the bestselling author, recounts his education, experience writing ad copy, and struggle to find his narrative voice. His first wife died, but he and his second wife are incredibly happy. He’s a father who loves his son. He talks about—no, reads about—how many presidents he has played golf with (4) and how many holes in one he’s had (6). His voice is both friendly and engaging—this audiobook is like talking with an old friend on the back porch with a couple of tumblers of bourbon. Anecdotes, yeah, he’s got plenty. Still, the parts of his story about his struggles to get published should encourage any writer. You’ll like James Patterson the person as much as you like James Patterson the novelist. R.O. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
This memoir, narrated by the bestselling author, recounts his education, experience writing ad copy, and struggle to find his narrative voice. His first wife died, but he and his second wife are incredibly happy. He’s a father who loves his son. He talks about—no, reads about—how many presidents he has played golf with (4) and how many holes in one he’s had (6). His voice is both friendly and engaging—this audiobook is like talking with an old friend on the back porch with a couple of tumblers of bourbon. Anecdotes, yeah, he’s got plenty. Still, the parts of his story about his struggles to get published should encourage any writer. You’ll like James Patterson the person as much as you like James Patterson the novelist. R.O. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
2022-03-08
One of the bestselling authors of all time celebrates his life and career.
Publishing juggernaut Patterson offers an upbeat, lighthearted view of his happy and productive life to answer two important questions: “How did a shy, introspective kid from a struggling upstate New York river town who didn’t have a lot of guidance or role models go on to become, at thirty-eight, CEO of the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson North America? How did this same person become the bestselling writer in the world?” In short, punchy chapters, the author sketches his childhood in Newburgh, New York, where he went to Catholic schools, took piano lessons from an elderly nun, played sports, and eagerly accompanied his grandfather on early-hour runs delivering frozen foods and ice cream. After graduating from Manhattan College, Patterson got a full fellowship to a doctoral program at Vanderbilt but left after a year for two reasons: Staying would have thrown him back into the Vietnam draft lottery, and he didn’t see his future in academia. From an entry-level job as a copywriter at Thompson New York, Patterson rose to become creative director and, by the late 1980s, CEO. He fashions sprightly anecdotes of his work among the mad men of the advertising world. At the same time, he was writing at least two bestselling novels per year. In 1996, he quit to write full time. Patterson’s prolific output includes several mystery series, children’s books, romance novels, and nonfiction, sometimes co-authored: Dolly Parton (“down-to-earth, genuine, thoughtful, smart as a whip, funny, and self-deprecating”) and Bill Clinton are among his collaborators. Along the way, he’s met scores of famous people whose names drop like ripe apples: Tom Cruise, Warren Beatty, Idris Elba, George and Barbara Bush, and Clint Eastwood, among others. He and his wife have become literacy advocates, donating books and money to schools and libraries. A list of beloved titles appends the memoir.
A brisk, entertaining read.
