What book did Eric change his opinion about after reading? Why does Eric think fantasy is such a powerful genre?
Eric is a book guide writer for Shortform. You’ve probably come across some of his well-crafted guides on the website. He was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, is an animal lover, an environmentalist, and an avid gamer.
Our Interview With Eric
Here’s what Eric had to say about some of his favorite books, adaptations, and more.
What’s your favorite book? Feel free to include any honorable mentions, as well!
Does the Dungeons & Dragons Core Rulebook count? I’ve certainly gotten more hours of entertainment from that than from any other single book.
What are you reading these days?
For Shortform, I just finished Playing to Win, and I’m currently working on Awaken the Giant Within. 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.
In my personal life, I’m working through the Wheel of Time series again after watching the Amazon adaptation.
If you could have a dinner party with any three authors—dead or alive—who would they be and why?
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.
What’s your favorite genre? Why does it intrigue you?
Fantasy. It frees us from the constraints of reality and rationality so that we can more freely explore the human imagination and psyche.
Are there any book genres or tropes that you dislike or refuse to read?
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.
What’s your favorite way to read a book?
For me, nothing beats reading a physical book while lying in bed.
What book do you think everyone should read in their lifetime?
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!
How have your reading tastes changed over the years?
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.
Was there a specific book that sparked your love of reading?
If there were, I don’t remember it. My parents tell me that I’ve been reading since I was three years old.
Do you have any guilty pleasure books?
No—don’t feel guilty about your pleasures!
What’s an interesting fact that you learned from a book recently?
What we call “thinking” is really an endless series of questions and answers. We ask ourselves what we should do, say, feel, et cetera—either in a particular moment or with long-term goals—and then use knowledge and context clues to come up with answers.
What are your favorite book adaptations?
The Lord of the Rings trilogy did a great job of condensing an enormous, sometimes ponderous, story into interesting and exciting movies. The books are fantastic—genre-defining, even—but when reimagined for the screen, they could easily have ended up extremely boring or totally nonsensical.
Are there any lesser-known books that you’ve read that you want others to know exist?
Archivist Wasp and its sequel Latchkey by Nicole Kornher-Stace. I promise you’ve never read anything quite like them.
At Shortform, how do you go about working on a book that has viewpoints you don’t agree with?
For the most part, I try to set my own views aside and work within the book’s framing and context.
Are there any books you had to read for Shortform that you thought you wouldn’t like and ended up loving?
The Power of Positive Thinking. 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—albeit a bit dated.
What are your favorite books in the Shortform library?
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins is my favorite book guide on the site—partly because I wrote it, but mostly because The Selfish Gene is an interesting and highly informative book about science.
Eric’s Book Recommendations
- Archivist Wasp and Latchkey by Nicole Kornher-Stace
- The Lord of the Rings series by J. R. R. Tolkien
- The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins
- The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale
About the Series
Here at Shortform, we want to give our employees names and faces so you can get to know the people who make the magic happen. That’s why we’re doing this series where we interview our employees and share their thoughts and opinions. You can check out more employee interviews here.
