The Book That Changed My Life - by Diane Osen (Paperback)

About the Book

An original collection of literary interviews asks some of our greatest living writers, "What book most changed your life?" Contributors include E.L. Doctorow, Philip Levine, Alice McDermott, Grace Paley, and Robert Stone. All profits will be donated to the National Book Foundation.

Book Synopsis

Every reader can name at least one book that changed his or her life--and many more beloved titles will surely come to mind as well. In The Book That Changed My Life, fifteen of America's most influential authors discuss their own special literary choices. These unique interviews with National Book Award winners and finalists offer new insights into the many ways in which the experience of reading shapes the act of writing. Robert Stone on Joseph Conrad's Victory, Cynthia Ozick on Henry James's Washington Square, Charles Johnson on Jack London's The Sea-Wolf--each approaches the question of literary influence, while offering rich and wonderful revelations about his or her own writing career. James Carroll, Don DeLillo, E. L. Doctorow, Diane Johnson, Philip Levine, David Levering Lewis, Barry Lopez, David McCullough, Alice McDermott, Grace Paley, Linda Pastan, and Katherine Paterson are the other distinguished contributors to this collection of informed, insightful interviews.

Review Quotes

"Everyone should read this book, especially the illiterate." --Steve Martin, author of Shopgirl

About the Author

Diane Osen is a freelance writer and editor specializing in the arts, and has worked with dozens of National Book Award authors during her fourteen-year association with the National Book Foundation. Co-editor of The Writing Life, an NBA anthology published by Random House in 1996, she is also the author of Royal Scandals and the co-author of Great Interview.

Neil Baldwin is the executive director of the National Book Foundation and the sponsor of the National Book Awards. He has written several books, including, most recently, Henry Ford and the Jews.