Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, on November 29, 1832. She and her three sisters, Anna, Elizabeth, and [Abba] May, were primarily educated by their father, teacher/philosopher A. Bronson Alcott, and raised on the practical Christianity of their mother, Abigail May. Louisa spent her childhood in Boston and in Concord, Massachusetts, where her days were enlightened by visits to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s library, excursions into nature with Henry David Thoreau, and theatricals in the barn at "Hillside" (now "The Wayside").&nbsp;&nbsp;
Like the character of "Jo March" in Little Women, young Louisa was a tomboy. "No boy could be my friend till I had beaten him in a race," she claimed, "and no girl if she refused to climb trees, leap fences." For Louisa, writing was an early passion. She had a rich imagination, and her stories often became the basis of melodramas she and her sisters would act out for friends. Louisa preferred to play the "lurid" parts in these plays -- "the villains, ghosts, bandits, and disdainful queens," as she put it.
At age 15, troubled by the poverty plaguing her family, she vowed, "I will do something by and by. Don’t care what, teach, sew, act, write, anything to help the family, and I’ll be rich and famous and happy before I die; see if I won’t!" Confronting a society that offered little opportunity to women seeking employment, Louisa nonetheless persisted: ". . . I will make a battering ram of my head and make my way through this rough and tumble world." Whether as a teacher, seamstress, governess, or household servant, for many years, Louisa did any work she could find.
Louisa’s career as an author began at the age of eight with poetry and later short stories that appeared in popular magazines. In 1854, when she was 22, her first book, Flower Fables, was published. A major critical milestone along her literary path was Hospital Sketches (1863), a truthful and poignant account of her service as a Civil War nurse in Washington, DC, inspired by the letters she wrote home to her family in Concord.
In 1868, when Louisa was 35 years old, her publisher, Thomas Niles, asked her to write "a girls' story." The 492 pages of Little Women, Part I was dashed off within three months at the desk Louisa's father built for her in her Orchard House bed chamber. The novel is largely based on the coming-of-age stories of Louisa and her sisters, with many of the domestic experiences inspired by events that actually took place at Orchard House.
Virtually overnight, Little Women was a phenomenal success, primarily due to its timeless storytelling about the first American juvenile heroine, "Jo March," who acted from her own individuality -- a free-thinking, flawed person, rather than the idealized stereotype of feminine perfection then prevalent in children’s fiction. In all, Louisa published over 30 books and collections of short stories and poems. She died on 6 March 1888, only two days after her father, and is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord.

Louisa

Neil Richard Gaiman was born on November 10, 1960, in Portchester, England. He originated from a family of Eastern European Jewish descent. His father, David Bernard Gaiman, worked at their family chain of stores, while his mother, Sheila Gaiman, was a pharmacist. In 1965 the family moved to East Grinstead, West Sussex, where Neil grew up with a profound love for reading, beginning as early as age 4.&nbsp;
Some of his favorite childhood books include J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Batman, and other comics. Gaiman received early education at various church schools, including Fonthill School in East Grinstead, Ardingly College, and Whitgift School in Croydon.
When Gaiman began to outgrow comic books in his teenage years, he realized the lack of comic books for an older mature audience. He, therefore, decided to fill the gap himself. Although he wanted to write comic books, Gaiman had little idea how to go about it. Following his graduation from high school in 1977, Gaiman became a journalist writing articles for a number of renowned publications such as the Sunday Times, the Observer, Knave, and Time Out.&nbsp;
In March 1985, Gaiman married McGrath after the birth of their son Michael in 1983. The couple had two more children, Holly and Madeleine. In 1984, Gaiman wrote his first book, a biography of the band Duran Duran. He continued writing articles and interviews in magazines under pseudonyms. However, in 1987, Gaiman waved goodbye to journalism, stating, “British newspapers can make up anything they want and publish it as fact.”&nbsp;
Also, in the late 1980s, Gaiman published Don’t Panic: The Official Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Companion. Gaiman started writing comic books, continuing the series of Marvelman after its original creator and Gaiman’s friend Alan Moore abandoned it. After his impressive work on Marvelman, Gaiman was offered to write the limited series of Black Orchard and also to re-write an old character, The Sandman. From December 1988 to March 1966, Gaiman produced work on The Sandman, which was later collected in 12 volumes.&nbsp;
More significant comic works by Neil Gaiman include The Books of Magic (1989), Lady Justice, and Mr. Hero. The Newmatic Man, Teknophage, Tales of the White Wolf, Whatever happened to the Caper Crusader, as well as contributions to Wednesday Comics.

Neil

Philip Hampson Knight (born February 24, 1938) is an American billionaire businessman. He is the co-founder and chairman emeritus of Nike, Inc., and was previously chairman and CEO of the company. As of October 3, 2022, Knight was ranked by Forbes as the 27th richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of US$35.2 billion. He is also the owner of the stop motion film production company Laika.&nbsp;
Knight is a graduate of the University of Oregon and Stanford Graduate School of Business. He was in the track and field club under coach Bill Bowerman at the University of Oregon, with whom he would co-found Nike. Knight has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to each of his alma maters, as well as Oregon Health &amp; Science University. He has donated over $2 billion to the three institutions.

Phil

Born in New York in 1919, Jerome David Salinger dropped out of several schools before enrolling in a writing class at Columbia University, publishing his first piece ("The Young Folks") in Story magazine. Soon after, the New Yorker picked up the heralded "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," and more pieces followed, including "Slight Rebellion off Madison" in 1941, an early Holden Caulfield story. Following a stint in Europe for World War II, Salinger returned to New York and began work on his signature novel, 1951's "The Catcher in the Rye," an immediate bestseller for its iconoclastic hero and forthright use of profanity.&nbsp;
Following this success, Salinger retreated to his Cornish, New Hampshire, home where he grew increasingly private, eventually erecting a wall around his property and publishing just three more books: "Nine Stories," "Franny and Zooey," "Raise High the Roof Beam, and Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction." Salinger was married twice and had two children. He died of natural causes on January 27, 2010, in New Hampshire at the age of 91.

J.D.

Alexandre Dumas, père (French for "father," akin to Senior in English), born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, was a French writer, best known for his numerous historical novels of high adventure, which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world. Many of his novels, including The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, The Man in the Iron Mask, and The Vicomte de Bragelonne, were serialized. Dumas also wrote plays and magazine articles and was a prolific correspondent.
Dumas was of Haitian descent and mixed race. His father, General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, was born in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti) to Alexandre Antoine Davy de la Pailleterie, a French nobleman, and Marie-Cessette Dumas, a black slave. At age 14, Thomas-Alexandre was taken by his father to France, where he was educated in a military academy and entered the military for what became an illustrious career.
Dumas's father's aristocratic rank helped young Alexandre Dumas acquire work with Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, then as a writer, finding early success. He became one of the leading authors of the French Romantic Movement in Paris.

Alexandre

Sir William Gerald Golding CBE FRSL was a British novelist, playwright, and poet. Best known for his debut novel Lord of the Flies (1954), he published another twelve volumes of fiction in his lifetime. In 1980, he was awarded the Booker Prize for Rites of Passage, the first novel in his sea trilogy, To the Ends of the Earth. He was awarded the 1983 Nobel Prize in Literature.
As a result of his contributions to literature, Golding was knighted in 1988. In addition, he was a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. In 2008, The Times ranked Golding third on its list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945."
While still a teacher at Bishop Wordsworth's School in 1951, Golding began writing a manuscript of the novel initially titled Strangers from Within. In September 1953, after rejections from seven other publishers, Golding sent a manuscript to Faber and Faber and was initially rejected by their reader, Jan Perkins, who labeled it as "Rubbish &amp; dull. Pointless". His book, however, was championed by Charles Monteith, a new editor at the firm. Monteith asked for changes to the text, and the novel was published in September 1954 as Lord of the Flies.
After moving in 1958 from Salisbury to nearby Bowerchalke, he met his fellow villager and walking companion James Lovelock. The two discussed Lovelock's hypothesis that the living matter of the planet Earth functions like a single organism. Golding suggested naming this hypothesis after Gaia, the personification of the Earth in Greek mythology and the mother of the Titans. His publishing success made it possible for Golding to resign from his teaching post at Bishop Wordsworth's School in 1961. Instead, he spent that academic year in the United States as a writer-in-residence at Hollins College (now Hollins University) near Roanoke, Virginia.
Golding won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Darkness Visible in 1979 and the Booker Prize for Rites of Passage in 1980. In 1983, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and was, according to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, "an unexpected and even contentious choice." In 1988, Golding was appointed a Knight Bachelor. Then, in September 1993, only a few months after his unexpected death, the First International William Golding Conference was held in France.
His first novel, Lord of the Flies, describes a group of boys stranded on a tropical island descending into a lawless and increasingly wild existence before being rescued. The Inheritors (1955) depicts a tribe of gentle Neanderthals encountering modern humans, who, by comparison, are deceitful and violent. His 1956 novel Pincher Martin records the thoughts of a drowning sailor. Free Fall (1959) explores the issue of freedom of choice. The novel's narrator, a World War Two soldier in a German POW Camp, endures interrogation and solitary confinement.
After these events and while recollecting the experiences, he looks back over his choices, trying to trace precisely where he lost the freedom to make his own decisions. The Spire (1964) follows the construction (and near collapse) of an impossibly large spire on the top of a medieval cathedral (generally assumed to be Salisbury Cathedral).
Golding's 1967 novel, The Pyramid, consists of three linked stories with a shared setting in a small English town based partly on Marlborough, where Golding grew up. The Scorpion God (1971) contains three novellas. The first is set in an ancient Egyptian court ("The Scorpion God"); the second describes a prehistoric African hunter-gatherer group ("Clonk, Clonk"); and the third is in the court of a Roman emperor ("Envoy Extraordinary"). The last of these, initially published in 1956, was reworked by Golding into a play, The Brass Butterfly, in 1958. From 1971 to 1979, Golding published no novels. After this period, he published Darkness Visible (1979): a story involving terrorism, pedophilia, and a mysterious figure who survives a fire in the Blitz and appears to have supernatural powers.
In 1980, Golding published Rites of Passage, the first of his novels about a voyage to Australia in the early nineteenth century. The book won the Booker Prize in 1980, and Golding followed this success with Close Quarters (1987) and Fire Down Below (1989) to complete his 'sea trilogy,' later published as one volume entitled To the Ends of the Earth. In 1984, he published The Paper Men: an account of the struggles between a novelist and his would-be biographer.

William

John Crowley is an acclaimed American novelist, short story writer, and essayist. He is best known for his works of historical fiction, particularly the four-volume Ægypt series, the middle volume of which, Love &amp; Sleep (1994), was nominated for the World Fantasy Award. Crowley's works are noted for their lyricism, romanticism, and their transgressive explorations of alternative belief systems.
Born in 1942 in Presque Isle, Maine, where he grew up, Crowley attended Catholic schools and then the University of Maine, graduating in 1964 with a degree in English. Following a brief stint in the US Air Force, Crowley began his writing career in academia, teaching English and creative writing at Yale and Harvard. He also worked as a copywriter and editor at an advertising firm in New York City.
Crowley is an important figure in the fantasy genre, having been awarded the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2007. His works often blend elements of fantasy, horror, science fiction, and historical fiction, as well as spiritual, philosophical, and metaphysical themes. His first novel, The Deep (1975), is a science fiction novel set in a post-apocalyptic future. His second novel, Beasts (1976), is a contemporary fantasy set in rural Kentucky.
The Ægypt series, which consists of the novels The Solitudes (1987), Love &amp; Sleep (1994), Dæmonomania (2000), and Endless Things (2007), is often considered to be Crowley's magnum opus. This complex work of historical fiction follows an academic, Pierce Moffett, as he attempts to decipher the mysteries of the Renaissance philosopher Giordano Bruno. In the process, Pierce becomes embroiled in searching for an ancient and mysterious book, the Clavis, which he believes contains the secrets of the universe.
Crowley's other works of fiction include Little, Big (1981), a sprawling fantasy novel set in a mysterious world; Engine Summer (1979), a post-apocalyptic science fiction novel; and Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of Ymr (2018), a retelling of the Finnish epic Kalevala. Crowley has also penned a number of short stories and non-fiction essays, some of which have been collected in the volumes Novelty (1989) and Novelties &amp; Souvenirs (1999).
John Crowley's works have been praised for their intricate plotting, poetic language, and imaginative exploration of the boundaries between science and magic. His profound engagement with questions of faith and his willingness to challenge our assumptions about the nature of reality have earned him a devoted readership and a place among the most important authors of contemporary fantasy.

John

John Green is an American author, vlogger, and educator. He was born on August 24, 1977, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is best known for his young adult novels, including "Looking for Alaska," "An Abundance of Katherines," "Paper Towns," "The Fault in Our Stars," and "Turtles All the Way Down."
Green began his career as a writer in the mid-2000s, publishing his first novel, "Looking for Alaska," in 2005. The book was a commercial and critical success, winning the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award and becoming a New York Times bestseller. This was followed by "An Abundance of Katherines" in 2006 and "Paper Towns" in 2008, both of which were also well-received by critics and readers alike.
In 2012, Green published "The Fault in Our Stars," which became an international bestseller and was adapted into a successful film in 2014. The novel tells the story of two teenagers with cancer, Hazel and Gus, and their blossoming romance. The book received widespread critical acclaim and cemented Green's reputation as a leading voice in young adult literature.
Green's latest novel, "Turtles All the Way Down," was published in 2017. The book deals with themes of mental health and friendship and received positive reviews from critics.
In addition to his writing career, Green is also well-known for his vlogging and educational work. Along with his brother, Hank, he runs the popular YouTube channel "Vlogbrothers," which has over 2.5 million subscribers. He also regularly participates in online educational initiatives such as Crash Course, a series of educational videos on a variety of subjects.
Green is also an advocate for various causes, including mental health awareness and literacy. He is a co-founder of the charity organization "Project for Awesome," which raises money for various charitable causes.
In addition to his writing and vlogging, John Green is also known for his active presence on social media, where he engages with fans and shares his thoughts on various topics. He has a large following on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, and he is known for his candid and honest approach to discussing mental health, politics, and other issues that are important to him.
Green is also a frequent speaker and panelist at literary events and conventions, where he shares his experiences as an author and offers advice to aspiring writers. He is also a vocal advocate for the importance of reading and has been involved in various literacy initiatives and programs.
Green's work has been translated into many languages and has been popular in many countries worldwide. He has been honored with numerous awards and accolades, including the 2015 Children's Choice Book Award for "The Fault in Our Stars" and the 2014 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery for "Paper Towns."
Overall, John Green is a versatile and accomplished individual who is known not just for his writing but also for his efforts to make a difference in the world through his charity work, his educational initiatives, and his advocacy for various causes. He is a respected and influential figure in the literary world and continues to inspire and touch the lives of readers and fans around the world.

Jessica Hische is a graphic designer, illustrator, and author based in San Francisco. She is best known for her hand lettering, typography, and illustration work in the design and advertising industry.
Hische began her career as a freelance designer in 2005, working with various clients on various design projects. She quickly gained recognition for her unique and elegant hand lettering style, and her work began to be featured in publications such as Communication Arts, Print, and HOW magazine.
In addition to her design work, Hische is also an accomplished author. She has written several books on design and typography, including "In Progress: See Inside a Lettering Artist's Sketchbook and Process, from Pencil to Vector" and "Tomorrow I'll Be Brave." Both books offer a glimpse into Hische's creative process and provide valuable insights and tips for designers and illustrators.
Hische has also been a guest speaker at several design conferences and events, sharing her knowledge and experience with other designers and creative professionals. She is also known for her "Daily Drop Cap" project, a series of illustrated letters she created and shared daily on her website.
Overall, Jessica Hische is a highly respected and accomplished designer, illustrator, and author, known for her beautiful hand lettering and typography work. Her unique style, attention to detail, and dedication to her craft have earned her a reputation as one of the industry's most talented and influential designers.

Jessica

Cormac McCarthy was born in Rhode Island. He later went to Chicago, where he worked as an auto mechanic while writing his first novel, The Orchard Keeper. The Orchard Keeper was published by Random House in 1965; McCarthy's editor there was Albert Erskine, William Faulkner's long-time editor. Before publication, McCarthy received a traveling fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which he used to travel to Ireland.&nbsp;
In 1966 he also received the Rockefeller Foundation Grant, with which he continued to tour Europe, settling on the island of Ibiza. Here, McCarthy completed revisions of his next novel, Outer Dark. In 1967, McCarthy returned to the United States, moving to Tennessee. Outer Dark was published in 1968, and McCarthy received the Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Writing in 1969.&nbsp;
His next novel, Child of God, was published in 1973. From 1974 to 1975, McCarthy worked on the screenplay for a PBS film called The Gardener's Son, which premiered in 1977. A revised version of the screenplay was later published by Ecco Press. In the late 1970s, McCarthy moved to Texas and, in 1979, published his fourth novel, Suttree, a book that had occupied his writing life on and off for twenty years.&nbsp;
He received a MacArthur Fellowship in 1981 and published his fifth novel, Blood Meridian, in 1985. All the Pretty Horses, the first volume of The Border Trilogy, was published in 1992. It won both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award and was later turned into a feature film. The Stonemason, a play that McCarthy had written in the mid-1970s and subsequently revised, was published by Ecco Press in 1994.&nbsp;
Soon thereafter, the second volume of The Border Trilogy, The Crossing, was published, with the third volume, Cities of the Plain, following in 1998. McCarthy's next novel, No Country for Old Men, was published in 2005. This was followed in 2006 by a novel in dramatic form, The Sunset Limited, originally performed by Steppenwolf Theatre Company of Chicago. McCarthy's most recent novel, The Road, was published in 2006 and won the Pulitzer Prize.

Cormac

Stephen King is an American author known for his horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy novels. He was born in Portland, Maine, in 1947 and began writing at a young age. He published his first novel, "Carrie," in 1974, which was a success and later adapted into a film. He has since published over 60 novels and 200 short stories, many of which have been adapted into movies, television shows, and comic books. Some of his most famous works include "The Shining," "It," "Salem's Lot," "The Stand," and "Misery."&nbsp;
Stephen King began his career as a writer in the early 1970s while working as a teacher. His first short story, "The Glass Floor," was published in 1967. However, his first novel, "Carrie," was not published until 1974. Nevertheless, it was a success and was adapted into a film in 1976. This success encouraged him to continue writing and publishing novels. In the 1970s and 1980s, he published a string of successful horror and supernatural stories, including "Salem's Lot," "The Shining," "The Stand," "Firestarter," "Pet Sematary," "It," and "Misery."
His novels have been adapted into films, television shows, and comic books. Some of the most famous adaptations of his work include the movie "Carrie," "The Shining," "Stand by Me," "Misery," "The Shawshank Redemption," and "It." He also wrote several non-fiction books and short story collections.
In recent years, he has continued to publish novels, including "Doctor Sleep," "Under the Dome," "Joyland" and "Revival." He is considered one of his generation's most successful and famous authors and has sold over 350 million copies of his books worldwide.

Stephen

B.J. Novak is an American actor, writer, director, producer, stand-up comedian, and author. He is best known for his role as Ryan Howard on NBC’s popular sitcom The Office (2005-2013). Novak has established himself as an esteemed multi-hyphenate in the entertainment industry, having written for and appeared on numerous TV shows, and films, and several books.
Novak was born on July 31, 1979, in Newton, Massachusetts. He began his career as a stand-up comedian, performing in clubs and colleges across the country. Novak was a contributor to the popular Comedy Central show, “The Daily Show,” from 2001-2004. He was then cast as a series regular on “The Office” in 2005, where he served as a writer, director, and executive producer. Novak’s role as Ryan Howard on “The Office” earned him an Emmy nomination in 2007.
In addition to his acting career, Novak is also a writer. He wrote the 2011 romantic comedy film, “The Smurfs,” and its 2013 sequel, “The Smurfs 2”. He has also written several children’s books, including “The Book With No Pictures” and “One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories.”
Novak has also produced several films, such as “The Intern” (2015), “The Founder” (2016), “The Big Sick” (2017), and “The Incredible Jessica James” (2017). He has also written for television shows such as “The Mindy Project” (2012-2015) and “Modern Family” (2014-2015).
Novak is an avid philanthropist, having supported numerous charities throughout his career, such as the Alzheimer’s Association, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and The Art of Elysium. In 2017, he launched The List App, a social media platform designed to facilitate sharing personal lists.
B.J. Novak is a multi-faceted entertainer whose career has spanned multiple industries. With an array of writing, directing, producing, and acting credits to his name, Novak has become one of the most recognizable figures in the entertainment industry.
Novak is also an accomplished author, having published four books: “One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories” (2014), “The Book with No Pictures” (2014), “Knife’s Edge” (2015), and “Huddle” (2019). His books have received critical acclaim and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list.
Novak’s success has earned him numerous awards, including the Variety Power of Comedy Award in 2018, a Critics’ Choice Award nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his role on The Office (2007), and an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (2007). In 2018, Novak was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame for his contributions to television.

B.J.

David Sedaris is an American humorist, essayist, and author. He is best known for his autobiographical works and his sardonic wit. He was born in Johnson City, New York, and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. He attended Jesse O. Sanderson High School and then went on to study at Kent State University in Ohio.
Sedaris is best known for his sarcastic, observational, and often self-deprecating writing style. His stories are often based on his life experiences, from his childhood to his travels worldwide. He has written several bestselling books, including Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim When You Are Engulfed in Flames, and Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls. He is also a frequent contributor to The New Yorker and National Public Radio.
Sedaris has been praised for his unique perspective and ability to bring his stories to life vividly. His work often incorporates elements of dark humor and satire, and he frequently uses irony to make his points. He often includes absurd yet relatable characters in his stories and humorous observations about human behavior. In addition to his writing, he is also known for his live performances, where he reads his stories accompanied by music.
Sedaris has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including a Grammy nomination for his audiobook Live at Carnegie Hall. He is also a member of the International Institute of Humor, an organization that promotes the power of humor to bring people together.
In addition to his writing and performances, Sedaris also hosts an annual Christmas show in Raleigh, North Carolina. He also works with a variety of charities, including the American Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders.
David Sedaris is a beloved figure in the world of humor and literature. His writing is a unique blend of wit and insight that has made him a favorite of readers and listeners around the world. He is an inspiration to many for his ability to bring humor to even the darkest of subjects.
Sedaris is also an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and has spoken publicly about his own experiences. He has a large following of fans who appreciate his openness and willingness to talk about his struggles. He frequently uses his platform to raise awareness about community issues and offer support to those who need it.&nbsp;
Sedaris is also an avid traveler and has visited many countries across the globe. He has written extensively about his experiences and often incorporates his observations into his work. He is also an active philanthropist, supporting a number of charitable organizations, including the ACLU, PEN America, and the National Immigration Law Center.&nbsp;
David Sedaris has made a lasting impact on the world of literature and humor. His work is beloved by millions of people around the world, and his influence continues to be felt today.

David

Ta-Nehisi Coates is a highly acclaimed author, journalist, and educator. He is best known for his writing on race and culture in America. Born in 1975 in Baltimore, Maryland, Coates has become one of the most influential voices in the national race and social justice dialogue. He is a MacArthur Fellow and National Book Award Winner for his nonfiction work, Between the World and Me, released in 2015.
Coates’ writing career began in 2008 with his piece “The Case for Reparations,” published in The Atlantic. This piece brought him widespread attention and propelled him to become one of the most sought-after writers in the United States. Since then, he has written for various publications and magazines such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker. He has also written several books, including The Beautiful Struggle, We Were Eight Years in Power and The Water Dancer.
In addition to his writing, Coates is an educator. He has taught courses at Virginia State University and the Santa Fe Institute. He also serves as a distinguished writer in residence at Manhattanville College.
Coates’ work has been widely acclaimed and has received numerous awards. He won the National Book Award in 2015 for Between the World and Me and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and National Magazine Award. His work has also been featured in several films, television shows, and documentaries.
Coates is known for his honest and holistic approach to discussing race and inequality in America. He is an advocate for reparations for African Americans and has used his writing to call attention to the systemic racism and injustice in the United States. His work has been praised for its insight and careful consideration of history and personal experience to explore the state
In addition to his writing, Coates advocates for social justice and activism. He has spoken out against police brutality, mass incarceration, and other systemic racism. He is a vocal supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement and has made numerous appearances at rallies, protests, and other events supporting the cause.
Coates is also an active member of the literary community. He was a judge for the National Book Awards in 2018 and 2019. In addition, he is a contributing editor to The Atlantic and is a member of the literary nonprofit PEN America.
Coates’ influence continues to be felt in the literary and social justice worlds. His work has shaped public discourse around race, inequality, and justice. He has become a powerful voice in the fight for the rights of African Americans and other marginalized communities. He continues to use his writing to inspire and empower people to stand up for what is right.

Ta-Nehisi

Frank Herbert (1920-1986) created the most beloved novel in the annals of science fiction, Dune. He was a man of many facets, of countless passageways that ran through an intricate mind. His magnum opus is a reflection of this, a classic work that stands as one of the most complex, multi-layered novels ever written in any genre. Today the novel is more popular than ever, with new readers continually discovering it and telling their friends to pick up a copy. It has been translated into dozens of languages and has sold almost 20 million copies.
As a child growing up in Washington State, Frank Herbert was curious about everything. He carried around a Boy Scout pack with books in it, and he was always reading. He loved Rover Boys' adventures, as well as the stories of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, and the science fiction of Edgar Rice Burroughs. On his eighth birthday, Frank stood on top of the breakfast table at his family home and announced, "I wanna be an author." His maternal grandfather, John McCarthy, said of the boy, "It's frightening. A kid that small shouldn't be so smart." Young Frank was not unlike Alia in Dune, a person having adult comprehension of a child's body. In grade school, he was the acknowledged authority on everything. If his classmates wanted to know the answer to something, such as about sexual functions or how to make a carbide cannon, they would invariably say, "Let's ask Herbert. He'll know."

Frank

Orson Scott Card is the author of the novels Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, and Speaker for the Dead, which is widely read by adults and younger readers, and are increasingly used in schools. His most recent series, the young adult Pathfinder series (Pathfinder, Ruins, Visitors), and the fantasy Mithermages series (Lost Gate, Gate Thief, Gatefather), are taking readers in new directions.
Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy (Magic Street, Enchantment, Lost Boys), biblical novels (Stone Tables, Rachel, and Leah), the American frontier fantasy series The Tales of Alvin Maker (beginning with Seventh Son), poetry (An Open Book), and many plays and scripts, including his "freshened" Shakespeare scripts for Romeo &amp; Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, and The Merchant of Venice.
Card was born in Washington and grew up in California, Arizona, and Utah. He served a mission for the LDS Church in Brazil in the early 1970s. Besides his writing, he teaches occasional classes and workshops and directs plays. He frequently teaches writing and literature courses at Southern Virginia University.
Card currently lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, with his wife, Kristine Allen Card. His primary activities are writing a review column for the local Rhinoceros Times and feeding birds, squirrels, chipmunks, possums, and raccoons on the patio.

Orson

Ernest

The bestselling cult classic—now a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg.  In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place.  The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS.  His devotion to solving puzzles hidden within the game's digital confines has made him an international celebrity—but it also makes him a prime target for the corporation running the game.  When he stumbles upon the first clue, Wade finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize.  The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape. 

Brian Armstrong is an American entrepreneur and businessman best known for co-founding and serving as the CEO of Coinbase, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges. Armstrong is also a venture capitalist and philanthropist, investing in and supporting a range of innovative tech startups.
Armstrong was born in San Jose, California, in 1983. He attended Rice University in Houston, Texas, where he studied economics and computer science. After graduating in 2006, he worked as a software engineer for Airbnb for two years before launching his own software development and design firm, University Tutor.
In 2012, Armstrong co-founded Coinbase with Fred Ehrsam. Coinbase is a digital currency exchange that allows users to buy, sell, and store digital currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and others. Coinbase also provides merchant services and various tools for developers.
Since its launch, Coinbase has become one of the most successful and widely-used cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. It has raised over $521 million in funding from venture capital firms, banks, and tech companies like the New York Stock Exchange.
In addition to his role at Coinbase, Armstrong is an active venture capitalist and philanthropist. He is an investor in a number of startups, including the cryptocurrency wallet Abra, the blockchain-based identity platform Civic, the stock trading platform Robinhood, the cryptocurrency payment processor Bitpay, the fintech company Ripple, and the digital currency exchange Kraken.
Armstrong is also a philanthropist, having donated millions of dollars to organizations such as the Human Rights Foundation, the SENS Research Foundation, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. He has also created the GiveCrypto charity, which provides cryptocurrency donations to individuals in need around the world.
Overall, Brian Armstrong is a highly successful entrepreneur and businessman who has made a major impact in the world of cryptocurrency and technology. His continued innovation and philanthropy have helped to shape the future of digital currencies and the blockchain industry.

Brian

Andrew Wilkinson is an American entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He is the founder and CEO of Tiny, a venture capital fund that invests in technology startups, and MetaLab, one of the world’s top design agencies.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Andrew is a self-taught software developer and designer. He started his career at IBM, where he learned to develop software and design user interfaces. After a few years, he left IBM to pursue his own entrepreneurial endeavors and founded MetaLab in 2006.
At MetaLab, Andrew was able to turn his design and development expertise into a successful business. He grew the company into one of the world’s top design agencies, creating digital products and services for clients like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Twitter.
In 2010, Andrew started Dribbble, a popular design community, and in 2013, he created Flow, an app development platform and design system. He is also a venture capitalist, having invested in over 25 tech startups, including Venmo, Instagram, and Uber.
Andrew is a firm believer in the power of design and technology, and he is passionate about creating meaningful user experiences. He is a frequent speaker at industry events, and he is committed to helping the next generation of entrepreneurs and designers reach their potential.

Andrew

Casey Neistat is an American YouTuber, filmmaker, vlogger, and co-founder of the multimedia company Beme. He first gained mainstream attention in 2003 with a film titled "iPod's Dirty Secret," which criticized Apple Inc. for not replacing batteries in their iPod devices. Since then, Neistat has become well-known for his unique and creative videos, which often explore topics related to technology, travel, fashion, and his life. He has also directed two feature films and created several television shows.
Neistat began his career in 2001 when he and his brother Van started a production company called "Spike &amp; Co." After releasing several low-budget skateboarding films, Casey's breakout film, "iPod's Dirty Secret," was released in 2003 and quickly went viral. The film brought him into the public eye and earned him a TED Talk in 2015.
Neistat's YouTube channel launched in 2010 and has since gained over 11 million subscribers. On his channel, he often posts vlogs, short films, and social experiments. Many of his videos have become viral, such as "Make It Count," which received over 28 million views in its first week. In 2016, he released his first feature film, "The Circle," which won the Grand Jury Prize at SXSW.
Neistat has also created several television shows, including "The Neistat Brothers" on HBO and "Breakfast Time" on Vice. In 2015, he launched his own multimedia company, Beme, which produces content for YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat. In 2016, he sold Beme to CNN for a reported $25 million.
Neistat is an outspoken advocate for the use of technology in storytelling and filmmaking. He has spoken at several conferences and universities, including TED, SXSW, and Harvard. He also regularly partners with tech companies, such as GoPro, to help promote their products.

Casey

Austen Allred is an American entrepreneur and the co-founder of Lambda School, an online coding BootCamp. He began his career as a software engineer, working at companies such as Google and Twitter. In 2017, he co-founded Lambda School, an online coding bootcamp that provides students with a combination of live online classes and one-on-one mentorship.
The school is known for its unique income-sharing agreement (ISA) model, in which students do not pay tuition upfront, but instead pay a percentage of their income for a period of time after they secure a job. This model aims to make education more accessible and reduce the financial burden on students.
Allred is also a writer and speaker on topics related to technology, education, and personal growth. He has written articles for publications such as Forbes, TechCrunch, and Medium, and has given talks at conferences and events such as the SXSW, Y Combinator, and the Collision conference.
In addition to his work with Lambda School, Allred is also an angel investor, having invested in startups such as B12, a website design and development company, and Triplebyte, a recruiting platform for software engineers.

Austen

David Cancel is a serial entrepreneur and technology executive. He has co-founded several companies, including Performable (acquired by HubSpot in 2011), Ghostery (acquired by Evidon in 2017), and Drift (a conversational marketing and sales platform).
He is currently the CEO of Drift, a conversational marketing and sales platform. Drift's platform allows businesses to communicate with their customers through live chat, bots and messaging. The company's mission is to help enterprises to create human connections with their customers. Drift was founded in 2015 and has grown to become one of the leading conversational marketing platforms in the industry. The company has raised over $90 million in funding, and it has been recognized for its innovative approach to customer engagement.
David Cancel also has been a critical figure in the development of the conversational marketing industry and is considered a thought leader in the field. He has also been a product leader at several other companies, including HubSpot, Looker, and Compete.com. He is a recognized speaker and thought leader in product development, customer acquisition, and scaling startups.

Packy McCormick is the founder and writer of Not Boring, a Web3 and startup newsletter. He’s also an investor at Not Boring Capital.
Packy and Auren dive into the tech landscape on a generational scale and talk about the loss of tech optimism and what’s limiting technological progress today. They discuss how to evaluate early-stage companies as investments, and Packy shares his insight on what he looks for in crypto and Web3 companies.
Packy McCormick has become a famous Internet writer over the last three years. His “Not Boring” newsletter about Tech Strategy is at 125,000 subscribers and growing. He stands out for fusing rigorous thinking on tech strategy with a class-clown-styled writing voice.
Packy started his newsletter in the 1st cohort of Write of Passage. He built an audience by publishing an essay every week, left his job, and raised a $30 million venture fund. He coined the term “the Great Online Game” and is becoming a role model in how to play it.

Packy

Steve Jurvetson is an American venture capitalist and entrepreneur. He is a founding partner of the venture capital firm DFJ (Draper Fisher Jurvetson) and has been a board director of many technology companies, including Hotmail, Interwoven, and Kana.
He also served on the board of directors of Tesla Motors and was an early investor in the company. Jurvetson has been recognized for his work in the technology industry and has been named to the Forbes Midas List of top venture capitalists multiple times.
As a consultant with Bain &amp; Company, Jurvetson developed marketing, sales, engineering, and business strategies for a wide range of companies in the software, networking, and semiconductor industries. He first joined DFJ after his second year of business school and became a partner after proving his talent on several investments.
At DFJ, Jurvetson was involved in lucrative investments with Hotmail, Interwoven, Kana, Tradex, and Cyras. Cyras, in particular, was acquired for 8 billion USD. Less favorably, DFJ and Jurvetson were early financial backers of Elizabeth Holmes and her disgraced blood-testing firm Theranos. Also, in 2016, President Barack Obama appointed Jurvetson as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship.
On November 13, 2017, Jurvetson stepped down from his role at DFJ Venture Capital in addition to taking leave from the boards of SpaceX and Tesla following an internal DFJ investigation into allegations of sexual harassment. While there were allegations of inappropriate behavior, DFJ did not receive an official complaint of harassment or misconduct. While the findings of the investigation were not made public, anonymous sources alleged that the investigation "uncovered behaviors by Jurvetson that were unacceptably related to a negative tone toward women entrepreneurs."&nbsp;
Jurvetson stated that stepping down from his role was unrelated to the allegations, writing, "I am leaving DFJ to focus on personal matters" in a statement posted to Twitter. Recode reported that Jurvetson was placed on a leave of absence and then later voted out of the company. A source familiar with the situation told Recode that the dismissal was triggered by DFJ learning that Jurvetson lied about what it considered "serious allegations."
Jurvetson co-founded a new venture fund, Future Ventures, in April 2018. The inaugural $200M venture capital fund focuses on environmentally sustainable transportation, food technology, and high-power computer systems. Jurvetson was a member of the Tesla board of directors from 2006 to December 2020.

Steve

Astro Teller is a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and CEO of X, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (formerly Google X) that focuses on developing and commercializing new technologies. Teller is known for his work in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics. He is also an accomplished inventor and has been awarded over 30 patents for his work.
Teller received his undergraduate degree in computer science from Brown University and later earned a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence from Stanford University. After completing his doctoral studies, he joined the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, where he worked as a research scientist and teaching professor in artificial intelligence and robotics.
In 2001, Teller co-founded BodyMedia, a company that developed wearable health monitoring devices. Jawbone acquired the company in 2013. After the acquisition, Teller joined Google X, where he eventually became the head of the division and was responsible for overseeing the development of various new technologies, including Google Glass, self-driving cars, and Project Loon (a system that uses high-altitude balloons to provide internet access to remote areas).
Teller's work at X has been focused on developing technologies that have the potential to solve major global problems, such as providing internet access to remote areas, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and improving healthcare. Under his leadership, X has developed and commercialized several technologies, including Google Glass, Project Loon, and Waymo (Google's self-driving car division).
Teller is also a well-known speaker and author. He has given numerous talks on innovation and technology and has written several articles and essays on these subjects. He has also authored a book, "Making Moonshots: Creating a Culture of Entrepreneurial Scientific Innovation," which is about creating a culture of innovation and developing technologies that can change the world for the better.
Overall, Astro Teller is an accomplished computer scientist, entrepreneur, and inventor, with a proven track record of developing and commercializing new technologies that have the potential to solve major global problems. His work at X has been focused on developing technologies that have the potential to solve major global issues, such as providing internet access to remote areas, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and improving healthcare. He is also known for his public speaking and writing on innovation and technology.

Astro

George R.R. Martin

Felicia Day

Patrick Rothfuss

John Scalzi

null

In Ready Player One, Ernest Cline shows us that persistence is key. The main character, Wade, doesn't give up in his quest, no matter how many obstacles he faces. This teaches us to keep going, even when things get tough.

The Power of Persistence

Friendship plays a crucial role in this book. Wade's friends are his biggest support system in the virtual world. They help him in his quest and stand by him in tough times. This shows us the value of having good friends in our lives.

The Importance of Friendship

Ready Player One also explores the dangers of escapism. While the virtual world provides an escape from reality, it's not without its problems. It's important to balance our digital lives with our real ones, and not let one take over the other.

The Dangers of Escapism

Ernest Cline makes us think about the impact of technology on our lives. In the book, technology has created a world where people spend more time in a virtual reality than the real one. It's a reminder to use technology wisely and not let it control us.

The Impact of Technology

In Ready Player One, knowledge is power. Wade's extensive knowledge about the 1980s pop culture helps him in his quest. This shows us that learning and gaining knowledge can be beneficial in unexpected ways.

The Value of Knowledge

Ready Player One

Ernest Cline is an internationally best-selling novelist, screenwriter, father, and full-time geek. He is the author of the novels Ready Player One and Armada and co-screenwriter of the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg. His books have been published in over fifty countries and have spent more than 100 weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers list. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his family, a time-traveling DeLorean, and a large collection of classic video games.
Cline was born and raised in Ashland, Ohio, the son of Ernest Christy Cline and Faye Imogene (née Williams) Cline. As a youth in the 1970s and 1980s, Cline was "addicted to video games and movies," especially Star Wars, the movies of John Hughes, and the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons &amp; Dragons. He worked in information technology in his twenties and worked on screenwriting during his spare time.

Seventeen-year-old Zack Lightman has spent his life dreaming. Dreaming that the real world could be a little more like the countless science-fiction books, movies, and video games he’s spent his life-consuming. Dreaming that one day, some fantastic, world-altering event will shatter the monotony of his humdrum existence and whisk him off on some grand space-faring adventure. But hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little escapism, right?&nbsp;
After all, Zack tells himself, he knows the difference between fantasy and reality. He knows that here in the real world, aimless teenage gamers with anger issues don’t get chosen to save the universe. And then he sees it—a flying saucer—and if it wasn’t enough that this is a spaceship straight out of the videogame he plays every night, there are also dozens of enemy ships surrounding Earth. He just has to assume they’re here for an invasion.

George R. R. Martin is a critically acclaimed author, television producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his series of epic fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and Fire, which have been adapted into the HBO television series Game of Thrones.
Martin was born on September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. He attended Northwestern University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism. After graduation, he worked as a journalist and wrote fiction as a hobby. In the 1970s, he began to publish short stories in science fiction and fantasy magazines, and later, in the 1980s, he published his first novels.
Martin's most famous work is the series A Song of Ice and Fire, which he began publishing in 1996. The series is set in the fictional continent of Westeros, where noble houses are vying for control of the Iron Throne, the seat of the King of the Seven Kingdoms. The series is known for its intricate and complex world-building and its large and diverse cast of characters.
The series has been adapted into the HBO television series Game of Thrones, which premiered in 2011 and concluded in 2019. The show was a massive success, earning numerous awards and accolades and making Martin a household name.
In addition to his work on A Song of Ice and Fire, Martin has written several other novels and short stories, including the novella "Nightflyers," which was adapted into a television series in 2018. He has also written for television, including for the 1980s revival of The Twilight Zone.
Martin is known for his meticulous writing process and his attention to detail in his world-building. He is also known for his tendency to kill off main characters, which has led to the phrase "George R. R. Martin is not your friend" among his readers.
In addition to his writing, Martin is also a philanthropist, having supported various charitable causes throughout his career. He is also an avid fan of baseball and has been a season ticket holder for the New York Mets.

George R. R.

Brad Feld is an American entrepreneur, author, and venture capitalist. He co-founded Foundry Group, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies. He is also a co-founder of Techstars, a mentorship-driven startup accelerator that has helped launch over 1,200 companies. In addition, he is an active blogger and author, having written several books on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and startups.
Feld has had a successful career as a venture capitalist, with many of the companies in Foundry Group's portfolio having gone public or being acquired. He has also promoted the startup ecosystem and is a well-known figure in the technology industry. Feld is considered a leading expert on venture capitalism and startup mentorship. He's been a regular speaker and mentor for many startup events and conferences, sharing his knowledge and experience to help other entrepreneurs.
Feld is a strong advocate for the startup ecosystem and has been actively involved in various organizations that promote entrepreneurship, such as Startup Colorado and The Startup Collective. His experiences and knowledge of the startup ecosystem are well respected, and he is considered an influential figure in the startup scene.
Brad Feld is an author and has written several books on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and startups. Some of his notable works include:
<ul>
<li>"Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist" (with Jason Mendelson)</li>
<li>"Startup Communities: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Your City"</li>
<li>"The Startup Community Way: Entrepreneurial Management in the 21st Century."</li>
<li>"Do More Faster: Techstars Lessons to Accelerate Your Startup" (with David Cohen)</li>
<li>"Investing in Entrepreneurs: A guide to Venture Capital" (with Jon Finkel)</li>
</ul>
His books are considered valuable resources for entrepreneurs, investors, and people interested in the startup ecosystem. They cover various aspects of the startup journey and provide insights, strategies, and real-life examples that are relevant and actionable. His books are well-received by both the startup community and the business world. He uses his own experiences and the experiences of the companies in his portfolio to share his knowledge and make it easily accessible to people interested in the startup world. He's considered a respected author in the field and continues to write and share his knowledge.

Brad

Stephen King

Neil Gaiman

J.K. Rowling

Elon Musk

In Armada, Ernest Cline explores the idea that video games can be more than just a form of entertainment. They can be a tool for learning, training, and even saving the world. So, next time you pick up a controller, remember that you might be honing skills that could be useful in real life.

The Power of Video Games

Cline shows us that pop culture is not just a trivial part of our lives. It can shape our identities, bring people together, and even inspire us to face real-world challenges. So, don't be afraid to embrace your love for pop culture, it might just make you a hero.

The Importance of Pop Culture

In Armada, the protagonist, Zack Lightman, is thrown into an alien invasion scenario. Despite the fear and uncertainty, he steps up to the challenge. This book encourages us to face our fears and tackle the unknown, just like Zack.

Facing the Unknown

When the Earth is under attack in Armada, it's not a single hero who saves the day, but a team of gamers. This book reminds us that teamwork and collaboration are often the keys to overcoming big challenges. So, remember to value the people around you and work together.

The Value of Teamwork

Ernest Cline's Armada invites us to question our reality. It blurs the lines between the virtual world and the real world, making us wonder about the nature of our own reality. So, take a moment to look around and question what's real and what's not.

Ernest Cline

Best author’s book

Ready Player One

Written books

Armada

Ready Player One

Similar authors

Louisa May Alcott

Neil Gaiman

Phil Knight

J.D. Salinger

Alexandre Dumas

William Golding

John Crowley

John Green

Jessica Hische

Cormac McCarthy

Stephen King

B.J. Novak

David Sedaris

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Frank Herbert

Orson Scott Card

Books

Achievers

Topics

Libraries

Blog

About

Contact

Terms