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James Patterson: The Stories of My Life

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Brought to you by Penguin.

'The master storyteller of our times takes us on a funny, poignant, and ultimately triumphant journey' HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
'The whole story of his truly astonishing life' BOB WOODWARD
'The book was damn near addictive. I loved it' RON HOWARD
'What an insightful and invigorating read. So much content and inspiration from one of the world's most successful authors' SIR DAVID JASON
'I love the pithy, bright anecdotes, and at times his poignant narrative will bring you to tears' PATRICIA CORNWELL
'A compelling account of the life events that shaped an extraordinary man' NICHOLAS SPARKS
'This is a poignant, funny and inspiring account of a phenomenally successful career from a master storyteller' JAKE HUMPHREY
______________________________

HIS BEST STORIES ARE THE STORIES OF HIS LIFE

· His father grew up in a New York poorhouse called the 'Pogie'.
· He worked at a psychiatric hospital where he met the singer James Taylor and the poet Robert Lowell. Both were patients.
· He was at Woodstock and was also an usher at the Fillmore East.
· He was CEO of advertising agency J. Walter Thompson North America when he was thirty-seven. He wrote the ad jingle, 'I'm a Toys 'R' Us Kid'.
· He once watched Norman Mailer and James Baldwin square off to fight.
· He's played golf with three US presidents and has nine holes-in-one.
· Dolly Parton sang Happy Birthday to him over the phone. She calls him Jimmy James.

James says, 'I always wanted to write the kind of novel that is read and re-read so many times the binding breaks, and the book literally falls apart, pages scattered in the wind. I'm still working on that one.'
______________________________

'A masterpiece of storytelling! Funny, poignant, brutally honest' ADMIRAL WILLIAM H. McRAVEN
'Will delight fans, and even non-fans, of America's storied storyteller' BEN BRADLEE JR.
'James Patterson's first rule of storytelling is "be there". And that's the genius of his autobiography' MIKE LUPICA
'Jim Patterson's life is a thriller itself . . . This book is a pure joy to read' STEPHEN A. SCHWARZMAN
'Always entertaining . . . You will enjoy the read' PHIL KNIGHT

© James Patterson 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

 Art & Literature Authors

Critic reviews

I felt I was interviewing James Patterson under the highest permissible dose of sodium pentothal, the truth serum, for hours - and he spilled the whole story of his truly astonishing life and experiences and the absolute unlikelihood that he would become the best-selling fiction author of all time. (BOB WOODWARD)
James Patterson does it again. The master storyteller of our times takes us on a funny, poignant, and ultimately triumphant journey through his own life. If you are among the many millions of us who enjoy reading Patterson's books, or if you haven't discovered him yet, you'll love reading this one too. (HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON)
One of the greatest storytellers of all time, Patterson has led an amazing life. James Patterson By James Patterson brings to mind Hemingway's A Moveable Feast. I love the pithy, bright anecdotes, and at times his poignant narrative will bring you to tears. (PATRICIA CORNWELL, New York Times bestselling author)
The book was damn near addictive. I loved it. Patterson recounts turning points and life-shaping lessons in short, riveting bursts that inform, entertain, and satisfy-then propel you into the next story. That Patterson guy can write! (RON HOWARD)
As the author of more than two hundred novels James Patterson has shown considerable potential as a writer. He reveals how he is working on that potential in his memoir. The book is always entertaining. You will enjoy the read. (PHIL KNIGHT, creator of Nike and author of Shoe Dog)
A masterpiece of storytelling! Funny, poignant, brutally honest, filled with life and love and heartbreak; it is the most entertaining book I have read in the past fifty years. Patterson reminds us all that even in our smallest moments, there are great stories to be told. (ADMIRAL WILLIAM H. McRAVEN, author of Make Your Bed)
A compelling account of the life events that shaped an extraordinary man - combining elements of a tragic love story, counterculture youth, and cutthroat corporate success, this memoir will be a fascinating read for fans of his thrillers and beyond. (NICHOLAS SPARKS, bestselling author of The Notebook)
In this breezy and revealing autobiography, James Patterson packs his narrative with scores of personal stories that will delight fans, and even non-fans, of America's storied storyteller. (BEN BRADLEE JR., author of The Forgotten)
James Patterson's first rule of storytelling is 'be there.' And that's the genius of his autobiography. You're right there with him as he's growing up in Newburgh, New York; then on Madison Avenue; and as he begins to sell more books than anybody else on the planet. (MIKE LUPICA, New York Times bestselling author)
All stars
Most relevant
Did you know James Patterson has had a hole-in-one nine times while playing golf? Well if you listen to the book he tells you twice in the space of four hours.
If you've ever got stuck listening to a drunk tell you about his life that's not that interesting, you'll think you're back at the bar when you listen to this.
Exciting moments include: His first kiss. The first time a girl touched his leg. Friends you've never heard of. Advertising lines that weren't used. Yawn. Oh, he went to a drive in movie, so there's that.
The biggest problem is that in order for an autobiography to be interesting, the person has to have done something interesting.
I thought this might be about books and films and famous friends, but no. (at least not in the first half and I can't be bothered with the second)
I wanted to like it as I pre-ordered it, but sadly, it's boring at best.
Bottom line, he should stick to writing fiction.

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