On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

This is the second time I've read this. King is entertaining. Here's what I wrote the first time I read it (back in January, 2001)...

I've read about 16 of Stephen King's books and this one does two things. First, King briefly relates his early years and reveals some of the inspirations for several of his books. And secondly, he offers some straight-forward advice for neophyte writers hoping to get published. This is a breezy and entertaining read which I think might appeal even to those who have no desire to write themselves. King candidly admits that most books about writing are complete bullshit (his words) and endeavors to give advice with his own particular bias. He is also candid about his battles with alcoholism and drug abuse. He closes the book with a short bit on the accident in the summer of 1999 that almost killed him. (He was walking along a rural street in Maine when a man driving a blue Dodge van went off the road and slammed into King. The driver never saw him. He was busy trying to keep his dog's nose out of a cooler filled with meat.) Anyway, this was an always interesting and often funny book. Helpful too.