What book did Eric change his opinion about after reading? Why does Eric think fantasy is such a powerful genre?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eric is a book guide writer for Shortform. You\u2019ve probably come across some of his well-crafted guides on the website<\/a>. He was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, is an animal lover, an environmentalist, and an avid gamer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Here’s what Eric had to say about some of his favorite books, adaptations, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Does the Dungeons & Dragons Core Rulebook <\/em>count? I’ve certainly gotten more hours of entertainment from that than from any other single book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Shortform, I just finished Playing to Win<\/em><\/a>, and I’m currently working on Awaken the Giant Within<\/em><\/a>. I don’t know what I’ll do next. I’ll have to see what’s available when I’m ready for a new project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In my personal life, I’m working through the Wheel of Time<\/em> series again after watching the Amazon adaptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shakespeare, because he’s possibly the most influential English writer of all time. Brandon Sanderson, because he’s my favorite contemporary author. Ernest Hemingway, because that guy knew how to party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fantasy. It frees us from the constraints of reality and rationality so that we can more freely explore the human imagination and psyche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’m a total wuss when it comes to horror. I don’t like to read, watch, or play anything that’s meant to scare me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For me, nothing beats reading a physical book while lying in bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’m not sure there’s really a one-size-fits-all book out there, so I’ll say that people should read whatever they find interesting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n They’ve broadened a lot. Fantasy will always be my first and truest love, but I’ve learned to appreciate a lot of other genres over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If there were, I don’t remember it. My parents tell me that I’ve been reading since I was three years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No\u2014don’t feel guilty about your pleasures!<\/p>\n\n\n\n What we call “thinking” is really an endless series of questions and answers. We ask ourselves what we should do, say, feel, et cetera\u2014either in a particular moment or with long-term goals\u2014and then use knowledge and context clues to come up with answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lord of the Rings <\/em>trilogy did a great job of condensing an enormous, sometimes ponderous, story into interesting and exciting movies. The books are fantastic\u2014genre-defining, even\u2014but when reimagined for the screen, they could easily have ended up extremely boring or totally nonsensical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Archivist Wasp<\/em> and its sequel Latchkey<\/em> by Nicole Kornher-Stace. I promise you\u2019ve never read anything quite like them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the most part, I try to set my own views aside and work within the book’s framing and context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Power of Positive Thinking<\/a><\/em>. The author was a Christian minister, and I knew that a lot of the book was rooted in Christian teachings, but I found it surprisingly grounded, accessible, and well-rounded\u2014albeit a bit dated.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur Interview With Eric<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What’s your favorite book? Feel free to include any honorable mentions, as well!<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What are you reading these days?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
If you could have a dinner party with any three authors\u2014dead or alive\u2014who would they be and why?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What’s your favorite genre? Why does it intrigue you?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Are there any book genres or tropes that you dislike or refuse to read?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What’s your favorite way to read a book?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What book do you think everyone should read in their lifetime?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
How have your reading tastes changed over the years?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Was there a specific book that sparked your love of reading?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Do you have any guilty pleasure books?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What’s an interesting fact that you learned from a book recently?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What are your favorite book adaptations<\/strong>?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Are there any lesser-known books that you\u2019ve read that you want others to know exist?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
At Shortform, how do you go about working on a book that has viewpoints you don\u2019t agree with?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Are there any books you had to read for Shortform that you thought you wouldn\u2019t like and ended up loving?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
What are your favorite books in the Shortform library?<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n