James Patterson writes a new genre

To some, James Patterson is a household name. Their bookshelves are lined with books authored by him. Patterson was born in 1947. His first job was in advertising. When he wrote his first book in 1973, it was rejected by 31 publishers. The book The Thomas Berryman Number went on to win an Edgar Award! His best known book is Along Came a Spider, and the rest, as they say, is history.

One thing readers may not know about Patterson, and that to me is more important than all the awards he has won, is his tremendous generosity. He has donated more than one million books to students and millions of dollars to school libraries and independent bookstores. In 2015, Patterson started a website for kids focused on motivating them to become lifelong readers. His children’s book have won almost as many awards as his adult ones.

Patterson’s newest book deters from his usual because it is an advice-type book entitled The #1 Dad Book: Be the Best Dad You Can Be in 1 Hour. James Patterson knows about being a dad from his one son Jack! Jack is now a grown man and has collaborated on several children’s books with his father. This book seems to be a “shoo in” for Father’s Day, especially for a new father. In an interview I viewed, I was stuck by Patterson’s easy manner and confident advice. The author seems like someone you would like to live next door to. And critics praise the new book, saying it is not ‘preachy’ but rather breezy and funny, much like Patterson himself!