Ravi Gorowala

Ravi Gorowala asked Will Schwalbe:

The word candid comes to mind while reading about you. I find that you have steered clear of self help books and was wondering why you appear to have given a go by to a million titles that seem to have helped a large number of people?

Will Schwalbe I love self-help books and many have been incredibly important to me. In my new book, there's a chapter about one: LATERAL THINKING by Edward de Bono. And some of the other books I write about could be considered self-help books. I also wrote about a few in my last book. But you are right that I don't give them as much emphasis and that's really because I think it's usually clear what a particular self-help book promises to do for you -- it's usually in the title or subtitle. I think in many ways it's more interesting for me to write about the ways that poetry, or fiction, or other kinds of nonfiction have helped me when I needed help most.

More Answered Questions

A. Dewitt

A. Dewitt asked Will Schwalbe:

Hi Will, I loved your books! However, in the middle of the covid pandemic, I realized that I do not want to read books that are sad. So looking for uplifting fiction, my favorite book this year is The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg. She also wrote a couple follow ups and I read Night of Miracles. There are so many books to read but currently I can't bother with ones that will depress me. What do you think?

Kaylinn Stormo

Kaylinn Stormo asked Will Schwalbe:

Hello Will. I just started your book and at the same time, by coincidence, picked up The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee. I am wondering if you have read it, and if so did you enjoy it? Thank you.

David Treadwell

David Treadwell asked Will Schwalbe:

Love your books because I love reading and writing. (I've been a professional writer for 40 years, specializing in writing admissions and fundraising materials for colleges and schools. I live in Brunswick, Maine and write stuff for newspapers as well as alumni magazines. Also, I worked in admissions at Bowdoin under Dick Moll (you may know him) and had a chance to meet your mom. Ever get to Maine?

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