Over the last twenty years, and I'm not half way through my thirties, I've devoured dozens of Jim's books. I've been through every emotional state in life, every transition from high school, under grad, grad school, the beginnings of my professional career, through dating and marriage, and loss of loved ones and throughout there's been a few threads, a few fibers that have woven me together and held me together when that tapestry was falling apart - one of those fibers has been James.

So, I've often wondered what his methodology is, who then man on the dust covers is when he's not frozen in time taking up nine feet on one of my book shelves, and if I read about him - will I want to read more from him or retire him from my "want to read lists"?

Some reviews have complained that it isn't a chronological detail and seemingly random collection of stories, and he "has stories to tell." This is where I differ and fell more in touch with him. It somehow brought him down to earth and grounded him in my head - I had feared that he wasn't going to the writer I've admired for two decades, I'm glad I was wrong. The "autobiography" reads as if you sat down with a family member, let's say a beloved uncle. You've loved him for years, and it's just any other day perhaps visiting family when he starts talking to you. The anecdotes keep coming, one story almost triggering the next. A single word leading you down an entirely different path - he's relatable, intriguing, drawing you in and makes you want to know more (pretty typical JP fashion, no?), but without the long drawn out details. Like most of his chapters (in this case stories) they last from 1 to 3.5 pages.

I found it humbling how much more I like him after reading this, seeing one of the world's most known and penned writer being a genuine person that in the end just wants people to share stories, read his, but most importantly read. I didn't tally the number of times he stated that reading for all people of all ages is crucial to educating our country and our globe and the astounding number of Americans that aren't even reading at grade level (in a first world country no less). I started seeing the motives in branching out to middle school and elementary level books and they weren't focused on monetary gains (though he does mention that his favorite noise is ka-ching). I also was pleasantly surprised at his underlying mentality of being kind - that celebrity status and being a literary giant hasn't stripped away his humanity and that he can't understand people being rude and inconsiderate. Be kind.

One of my favorited stories was maybe a page long, "been around the block a few times." I had seen similarities in my thinking and JP's thinking numerous times throughout the book, been this was like hearing a perfect chord:
"The problem isn't rich people, or poor. / It isn't men, and it isn't women. / It isn't white, Black, or brown. / Or Republican, Democrat, or Independent. / From what I've seen, the problem is folks who believe their view of the world is the right one, the only one, and everybody else's is flat-out stupid. / In my mind, the cause of the problems we're facing is pretty clear --it's jerks."

My conclusion is simple, I love Patterson more now than when a "boosted his ego" a tiny bit by purchasing the book (if only he saw me do so, since it's what makes writers happy - someone wants to hear the words he has to say).

Alright James, you promised you had plenty of stories to tell - you been get going and keep writing. Maybe there'll be a box of #2 Ticonderoga's in it for you.